Passenger creates big debate at American - I mean big!

The overhead monitor does make it look like a 757, but I don't remember American putting Recaro seats on their 757's.

Hope that was a handicap seat where the armrest can move up.

Feel for the guy in the middle seat.

The fair thing for the airlines to do, in my opinion is:

Provide a passenger, at the time he/she books a ticket, the option to purchase two seats next to each other if the passenger is too large to occupy only one seat. If the plane is not full, the passenger will be reimbursed for the second seat. If the plane is full, then the airline has made its revenue for the seat and all passengers, including the large passenger, are comfortable.

In the event the passenger does not purchase the extra seat, the flight is full, and the passenger will not fit within the seat he/she is assigned, then the airline should have no qualms about removing that passenger from the flight.

Of course, this policy should be clear and conspicuous at the time of ticket purchase.

That is unbelievable.
Why they are charging $50 for bags that weighs 80lbs than normal person for free?

Is it illegal to charge based on weight of a person?

On looking closely, the middle guy does seem to have fair enough room, his left shoulder is actually leaning over to the umm, size-challenged guy. There's a empty gap to the right of the middle guy. Heck it almost looks as if the window seat is empty! The large guy seems to make a special effort to not cramp the middle seat, half his ass is hanging out. And finally, the large guy is LARGE i mean even vertically. His height seems to be fair bit more than all others sitting, maybe he's just standing!
Oh well....

I would imagine FA should have no problem solving this - they are still at the gate. If the FA did not notice and they are already moving - thats bad.

By making that passenger purchase two tickets would the airlines be openeing themselves up to a discrimination suit?

This was taken by a friend of mine.

1) Yes, it's real.

2) The "big" passenger was allowed to stay.

3) The guy in the middle seat was pulled from the flight and given $$$ voucher for future travel + f/c on the next available flight.

4) AA is one of the wimpiest companies I've ever worked for - they are ***terrified*** of lawsuits!

AA Flight Attendant

I agree completely with this writer. Although I can have empathy for the large man, how comfortable can it be for any of the people in that row. This flight should have never flown with a man half out of his seat. Why would the Flight Attendants not moved him to the back of the aircraft?

By anonymous
on November 19, 2009 4:24 PM | Reply

The fair thing for the airlines to do, in my opinion is:

Provide a passenger, at the time he/she books a ticket, the option to purchase two seats next to each other if the passenger is too large to occupy only one seat. If the plane is not full, the passenger will be reimbursed for the second seat. If the plane is full, then the airline has made its revenue for the seat and all passengers, including the large passenger, are comfortable.

In the event the passenger does not purchase the extra seat, the flight is full, and the passenger will not fit within the seat he/she is assigned, then the airline should have no qualms about removing that passenger from the flight.

Of course, this policy should be clear and conspicuous at the time of ticket purchase.

Can he fit through the emergency exit? Assuming the airline can work out a way to avoid him sitting next to anyone, my real concern is safety during an evacuation, both for him (because other PAX may prevent him from plugging the exit) and for everyone else (if he does plug the exit). Can you imagine the press if this guy checked out 1/2 in the exit and 1/2 out, with a bunch of dead people in the plane lined up behind him?

Jim,

Those are not the Recaro seats. Those are the Weber seats. Which are currently being removed and replaced on 118 aircraft with new Weber seats. The Recaro coach seats were only ever installed on 77 737-800's, the MD-80 Fleet (non TWA) and the 777-200's.

You can tell by the tray table latch which on the Recaro is a half moon shape. In this picture it is half a rounded square.

A crazy world we live in.....Here, we are worried about an overweight passenger and the uncomfortable passenger next to him. Well, everyone, we have pilots asleep at wheel, over running their destination, planes crashing daily, without the benefit of even a detectable reason. We are all so worried about "staying in touch" we all must have the in flight connectivity so we can chat, email, and browse. But yet we have all lost sight of the main objective, and that is safety. Who cares about who is chatting with who, when the pilot is asleep? Now we have a Canadian Company that claims to have solved the problem for real time data transmission and to monitor the in flight data. But, what we have is a company that collects data, then emails it or sends the information via text message to the ground station for archiving. Excuse me, I think not. I beg to differ, if data is compiled for five minutes and then emailed. I don’t think that is Real Time. We need better communication and monitoring with regards to the safety and integrity of the aircraft. Are we all more concerned about entertainment in flight or reaching our destination safely?

Discrimination? Is it not discrimination for a normal-size person to have to have their adjacent-seat mate's elbow or shouler in their face? I do not believe that a large person should be discriminated against but they should pay their proportion of the normal airfare paid by a normal-sized passenger--ie. pay for 2 seats if that particular flight is full, extra seat fare refunded if flight not full--what the writer stated above. If this was a "real" AA flight then they discriminated against the other passenger that was booted from the flight, f/c and $$ not-withstanding. Clearly a safety disaster! People need to be responsible for themselves today, just exactly the opposite of what our society preaches today--everything is about me, myself and I! Great picture--tells the whole story in a glance!

Yes, Kieran,

Chris is right, the man in the middle seat was "bought off" and flew on another flight. As to the suggestion that this large psgr be moved to the back...there were NO empty seats on this flight. If there were even one, there probably wouldn't have been an issue. The large guy would've been given a seat belt extension and the guy in the middle moved to an empty seat...happens all the time. But on completely full flights, that's not an option.

As for someone's comment about the plane having possibly left the gate - this flight was still at the gate (still being boarded in fact), so the issue was resolved prior to departure.

Window exit - hmmmm...if he would fit, it'd probably have to be w/ the help of a push from behind and would def slow things down, which could mean lives in a burning airplane. Most definitely a safety hazzard in an emergency, for everyone involved, including the large man.

I do feel for him (and the psgr next to him), but I'm surprised he didn't bring the matter to the attention of the agent before boarding bc unless he's never been on a plane, he probably knew he would need more than one seat, which he clearly does. The agent should have at least had a concern too.

The a/c is a 737 and the flight was either to or from sfo.

Priceless photo though, by a quick thinking f/a. Pictures speak 1,000 words. Definitely a "day in the life" of a f/a!

Ahhhh, ..."livin' the dream..."

I was stunned when I saw this picture.

I always wonder about bathrooms. What about emergency situations? Can a person be a hazard on plane just by his/her presence? Blocking the aisle is not a way to endear yourself to flight attendants. The poor guy in the middle seat, I feel for him.

Hmm.. Airlines may have to realise, as many opera houses do, that they cannot ignore this problem for ever. I think it was an opera house in Texas that had to re-install the seating but for fewer people to help accommodate the capacious @r$es of the Americans.

Maybe on the Airbus they will be able to have small/medium/large seats - or as the Americans will insist on calling them regular/large/supersize...

Or bring in bench seating, and people just queue for the seats, and when the plane is full - it's full...

Several people have commented on the aspect of safety in the case of an emergency where 'large' people are involved. ie. can they get out of the aircraft in a timely manner; can other people negotiate around them etc. At the risk of being accused of discrimination, I was on one flight where an elderly gentleman with two crutches walked exceedingly slowly down the aisle to his seat in the middle of the plane. He too was large and took several minutes to get into his aisle seat. When his fellow passengers in his row arrived, he took another several minutes to get up before they could take their seats. In an emergency these two other passengers would have no chance of exiting their seats quickly. If a fire started at the rear of the plane and this gentleman had managed to get up the rest of the passengers behind him would have no way of passing him. Why did the airline not provide a seat at the front of the aircraft for this disabled gentleman? I would have thought that the safety of all the passengers should have made this mandatory in this case. There are some occasions where political correctness needs to be ignored.

There was a discrimination case in Canada a while back where an obese passenger won a case against an airline who charged for two seats.
With around 30% of Americans, and Australians regarded as obese,its a problem that is not going to go away.
Its inevitable that at some stage an accident will happen where an obese person is unable to evacuate, and the aircraft manufacturer and the airline will be sued for inadequate provision for a significant proportion of the population.OUCH!

There was a discrimination case in Canada a while back where an obese passenger won a case against an airline who charged for two seats.
With around 30% of Americans, and Australians regarded as obese,its a problem that is not going to go away.
Its inevitable that at some stage an accident will happen where an obese person is unable to evacuate, and the aircraft manufacturer and the airline will be sued for inadequate provision for a significant proportion of the population.OUCH!

The poor fellow. I feel bad for him. But there are several safety issues here. 1. He is not safe sitting like that in case of sudden turbulence. 2. From the picture, this fella would barely be able to evacuate in a timely manner thus posing a hazard to everyone else. 3. In a crash, he might actually smash the person adjacent to him by virtue of his enormous weight.

When airlines became "cheap", all sorts of problems developed. Some people that otherwise would ride the train, drive or catch a bus now fly on airplanes. Cheap fares and cattle mentality turned flying into crap and all sorts of problems associated with the word "cheap". Unless airlines go back to higher ticket prices and stop the "volume travel" mentality, they will eventually collapse and go bankrupt.

Cheap is not necessarily better. Some people are just very big or very obese and air travel is not comfortable for them or those around them.

I was on a flight from SanDiego last week when an AA pilot was traveling in coach and his suitcase would not fit in the overhead (to stuffed). A couple of ExPlats were giving him a (fun) hard time that he should have checked that his suitcase would fit by using those little boxes at preboarding. Perhaps airlines need a circum. rule for travelers as well. Waste greater than 55 inches? Can't fit through the two uprights without turning sideways? You'll have to wait to board and we'll see if there are two seats available...

I was once on a DElta flight where a woman about this guy's size asked the guy in the aisle seat to move over and give her the aisle, because as she said, "I'm handicapped."

The guy refused and told her he would give her the window seat, which was her ASSIGNED seat, and she just raised her voice and ranted about how she was disabled and he should accommodate her.

Yeah, well, I wouldn't want to be trapped between a window and that woman, either! He was made to feel like an a-hole for refusing to give up an aisle seat that he was assigned, and that he paid for, but I didn't blame him a bit!

I am the first person to defend anyone with a disability.... but this is where political correctness has gone way too far. Flying is not a right, it's a privilege. Lots of people are not allowed to fly for various reasons, whether because of age, or mental capacity, or other physical/medical reasons. Obesity is no different.

People of size should buy two tickets. And should also have to sign a waiver for the airline absolving them of any liability should they not be able to use an emergency exit like everyone else.

"This is sent to me with the absolute assurance that it's a genuine picture taken by a flight attendant at American Airlines."

He or she lied. Simply blowing up the image shows the top 2 inches of the seat back "disappeared" in the Photoshopping hack on this picture. If you're going to fake a photo, at least try doing a decent job if it.

Jenny, disabled people are not allowed to take the seats at the front ("exit seats") or any other seat next to an exit. This is because in an emergency the people sitting there have to be able to stand up and open the plane door. Unfortunately these are very often the only seats with sufficient legroom for people with mobility and leg problems - like myself. By default disabled people are allocated seats in a row further back on the grounds that this row has movable armrests(!) That's a different issue really - but I hope it answers your question.

I don't see what about this. It's just a large person on an aircraft. Nothing to say, let him live.

Sir, I had once this experience from Oslo to London with British Airways. The fellow traweller had to walk sideways in the ile. I was forced to raice the armrest and he took more then half my seat. He had to get an extencion seatbelt (child belt) in order to reach around his belly. When eating he could not get his table down more than a few degrees. My tight was burning after 2 hours squesed to one side. If I had not been fairly slim, there would not have been room enough.

That looks like he is sitting on the armrest. Otherwise, he would have to be about 7 feet tall. While that's a possibility, I am sure he would have requested a seat near the front with more legroom. Surely, at over 7 feet tall, he wouldn't have been able to fit into the seat anyway.

It also looks like there are two empty seats behind him. Was that his real seat? And middle row passenger has an empty seat to his right.

While I am not debating that this is an issue and a controversy, I do think there is something not kosher about this photo.

Snacks on a plane?

That looks like he is sitting on the armrest. Otherwise, he would have to be about 7 feet tall. While that's a possibility, I am sure he would have requested a seat near the front with more legroom. Surely, at over 7 feet tall, he wouldn't have been able to fit into the seat anyway.

It also looks like there are two empty seats behind him. Was that his real seat? And middle row passenger has an empty seat to his right.

While I am not debating that this is an issue and a controversy, I do think there is something not kosher about this photo.

I think the large guy looks taller because he is sitting on the armrest.

Actually, although he appears to be, this guy is not necessarily obese, he's just a really big man. Taking away the width, he still shows a lot of height. So as far as I'm concerned I think the airlines complaints are unfounded. They should still cater for a passenger regardless of his or her size. The cabin crew simply should be aware of the comfort and safety of ALL passengers.

I once refused to take my seat in American Airlines economy class because a very fat woman next to me was spilling all over me. I said I'd rather not travel than sit there. Economy was chocka: upgrade here I come, I thought. What did they do? They upgraded her.

"I don't see what about this. It's just a large person on an aircraft. Nothing to say, let him live."

Oh, so if you were on this a/c, there was an emergency and the individual concerned were blocking the exit routes, you'd just hold your hands up and say, "It's okay, let him live"? How very altruistic of you. I wonder if your fellow passengers would be as willing to put their lives at risk.

There is often no consistency with airline rules or policy. In making an inquiry about a large person sized Fuwa doll [an Olympic mascot for the 2008 Olympics] at Beijing International airport last year, I was informed I could only purchase one if I produced an extra-ticket.

Carry on baggage, while restricted to one bag, also becomes a mockery as many passengers load up after security with large duty free purchases. At Heathrow I am allowed to pass through with ONE lighter, though quite where I could use it given you cannot now smoke within the airport is unclear. Yet notices at Chinese airports state lighters and matches may not even be carried even inside checked-in baggage. I've had the inside of a Zippo confiscated due to such rules.

This large man poses a risk, as many have said, not only to himself in the case of emergency but also to others. He is also an inconvenience to others around him. If I had managed to purchase a large person sized Fuwa doll and attempted to take a single seat, I would no doubt be accosted by staff. Political correctness often get in the way of practical and safety issues. He, no the guy adjacent to him, should have been asked to leave the flight. If he wasn't prepared to pay for an extra-ticket he should have been refunded and barred from flying.

Guys, the picture is a clear fake. Open the large size picture, you will see that the top part of the seat is blurred, a tipical side effect of a "clone stamp" action in Photoshop made by a non-professional user.

Big people in a airplane is a big issue in the USA at the moment, but what about tall people.
With 6'10" it is also quite a tight fit to get into a normal seat.
and for emergency seats they charge extra now because of the extra legroom.
Charging big people for an extra seat only seems fair to me.

If this photo is not fake, can someone explain me how this guy even got into the plane? Don't tell me they let him in through the luggage compartment!
I agree with Grant: my weight is about 80 kgs. If I take a suitcase with me of 26 kgs, I have to pay a fine (in Europe). My total weight is 106 kgs.This big guy weighs about 150 kgs (or even more!) and only pays a regular fare. I do not want to discriminate, but this is rather unjust, isn't it?

