“Not My Problem”: United Passenger Refuses To Lift Armrest To Make Room For Obese Woman, She’s Livid

Unless you’re traveling in first class or business, modern air travel can seriously suck. Invasive security checks, bad food, and seats that get smaller every time you fly all add up to a lousy experience, so an entitled fellow passenger is the last thing you need.

A United flyer recently turned to an online community to vent after a confrontation they had with an obese couple who insisted they raise their armrest to make room for them. Now the passenger is demanding that airlines find solutions for larger passengers.   

More info: Reddit

Economy air travel sucks enough, but for this flyer, things got even more unpleasant on a recent flight

United Airlines airplane in flight representing a situation with an obese woman and flight attendant involvement.

Image credits: Pascal Borener / Pexels (not the actual photo)

They’d settled into their window seat when an obese couple arrived and asked them to lift their armrest to make room for them

Obese woman tries to force passenger to raise armrest on airplane, flight attendant intervenes during inflight conflict.

Text describing a flight seat dispute involving an obese woman and a passenger, with a flight attendant intervening.

Text excerpt describing an obese woman asking a passenger to raise their armrest on a flight, causing a flight attendant to intervene.

Obese woman insists passenger raise armrest on crowded flight, flight attendant intervenes to resolve seating issue.

Obese woman and passenger cramped on airplane seats, middle passenger looking uncomfortable as armrest dispute escalates.

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The passenger gracefully declined, but the couple persisted, eventually getting a flight attendant involved

Passenger resists obese woman trying to raise armrest forcefully during flight, prompting flight attendant intervention.

Passenger refuses to raise armrest, obese woman insists, flight attendant intervenes during airplane conflict.

Obese woman insists passenger raise armrest on crowded flight, flight attendant intervenes but cannot resolve issue.

Obese woman confronts passenger over armrest on airplane, flight attendant intervenes to resolve dispute.

Inside an airplane cabin with rows of passengers seated, a flight attendant stands in the aisle addressing a situation.

Image credits: EyeEm / Freepik (not the actual photo)

After the flight attendant said there was nothing she could do, the couple huffed and puffed for the rest of the 3-hour flight

Text describing a passenger preventing armrest use to keep space as an obese woman tries to force it up on a flight.

Obese woman tries to force passenger to raise armrest on flight, flight attendant intervenes to resolve the dispute.

Obese woman argues with passenger over armrest on flight as flight attendant steps in to resolve the issue.

Image credits: NotSureAnyway

Irate after their less-than-ideal experience, the passenger vented online, demanding that airlines find solutions for larger passengers

Flying can be stressful, but OP’s recent experience left them absolutely fuming. They boarded their United flight, got comfy in their window seat, headphones in, and book ready; everything seemed perfect. However, when a couple came down the aisle, it became obvious they weren’t going to fit in their two assigned seats, right next to OP’s. 

The woman immediately asked OP to raise their armrest so she could spread into their space. With a polite smile, OP’s answer was simple: “No.” That should’ve been the end of it, but instead she tried again, insisting she needed it up because it was “constricting.” OP politely refused once more, determined to protect their seat.

The couple squeezed in anyway, with the obese husband practically sitting in the aisle. The woman huffed, puffed, and even forcefully tried lifting the armrest herself. When that failed, she called the flight attendant, who calmly explained that no passenger is required to give up the space they paid for. Awkward.

For three long hours, the disgruntled couple shifted uncomfortably while OP enjoyed their flight with the armrest firmly down. The incident, however, sparked frustration over airlines letting this happen in the first place, prompting OP to wonder why they don’t have clear policies on the issue.

Passenger reading a book by the airplane window with a cup on the tray table during a flight.

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Most airlines don’t exactly go out of their way to improve the travel experience for economy class travelers. Unruly kids are often left to run amok, entitled passengers can make flying a nightmare, and, as in OP’s case, there’s not much consideration for passengers put out by overweight rowmates. Is anything being done? We went looking for answers.

As previously reported, Dutch-Turkish carrier Corendon Airlines announced in 2024 that it would offer child-free cabin space for an extra fee on its flights between Amsterdam and Curaçao. What about “heavier” passengers, though? 

In her article for The Guardian, Jessica Murray writes that airlines are trying to squeeze more people onto flights in response to rising demand. Some airlines have rebranded their seats as “slimline” – in Air Canada’s introduction of slimline seats, widths dropped from 47 cm (18.5 in) to 43 cm (16.9 in). Not great news for overweight passengers.

Air France, however, offers a 25% discount on extra seats for larger-bodied passengers if “the width of the seat is not sufficient.” Under Canadian airline rules, obese passengers traveling within the country’s borders can request an extra seat free of charge if they provide their BMI, height, weight, and seated width measurements.

In his article for Simple Flying, Luke Bodell writes that Southwest Airlines has one of the industry’s most generous policies regarding “Customers of Size,” allowing larger passengers to buy an extra seat and receive a refund later. It’s an easy process too, so customers of size don’t need to fill out a complicated form to book another seat or get their money back.

So, it seems some airlines are already tackling the “larger” passenger problem in an inclusive way, but not all of them, yet. Perhaps OP should take their complaint directly to United and, if they don’t get satisfaction, simply change airlines. 

What do you think? Should all airlines adopt something like Southwest’s “customers of size” policy, or is OP being unreasonable? Share your opinion in the comments!

In the comments, readers praised the passenger for holding their ground, and one even offered a practical solution involving refunds or upgrades for being inconvenienced

Forum discussion about airline armrest policies for passengers of size, with comments on considerate behavior and seat comfort.

Obese woman argues with passenger over armrest on plane as flight attendant steps in to mediate the conflict.

Obese woman arguing to raise airplane armrest while flight attendant intervenes during tense passenger dispute.

Obese woman confronts airplane passenger over armrest, prompting flight attendant to step in and resolve the conflict.

Text discussing an obese woman forcing a passenger to raise their armrest with a flight attendant involvement.

Commenter expressing frustration about space encroachment by larger people on flights, relating to armrest disputes.

Comment on airline policy about passengers unable to fit with armrests down, mentioning flight attendant involvement.

Comment discussing discomfort caused by an obese woman forcing a passenger to raise their armrest on a flight.

Comment about obese woman forcing passenger to raise armrest on flight, causing flight attendant to intervene.

Comment discussing need for people sizings instead of bag sizings in a controversial narrow doorway context.

Obese woman arguing with passenger over armrest on airplane while flight attendant intervenes in middle seat conflict.

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