Fat Fliers and the new wider seats

[Ansett]

An interesting article what do we think?

Fat fliers should pay their own way and not at my expense Socialvoices on MSN Travel UK

Are we losing the plot or are we being disrespectful and selfish.

Are we being judgemental of the larger flyer?

What happens when the next generation gets larger do we make the seats bigger and smaller again as indicated in the above article?

Please note this is not intended to be offensive or critical just an open discussion as to how this isssue should be handled.

 

[Justinf]

It amazes me how people these days tend to try to control something that they have absolutely no control over.
I have no control over who I sit next to on an aircraft if I am travelling solo.
I laugh at the people who say fatties should pay extra, but reality says there's only one way you are guaranteed to get extra seat room yourself, and that is to pay more yourself. It's called premium economy or business class.
It's an amazing concept. Pay more money, get more space.
Pay economy prices, get economy service and economy seating. Pay extra, get extra.
Instead of trying to control other people's actions, control your own. If you can't afford business class or PE and hate economy, don't fly.
Smelly passengers, noisey passengers, rude passengers and snoring passengers can be just as annoying as fat passengers.
People will find a way to complain about something, especially at 35,000ft.

 

[samh004]

Comfort seats. They're doubly attractive as they also earn points/SC!


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[Muzfly]

I am 6'5" and could be charitably described as a big unit.... I also work out at the gym five days a week and and am pretty fit. I could get technical and go into body mass / fat ratios but suffice to say am not fat but am big. Domestically I fly economy except to Perth Internationally I fly Business and occasionally if there is a "deal" First. Justinf is correct saying that if someone wants more room the answer is simple... pay for it. I am completely over the whinging that I read from vertically challenged individuals demanding that Big/Fat/Huge people should pay more for a seat. I'd be more than happy to fly to London in Economy for $2k rather than the $8k+ I pay now.

We're all different and we're all on what is effectively Public Transport. This means that we take what comes in whomever sits next to or in front of us, be they short, tall, fat, hairy, smelly, loud or simply selfish small minded prats.....

 

[trooper]

The problem is of course only when a large person intrudes on the seat space of the person next to them...

THAT is a valid complaint no matter which way you look at it. Pay for a seat.. get a WHOLE seat. It isn't that persons problem that the other pax is too big to fit entirely into theirs. Or do some large folk think their size entitles them to space rightfully someone elses?

There is no good answer of course.. because while ever price is THE determinant for so many people when booking flights no airline is going to make their seats bigger (thus reducing the number and increasing the price - and yes I know it is more complex than that but it will serve)

Unless you think a large person IS entitled to encroach on the space another person paid for then sorry, the obligation to pay for the space you need DOES fall on the larger person.

 

[pat25d]

Disrespectful to people whose own selfishness affects other people? While I am normally one to be tolerant of others, I can't stand obese people, smokers, drunks or other lifestyle choices which then impact me negatively.

*Not including those overweight due to medical issues, which is a tiny proportion of obese/overweight people contrary to all the fatties who will try to convince you it's because of their glands.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I am completely over the whinging that I read from vertically challenged individuals demanding that Big/Fat/Huge people should pay more for a seat.

I think you just shot down your own argument with this line.

 

[SeatBackForward]

This argument can also be looked at in another way. If the opinion that larger folk should pay more for extra sets, by definition, then smaller folk should be abel to pay less to get a smaller seat?

That wont happen.

 

[simongr]

This argument can also be looked at in another way. If the opinion that larger folk should pay more for extra sets, by definition, then smaller folk should be abel to pay less to get a smaller seat?

That wont happen.

It is reasonable why it won't happen. You can't provide a discount on the basis that you haven't used the entire seat - simply sitting in it precludes someone from buying any of it. However with larger pax they are actually using someone else's seat for free.

 

[samh004]

It is reasonable why it won't happen. You can't provide a discount on the basis that you haven't used the entire seat - simply sitting in it precludes someone from buying any of it. However with larger pax they are actually using someone else's seat for free.

So you're saying the larger pax should be paying me a fee, whether directly, or through the airline, for their usage of part of my seat?


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[opusman]

There could be money in this, I envision a partial seat trading market where smaller fliers can register to sell part of their seat space to fatties

 

[UP4014]

Not everyone has a choice on their size, disrespectful and selfish I say.

If I want more room or space, I pay the extra myself.

 

[codash1099]

I can't recall that you've actually met me, but it's a fair enough description

 

[ReLoad]

Interesting debate, whilst i take up a whole seat and enjoy not being crushed what about the selfish a$$hat who chooses to monopolies the joint armrest? Isn't he effectively the same as the Santa physique guy? The outcome is the same.

 

[UP4014]

Interesting debate, whilst i take up a whole seat and enjoy not being crushed what about the selfish a$$hat who chooses to monopolies the joint armrest? Isn't he effectively the same as the Santa physique guy? The outcome is the same.

No, one has a choice, the other does not.
Matt

 

[ckck]

I'm short and quite easily can fit into a seat. I think Qantas should remove 1" from the seat pitch, after all *I'll* still fit in my seat and then Qantas can sell more seats making it cheaper for me.


I figured if the larger people can complain and demand something special why should us shorties miss out.





Oh, I am joking just incase you missed the people, please don't flame me

PS. Qantas, you can make the seats narrower too...

 

[SeatBackForward]

PS. Qantas, you can make the seats narrower too...

Are you suggesting Y- section "Screamium Economy" at the back of the plane? for the smaller framed traveller?

 

[ckck]

Are you suggesting Y- section "Screamium Economy" at the back of the plane? for the smaller framed traveller?

That section of the plane I usually refer to as "Steerage".

Or are you referring to where they keep the children who misbehave? I think they should be put in crates in the hold.

Seriously though, I think it comes down to if you want more space, pay for more space i.e. Y+, J, F. If someone is large b/c of a medical issue, I feel sorry for them but it isn't for me to pay their way, the same way it isn't for them to pay for me.

I have a mate who had a hip replacement (at quite a young age b/c of a skiing accident) short haul he is ok in Y (Steerage), long haul he has to fly J or he just doesn't fly, there is no way around it. No way would he consider flying Y and then encroaching on someone elses space by sticking his leg in the area under the front of the seat beside him. You just don't do that out of common courtesy.

 

[freepyjamas]

common courtesy.

I think I've heard of that. It's something that most people used to have, isn't it?

 

[ReLoad]

No, one has a choice, the other does not.
Matt

As the person on the receiving end I don't have a choice at all.