I had to fly from Manchester, England to Nashville on December 27, 2008 on American Airlines Flight 55. The crew was great and the flight from England was very nice. However, when I got to Chicago I had to take an American Eagle flight back to BNA. I fit fine in my seat as I was dealing with the flight over from England. Next thing you know a morbidly obese guy comes up and sits down. He was very apologetic as he spilled over into half my seat. I didn't want to cause a scene because I was just glad to be almost home. But having to sit in an odd position pressed up against the wall of the fuselage for the better part of an hour so this guy could take up half the space I'd paid for did make me angry. I don't understand why he should get a pass for his potential emotional pain when I'm going to have to get over the cramps from sitting oddly for a long period of time. But that's the only bad experience I've ever had flying. Ever.

Porco.....

I think Angelo is right, the picture looks like a fake. The top of the seatback is missing. No f/a would (should?) allow such a situation as it's unsafe, not to mention uncomfortable for all involved. The window seat passenger has their laptop out.

The picture can be fake, but the problem is real.
How many time there's obese people on airplane ???
You know the answer: too often (and the poor lambs are always eating, by the way...).
Airline company should charge the passenger on the base of their weight.
I'm 15 kg underweight (skinny, basically) and i'm charged the same ammount of money of the fat one.
It's just unfair.
Paolo

There are two seats empty, behind him why????

I had the unfortunate luck of sitting next to someone so oversized that his arms and shoulders were on me the whole flight. He had his little daughter on the window, he was sitting in the middle and me on the aisle, hanging out, because of him. When I asked him if he could move his body out of my space, he said: "What do you want me to do?" and then when I suggested he placed his little daughter between us, so that everyone would have more space, he said that his daughter wanted the window and that he would have less space on his window size. I put up with it since I didn't want to cause a problem which could result in me being kicked out of the plane or worse. I am tired of this PC BS. STOP IT! I think it is fair to charge 2 fares if you cannot sit on one chair when the plane is full. If you are this person I have only one thing to say: Your rights end where mine begin, that is, I do not have to put up with your problems (you don't with mine).
To those who claim discrimination: I WAS DISCRIMINATED BY THE AIRLINE FOR ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN!

As a weightconsultant and former KLM flight attendant I was astonished to see how very heavy passengers sat perched in their airplaneseats, almost unable to move, on my trip from Las Vegas to Memphis. A very overweight passenger who did not fit in his chair complained to the f/a and was moved to business class(!!). Right in front of me a corpulent passenger, I would guess over 120 kilograms, occupied one and a half seat. Luckily the man next to him was tiny and very much in love with his girl, whom he hung onto for the whole flight......And I.......60 kilos (less than half the weight of the passenger in front of me) had to pay for 5 kilos excess luggageweight (all American stuff I bought to help the American economy :-( )

I hate to say it, buttttt.... I was on that flight, dude was too big for the seat and was waiting for a FA to assist him. Guy in the middle would not move for him so he parked his behind on the armrest. If you have ever flown with a spill over, yes we frequent travelers call them that, you can see why the guy would not move. This guy once seated took two seats total, and would have spilled over into a third if not for the seat belt.

This is really an American issue since the most over weighted people are seen there. Happened to us one time also with KLM on our way to ATL, a big overweight US citizen didn't fit in the middle row so got he got an isle seat next to my mom. His fat was hanging over on her armrests and since she was sitting in the front row (A330-200) she had to ask to the guy to stand up when she needed her table, really discusting!
People that are having so much overweight should be forced to buy a business class ticket or 2 economy class tickets or don't fly at all. Besides it is a pain to see people like this I don't even mention flight safety here.

This is really an American issue since the most over weighted people are seen there. Happened to us one time also with KLM on our way to ATL, a big overweight US citizen didn't fit in the middle row so got he got an isle seat next to my mom. His fat was hanging over on her armrests and since she was sitting in the front row (A330-200) she had to ask to the guy to stand up when she needed her table, really discusting!
People that are having so much overweight should be forced to buy a business class ticket or 2 economy class tickets or don't fly at all. Besides it is a pain to see people like this I don't even mention flight safety here.

This is really an American issue since the most over weighted people are seen there. Happened to us one time also with KLM on our way to ATL, a big overweight US citizen didn't fit in the middle row so got he got an isle seat next to my mom. His fat was hanging over on her armrests and since she was sitting in the front row (A330-200) she had to ask to the guy to stand up when she needed her table, really discusting!
People that are having so much overweight should be forced to buy a business class ticket or 2 economy class tickets or don't fly at all. Besides it is a pain to see people like this I don't even mention flight safety here.

Fat guy. They let this slob on the plane? HMmMMM...give him a voucher for Mickey d's...that will get him out

I realized, with great pain, that this man so many people are making fun is someone I know well. His mother died suddenly of cancer less than a month ago. Yes, he is overweight--diabetes and obesity runs strong in his family. However, he almost always pays extra to fly first class. I don't know the details of this specific flight, but suspect that for some reason first class was full because the flight was full, as described by some posters who claim they know the details of what happened.

I know it is easy to make fun of people who are this large. But please remember that every human being is still a human being, no matter what they look like. Personally, I do feel that obesity is a medical disability. Sometimes it can be helped and other times it can't, it depends on the person and the situation and their medical history and, yes, genetics. I am not this man's doctor, so I can't tell you for certain what causes are in play in regards to his weight, but I do know that he has struggled with his weight for many, many years. I can also tell the folks without any decency for other human beings that this man has a young teenage daughter who will likely cry her eyes out over every cruel word you have said. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

As far as the logistical problem of obese people on planes? Yes, there are challenges in serving those that suffer from obesity, just like there are challenges in serving customers who are blind and deaf and in wheelchairs. This gentleman, I assure you, has had to pay for two seats many times. He prefers not to have to do that, and avoids airlines that charge extra for another seat on principle. Because it is a disability, and he wants to be treated like a human being, not an extra bag of luggage. Let me ask you this: Do you think he should not be able to fly because of his size? He enjoys travel just like the rest of us. As long as he's not sitting on the guys' arm next to him, does it really matter? I don't see him sitting on his neighbor. And, from what I've read from those who "seem" to know, it appears that the airline was able to make him more comfortable. No harm, no foul. Now leave the guy alone.

Whether the photo is real or not, being seated by someone obese is a problem. This happened to me once and the flight attendant made me feel like I was in the wrong for wanting another seat. I couldn't fit into my seat because the guy came halfway into my seat. Finally a tiny, young college girl offered to sit next to the obese guy.

Maybe airlines should charge for width, rather than per seat.

This is so wrong,the guy is clearly a safety hazard,we live in a nanny state now, its "not his fault" he is twice the size of a normal pax !
Simple, if you don't fit the seat,or are blocking the FA's path,or emergency exit, book yourself a space in the cargo hold.
I had a AA long haul from PHX to LGW on a 777,centre seating, and couldn't climb over the 2 "larger than life" guys either side of me,
Too "large", no flight, in this case.

wow, how did he even manage to get to his seat?

If Airlines charge for fat on one hand, on the ohter they should discount for thin people. That can be an incentive to take more attention to wealth problems for over-weight, typical for americans, much more than others. Stefano, Milano (Italy)

In the picture, the big guy is sitting on the arm rest with one leg down in the seat.

I'm EP on AA and am distressed to think that AA FAs would post a picture like this and comment on it on a blog. Hopefully the commenters are not really FAs but high school kids trying to look clever. Still, some days, US Air looks pretty good.

Never mind him in his seat!
Whappens happens if, in the event of an evacuation, he gets to the emergency exit before me??

I sat next to a large man (not as big as the guy in your photo) and he effectively sat on me because he was too big to have the arm rest down. I ended up with bruising (it was a 2 hour flight, I was basically squashed against the aisle armrest on the Boeing 737). Frankly, if someone who is too big to fit in a seat wants to fly, he/she should purchase a second ticket and ask for the seats to be adjacent. Then he can weigh 400lbs and not worry about not fitting. On budget airlines, the issue of weight becomes significant - British Airways limits luggage to 23 kilograms (around 50 lbs) but if you personally weigh 400lbs, why isn't that taken into consideration? I know, it's fattist isn't it to say this but come on, didn't the guy realise when he was stuffing his face that he might be storing up trouble for himself?

Perhaps the question should be whether human beings should adapt to airplanes seats or seats to human beings.
Airliners do not command the sympathy of anybody except the most crooked of masochists.
Any McDonald employee may give a course of good manners and service ethic to any over payed arrogant flight attendant. So why do not put the burden on them? Blind reservation and then if the human being is too big for the lilliputian seat, they must provide, for free, a second one.
Those like me, 6 footer 150 lb, must not feel free of the ever growing greed of airlines: tomorrow they may decide that the normal human being is 4 feet tall and weights 80 lb. Those who do not comply must pay for two, three, six minute seats.
Stop being cowed by this bunch of crooks.

This is nothing new. I fly international around the world and have seen this before. From DFW to Incheon, South Korea is about 14 hours. This happened in 2009 on a 777, back nearly at the rear. Same size as your guy in the picture. Hated to be the guys next to him, sorry for him as well. They ought to make jumbo folks buy two seats and limit them to business or better.

He should have bought a ticket with a cargo airline.

It really sucks if you are the guy sitting to such a fat person for a long destination flight.

As a fat passenger myself who travels overseas and around the world on a monthly basis, I have to ask you.

Do you have ANY glimmer of thought to how this large person is actually feeling right now?

Do you know what it's like to step on to a plane and have EVERY SINGLE PERSON on that plane look at with a look on their face that says, "GOD! I hope that person isn't sitting next to me!"?

Do you know what it's like to go through that your whole life?

Do you think he really wants to inconvenience anybody else?

Who's fault is it that he is inconveniencing the passenger next to him if you don't assume ugly things, like gluttony, as being the cause of his condition? Could that fault be the airlines fault?

Do you know of anyone who could afford to buy two tickets - especially on international flights?

Do you know how uncomfortable it is to sit in two seats at the same time with the arm rest jammed into your back or your side? They don't fold all the way into the back of the chair.

Do you know of an large people who have to buy two tickets to get on a bus or pay double for a cab because of their size?

I sit next to people who stink, next to drunks and loud obnoxious people all the time who make me really uncomfortable. Should they have to pay for an extra seat?

Maybe we should put mothers with screaming babies in the toilets with the doors closed for the flight.

Should people in wheelchairs have to pay extra for the services given to them? We don't know how they became handicapped. You don't know how an obese person became the way he/she is. It is rarely gluttony. There are many metabolic emotional and addictive issues. Obesity is a disease. It is currently the most common and debilitating disease in the US and we treat it's victims like pariahs.

Weight discrimination is the most common form of open discrimination in the world today. Everyone seems to think it shocking to slam a door on a person in a wheelchair, yet think it's funny and a license to be rude when a fat person falls and hurts himself when his chair collapses from under him.

I have nerve damage in my thighs from the silly remote control boxes for the TV jamming into my legs. Quite often my seat falls back on take off because my thighs push against the seat rest button on the inside of the arm. I have to sit skewed and at a screwed up angle for hours. Quite often it takes my back a month to recuperate on overseas trips. I can't eat or drink anything on the flight because my tray table won't fold down. I'm so afraid of making anyone around me mad, that I sit with my seat back up the entire flight. Because my fat displaces me forward, if the person in front of me puts their chair back, I'm basically smelling their hair the entire trip.

Airlines should provide one or two bench seats rows to cater to passengers of ALL sizes.

One ticket should apply to any passenger, no matter that passengers age, handicap, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual preference or size. That is what's fair - and yes - you have to put up with it. Airlines have to deal with it. It's called TOLERANCE. We seem to have forgotten it in today's self centered society.

@Moose

Hey fatty, lose some damn weight. Stop crying over something only you are responsible for. "Weight discrimination" is BS - don't compare weight to age, handicap, religion, gender and sexual preference. If you can't handle go start your own airline - only for fatasses like you.

Most people in wheelchairs did not eat themselves into that condition.

None can diet and exercise themselves out of the chairs.

^
|

Go on a diet then fatty

Moose? With all due respect, go jump in a (large) lake.

We should all feel for this disgusting fatbody? Where is HIS regard for the safety and comfort of the poor schlub who has to sit next to him?

If he really doesn't want to "inconvenience" anybody, then he should BUY A WHOLE ROW. And if he can't afford it, then he SHOULDN'T FLY.

How selfish of him--and you--to expect that everyone else should take pains to accommodate his horrendous obesity.

This isn't a civil rights issue. It's a fat-doofus-presents-a-safety-hazard issue.

You don't like weight discrimination, Moose? Simple solution to that: PUT DOWN THE CHEETOS AND GO FOR A JOG.

Because I will continue to discriminate--with alacrity and without apology!--against blubber-monsters like this airline passenger.

And you're gonna have to put up with THAT, fat boy...

fat rats should keep out of planes

It may not be that the fat guy is tall - it could be that the other passenger is small!

Wow.

Only in America.

Moose, are you being seriously?!

You are fat because you EAT TOO MUCH you fat disgusting bag of lard. DONT TRY TO BLAME ANYONE ELSE for your problem- obesity is a self inflicted disease. Stay home and lose weight before coming on here moaning!

Moose, are you being seriously?!

You are fat because you EAT TOO MUCH you fat disgusting bag of lard. DONT TRY TO BLAME ANYONE ELSE for your problem- obesity is a self inflicted disease. Stay home and lose weight before coming on here moaning!

The only way to solve this isue is for a normal size person who has been in such a situation to sue the airline concerned for fraud ( they are supposed to provide a seat and not half a seat) and endangering passenger safety. See how fast the airlines pay attention.

i dängche es isch eso das die huere fette lüt müesse scho 3-5 plärt reserviere aber dr chopfsalat ir schüssle chenedd sie ja nid go aziinde wil es jo grien isch es isch es huere guets tee wil mes cha esse ich due gärre schwimme

In my 35-50 trips per year for the past five years, I've suffered through a number of instances where the person next to me became the person on top of me, the person surrounding me, the person squeezing the breath out of me, the person making it impossible to eat, read, sleep, get out of my seat . . .

And, sure, each time I've sat there and harbored resentment against someone who lets themselves get so damn large, and then, being that large, travels on an airplane where they know this is going to happen.

But I know it's not fair to them to be made the object of ridicule and resentment, or to me to be made to suffer when I've purchased my own seat.

It's the airlines that deserve all blame for this situation.

The airlines have decided, for profit reasons, that each passenger gets only X amount of space, and X has become an exceedingly small number. That way, they can pack more people in. But what they've done DOES constitute illegal discrimination, based on what is either now, or will be soon, considered a handicapped status.

To the person who said that flying is a privilege and not a right, you're wrong. The airlines are common carriers, and, in exchange for several advantageous sets of rules from the government regarding their business that they recieve because of that status, they implicitly (or maybe it's even explicitly now) guarantee that they will provide transportation to all who can pay, without discrimination.

As common carriers, they are also subject to the requirements of the ADA. I believe that an airline that knowingly sizes its seats such that someone obese enough to be considered "handicapped" can not fit into any available seat is in violation of the ADA, and they are likely in violation of their duties as a common carrier.

Frankly, with the current seat size, I hate flying next to 6'3" guys who aren't obese. It's still painful. If the airlines decide that those guys need to buy two seats along with the obese, will anyone here be changing their opinion about this?

