Guy Asks If He’s Wrong To Make Obese Man Pay Him $150 For Taking Up Part Of His Seat On A 5-Hour Flight
When it comes to traveling, flying has to be the most despised. Having to go through multiple checkpoints, standing in endless lines and struggling to get to your seat is a real hassle. And that’s just the beginning – you still have a long flight ahead of you that you have to endure, cramped into a tiny seat with almost no leg room. It can’t get any worse, right? Apparently, it can.
Imagine if a part of your already cramped seat was occupied by the passenger sitting next to you – that’s exactly what happened to redditor BigBawluh when an obese man sat next to him on his 5-hour flight. He recently posted the whole ordeal on a subreddit called AITA (Am I The A-hole?) and people have really mixed opinions on whether he handled the situation right. Check out the story below and tell us what you think: was BigBawluh in the right or in the wrong?
“So this month I was flying across the country on a long 5 hour flight, which I had booked and seats selected for
I specifically chose an aisle seat in a row of two, so no middle seat — just the aisle and window. Well, a very obese man boards and I can tell instantly he is going to have a tough time fitting in any of the seats. I assume maybe he bought two hence why he’s even attempting to board. I’m mentally crossing my fingers he’s not next to me, but sure enough he ends up pointing to the window seat next to me to let him in. I get up and let him in politely, wanting to at least give him a chance.
He sits down and is easily seeping into about 1/3 of my seat
I sit down and am pressed up against him, making me uncomfortable. After a minute, I decided to be upfront and tell him:
“Sir, I’m sorry but this situation is not working for me, you’re taking up quite a bit of my seat”.
He wasn’t rude, but sort of gave me a shrug as if there’s not nothing he can do — although he did sort of tighten his arms in to try and be narrower. It just wasn’t enough, though. He still was overhanging over the armrest about 1/4th into my seat even when squeezing his arms in. I’m talking about fully hanging over the armrest into my seat.
I end up stopping a flight attendant and ask her what can be done about the situation
She instantly tells him that he is likely going to need to purchase another seat. She goes to the front and comes back saying that there aren’t any open seats on this flight, so there wasn’t a way to move people so he could have two. This causes a very awkward silence. The guy seemed embarrassed and didn’t want to get up. He mentioned how he can’t wait for a later flight. I felt bad for him but I was also thinking about my own comfort on the long flight — the comfort I paid for. The flight attendant tells him that unless someone on the flight agrees to let him take up part of their seat, he’ll need to book another flight. The guy seems really flustered by this ultimatum, and here’s where I made my offer.
I told the guy, “Look, I’ll put up with this if you give me $150 — that’s half the cost of this flight and that would compensate me enough for the circumstances.”
He instantly agrees, pulls out cash and pays me. He even told me he appreciated it. Well the people sitting behind me (who keep in mind didn’t volunteer to sit by him) were making under their breath comments about me being an asshole for doing that. I just ignored them and put the cash in my wallet.
From my perspective, I gave the guy a valid option to stay on the flight and I was compensated for literally having only 75% of my seat max (let alone the feeling of a person’s body pressed against you involuntarily). A win-win. He wasn’t angry at all, if anything he seemed quite relieved we could work it out privately.
After the flight, the couple behind me glared at me but I ignored them. This leads me to beg the question, am I the bad guy?”
People had many different opinions:
176Kviews
Share on FacebookIf it was airline policy then they should have said something at checkin or the gate not embarrass him on the flight
This is tough, but I solely blame the airline for taking more and more seat space from everyone to line their pockets with more money.
The guy should have been offered compensation by the airline. He booked, paid for and expected a seat. Not half a seat. Why put a passenger on the spot to decide if he is willing to be responsible for having a fellow passenger kicked off the flight. They should also make it very clear when booking that very obese passengers cannot be accomodated in single seats.Maybe some people just hope there will be enough empty seats on a flight that they can get 2 for themselves at no extra cost.I wonder - would it have been different if it was a woman forced to be up close and personal with a strange man for 5 hours?
Load More Replies...I think this was a fair situation. While the airlines keep making seats smaller and smaller, especially in the economy section, you can still be somewhat heavy and fit just fine. I know, I'm plus size and don't spill into the seats next to me. This had to have been a very big person and others shouldn't have to suffer for their lack of preparation.
