Too Wide to Ride?

𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠?

In my opinion, yes, they should.

📌 There’s weight criteria for our checked luggage. If we’re over, we are charged for it at check-in.

📌There’s also size criteria for our carry-on bags, and the airlines are very strict about that. If our carry-on is over an airline’s regulations size, it will not be allowed on the plane. We will be forced to check it, and gate-checking an over-sized bag can be subject to very unpleasant fees.

📌 If a very tall person wants more leg room, they must pay more for an economy seat that offers more leg room or pay to upgrade their class of service to another cabin.

Therefore, an obese individual who cannot fit their entire body width-wise within the two vertical planes extending up from the floor through the center of armrests after seating themselves should purchase an extra seat.

📌 Airlines should not have to leave adjacent seats open without restitution; and

📌 Other passengers should not be forced to sacrifice the comfort and space they pay for, including the use of the armrests.

Alternatively, an obese traveler can purchase a larger seat in a higher class of service or try to find flights that aren’t fully booked so as not to be crowded or to crowd another passenger.

Those travelers who are excessively over-fat, who cannot fit into one seat comfortably and who will need some of the space of the passenger next to them know full well who they are and can elect to take appropriate measures in advance when planning their travel and purchasing airline seats. If they don’t, they walk into the situation eyes wide open, and an airline should have no qualms about enforcing a passenger comfort policy at the airport.