Wow... the ignorance on this page is astounding. I am stunned by the illiterate, misspelled, grammatically incorrect posts that I have read! Prejudice against the overweight is one of the last acceptable prejudices. I am prejudiced against idiots, and there are several on this page.

Comfort on an airplane is not just a problem with obese passengers. I sat next to a tall, thin man with broad shoulders. He was very handsome, but his shoulders extended more than 5 inches into my space. His arms fell over the arm rest, into my seat space. He was definitely taking a great deal of my space with his legs under my seat as well. Since this man was thin, people would have thought I was insane to comment on it. The reality is that I was able to deal with it. As a HUMAN BEING, I would deal with a very large passenger sitting next to me as well.

Aside from the lack of tolerance for the overweight, I see a strong Anti-American sentiment here as well. I have been all over the world and see obese people everywhere I go. This is a global issue.

Obesity is not only a food consumption issue. It is a medical issue, and those who do not deal with it daily should thank God.

Technically, the airline doesn't sell you a seat, it sells you transportation from one point to another.

For those of you worried about evacuation issues - what about a handicapped person? They can't evacuate either. Should old ladies in wheelchairs, young people on crutches with broken legs, or people with other mobility issues be banned from flights because they couldn't evacuate rapidly in case of emergency?

What about screaming kids? Or Chatty Cathies? I don't want to sit by either of those types of people. Should they be punished by being forced to pay double, or be banned from flying?

If your answer to the above questions are "but, that's different", you need to think about what's really motivating your concerns. Because they're not different.

That could be a picture of the fellow who waddled down the aisle to the LAST empty seat on my flight from Philadelphia to Minneapolis-St. Paul. That empty seat was the CENTER seat on the row, and he wedged himself behind the seatbacks ahead, lifted BOTH armrests, and plunked his huge behind down into his seat, half the window seat (occupied) and half of my aisle seat. Did I mention, he was wearing SHORTS, and his fish-belly white, floppyflabby legs pushed against my (trousered, thank God) legs so that I had to put my right foot out into the aisle (the cabin attendent admonished me to put it beneath the seat ahead of me, and when I asked her "Where, for goodness' sake?" she just walked away.

There was no apology by either the aircraft crew, the agent to whom I complained after the flight, nor the fattie.

Fat people have rights? Yeah, the right to ride in a TRUCK!

I am a large individual; and I always purchase an extra seat when flying. just because of comfort and more importantly safety. Although it can be costly, it is much more pleasant, and while I'm no where near the size of the man in the photo (I don't need a seat belt extender), my seat mates are happy when i welcome them to some extra space as well. Hey TEBTA, not every one is overweight because of overeating. I'm a former football player and due to 4 spinal operations gained 80 pounds. I now suffer thru with a semi rigid spine and back spasms which are virtually constant. I monitor what I eat and its 2500 calories per day. My weight is static due to an inability to exercise; thank your lucky stars you are healthy. Not everyone is so lucky...

Dear Moose,

You chose to eat too much and exercise too little for your entire life.

Now YOU have to deal with it, not me!

Its called reaping what you sow.

How do people even get past it down the aisle? How do they get the beverage carts past that behemoth?

That's just dangerous. At some point, the rights of the hundreds of other passengers and crew on the plane to be safe in an emergency outweigh the desire of one huge person to go somewhere. Can he hurry down the aisle? Can he get thru an emergency exit? Will he break the slide? Will his seat belt (if there even is one) work? Can he run away from a burning aircraft? What if he's unconscious...can he be carried off of or away from the aircraft? How does he use the tiny bathroom?...or does he just soil himself?

Aircraft are built to fly 99.9% of human beings, most of them comfortably. But this guy is way beyond any semblance of normal. I don't think the safety of 200-300 people should be compromised for one passenger.

He probably needs to take a cargo flight, a ship, or maybe the best idea would be to walk to where he's going.

So, how are they pushing the drink cart through? Or how are people passing to go to the bathroom. Sure he made room for the guy in the middle seat, but now he's inconveniencing everyone else on the plane. If you are that large, you know whether you can fit or not. I imagine if it were me in that position, I'd hate to fly and be embarrassed, and would likely find other means of travel that would be more comfortable to me, if possible. If not, I'd probably spring for first class seats since they are more roomy and less intrusive to neighbors.

And bench seating... how would an airline know how many tickets to sell? If there are several large passengers, they may overbook a flight because everyone didn't fit into the bench. That wouldn't solve anything.

Kieran,
Where did you get that photo? I had it a week earlier and it was posted back on November 11th on ConsumerTraveler.com.

http://snipr.com/t6ypa

It would have been nice for you to have given us credit or at least a linkback from your site. On the other hand, once something is out in the Web, gets tweeted and is on facebook, it is impossible to keep track of it.

I was just wondering whether it was sent anonymously to you or whether you took it from our blog.

Just wondering.

I have to call bu!! sh!t. Where is his arm rest? The planes I travel on will not let you fold up the arm rest. If he was able to fold it up, we would be able to see it along the side of his seat. If he could not fold it up, he would need to call emergency services to have it extracted from his nether regions.

Did I bust this one?

Sorry, my comment didn't post earlier for some reason ... I'll try again.

Let's say I go to McDonald's to buy a "Happy Meal" but one "Happy Meal" just isn't enough to satisfy me. Do I deserve to get a second "Happy Meal" for free?

If I go to the shoe store and try on a size 5 shoe and it doesn't fit me, can I insist on getting a size 13 for the same price?

If I have a family of 16, can I ask the realtor to give me an 8 bedroom house for the price of a one bedroom home?

After all, aren't we all equal under the law? Don't we all deserve the same consideration?

Is it necessarily MY fault that one "Happy Meal" is not enough? Perhaps God just gave me a big appetite! Is it then discrimination if Mickie D's won't give me a second "Happy Meal" for free? After all, I was not, ultimately, happy with my "Happy Meal" right?

Is it my fault that I have big feet? Certainly it's inconvenient, and I envy people with smaller feet because it's hard to find shoes in my size. Is it then discrimination if the shoe store will not sell me a larger size at the same price?

Perhaps my religion forbids birth control and my God tells me that children are a blessing. If the realtor won't accommodate my larger family and give me the same chance to own a home that a single man has, is that discrimination? Aren't they, really, discriminating against my religion?

Why then, if I do not fit into a standard size airline seat, and a single airline seat cannot safely and comfortably accommodate my size, do I think it's okay to demand that the airline give me a second seat for free? Aren't I just demanding resources I didn't pay for? Aren't I, in essence, demanding a second "Happy Meal"?

While it is true that some people have no control over the size of their bodies, that they are, indeed, disabled by physiological malfunctions that result in irregular body size, they are, we must admit, the minority. The vast majority of overweight people are obese because they lack proper diet, exercise and self-control. Lack of mobility is not an excuse, nor is diabetes. Many with mobility impairment and diabetes manage to control their weight just fine.

Ultimately however, does it really matter WHY the person needs two seats? I think it doesn't matter. In order to be safely and comfortably accommodated, an obese person requires twice the resources (two seats) than the average person (who only requires one seat). Why shouldn't they have to pay for that? Why should the airline be expected to pick up the tab? We're talking about resources and cost/value, not rights.

Someone asked: Don't obese people have the right to fly? If an obese person cannot be safely and comfortably accommodated in the airline cabin, NO. They don't have the right to fly because that would infringe on the rights of the airline to demand payment for resources, and it would further infringe on the rights of the OTHER passengers to fly safely and comfortably. Since when has it become acceptable for the rights of any one individual, even a disabled individual, to supersede the rights of all others?

Now, if we asked the majority of people, "Would you like for airlines to double the size of their seats" I do not doubt that you would hear a resounding "Heck, Yeah!" And if we asked the majority of people, "Would you like for airlines to accommodate larger seat sizes by halving the number of seats on planes?" Again, I think we'd all agree, as most of us have, at one time or another, enjoyed the ambiance of our airline industry's flying sardine cans. However, were we to ask the majority of people if they'd like airline companies to double the price of a ticket, every ticket in fact, in order to accommodate this luxury, I doubt few if any would support the idea.

Someone mentioned sitting next to someone who smells bad. I totally agree that it is a horrible experience. However, by what standard would we measure it? Someone mentioned crying babies and unruly children. I totally agree. How would you enforce it consistently? Would you even want to try? The obese are another matter. It's completely objective and depends totally on one single criterion: can this person fit into their seat? Someone mentioned the size limits for carry-on luggage and suggested something similar for people: set up poles and say "If you cannot fit through these two poles, you must purchase an extra seat." Perhaps we need an aisle-size limit and say "If you cannot fit through here, you cannot get on the plane."

Is it discrimination? Perhaps. But if so, so is Mickie D telling me I cannot have a second "Happy Meal" for free.

So, how are they pushing the drink cart through? Or how are people passing to go to the bathroom. Sure he made room for the guy in the middle seat, but now he's inconveniencing everyone else on the plane. If you are that large, you know whether you can fit or not. I imagine if it were me in that position, I'd hate to fly and be embarrassed, and would likely find other means of travel that would be more comfortable to me, if possible. If not, I'd probably spring for first class seats since they are more roomy and less intrusive to neighbors.

And bench seating... how would an airline know how many tickets to sell? If there are several large passengers, they may overbook a flight because everyone didn't fit into the bench. That wouldn't solve anything.

Regret to say that this cannot be correct as one would need to be belted into the seat and even belt extenders do not allow for this large size.

Seats need to be larger in general. There is no reason to have shrunk the seats over the years. They allow for drunk pilots, yet wish to ignore proper accommodations for people of size while charging double to big/bigger people. We are a cruel and unusual society.

brianch, you can clearly see him sitting on the armrest

no wonder why more and more people are just driving instead of flying. Just to avoid garbage like this.

"Fat acceptance" gone insane.

If I'm ever put in this situation (of being the middle seat guy), you can be certain that it will make the news. I'll have no problem telling the guy that he's a fat f**k and that he needs to take a bus or a train or be shipped by a freight company.

Letting yourself become this fat is clearly an abuse of humanhood.

Maybe I'm the only one here but I can see a lot of free seats, even right behind him. So instead of letting him sit on two seats in the row behind him the sit him where he is shown on the picture? I set it's set up to feed the trolls, especially the media, who make fun of fat people.

Speaking of going to the bathroom. Whenever I see a person of this girth, I wonder - HOW DO THEY WIPE THEMSELVES WHEN THEY DO GO TO THE BATHROOM. Think about it.

There is a "bigger" issue here, pardon the pun. I am 6'6" and 300 pounds I have a 58 inch chest and a 40 in waist. I am not obese. I travel often. It is ridiculous the size of the seats. I try constantly to get exit rows and bulkhead seats and they are often taken by what many of you are calling "normal" people who have no need for the extra leg room. First I can assure you if you want a quick exit I will provide it because I will rip that 35lb door off quickly! Although my waist fits ok in my seat my upper body always "spills" over to others seats, how do I fix this? Answer I CAN'T! Now how about some bench seating or size requirements for the extra leg room seats. It is a fact that people are getting larger,(not just obese) But, larger how many of you have noticed the 13, 14, 15 year old boys who are 6 foot and up. Airlines will need to get a clue and start making some seats larger, we should not have to pay more for these seats, just enforce that the people who sit n these seats really do need it, if the flight does not have as many large passengers than guess what you little people can have them like a first class upgrade, good for you. I try to help those who are next to me by leaning forward very uncomfortable on long flights and almost impossible if not in exit row. Airlines quit being greedy I would pay a little extra to have a bigger seat,(not first class prices ridiculous!) I have to pay extra for my suits and clothes because it takes more fabric so I would pay the little extra. Now fix it airlines!

I too know this individual and I happen to know he purchased an extra $700 ticket out of consideration for other passengers. However, the arm rest would not lift up and he was forced to overhang the aisle, causing considerable discomfort and embarrassment for him on a 7 hour transatlantic flight.

WOW! So ironic that you leave a harsh comment like this but yet you use the Pink Ribbon of Breast cancer. LOL I hope you do not have to have a breast removed then your perfect self will not be able to go swimming because of the insensitive people pointing and staring about your missing breast. Oh wait I guess that is different, right?
99.9% of people? Where do you get your statistics? I agree with safety issues, they should be addressed, but to keep people from flying in the meantime, (maybe to go for healthcare?) is wrong.

If the seats are full for the bench seats or bigger seats then you would just book a different flight time. It is a easy fix if they just take the information at booking time and if they have connecting flights than they would know how to book the next flight. I would take a flight several hours later for the larger seat.

You are ridiculous. Like the way you treat others with hatred and ridicule while using the pink ribbon for breast cancer. LOL. Hope that you are not mistreated if you end up losing a breast. 99.9% where do you get your stats? People are getting larger every year, (not just fatter but LARGER) Safety is a concern and that should be addressed. but, to keep them from flying?(what if they are going for healthcare). Get off your high horse and use the compassion you have for breast cancer for others

Hey, assholes!! Take a deep breath and get a life. The plane was not in flight. If you look you can see the overhead bins open and people still getting on the plane. I know the guy in the picture. He is my brother. He told me that he was waiting for the window passenger to come down the aisle and take the seat. When the plane was filled and the door closed, he took his seat and flew like every other passenger. Kiernan, did your flight attendant source tell you that? Probably not. Why ruin a sensation story with the facts. There so few groups we can hate now adays. Seems all we're left with in this country to sterotype are the obese, Muslims, and celebrities. Thank God my brother isn't a famous Muslim or you'd be able to score a hat trick of hate!

Wow. Reading through all the comments was a great way to pass some time at work.

I want to empathize with those who are irate at people insulting/discriminating against the large man in the picture. However, I just can't.

More often than not, especially in America, obesity is not a disease. It is a byproduct of laziness and ignorance. Most people are too lazy to commit to proper diet and/or exercise. All sorts of excuses come into play.

Yes, the very obese ones probably have worse genetics. Growing up I had a high bodyfat % but you couldn't tell, because I had skinny limbs, and a lanky frame. Yet I had a nice pot belly to go with it. Others store fat in different areas.

However I wised up, learned about proper nutrition, started eating better, and picked up weight lifting paired with cardio. it was a long process, but I am actually proud of my body.

If people would take the time to learn about what is actually healthy, adn not look for keywords plastered on the side of commercial products in the grocery store (news flash: You can still get fat eating fat free foods) then alot of this "epidemic" could solve itself.

Yes, some people do have actually, legitimate reasons as to their obesity. Thyroid issues, diabetes, etc etc. However, you can get treatments for those, and coupled with proper diet/exercise, you can still be quite slim. I've personally had friends with these various issues. It takes more effort on their part, but they do it. A friend just recently has an extremely underactive thyroid. She has prescriptions to help with that, and exercises like a mad woman. She has a mediocre diet, and has managed to drop her weight from near 200lbs to just over 150lbs within the last year. It isn't impossible, it is just a matter of motivation, determination, and most importantly, education.

Hello---
This is Lee Kushnir from Fox News Channel in NYC. I was hoping to to talk to anyone who may have been on the flight, or know the passenger, the cameraperson, etc. There are so many questions about this story. Please email me at lee.kushnir@foxnews.com, and we will be in touch. Thank you.

If you take up two seats, you should pay for 2 tickets.....simple as that....now let's not get into the argument that "it's not their fault they're that big".....because then that would lead to all types of stupid rules and regulations on overweight passengers.....let's just keep this simple....no discrimination....just business ethics and common sense

Safety on several levels is the most important issue. In an emergency, this guy would be a huge safety risk for himself and others. In the long run, this guy's health is also obviously at risk.

GUESS WHAT?? This guy DID pay for an extra seat in consideration for the other passengers! The armrest would not go up! He did not complain--just "ate" the extra $700.00 for the extra seat. He also had to sit this way for 7 hours on a transatlantic flight!!!! He is the sweetest, kindest, most gentle man you would ever meet!!!!

Why are there multiple versions of the same comment?

I have to laugh at some of the comments -- so the airline and other passengers must accommodate this guy?

How about this porker shed a couple of hundred pounds? Do you really believe all people his size have an intractable medical condition?

Personal responsibility never seems to be a requirement -- it's political correctness run amok.

why is everyone slagging this guy,

yeh he is big but is the problen not that they need to give us bigger seats,

i remeber not that long ago ppl dying becouse the seat wher so small,, that being you are sitting in small space and cant get the blood moving in your body causing blood clots.

whenever i travel on public transport no matter wetjher its a bus, train, or flying bus becouse thats all they are,, we get riped off stop slagging the guy or big ppl lets get bigger seats for all and they shulde sell extra large seats as well becouse im shure the larger men and women would pay as anyone iv met thats of bigger bones ;-) is ushaly very nice and wouldent want to put anyone in uncomfy disposition ..

i think i no this guy and if it is him he aint as big as the picture makes out .

reply to Anon 12/3 at 5:16

Your comment is at odds with what other people (who likewise claim firsthand knowledge) have said about this incident. They said this person chose not to buy an extra ticket, and furthermore, many people have said that this was NOT a trans-Atlantic flight. To be honest, I can't imagine a ticket for a transAtlantic flight costing only $700.

He should be made to buy carbohydrate credits.

The fact that some of the overhead compartments are open with nobody standing in front of them should be an indication that the plane was still on the ground. No way in hell a plane would take off with a person halfway hanging over into the aisle.

This situation is real, whether this photo is real or not. In March, I flew from Detroit to Tokyo on a NWA flight in coach. I had a woman sitting next to me that 300+ pounds. For 13 hours I was pinned against the side of the plane. She needed two seats. What made me irrate was she fed 1/2 the flight. There were no conseqences for her actions.

Economy class seats are simply too small. I frequently fly 12+ hour flights between Asia and the U.S., and prefer aisle seats because they make me feel less cramped and claustrophobic. I've had large people take up my space, which was unpleasant. But even normal sized people in the middle or window seat necessitate my standing up and getting out of my seat to let them by when they go to the bathroom or whatever. If I sit in a window seat, I have to make the middle and aisle seat passengers stand up and/or exit their seats to let me by. The situation is worsened if the people in the row in front all have their seat backs tilted backwards. I am not obese or overly tall. I think that airlines design the seats with the idea that the average passenger is 5'2" and weighs one hundred pounds. BTW, I have two artificial hips, and really don't like jumping up and down every hour or so because someone in my row has a small bladder. Let's face it, economy class is one of the Circles of Hell that Dante neglected to write about.

This pic was photoshopped and the joke's on us. Anyone who has flown coach knows it'd be impossible for a man that size to even walk through the aisle let alone wedge his legs between his seat and the one in front of him. Take a better good look. He must be 7 feet tall besides being fat! A slim man that size wouldn't have the leg room. Another reason it's a fake is aisle armrests are fixed. You cannot move them up or down. That means he's sitting with the armrest between the crack of his ass which I doubt is real.

They should have given him a nice, big space in the cargo hold.

For those of you who think larger people should all go first class, I have to say, being one, that first class seats are often MORE uncomfortable for larger people. They often come with "walls" between the seats full of tables/electronics, etc., that never go up, so they are much more constraining and difficult to exit from than tourist seats. Personally I always get an aisle seat, where I can for most of the flight overflow in that direction if necessary. As for getting two seats, I tried sitting in the middle of two seats once, briefly---extremely uncomfortable even with the seatbacks up as the armrest goes back only as far as the front edge of the cushioning, so when you lean back and the cushioning compresses the armrest doesn't.
My current favorite is Southwest, as I make sure to be an early boarder. That way no one has to sit next to me unless the plane is completely full. Also, many SW planes have aisle arms that can be raised during flight, making it easy to slide somewhat into the aisle (not like the guy in the picture, but enough to not inconvenience my seatmate). And yes, I'm dieting, exercising, etc., but as anyone who has done it knows, it is very hard to do as the body really resists losing weight and fights to regain it. I was once thin with ease...would love to be again.

What amazes me about all these comments is the unkindness and lack of civility many of the "fat critics" are showing. All the "lardass" and "you fat disgusting pig" comments are really telling.

Why on earth would you treat another human being with such venom? What entitles you to talk to other people in such a cruel, thoughtless, nasty way?

I'm appalled that people seem to think it's okay to treat fat people, or ANY people, in that way. That kind of writing really reveals a lot about the people posting it, and it's not pretty.

I'm a normal sized person, but I'd rather weigh 500 lbs than have the cancer of the soul that some of you have.

The big guy is sitting on the arm of the seat so that puts him about seven inches higher than he actually would sit, if he could sit in the seat.
Perhaps he hoped to wait to see if there was an empty seat in the plane, so that he could have two seats.
Some people are fat because they eat too much. Some because they have badly regulated hormone systems. Some because they are getting too many female pseudo-hormones from plastics. Some because they have cellular systems made for light oils, like fish and coconut and are being fed beef fat and cottonseed oil.
This guy is naturally big, even before he put on any weight.
He should have been moved to a seat with the best emergency exit for someone his size. That's common sense.
I'd vote for airlines selling tickets to humans and having provisions for heavy people, disabled people and infants. Why should people be subjected to a screaming baby for hours, even if the parents pay for a seat.

Yes, obesity is a bonafide disease. However, alcoholism is a disease too. Both have very simple solutions which require an enormous amount of discipline and hard work by the sufferer. The fact of the matter is, though, that is is the responsibility of everyone to take care of themselves. To simply say that 99% of diets don't work fails to explain why, and I'm fairly sure it's because those people don't have the self control or motivation to see the diets through or find an option that works for them. In any case, there is no good reason why the rest of the paying customers should have to suffer.

What amazes me about all these comments is the unkindness and lack of civility many of the "fat critics" are showing. All the "lardass" and "you fat disgusting pig" comments are really telling.

Why on earth would you treat another human being with such venom? What entitles you to talk to other people in such a cruel, thoughtless, nasty way?

I'm appalled that people seem to think it's okay to treat fat people, or ANY people, in that way. That kind of writing really reveals a lot about the people posting it, and it's not pretty.

I'm a normal sized person, but I'd rather weigh 500 lbs than have the cancer of the soul that some of you have.

This debate angers me. I bought 2 seats for a heavy relative who was traveling with me. The airline dummy who made the doubleseat reservation apparently did not know that the friggin' armrest between the 2 seats did not come up. So my relative sat jammed into one seat, while I paid for the vacant second seat. When we changed planes in Chicago the airheads at the counter said "Well there is nothing we can do about a seat that has already been booked". This added debate caused embarrassment for the heavy person. Fortunately there was a decent male flight attendent who overhead the conversation at the desk, exercised some initiative and found someone on the connecting flight, in an area where the armrests did go up, to switch seats with us.So while this debate rages, maybe someone could tell the airlines to train their personnel as to the nature of their different planes.

I'm really saddened by these comments. Do you all realize how vicious you sound? My husband is 6'2", not overweight, but big. We always try to make sure that I'm between him and anyone else, but the seats are so narrow that he does "spill over" with his shoulders and elbows. The population is getting both bigger and taller. Why are we angry at the victims when we should be angry at the airlines?

Obesity is not a disability. Disease, maybe, but a disability, no. No morbidly obese person would be so without the caloric intake to maintain or increase their weight. The safety of the other passengers is more important than anyone's feelings. Where's the justice for the person who pays, fits in the seat but has the other person all over them? I'm tall and all flights suck, but I don't stick my legs into the aisle or into the space of my fellow passenger because of my "disability". Maybe obese people would work a little harder to be less so if they actually had to pay for it - double airline fare or an additional premium for their health insurance for the myriad chronic diseases they'll have that everyone else pays for. As far as airlines afraid of lawsuits, blame the idiot juries, 1/3 of those who serve are guaranteed to be obese here in the US. As far as the employees being clueless and unhelpful to those who are willing to do the right thing, how is that different from most employees at virtually any company you deal with? Airlines are especially problematic because they have a captive audience and customers are sheep. Buy your tickets and hope for the best folks because nobody cares about anyone but themselves.

I guess there was no room on hold-5!!

That guy is supposed to go as cargo.

What if he needs to go to the bathroom?

The airline lost money for that passenger; not only they had to take more fuel but they couldn't get the trolley with the beverages past that row!

Carlos
New York

I agree with all the safety and comfort issues wholeheartedly. What I can't stand is all the hate.

Yeah, I'm overweight, just tipping into the obese category, but I'm not an apologist. It is tremendously unhealthy and I am not happy with my weight. What gets me is the people who always get on a forum like this and spouting c**p about how easy it is to lose weight. "Just stop eating so much!" D'oh! Why didn't I think of that? Must be stupid as well as fat. If losing weight is so easy why do we have an obesity epidemic?

I have only gained the weight in the last few years, I had some things going on that made me depressed. I took the productive root and ate. I'm not proud of it. I used to work out every day. I was super fit. Now I'm trying to lose weight, but it isn't easy because the PSYCHOLOGICAL issues are still there. Stop acting like fools and realise that people don't choose this and they certainly don't like it. If it was so damned easy why are there so many new diet books?

The fat person on the plane is far embarrassed than you. By all means have this debate, and I do think people should pay more if they need two seats, but why be nasty, ill-informed and immature?

I was on a flight next to a really fat lady and there simply was not enough room for me to sit comfortably. She was spilling into my seat. I paid for a full seat and did not have one. Thankfully I was moved after many complaints.

I tried to be nice to the lady. I don't fault her. Still, I think that if you need more than one seat it is not discrimination to be required to pay for more than one.

No problem, the government will start a program. For people over 250 lb, we'll buy an extra seat on US. What's the big deal? We'll charge up the Fed credit as much as we can so that our kids pay it off.

(I do hope those young people don't begin to favor euthanasia. Anyway, it won't affect me, just the stupid little people who chose to build things instead of working for the financial industry.)

Good luck everyone!

Like some, I think this is a very serious debate. Its importance has relevance not only for the airline industry but also for related situations where pre-proportioned accommodations are made, as some already referenced - theater, cinema, stadiums... perhaps even beds... as well health, insurance, etc...

When I first saw and read the caption, I must admit that I too sided with the majority of people and had a more sophomoric emotional reaction. I then reflected on situations where I felt I was the victim of "overage" and felt a bit vindicated - despite it being someone else.

In addition, as I began to read- i did share some similar emotions in a light way... However, as I continued to read, I became a bit more compassionate and felt a little ashamed at my initial reactions. This compassion developed not only from reading the postings of those who defended the larger sized man and other obese people, but from the number of purely cruel, mean-spirited, off the wall, non constructive, irrelevant, assumption-based, misinformed, and at times illiterate ( concepts more than grammar) comments and postings. To me, the postings who show respect, have factual information, and expand the conversation, regardless of which side they represent- are the ones that help us to find understanding and resolution.

Some examples of the comments I liked included citing real statistics on obesity not those who just threw out crazy numbers, those who talked about the reason airlines havent kept pace with the changing shape of america, talked about airlines being a business but also a common good regulated by the government and those who showed respect.

But some comments were just plain dumb- and they existed on both sides of the debate.

Where are the constructive ideas about working to find a solution? I like the bench seat idea but i might still agree that a higher rate be charged. For extra leg room or for extra weight luggage- extra costs are incurred. Perhaps, at least domestically, the development of high-speed rail transportation, where weight and size are not nearly as limiting of factor as on an airlines bottom-line, could facilitate the creation of more accommodating seats for larger, taller, heavier people as well as though with special needs.

I rarely if ever read a blog, but when I do, I read them to get a pulse of the public and more importantly to learn perspectives I previously did not know- on both sides of the issue. I hope if i come back this site I will find less sensational reactions and more informative conversation.

But what I take away from the postings... is that this is an important debate I will want to know more about- but from a more informed group. ...That I should have more compassion myself... that an equally if not more important debate should be how to help those who are obese.

The airline is at fault if they allowed this guy to stay in the aisle seat. He’s at fault for his body size. No one on that plane should pay for his lifestyle choices.

The mean comments are animated, but we are entitled to our frustration. Some of us are sick of accommodating people of adult years who will not exercise maturity in their lives.

The drunken passenger might be able to remain restrained until he gets on the plane – so we can’t anticipate that. Crying babies? On a plane, they are annoying, but, may I remind you, each of us was a baby at one time. I imagine parents can’t anticipate how a baby will respond to flying. But this guy was fat when he got on the plane.

You say he’s a nice man? Wait a minute, how nice is he if he makes us look at him; we cannot be expected to engage in denial just because that would spare his feelings. He’s not being nice or fair to the other people in his health plan. He’s not being nice or fair to the other passengers on this flight.

He’s willing to pay more for the seat? Is he willing to demonstrate the discipline to stick with a weight-loss and exercise plan if he’s so conscientious and kind? Kind? How can he be kind to other people if he’s so abusive to himself?

hey y'all guess what? if the plane catches fire or crashes, you're gonna have lots bigger (hah) things to worry about. AND! if the dude bought two seats, how would that make it safer except that it would allow everyone else to run past him...while he sits there, denied a right to seeking his own survival? seriously, your concerns for safety seem like just an excuse to vent about fat people.

also...my loved ones and I are all quite fit, but I would imagine that the discomfort that you feel during the hours of your flight pales in comparison to the physical problems and emotion pain that might easily accompany living in a body that size and being judged so harshly by strangers like you.

have a little compassion and stop whining. maybe then you would have time to volunteer, help others get fit and have access to/afford healthy food, therapy, and education.

America's problem is not that people are fat, it's the causes behind that and the results of it. It's that it's cheapest to eat junk, fastest after double shift min wage jobs to get fast food, and easiest for the rest to sit around scoffing at photos...

but hey, that's an opinion, and I'm just an ignorant Texan who uses "y'all"...just in case you ran out of things to judge.

@ Ela 6:31: thanks for your comments

Here is the bottom line, as I see it. I don't care how big someone is. I don't care if they pay double or fly for free. But when I pay for a plane ticket, I buy (rent) the seat and the space under the seat in front of me. I should get to use that--not have someone in my space. However the airlines work that out is fine with me. It's not fine if they put somebody in half the space I paid for, whether that is an overweight passenger next to me, or somebody who wants to hold their child on their lap, but stick the kid's head or feet into my seat.

I'm large. Yes, obese. Not in the league of the guy depicted, but big enough to have experienced a measure of his discomfort. However, there comes a point where the line must be drawn. Does this guy even have a seat belt on? Would seat belt extensions be safe? Has he exceeded the weight rating of the hardware which fastens the seat to the floor? Forget evacuation, he's blocking the aisle for passenger access to restrooms, F/A access to service passengers, etcetera, etc.... It seems clear that this guy doesn't belong on a commercial airplane, even in a bench seat!

Let's set aside the argument of how one gets where I am. As a plus-size member of humanity, I know there are certain activities in which I can no longer participate. It's not a matter of people tolerating me (sorry, Moose, I disagree with your assessment on that point, at least). It's a matter of practicality. As much as I enjoy rock climbing (at one time I was quite good,) scaling granite is no longer an option for me. I may one day regain that ability, but for now, I need to be realistic.

The concept of "equal access" is admirable, but at some point we must accept that society cannot grant it without some restriction. Most would agree that it was a good move to allow girls to play Little League baseball. But does anyone expect the League to accomodate blind children? Or paraplegics? It's a harsh reality, but there are some things everyone can't do. Sorry, that's life. And at some point, we need to be able to say, "No sir, you may NOT fly with us - this just isn't going to work."

New airline opening now: Pay-By-The-Pound-"We'll get ya there if we can get in the air!"

If I were that big I would want to be comfortable, heck, I want to be comfortable always. Folks should be accomodated, seats should be offered, no matter how tall or how wide. I have a VERY TALL Uncle that has to have leg room, he requests this and offers to pay extra, anyone that can't look in the mirror and not see that they have a special issue may just need someone to tell them that they do and if that requires them to pay extra so be it. Why should I suffer because I take care of my self, or because I can't keep weight on? As for the baby thing, well Sooner or later most of us have children and there is a chnace that as a parent you may just find your self there, the death of a love one may just make you have top take that baby on a plane no matter how much you don't want. Maybe that frazzled parent might like a word of encouragement, kindness or a potty break. So stop whinning about that on.

It looks as if the entire row behind him is empty, they could have safely moved him there. Perhaps there should be special pricing for 1½ seats. A coach economy first-class size seat so to speak.
I feel sad for this man.

I feel for the guy next to him, who got off, but I also feel badly for who was sitting behind him. Wedged into planes like that, it's horrendous when the person in front leans back and crushes your knees. It must have been excruciating for whoever was behind this man.

I try to be open minded about things like people being overweight, but one does have to take into account the "personal safety" issue when it involves public transportation. In the picture one can plainly see that the aisle is blocked, and it almost looks like a in-flight safety violation ooccured ?!?

If a passenger can't stuff their carry on into the overhead or under the seat, what usually happens ? The luggage goes into the belly of the plane !

If a paying passenger suddenly discovers they NEED two seats for the plane ride ? Then they should exit the plane, get reimbursed and the airline should assist the individual in getting another flight if possible...

Also: The the people at the ticket counter should be more AWARE of the possibilities of this event occuring since more and more people are finding themselves in the "obese category"...

The airline industry needs to get together and come up with a solution, change the regulations, ENFORCE the saftey rules once passengers get aboard (IE- carry on luggage), and /or have a couple of BIGGER seats available (in reserve) that can be used for alittle extra $$...

Over Thanksgiving holiday I had the misfortune of being stuck between TWO very large women (300+ pounds). The flight was full so there were no seats to swap. These two women were friends who obviously booked two seats leaving the middle one open in hopes that no one would sit there. To make matters worse, both had serious body odor. I was completely squished between them with no room. One of them also ate take out that really smelled badly! I couldn't stand because we had very strong winds in the East that produced terrible turbulent's forcing us all to have to stay belted in our seats the entire flight!. I am not happy with this as I paid for a full seat, not half of one. If you are obese then pay for two seats, and don't take half of mine!

they pay for a seat, they should be given a seat, even if a larger (two) seat must be made available...in other words, the obese passenger should be GIVEN a larger space into which to sit without impinging on other passangers...the airlines objections have nothing to do with safety, its economic for them...

Hey Nikki the nurse, I was just wondering if you know anyone who has a non working thyroid? my mom does and she is over weight. She has been on medication for over three years and it still does not function. Since there is nothing she can do to make it start working do you still feel she can loose weight or do you think she enjoys all you ignorant people staring and making your ignorant comments. Before you make judgements abouy people maybe , just maybe you should look at yourselves. If some is obese or handicapped they still are people with feelings and deserve the same as the rest of us. As for buying two seats because of your weight how about charging you people extra for being the insensitive assholes you are. yeah lets charge more for stupidity rather than weight. I hope you never have any medical problems in life because god forbid you dont look bad.

I cannot BELIEVE this man was allowed to fly! If he was sitting between me and the closest exit, I would have raised a ruckus because he is CLEARLY a danger in an emergency.

If I pay for a seat on a plane, I am entitled to ALL OF MY SEAT. Because someone is large does NOT GIVE THEM THE RIGHT TO ANY PART OF MY SEAT.

TO those who scream 'discrimination', you have the option of buying a larger seat to accomodate your size in first class, OR buying two in coach. If you cannot fit in coach with the armrest DOWN, too bad, fly up front or pay more in coach. Its YOUR size that is the problem. You do NOT have the right to endanger any other passenger's life because of your obesity.

I weigh 125 pounds, and was charged 50 bucks for a bag which was 2 pounds over the limit, meaning my bag AND I weighed 177 pounds. Meanwhile, an obese person weighing about 400 pounds and their bag fly FREE. THIS IS ABSURD. Accomodating the obese by allowing them to take over adjacent seats and having no overweight charges is an outrage.

When passengers start refusing to put up the armrest and suffer because of this 'accomodation', it will stop. The arilines are putting the rest of us IN DANGER by allowing situations like the above.

weight is weight. just like carry on it needs to be able to fit in a compartment. If your @$$ can't be fitted into the seat you must buy 2. if you have overweight baggage you must pay. weight cost airlines $ to transport; therefore you paymore.
It is also a safety issue. I want to get by this person easily? can he fit thru the exitdoor and onto a slide? can he put his head between his knees and assume the crash position? Does he jepordize the safety of the person next to him during turbulance? can a seat belt fit him? these questions are not of prejudice they are of reality. Flying is not some right we are all given due justice to have; it is a convienience and luxury.

I cannot BELIEVE this man was allowed to fly! If he was sitting between me and the closest exit, I would have raised a ruckus because he is CLEARLY a danger in an emergency.

If I pay for a seat on a plane, I am entitled to ALL OF MY SEAT. Because someone is large does NOT GIVE THEM THE RIGHT TO ANY PART OF MY SEAT.

TO those who scream 'discrimination', you have the option of buying a larger seat to accomodate your size in first class, OR buying two in coach. If you cannot fit in coach with the armrest DOWN, too bad, fly up front or pay more in coach. Its YOUR size that is the problem. You do NOT have the right to endanger any other passenger's life because of your obesity.

I weigh 125 pounds, and was charged 50 bucks for a bag which was 2 pounds over the limit, meaning my bag AND I weighed 177 pounds. Meanwhile, an obese person weighing about 400 pounds and their bag fly FREE. THIS IS ABSURD. Accomodating the obese by allowing them to take over adjacent seats and having no overweight charges is an outrage.

When passengers start refusing to put up the armrest and suffer because of this 'accomodation', it will stop. The arilines are putting the rest of us IN DANGER by allowing situations like the above.

I've never had a weight problem so I may not be able to identify with those who do ! But I absolutely support their right to fly like anyone else. Also airlines, I believe, are first and foremost a "buisness" which means they put in as many small space saving seats as they can to hold as many passangers as possible to make the most profit. But to potentially charge more for a large passenger to sit in those small seats, in my opinion, is discrimination and should NOT be tolerated. Airlines should be required to accomodate ALL passengers. Just as Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to end racial discrimination perhaps overweight people should refuse to give up or pay more for THEIR seats to end "weight discrimination" !

Moose

As a normal sized passenger who has had to pay for $400 for Oxygen on a flight from Houston to London Heathrow, I think your reasoning is completely ridiculous. The $400 covered 2 Metres of tubing that connected to the overhead Oxygen manifold of a 747-400 and a mask and before you say that I must have done it myself, I don't smoke.

Airlines can charge whatever they want when they want. If the guy is as large as he looks then he should certainly pay for two seats. He certainly didn't get that way by living on only bread and water.

NO EXIT ROW SEATS OR BULKHEAD SEATS FOR PEOPLE UNDER 6FOOT TALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU LITTLE PEOPLE DO NOT NEED THE EXTRA LEG ROOM!!!!!!!!!!!Even on flights that do not have reservations make a place for you to mark your height on the booking and DO NOT LET LITTLE PEOPLE IN THESE SEATS!!

The airlines need to stop being so cheap and make bigger seats those seats are way to small even for a normal person not comfortable at all i think they should be wider and more leg room for taller people.
we work pay taxes and maintain airlines salary and we should have a say on how we should have a say

I once had a flight from Orlando to L.A. at a window seat. The passenger in the middle seat was a woman who weighed a good 300 pounds. The arm rests on each side had to be in the up position for her to be seated. The flight attendant assisted her into this seat instructing me to slide over a bit more toward the window which was impossible. I spent the whole fully booked flight pressed against the wall barely able to breathe. I asked to be moved to another seat and was told that the flight was full with no available seating. They seemed to be more sympathetic to the overweight person next to me. It seemed to me at the time that this woman should have been removed from the flight because there was no available seat for her excess flab. In this day and age of the skinny seats on planes there is no excuse for not asking excessively overweight people to pay for the extra seat or to have an area of wider seats especially for overweight people.

To “Big Moose” and all the other large fliers who think “normal” sized people are insensitive to their plight, I say baloney. As a 6’4”, 190 lb person with about 9% body fat, I’m anything but fat, but I also have problems with airline seats. My butt fits just fine but my knees are always in my face and my shoulders need every bit of my “assigned” space. Because of that, I always try to get an aisle seat, so I can sit at an angle and stretch my legs into the aisle when possible. When an over-sized person is in an adjacent seat, my discomfort is multiplied. However, my discomfort is my own and my size does not put others at risk. Smaller passengers pay for ALL of their seats and should be just as vocal about getting what they paid for as over-sized passengers are about their comfort.
You can see from the pic that other passengers are still boarding and the pic may not accurately reflect the actual in-flight condition but the big guy is obviously wedged into that seat, pushing the seat back into the row behind him (probably couldn’t put the seat in the “upright” position for take-off and landing, which also jeopardizes those in the row behind) and no one else on his row is going to be able to leave their seat for any reason during that flight (he looks like he is taller than he really is because he is sitting on huge thighs, as well). Where the hell is the aisle-side arm rest on his seat (may explain why he is not sitting all the way down in his seat)? On most, if not all, airlines, the aisle-side seat arm rest does not fold up. There’s no way he is going to get into a restroom, even if he could get to it during the flight.
But the real issue here is the safety of other passengers. It does not matter how many seats this guy pays for, he could never fit through an emergency exit so, in an emergency, he would have to exit from the main or rear cabin door, neither of which he is anywhere close to, so he could not get to them in an emergency without putting all behind him at risk and may not even be able to get out of his seat. He is blocking half the aisle, so that crew members and others cannot pass and a cart will not fit by him. Also, is there a “load-limit” on airline seats? Is he stressing the seat beyond design parameters? The list of problems caused by this guy’s presence just goes on and on.
My take on this is that, at the very least, he should have to pay for a first class seat. Flying is a privilege, not a right, and the airline has a greater responsibility to the safety and comfort of all the other passengers than to the one person the plane was obviously not designed to accommodate. Whatever happened to “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone”? Never mind, I’ll answer that: Attorneys and the “Persons With Disabilities Act”. According to that Fed legislation, anyone is disabled who believes themselves to be disabled and no one can discriminate against them.

I use to fly all the time but now we drive almost every where we go. This is one of the reason infact the main we do not fly much. If a person makes a choice to be fat why should I have to be the one to suffer for it. If your ass won't fit in one seat then you should have to pay for two.

I for one do not feel bad for this guy... most overwieght people are in that condition from poor eating/health habits. If this guy is part of the very small precentage of the obese who really have "galndular problems" or something similar, then I apologize. Most likley, however, he is just a fat @ss.

Political correctness gone terribly wrong...

What about the majority on the plane who are not fat and who have to deal with this guy (saftey issues, sitting next to him, having to get around him to go to the bathroom, having to wait while he gets situated in his seat, etc.)?

If a person is elderly, disabled, etc. of course we need to have compassion and patience. If someone can't put down the Burger King or get their @ss on a treadmill, I personally don't care about their "feelings". If the airlines are not going to charge him an extra seat, I want to bring on as much carry on luggage as I like at no extra charge!

I say if you are a larger than average person you should NOT pay extra, unless you have the family with the screaming baby to pay extra, for the annoying screaming. The women that smells like she took a bath in cologe to pay extra, because she is killing my allergies. The guy that is snoring and drooling because he is loud and the drooling could be a danger if he has H1N1.

OK big news flash, there will always be issues we have with each other, so how do we deal with that when we fly. Who has the authority to police how and who flys, because of behaviors or habits?

Just like luggage, passengers should be restricted according to their volume - size and weight combined.

If the seats are designed for up to 7 feet in height and 250 pounds, then passengers larger than that should pay for super-sized seats before boarding.

Everyone should step on a scale and have their luggage as well as their bodies measured. I am willing to bet this action alone would be the best motivator for reducing obesity in the middle (traveling) class.

The super-sized seats could be scattered randomly throughout the aircraft so location discrimination is not occuring. Marketing studies can be conducted to find out what percentage of travelers are grossly obese and design adjustments made accordingly.

Also, some travelers with infants/children might want to super-size for the extra comfort of elbow room, too.

I got upgrade to first class having been sat next to a fat guy, they put me next to tiger woods

he touched me here, and here, and here

I would rather take the fat guy

The airlines are afraid of lawsuits from fat people? Stick on of those grossly obese people next to me and have their fat spilling into the seat I paid for and I'll show you a lawsuit.
That guy has got a lot of nerve to even get on an airplane, and the airline personel that let him on? What a bunch of gutless whimps.!!!

Just like airlines provide bassinets on first come first serve policy for babies, they need to provide (more expensive but less than the price of two tickets) XL sized seats for the first few 'obese' ppl too. The rest can buy two seats if they want to travel...This option would be easier on both the parties involved.
Plus the XL seats need to be positioned such that there is no compromise on safety for the other passengers..

I admit to a prejudice against obese human beings! If the world has decided that alcoholism is a disease and a stint in rehab might help, then let's put these people in rehab where they can shut their mouths......I'm tired of hearing about their discrimination!

I am 5'7" and 110 lbs! Even with all my luggage I would not weigh as much in the photo and yet I am charged for my bags due to the excess fuel that excess weight causes.

Can you imagine, in an emergency evacuation trying to get this man out of the plane? What if you were behind him.......even Captain Sully couldn't keep that plane afloat!

It's purely a matter of calories in and calories out! Perhaps a nice place in cargo where my dog flies would be appropriate for someone who has such a lack of concern for the safety of others and his own personal health!

I would file reverse discrimination; but I don't think it would fly............the fat get too much sympathy because they are in the majority. Let's stop with the PC "obese" and call it like it is!

To the person that knows this man. I am pretty sure I also know who he is. I'm not going to say specifics however I am curious. Is he Sweedish and does he live in the Upper Midwest... Possible Wisconsin? I think I used to work with him. My name may give it away.

If it were not for the overweight what would the 'healthy' people have to be proud of? Obviously, not being kind, compassionate human beings. Grow up! What if this guy was a Center for a National Championship college football team? Would you be criticizing his eating and exercise habits?

If we have to keep aisles clear of bags, why is a person allowed to block pathways. Seems to me this is a violation of FAA regulations.

I used to be a 300 pound person who had to fly. I was jammed into seats most of the time. I think that looking at the people of todays world and the airlines wanting to keep flights as full as possible...and not wanting to discriminate against anyone...that they would make at least the back row of their seats double wide for either people who are very large, handicapped or with a child.... Gee wouldnt that be an easy solution to the problem!
Not all Obese people are obese from lack of self care... some actually have MEDICAL conditions which cause their obesity... wake up america... no matter what we look like on the outside .. we are all human beings with FEELINGS on the inside...

These people should not be allowed to fly. They need to be at a gym losing 95% of thaty fat!

I've been on 2 flights recently where the girth of the overweight passenger in the adjoining seat spilled over into my seating area and made me physcially uncomfortable during my flight as a result. I complained to the airline (a U.S. domestic carrier) on their on-line feedback form, but never heard back from the company. Next time, I'm going to raise a stink with the FA inside the airplane before we leave the gate, because it's simply not fair to us height-weight proportionate passengers that we have to put up with this.

The lardass should have taken the Circus Train with the rest of the elephants .

Obesity is a certified disability in many states, and airlines are by law required to serve passengers with any physical or mental disability that doesn't cause a threat to other passengers. In this case, the problem was properly resolved by rebooking and compensating the man next to him. You have the right to request a different seat if you're uncomfortable with the passengers nearby; you do NOT have the right to kick them off the plane.

Derrie-Air does not exist. Get over it.

Obesity is covered under the American's with Disabilities Act, therefore the airlines should have to accomdate them as they must accommodate a person in a wheelchair, period.

Why is it that we have no problem accepting the fact that some people can eat like a horse, 3000 to 5000 calories a day, never exercise and not gain weight, we envy them and say, "Oh, what a high metabolism they have,"

But we fail to acknowledge that there are those out there with such a low metabolism, that their bodies comvert whatever they eat to fat.

This is a holdover from the time when food was in scarce supply and only those with a low metabolism would survive.

Now, these people, who probably saved our species at one time, because they could survive on what little food was available, are now despised.

This is a serious issue regardless of political correctness. As flight attendants, we have to deal with many issues. Yes, some of us don't handle things well. Most of us try our best. For handicapped individuals, there are special briefings given so these indiviuals know what to do in an emergency. There are guidelines set for nearly everything....except this.
Being overweight, is no laughing matter. However, "Marco" gave a good analogy of cost for product use. It is true, if you need to use more than your alloted space....pay for it.
Everyone needs to remember, it is not your right to get everything you are feel entitled to when flying. We are not federally subsidized. Yes, many airlines have taken bail out money....but we are not subsidized. In this economy, (actually since 9/11) passengers don't want to pay what it really costs for their tickets. Do you all know that your airline tickets cost you a significant amount less than in the 80's? Why? Consumers demand it. But you will pay $4.00 for a gallon of gas or $4.00 for a cup of coffee. Hence,the cost of baggage and snacks. You asked for low prices...you got them. Now everyone is outraged at checked bag fees. When did the airlines become the only business that shouldn't be profitable? I don't hear people SCREAMING at the HUGE profits of the oil companies.
Some of you crack me up. You have such a sense of entitlement. You want it all and you know it all....just because you are you. Well, you don't. If you use it, you have to pay, one way or the other.
I feel sorry for the large people. I really do. But, facts are facts. If you don't fit, you do have choices. Don't fly, buy a second seat, hope that the plane is empty. Everyone who buys a ticket has a right to a full seat!
For all of you who can't keep from name calling. Shame on you! When people ask you what is wrong with America.... you can say, "I am". When we stopped being polite and respectful in this nation, we began to fall. It's very sad.
For you non-Americans who feel the need to belittle us because of who we are, look in your own backyards before you criticize us. When you live in a perfect society, go ahead and throw those stones. Otherwise, keep quiet.
When we all take responsibility for ourselves and do what is right, these stupid debates would end and more interesting ones would begin.
To the grammer expert, sorry. I do write terribily. But I make darn good points! :)
One last suggestion....next time you fly, stow you bags properly, keep your seatbelt fastened when the sign is one, turn off your electronic device when told to, introduce yourself to you neighbor, and lastly, smile at your flight attendant. We've had a hard day! :)

Ok well clearly this is a HUGE issue (every possible pun intended) for this many people to comment on. And I really just have a few things to add. This is clearly just another proof on how we Americans like to push blame instead of accepting responsibility, and tiptoe around the issues to not hurt anyone's feelings. Who gave the term fat such a negative connotation? Fat is a substance. A noun. And those who retain too much know they do and they know alllllll the things they can do to remove it. But we make excuses, I'm too busy it's too hard I'm comfortable w myself. Whatever whovares? Everyone has the right to be the size they want. HOWEVER! One of our core fundamentals is infringing on the rights of others! Um... Hi. As said before, I have the right to be able to fly in my own seat w/out someone else's body all over me, he has the obligation to those around him to do what is necessary to ensure his safety and comfort as well as the safety and comfort to those around him. I'm not dying bc this guy thinks it's not fair he has to buy 2 seats. Sooo not worth my life. Ex: man who took off his sneakers sitting next to me from Portland, ME to ATL!!! Gross!

I work at a children's shoe store and there are special case kids who have extremely different sized feet and we have a policy where they buy the 2 proper sizes and get a discount on the 2nd. Bc we are a business and can't just give them a free pair, but it's not their fault either. Yes being fat is a disease IN SOME, but it's fixable. Just be responsible for yourself and it will even out. Fat fat fat fat fat. Trust me, say any word enough times and it loses all meaning. Just ask Tommy Boy.

I am average size person who has had a few unpleasant experiences with extremely overweight people sitting next to me. It will ruin your flight. One time I was unable to sit in my assigned seat due to the fact an extremely overweight passenger was in it and unable to move to her assigned seat by the window. I then had to crawl over this person, with the other passengers watching me, and sit in the seat by the windower cramped. I was unable to use the restroom during the flight. For me to do that I would, once again, have to crawl over her in front of everyone. I know she was embarrased but so was I. Why she booked a window seat knowing she wasn't going to be able to sit in it is beyond me. It was the worst flight I've ever been on. There are other times where people have overflowed into my space and had their sweat run on me. It's a no win situation for all involved.

I think that the seats ought to be may larger to fit just ordinary size people. There is not enough leg room for people 5'6 or over and if people weigh more that a buck o five there still is not enough room they act like people are still the size of children. why squeeze three people in a row why not make it a two seater and give people the room they need to stretch. Especially for a ride of an hour or more. Just because it may be faster does not mean it ought to be uncomfortable. I am not saying that you shouldn't be that big. But I am saying is the seats are uncomfortable anyway.

I agree with the person who recommended the airlines to install larger seats in the back rows to accommodate larger people, parents with children, maybe a handicapped person who has to have their oxygen with them, for any one with "special" needs. The airlines are not going to lose a "significant" amount of money by maybe cutting out a few seats in the rear of the plane. I know many larger people and most of them can't do much about their weight. Most people cannot afford to buy 2 tickets at the rates they charge for most tickets. I don't feel they should be punished by this. God does not punish us because of our "differences" so what gives "man" the right to do it?

Sorry Moose...but you are an idiot. And an idiot without self control.

Tell ya what, too expensive to pay for 2 seats?? Here is a quick solution. If you know you are going to be flying....cut your caloric content for a couple weeks to save the money for the extra ticket.

As somebody who is an expert on diet on and exercise, I know what it takes to maintain that kind of mass. And food is not free.

Your utter lack of control is what has placed you where you are. Either pay for two seats, fit into one, or don't fly....it's that simple.

Yeah, I'm sure it does suck to get on a plane and know that nobody wants to sit by you. But it must not suck enough for you to do something about it.

As somebody who has dealt with my own demons over my life, I'm sick and tired of every time somebody has a difficult obstacle...it gets labeled as a "disease": or a "disability".

Man up and quit being a lazy ass.

1st off, why does the bigger gentleman have to have a flatulence issue? Really!? Yes the gentleman in the picture is larger than most, but trust he is dealing with enough issues as it is, without having to deal with everyone else around him having issues with his weight. Yes, he’s overweight, yes, he has a problem and yes, he’s taking up way too much room in the aisle, but cut the gentleman some slack and stop making fun of him. And yes, that is precisely what is being done. This isn’t so much about airline safety, or comfort, it’s another opportunity for someone who already sticks out like a sore thumb, be made a spectacle of and better yet, ridiculed. This issue should be handled with sensitivity and class and this article and picture have completely buried the class. Do I think a person this size should buy two seats, yes! Do I think the seats should both be regular price, no! I think the 2nd seat should be discounted tremendously. Why? Trust, this obese person is suffering enough dealing with his own demons, but to make him pay oodles extra because he is not 110lbs and 5’4”. I don’t think so. Yes, everyone should be comfortable, but no one should be ridiculed and shame on the stewardess for taking us back years on overweight discrimination. And just in case you are wondering, I fit in airline seats properly. FYI!

"Do you have ANY glimmer of thought to how this large person is actually feeling right now?"

Better question: do I care?

Answer: I do not.

"Do you know what it's like to step on to a plane and have EVERY SINGLE PERSON on that plane look at with a look on their face that says, "GOD! I hope that person isn't sitting next to me!"?"

No. I'm not a disgusting fatbody. Lose some damn weight, fatty.

"Do you think he really wants to inconvenience anybody else?"

I think he must, or he'd have lost the weight, bought an additional ticket, or not flown.

"Who's fault is it that he is inconveniencing the passenger next to him"

His own, and only his own. Period.

"if you don't assume ugly things, like gluttony, as being the cause of his condition?"

Right. It's Not His Fault. Those cheeseburgers forced their way into his mouth. Listen here, fatty: you eat less, you'll get skinnier. Promise.

"Could that fault be the airlines fault?"

Not even in the slightest.

"Do you know of anyone who could afford to buy two tickets - especially on international flights?"

Guess he should stay home, then. Does he NEED to travel? By plane? Then lose the weight.

"Do you know how uncomfortable it is to sit in two seats at the same time with the arm rest jammed into your back or your side? They don't fold all the way into the back of the chair."

Wah fatty. Lose the weight.

"I sit next to people who stink, next to drunks and loud obnoxious people all the time who make me really uncomfortable. Should they have to pay for an extra seat?"

I've got no problem with making people bathe before boarding. I sat next to a smoker not too long ago that made me gag. Unacceptable.

"Maybe we should put mothers with screaming babies in the toilets with the doors closed for the flight."

I'm all for that.

"Should people in wheelchairs have to pay extra for the services given to them?"

Paralyzed people don't choose paralysis. You've CHOSEN to be fat. Quit eating so much.

"It is rarely gluttony."

It's always gluttony, one way or another. Quit eating so much.

"There are many metabolic emotional and addictive issues."

So? Quit eating so much.

"Obesity is a disease."

Bullshit. It's a character flaw.

"It is currently the most common and debilitating disease in the US and we treat it's victims like pariahs."

Because they're weak and taking up half our seats.

"Weight discrimination is the most common form of open discrimination in the world today. Everyone seems to think it shocking to slam a door on a person in a wheelchair, yet think it's funny and a license to be rude when a fat person falls and hurts himself when his chair collapses from under him."

Because it IS funny. You chose to be that fat. Don't cry that we don't respect your decision.

Quit flying.

"Airlines should provide one or two bench seats rows to cater to passengers of ALL sizes."

Or you should lose the weight.

"One ticket should apply to any passenger, no matter that passengers age, handicap, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual preference or size. That is what's fair"

I'm with you until the end. The seat is a fixed size. It's not FAIR that you seem to think you're entitled to half my seat. Lose weight or I will ask to be moved and you'd better pray they move me or I will make that flight into the worst nightmare of your obese life.

"- and yes - you have to put up with it."

See above. You'll get to tolerate me 'accidentally' jabbing you with a pen, spitting on you as I talk, spilling hot coffee on you, dropping my laptop on your head from the overhead (more than once)...the list goes on, and on, and on. I will make flying such misery for you that you'll think twice about flying fat again. Promise.

"Airlines have to deal with it. It's called TOLERANCE."

Tolerance does not include the infliction of physical discomfort on others. That's called 'torture'. Or, under your fat-addled thought process, you'll get to tolerate the treatment I'll be inflicting on you, above.

"We seem to have forgotten it in today's self centered society."

Well, I can think of one fatty that certainly has, anyway.

I think it's an F-100 and pre-9/11 when things like this were overlooked. The passenger should have never been boarded unless he paid for 2 seats. Someone wasn't thinking at the gate or on-board. I'm sure the media, for lack of nothing to do will have a field day with this one.

Have we all forgotten why airline seats have shrunken to only accomodate stick people??? The more seats they can squeeze in, the more fares they can charge! At 135 pounds, even I feel like a scrunched up burrito in these seats. To look down the isle of any plane, you would think all America weighs 115 pounds per person! I don't remember people having problems back when you could actually relax during a plane ride; you were comfortable and your personal space was not invaded. The airlines have made that impossible now. Flying is not for comfort, it's for carting a pack of sardines from point A to Point B; nevermind how unconfortable they may be; not the airline's problem. So don't make the heavy people the BAD GUYS in this scenario, put blame where blame goes. The only folks who should be having problems sitting are those that are clinically morbidly obese! Not your normal chunky person, or pregnant woman, etc.; please, please don't lose sight of the fact that we are all supposed to be different shapes and sizes as a human race!!! Airlines DID lose sight of that human factor!!! It's high time they're reminded of that fact!

Isn't there a "FREIGHT" section for this kind of weighty issue?

1. Airlines should install 'larger' seats, benches, or whatever, in the back 2 rows of the plane for those who are seat-size challenged, as someone else suggested.
2. Responsibility for determining seat configuration should be that of the checkin agent, TSA and/or gate agent. FAs should focus on their tasks, not moving folks. Airline checkin or gate persons should have the right to move people around if there's a safety issue, whether it be because of age, handicap, size, or whatever.
3. If a seat-size challenged person is erroneously placed in front of the back 2 rows, he/she should be moved to the back rows.
4. If a passenger is having a problem because of another passenger taking up the space then the larger person should be placed in the back rows or placed in the window and aisle seats and charged something for that second seat.
5. The passenger who is having a problem should be moved up in front or wherever is possible so they are not pushed out of their seat.
6. Extra fees shouldn't be charged based on number of them but on weight/size of the person and his/her luggage. I'm sure some fair equation can be worked out. It's the total weight of a person and his/her luggage that is a drag on weight, not just the bags.
7. Airlines who attempt to reasonably accommodate the 'disabled' obese persons won't have a legal problem = and providing larger seats or the bench idea in the back should suffice.

If I were claustrophobic (anxiety disorder) and medically required an extra space to keep me from having panic attacks, I would expect to pay for that extra seat.

How is this guy any different? Buying an extra seat isn't reflective of moral judgment. It's something he needs but that most other people do not, so others shouldn't have to subsidize the cost (emotional, physical, monetary) of that extra seat.

PC crap aside, let's be honest, not 1 in 1000 people would offer to sit next to this fat guy. His weight is his choice not a handicap, morbidly obese people should loose the weight or be prepared to pay for two seats, its just that simple...

From Clark: "Flying is a privilege, not a right, and the airline has a greater responsibility to the safety and comfort of all the other passengers than to the one person the plane was obviously not designed to accommodate."

I beg to differ sir. Flying is a business. And we, the customers, no matter what our size, have been treated like crap for way too long. We are herded like cattle into seats that are too close to the ones in front of us. It takes an act of God to be able to get into the bathroom without hitting someone with the door by accident in the process. There is no luxury or cache to flying like there used to be. I wish we could make all airlines stop and take notice of how poor their service really is. We, as customers, would take other options if they were available, but there isn't one at this time. I know there are trains and buses, but time is money too these days.

What airlines needs to start doing is treating their customers like human beings. Let's see more seat room, both to the side and in front. Let's see planes leaving and arriving on time. Let's see planes that are delayed allowing their passengers back off the aircraft if it will be longer than two hours. Let's see airlines realize that even though they have the monopoly on quick transportation to major cities, they recognize they are ultimately in the service industry and as such should treat their customers with human decency!!

Forget the people who are worried about the guy next to him.. How about the people near the bathroom after he "takes care of business".

Those of you arguing that obesity is a medical condition or disease seem to be suggesting that this would make it wrong to treat the obese any differently from anyone else.

So it's OK for people with leprosy or H1N1 to sit next to you, right?

I think it's fake (the picture)

Obesity costs American taxpayers millions of dollars in health care annually. Our government taxes and fines problematic situations/people regularly: smokers, polluters, speeders, etc. Why not tax obese people? If you allow yourself to become obese, you must pay. It is not discriminatory by any means. Stop the madness: if you cannot fit safely into one seat, you are required to buy two (or three). No ridiculous assertions of discrimination. The days of political correctness are coming to an end. Most of us are fed up with the nonsense. Charge more for tickets, keep people unfit for travel grounded, and provide the level of excellence with which this industry was once known. Flying is a privilege, not a right. Take a Japanese or German airline - they set the bar for service, comfort, and reliability. If we (Americans) are so great, why have we fallen behind in just about every industry, especially service? Standards. It's what used to set us apart. Let's recapture the lead.

If one CANNOT fit entirely into a seat without occuping the aisle and /next seat, then yes, they should have to PURCHASE 2 seats!

Does anyone know a date on this photo? As in, when was it actually taken?

My girlfriend and myself are large women. We were taking a trip and decided rather than possibly not fit into the airline seats, we would just buy 3 - get in the 3 across section and lift the two center seat arms. It was rather expensive. As it turned out, we fit just fine- snug, but able to fit within the seat and buckle the belt without an extender (Southwest Airlines - great!). So she had the window seat, I was on the aisle and our 'junk' was spread out in the middle seat. The flight was booked to capacity and some skinny assed blonde woman stopped by me and asked if I could let her by to sit in the middle seat, I said no. She looked at me very surprised like - and I said 'maam, we paid $600 for that seat - and if I want to strap in my sandwich, thats my decision. But you aren't sitting there'. She stormed off with a dirty look. I laughed my fat ass off.

As an obese person, I feel the need to chime in on this issue.

1. Diabetes and Glandular problems are treatable conditions. So saying you are fat do to those issues doesn't hold water. (If you can't afford the meds, drug companies give them for free to low income people)

2. Pay for the space you use. Airlines aren't fair about their policies, tough. The other passengers paid for their space, next time are you gonna slip them half the cost of their ticket so you can use half their space? Perhaps you should consider it.

3.Feel bad cuz people call you fatty or don't appear to be joyful at the prospect of giving half of their EXPENSIVE area over to you? Grow some thicker skin. I once had a drunk, that I cut off because he was intoxicated, say I needed to be cut off of food. Was he saying something that wasn't the truth? Hello YOU'RE FAT deal with it.

We are currently in the process of looking into this situation – because of that, we don’t have anything to add beyond that. But for your general knowledge, we do have a policy (below) that tries to be flexible for passengers of size. Certainly no passenger would ever be allowed to fly on American Airlines in any way that obstructs the aisles of the aircraft, and all passengers must be properly seat-belted – part of the FAA rules cited below. It is very obvious in the photo that the aircraft is not inflight at the time the photo was taken – other passengers are still boarding and several overhead bins are still open.

Policies for Larger Passengers:
Basically, it says that we do not always or routinely charge for an extra seat unless there are simply no other options. Our people are trained to work with customers to try and accommodate ALL passengers onboard. Often, pending how full the flight is, we can get everyone taken care of. In some cases, we cannot, so we book the person on another flight or in some cases, depending on the customer’s schedule needs, we do book and charge for two seats, but certainly not all the time. We train our people to try and find another solution if at all possible.

We understand everyone’s concern about seating issues related to larger passengers. We recognize that passengers come in all shapes and sizes and we do our very best to provide a comfortable ride for everyone aboard. When faced with a seating issue which requires our attention, our airport and inflight personnel have guidelines they follow to assist them in reasonably resolving the matter to everyone's satisfaction. Each situation is handled individually on a case-by-case basis with utmost professionalism and discretion.

All passengers must use FAA required restraint devices. No aisle may be blocked by any passenger or bags in case of an emergency.

I am not thin, but this is not fair.
We are told to keep the aisles clear, and we do.
How is this acceptable?
How is this safe?
How does this person fit into the bathroom, when it is near impossible for the normal average sized person?
Maybe the airlines could have a few special sized seats for these folks if required somewhere on the plane.
What happens if this person loses his balance? This is a lot of weight to move if something happens to him or he has a misfortunate accident on board.
So every time the carts come through, where does he move to?
The man next to him paid his fair, we are not comfy as it is, let alone having to deal with this?
Hey if you want to be this big, then pay more for 2 seats.
I don't think we should have to miserable because you don't want to diet or have your thyroid checked.
I don't think weighing in is fair either...that could be degrading.
This situation is bad enough

He's blocking the aisle! How can that be safe or acceptable? He really needs two seats. What was AA thinking when they allowed this? It's not an issue of discrimination - it's one of common sense and safety! Give me a break! P.S. I'm overweight myself and I can sympathize but this is absolutely absurd!

I believe that the laws in the US currently do not have disability-style protections for passengers of size on flights (i.e. there hasn't been wording put in place by the FAA or DOT that would indicate that the airlines need to accomodate passengers of size in any sensitive way.)

I believe that the FAA and DOT have taken the approach that the square footage on an airplane interior is the 'property' of the airline and they may 'rent' it in any manner they deem fit (with obvious exceptions for passengers with disabilities and federal marshalls and the such.)

The laws are different however in Canada, so carriers that fly to destinations in Canada would have to comply with those differences.

He;s definitely too fat to fly. It's time obese people realized that the rest of the world doesn't have to put up with their fat. The airlines make you pay for every pound over that your suitcase weighs so why should this obese guy get off free - either buy two seats or pay for every extra pound just like a piece of baggage. I wouldn't want to sit next to this guy or try to pass him in the aisle. This guy made an uncomfortable trip for all those around him and the stewardess. He dhould not have been allowed on the plane and if he sat next6 to me, I would demand a different seat.

...and so after 16 days, 100,000 or so page views, and 220 comments, American Airlines feels the urge to respond. By saying that they, errmm, are trying to find out what happened. I am truly surprised by that because when I visited them at DFW HQ a couple of years ago they had just appointed someone to handle bloggers full time. Perhaps he's not there anymore, and perhaps he should be. Imagine if this had been Southwest.

The size restrictions that apply to carry-on BAGS should also apply to BUTTS! Having flown next to a person who took up all of his seat and half of mine, I know it is uncomfortable for both.

If a passenger's behind is bigger than one seat, that passenger should pay for more than one seat.

Like some, I think this is a very serious debate. Its importance has relevance not only for the airline industry but also for related situations where pre-proportioned accommodations are made, as some already referenced - theater, cinema, stadiums... perhaps even beds... as well health, insurance, etc...

When I first saw and read the caption, I must admit that I too sided with the majority of people and had a more sophomoric emotional reaction. I then reflected on situations where I felt I was the victim of "overage" and felt a bit vindicated - despite it being someone else. However, as I continued to read, I became a bit more compassionate and felt a little ashamed at my initial reactions. This compassion developed not only from reading the postings of those who defended the larger sized man and other obese people, but from the number of purely cruel, mean-spirited, off the wall, non constructive, irrelevant, assumption-based, misinformed, and at times illiterate ( concepts more than grammar) comments and postings. To me, the postings who show respect, have factual information, and expand the conversation, regardless of which side they represent- are the ones that help us to find understanding and resolution. Some examples of the comments I liked included citing real statistics on obesity not those who just threw out crazy numbers, those who talked about the reason airlines havent kept pace with the changing shape of america, talked about airlines being a business but also a common good regulated by the government and those who showed respect. But some comments were just plain dumb- and they existed on both sides of the debate.

Where are the constructive ideas about working to find a solution? I like the bench seat idea but i might still agree that a higher rate be charged. For extra leg room or for extra weight luggage- extra costs are incurred. Perhaps, at least domestically, the development of high-speed rail transportation, where weight and size are not nearly as limiting of factor as on an airlines bottom-line, could facilitate the creation of more accommodating seats for larger, taller, heavier people as well as those with special needs.

I rarely if ever read a blog, but when I do, I read them to get a pulse of the public and more importantly to learn perspectives I previously did not know- on both sides of the issue. I hope if i come back this site I will find less sensational reactions and more informative conversation. But what I take away from the postings... is that this is an important debate I will want to know more about- but from a more informed group. ...That I should have more compassion myself... that an equally if not more important debate should be how to help those who are obese.

I have gotten stuck next to an obese person in the past. Certainly, I feel compassion for this man. However, his enormous size is HIS problem, and not the airlines' or other passengers.

By all means, if you take up two seats you must be required to reserve and pay for two seats.

The dangerous situation this man creates by his enormous size is a whole different matter. Should he even be allowed to fly? Would he not be more comfortable in a car?

Feh. Airlines should put wide seats on planes to accommodate for persons of size?

The world doesn't revolve around persons of size. If this guy PAID for two seats, he should be assigned two ADJACENT seats. If the flight is full, put him on a later flight with room, or take a volunteer and compensate them.

It isn't rocket science.

I've had to sit next to large people before from coast to coast, and was able to manage (and the large person was in the middle!). The person in the window seat and I both took turns "waiting in line" for the rest rooms. It wasn't something we discussed, but was rather an unspoken but agreeable solution which worked for everyone and saved the large woman any further embarrassment. I don't know what we would have done however, if we'd have run into some severe turbulence.

And let's not blow this out of proportion (pun intended). How many of you are actually going to encounter this every time you fly?

The truth of this picture probably differs wildly from some of the assumptions being made here. Don't jump to conclusions, people, you'll break your legs.

The person in the photo was a co-worker of mine. He passed away in June. He always flew American Airlines, other co-workers have called me, they recognized him also. He was a great person, well known and respected in the food industry. I thank God that he has passed away and is not here to be subject to the pain and humiliation that would be generated from your article and or photo. I hope his wife and sons do not see your article. I fly every week for business, and I sit next to obese people many times. I can't imagine what it "feels “like for them to be judged and ridiculed by others. No I'm not overweight; I fit well within by seat on the plane. Everyone has to go to work and for many of us, we get to work by flying, people can't just quit their jobs because their weight gets out of control. What has happened to our compassion for other humans? Maybe people should try taking a look at people for who they are as a person. I would rather sit next to an obese person than an arrogant loud mouth on their phone.

Not to mention the plane has a wieght capacity. Look everyone feels for over wieght people, they stopped smoking on airlines and they kick unruley children off , if you can not fit in single seat it is only fair that you purchase two. Airline might consider giving second seat half off.

I am appalled at some of the cruel and ignorant comments being posted here. Why do people think it’s okay to ridicule someone they don’t know and whose personal story is unknown to them? How would you feel if this happened to you or a loved one?

I empathize with the large gentleman in the photo. He has been subjected to an unauthorized invasion of his privacy that has been posted on a public forum. He knows perfectly well that he is larger than the average person and doesn’t need more public reminders. He probably suffers daily from the pitying looks, cruel words and crude gestures directed his way. Now this. IMO it is shameful.

Unfortunately, this man cannot please his critics by instantly shrinking inches from his height; nor can he simply remove his girth like a jacket for their approval. He may have legitimate health issues and/or physical disabilities that prevent him from maintaining a normal weight. But what do you or any of us really know?

Until more is known about this gentleman -- or better yet, from him -- I strongly suggest that everyone leave him out of the discussion. He didn’t ask for this attention and does not deserve the sophomoric bullying he has been subjected to.

Instead, let us use this forum to call on the FAA and U.S. airline industry to abide by the American Disabilities Act rules that already exist for the proper handling of physically, mentally and emotionally challenged passengers. Many here may not be aware that U.S. commercial carriers are subject to hefty FAA fines for failing to do so.

At the same time, let us also insist that airlines allow airport and in-flight employees to use their experience, discretion and best judgment in assisting customers who are inconvenienced by oversized passengers not covered by ADA regulations. Most employees work hard to do right by them but all too often cannot. (Keep reading.)

Does your airline reservation, ticket or boarding pass record your height or weight? That's why ground or in-flight employees may not know some passengers are too large for their seats until they’re at the gate or on the plane; then they have to improve solutions. These days, airline staff reductions, tight schedules, full flights and time constraints allow employees little time to handle these situations as they would like to make everyone happy.

So, please focus your attention, comments and suggestions on the problem of accommodating oversized passengers -- not on the man in the photograph. IMO he’s been hurt enough.

This whole thing is ridiculous in my opinion...In all my life...and I have flown substantially...I have seldom seen a 100% booked flight....I really don't see the problem at all unless the over averaged sized person wants a seat on a booked 100% flight...If that is the case kindly tell him he will have to be seated on a stand-by basis to allow him an extra seat.....WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH THAT?...OKAY...CHARGE HIM FOR HIS BAGGAGE YOU IDIOTS..DON'T FEED HIM...WHAT DO YOU WANT?

There actually seems to be at least two empty seats directly behind him...What's with that? Maybe children....
Okay let's get down on children....They have to pay more than they should because they take up less than a whole seat....why not charge them 1/2 and make them sit together????? Let's get on this one next...what a serious malfunction we face
How about rebating people who have less baggage?
How about rebating people who don't want free drinks or don't use the restroom?
People....what happened to important issues?

I am appalled at some of the cruel and ignorant comments being posted here. Why do people think it’s okay to ridicule someone they don’t know and whose personal story is unknown to them? How would you feel if this happened to you or a loved one?

I empathize with the gentleman in the photo. He has been subjected to an unauthorized invasion of his privacy that has been posted on a public forum. He knows perfectly well that he is larger than the average person and doesn’t need any reminders. He probably suffers daily from the pitying looks, cruel words and crude gestures directed his way. Now this. IMO it is shameful.

Unfortunately, this man cannot please his critics by instantly shrinking inches from his girth; nor can he simply remove it like a jacket for their approval. He may have legitimate health issues and/or ADA-covered disabilities that prevent him from maintaining a normal weight. But what do you or any of us really know?

Until more is known about this gentleman -- or better yet, from him -- I strongly suggest that everyone leave him out of the discussion. He didn’t ask for this attention and does not deserve the sophomoric bullying he is being subjected to.

Instead, let us use this forum to call on the FAA and U.S. airline industry to abide by the American Disabilities Act regulations that provide for the proper handling of physically, mentally and emotionally challenged passengers. Many here may not be aware that U.S. commercial carriers are subject to hefty FAA fines for failing to do so.

At the same time, let us also insist that airlines provide guidelines for airport and in-flight employees to exercise their experience, discretion and best judgment in assisting customers who are inconvenienced by oversized passengers not covered by ADA. Most employees work hard to do right by them but all too often cannot do so. (Keep reading.)

Does your airline reservation, ticket or boarding pass record your height or weight? That's why ground or in-flight employees don't know some passengers are too big for their seats until they’re at the gate or on the plane; then they have to improvise solutions. These days, airline staffing reductions, tight schedules, full flights and time constraints allow them little time to handle these situations the right or best way for everyone.

So, please focus your attention, comments and suggestions on the best ways to accommodate oversized passengers -- not on the man in the photograph. IMO he’s been hurt enough.

With most of the country being obese, they should make bigger seats. Even a smaller size person do not find the seats comfortable.

For years I had to fly. I would sit down in my window seat watching the passengers board freating if that giant woman or mother with a crying baby was going to sit in the seat next to me. I hate flying. Anything worse than this was when there was a delay in taking off or waiting to leave the jet. I recall very clearly that once the delay was 4 hours. I had to sit next to this enormous woman that smelled and kept pushing her arm into the side of my chest ... for 4 hours. I almost went crazy. This is why I will never fly again.

This photo looks altered to me. The large person in the photo looks to be about 7-8 feet tall. While I realize this is physically possible it look doubtful to me and the guy is not wearing a seat beat. There are extenders. And my understanding is that all passengers MUST have thier seat belt on while seated...

I think the agent who sold him the ticket is also at fault. They should have set him up with two seats. And as this size person is extreamly rare I think it should be free. Sigh.

Big people have the right to fly and the AIRLINE is obligated to make sure everyone is resaonably comfortable.

I am reminded of the guy who had a dead woman put into the seat next to him in first class.

This photo was not taken by a flight attendant.

It was taken by my good friend's friend (from his camera phone) on a flight in mid-November. My friend emailed it to me and I posted the original pic on my Facebook profile on Nov 19th and it has since circulated the web.

Here's the proof: http://screencast.com/t/ZDk4M2E0ZT

Give him a parachute and drop him over the nearest fat farm!

Everythings seems to annoy this author, not only obsese passengers but screaming babies???
Every individual has a right to live as they choose.
While it may be fair to charge an obese person for two seats so be it. However, do you suggest that
children be gagged?

It is part of life and you should get one.

Check into charter flights. I am sure you will find something else to annoy you.

I fly a lot, and I can clearly tell that this picture is deceiving. The passenger in question is not sitting in his seat, he is in the process of either getting back into the seat or getting out of the seat. If you look at all the passengers around him, they are all looking left out the left side of the airplane, apparently to look at something the Captain probably pointed out. More than likely the gentlemen had gotten up to look out the left side or to go to the bathroom, and was probably in the process of sitting back down.
What I find repulsive is that the airline employee sought out an opportunity to further humiliate this man. Shameful!

I fly a lot, and I can clearly tell that this picture is deceiving. The passenger in question is not sitting in his seat, he is in the process of either getting back into the seat or getting out of the seat. If you look at all the passengers around him, they are all looking left out the left side of the airplane, apparently to look at something the Captain probably pointed out. More than likely the gentlemen had gotten up to look out the left side or to go to the bathroom, and was probably in the process of sitting back down.
What I find repulsive is that the airline employee sought out an opportunity to further humiliate this man. Shameful!

I fly a lot, and I can clearly tell that this picture is deceiving. The passenger in question is not sitting in his seat, he is in the process of either getting back into the seat or getting out of the seat. If you look at all the passengers around him, they are all looking left out the left side of the airplane, apparently to look at something the Captain probably pointed out. More than likely the gentlemen had gotten up to look out the left side or to go to the bathroom, and was probably in the process of sitting back down.
What I find repulsive is that the airline employee sought out an opportunity to further humiliate this man. Shameful!

It is illegal in the USA to discriminate against anyone. Why don't you walk a mile in their shoes first. They may have a medical condition that is not their choice. How do you know if they have a brain tumor causing the obesity or another condition.
Only a non American corporation that does not follow American law would even consider this action.

Wow! A lot of people weighed (yuk) in on this issue. I admit I didn't read them all so maybe this was covered.
Lets say there was a big convention in San Antonio. By BIG, I mean the folks were all the size of the guy in the picture.
A whole plane load of BIG people tried to board the same plane. What would that airline do in that situation. Surely the plane couldn't get off the ground. Would they have to make special arrangements to seat everyone that they sold "one" ticket too?
Just wondering. Jon at Edgemaster Mobile Sharpening.

moose:

you seem like a nice guy honestly. and you are right that today's society is self centered, but i think regarding obese people on flights they are the ones who are self centered.

first of all, don't go on a diet. go on a lifestyle change. (maybe this is what you meant)

second of all, you said that you need a month to recuperate form long flights. what about people who are going on business trips and need to feel their best the day after? should they suffer with stiff necks? what about spinal or neck conditions they have that aren't invisible and what if the attendants just think they are lying to get out of sitting next to a fat person. what about people who are going on vacation? should their vacations be ruined due to stiff necks and bruising? maybe you don't want to pay for an extra seat, but people who sit next to obese people don't want to waste thousands of dollars on their vacations.

fourth of all, most people who are obese aren't this way "rarely" because of gluttony. quite the opposite. stop making excuses.

I agree that a second seat should be purchased if you cannot fit in one. That being said I would be concerned if a surcharge or fat tax was charged. My concern would be who decide what size is the cut off. Some people think a size 14 woman is really fat. Others might say a size 26. When my sister was a size 6 she was once told she was fat by a foreign exchange student. He told her by standards in his country she was large that most women in his country were a 2 or smaller. So who regulates at what point we pay more? And does the person who wants to lean on you while sleeping pay more?

It would be discriminatory for any airline or ticket agent to suggest or insist that an obese passenger purchase two seats since the same suggestion or demand would not be made to all passengers. The airline industry (like all others) is not concerned about passenger comfort nor safety; if they were then the cost of tickets wouldn't be see high; there wouldn't be extra fees for everything; and they wouldn't cram the largest number of seats into the smallest possible space. Seats being so close together does not provide comfort for anyone so the real solution would be larger seats with sufficient space in between. This way an airline would be assured that each flight would actually be full and if passengers can actually fly in comfort rather than misery it might actually boost sales as people feel valued and thus increase profits which is any business' goal.

Well I have went down and read the majority of these comments and I'll be upfront, yes some ppl have disabilities that make them gain weight for ex. a thyroid problem. But 20 years ago Obesity wasn't an issue, We now have dollar menus on just about every fast food chain there is, I think thats the problem. If ppl would eat healthier foods and exercise and quit being a couch potato there wouldn't be this problem, Obese ppl should be charged more. if they can afford to eat that much food i think it would be no problem for them to afford an extra seat, Why should we be uncomfortable sitting next to someone, how would we get by them to use the restroom or evacuate the plan in an emergency. Its ridiculous t call obesity a disease, that's just a way to make obese ppl ignore the real problem. Its not discriminatory either. If they are a risk to the flight, thats definitely not a flight I want to be on.

Don't think the plane is in flight as people seem to still be loading. The large gentleman seems to be on the armrest visiting with one of his employees. The 2 empty seats behind them are vacant. My son buys two seats when he travels. Our family goes back several generations of rather large people. Should you see him on a flight visit with him rather than judge him, he's a fantastic person. Thank you.

I see most people are right on here about: making larger people buy 2 seats no questions asked,or if they tell the airlines they only need one and Lie to the airlines, I hope the airlines have they right to make the larger people buy another seat or make them re-scedule them on a less full plane,and how does the f/a walk by with the cart of "giveaways",and even now when I fly i still worry if im taking too much room I know I fit perfectly in one seat.I don't want to be RUDE and take someone else's seat.

Shame on any one who believes this, there is always more to a person being overweight than they are greedy or lazy, it's the same as when someone is so skinny u fear for their lives. Theres a problem so dont punish the person with the problem. To chare them more is the same as not likeing someone because the color of their skin isnt the same has yours prejudice is prejudice not matter what shape or color. to charege an overweight person more is dowen right wrong its as wrong as charging someone more because they have different beliefs then you. I can tell you when i was very skinny people picked on me all of the time, and now that I am overweight from illness again I get looked at funny, so I feel to punish someone for their weight is just as wrong as punishing someone because they have a different religion or color. I am ashamed of the way the world is going there is no more compassion or sense of right or wrong only what pleases ourselves. Remember life is what happens while we make plans and I am quite certain no one woke up one morning and said I am going to make myself obese. maybe if we tried to put ourselves in another persons shoes we would be more compassionate towards others and not be bullies and pickl on people who are different then us. signed a former skinny not a fatty

I think the flight attendant should be fired the picture is a sham. The flight didn't depart like this notice the people standing in the aisle and did anyone notice the two empty seats behind him maybe those are his seats.AA might be on their way to a lwasuit because the flight attendant thought it was funny to pick on the obese fellow and now is trying to cover his or her tracks. Great customer training AA!!!!!!!

This is a SAFETY ISSUE, people. That man is BLOCKING THE AISLE and in the event of an emergency, would ENDANGER OTHERS due to his SIZE. NO ONE has the RIGHT to do that, PERIOD.

This man KNOWS he will not fit into an airline seat, yet he obviously CHOSE to pay for only one seat OR to fly in first class. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

You do NOT have the 'right' to fly if you endanger others OR if your size encroaches on someone else's seat.

You ALREADY have the option of purchasing LARGER SEATS to accomodate your size in FIRST CLASS. If you do NOT, that is YOUR CHOICE.

These things are NOT discrimination. Like an amusement park who refuses to allow huge people to board rides, its a simple issue of SAFETY.

This is not a perfect world. WE ALL KNOW IF WE CAN FIT INTO ONE SEAT BEFORE WE GET ON A PLANE. If you are TOO LARGE to fit in ONE SEAT with the armrests DOWN, then you need to buy two seats or fly up front.

The airlines need to stop these people from boarding BEFORE they get on the plane. It is absurd that this man was allowed to board and then the flight attendents get stuck with the problem.

At some point in the future, passengers are going to revolt and refuse to allow a situation like this to go unaddressed.

We all have freedom of choice, if we choose to fly, we pay for the space we need. If we don't want to, we can take another method of transporation.

We do NOT have the right to endanger others because of our choices.

I flew a United flight out of Seattle to SFO and they clearly state on their website that if you need to purchase an extra seat because of your size you must do so. I believe it is an FAA requirement now to avoid the very thing in this photo - blocking an aisle and the possibility of making another paying customer uncomfortable. A musician had been made to buy another adjoining seat or he was not boarding the plane, he complained loudly the entire flight and one of his band mates told him to be quiet, and if he wasn't such a glutton he wouldn't have to pay for 2 seats. The rest of the flyers within earshot laughed because there was no way this man would have fit in one seat and he was much smaller than the massive sized man in this photo - this man is nothing more than a danger to other passengers and shouldn't be flying. I don't want to die because he eats enough to get to be that size. His choice but don't risk others lives, in this case it was the gate employees who made a huge mistake.

Can this gentleman exit through the over wing emergency exit? Do you think the FAA should make this a requirement? I would guess larger people would start complaining to the manufacturers about the size of over wing emergency exits. Even an Airbus 380 would pose an issue.

Amusement parks have limitations, "you must be this tall to ride" for the riders safety and others. Why cant airplanes? Change it to "You can not be this wide", for example. If the Baggage is too large to fit in the overhead bin, it must be checked. (a limitation)

If an emergency egress was to be executed, and he had to go in to the inflatable raft, do you think that much weight concentrated in one area would be an issue? Do you think the raft would at some point take on water? If a boat were to rescue the people in the raft, do you think he would be able to "stand up" or be able to crawl to a ladder or even make his way up a ladder. Think of a coast guard helicopter rescue, I doubt he would be able to fit in the rescue cage.

How about those inflatable life vests, do you think it even has a chance? Will the strap make it around his waist?

These are all Safety issues. Something that should be considered, they are safety issue to himself and other.

Thank You,

A Concerned Pilot

I don't understand why people that are large should have to pay for 2 seats. Some people CANNOT help the size they are, and an airline should be accommodating for their customers/passengers. Yes, the man should have had a second seat, but instead of paying for 2 seats, why can't they give him a 2 seats for a premium instead of the cost of 2? It's not that hard for them to do it. And technically, they won't be counting a "loss" based on the number of people filling seats. I mean, there's no reason for someone larger to be FORCED to pay for 2 seats just for 1 person.

Why charge for 2 tickets? I say charge by the pound. Passengers would declare their expected personal/luggage weight at ticket purchase to be verified with price adjustments at check in. I weigh less than 120 lbs with a BMI of 20. When checking in recently for a cross country flight my single piece of luggage was 5 lbs overweight (for a grand total of 175 lbs) and an additional fee of $50. When I boarded, I discovered I was seated between 2 individuals, each weighing 350-450 lbs (excluding luggage), who paid the same ticket price as me, occupied a portion of my seat (and the aisle), aggravated my orthopedic problems, effectively trapped me for 6 hours and jeopardized my chances of survival in an evacuation. The F/As appeared not to notice. Most goods are priced based on the seller's costs - jet fuel driven by cargo weight, in this case. Why not charge a base price for the first combined human/luggage 250 lbs and an incremental amount for excess weight. The incremental price would include the cost of a second seat (or extra large seat) as well as leg room, fuel, specially modified wheel chairs, stretchers, and seat belt extensions and health risks associated with these passengers. This would be a public health benefit to encourage healthy lifestyles, as well as a way for airlines to cover costs without compromising passenger safety and comfort.