If airlines would stop shrinking their damn seats to squeeze as many passengers as possible into a plane, this wouldn't be an issue.
Very awkward situation. I can't say I think the guy is a jerk for speaking up - it's just not something I would do. I would silently stew about it and probably rant about it to family when I got home. I did get a bit of attitude from a couple with a baby who didn't pay for a seat for the baby and had to hold him on their laps because there were no other free seats for me to choose on a flight. People need to remember that everyone pays for a seatt and should get what they pay for L
seriously? they gave you attitude for sitting in the seat you paid for because they couldn't take an extra seat for free? I really don't understand this false sense of entitlement some people have. You want to give your baby a seat, buy a seat. simple logic... geez.
Load More Replies...The obese man was fine with the solution, the people sitting behind them shouldn’t be offended on his behalf. Aeroplanes are really cramped anyway and if he paid for a specific seat, why should he relinquish part of it just because the man sitting next to him eats too much cake, or whatever. It seems to be more and more common, that overweight people are given a complete pass purely because they're fat and people are walking on the eggshells of offence. It’s political correctness gone barmy. The world doesn’t revolve around them (although at their size they probably have their own gravitational pull), and people shouldn’t bend over backwards to accommodate them, for fear of being called discriminatory or worse. People have been losing their jobs over similar situations which is utter madness. This fella wasn’t in the wrong for what he did and the obese man was totally cool with paying him $150 for the privilege.
Let's just straighten something out - unless you are a person's doctor, do not comment or give 'advice' on their size and/or body and/or health. Saying the person "eats too much cake" isn't necessarily true. I've had people (sometimes adults, my TEACHER when I was in middle school) point out how skinny I am (like I don't know that) and that I should "eat a sandwich" or "eat more" or say that I "look like a stick" and the like. I know I'm thin as f**k!! I have a medical condition!! I can't absorb nutrients like normal people!! So unless you're someone's doctor, don't assume or comment about people's weight/size/body.
Load More Replies...Except that it didn't. The opposite, actually. The small guy wanted to be comfortable → he failed. The big guy got embarrassed on top of being twice as uncomfortable. The airlines gained no profit from the sum the big guy payed. Literally everyone lost, but they just chose not to complain any further.
Load More Replies...I hate the idea of someone spilling into my seat, but the guy should charge you back the $150 for having to feel humiliated for a long flight. What if the person had high anxiety or tourette syndrome or a weak stomach or a cold? I've dealt with 3 out of 4 of those, but it never would have occurred to me to ask them for compensation.
Someone with tourette or anxiety doesnt have his body partly lying over me. I would be the one getting 3 out of the 4 named sysndromes having a strange man press against me.
Load More Replies...I find this whole situation very interesting from an ethics point of view. Two parties have agreed a resolution to their problem, since agreement was made both parties must have felt that the agreement was beneficial to them. This happens all the time, it is in fact the basis of an economy. I pay for you to do things that I either can't do or don't want to do. Do you think the person who cleans the toilets at a night club really feels happy about that task every morning or do you think they feel that their pay is sufficient compensation? If they eventually feel that isn't the case can they not quit? Money as a form of compensation for time/injury/loss is fairly fundamental to our world.
Now as to the deal in question, why are you complaining about the OP asking for $150? Do you feel that is to much? Would you have sat in that seat for less. There was ample opportunity for someone to offer to swap with the OP for that $150 and then that person to return some of that money to the other passenger. The fact that no one did means that was the value in the market. This is a fundamental tenet of supply and demand. The value of a product is the price at the last transaction.
Load More Replies...Only reason I fly first class, when I do fly, which is worth it if you can swing it. To have a bigger seat, just to clarify why. The foods better too, wait that's probably why I need a bigger seat lol.
I know that this is going to offend a lot of people here, if you're an obese person, you know that you are big. That's not news for you, it's not a sudden surprise being obese and you definitely know that you're not going to be able to fit in one passenger seat only. If you're big, you're big, who cares? Just be aware that you are, and don't be a cheap a*s and buy 2 damn seats. I mean, if I pass over the 20 kgs limit in the check in, I have to pay a fee by every extra kg. An obese person who's about 10+ times heavier than a 20 kgs luggage gets away with buying only 1 seat? If you're overweight and think it's unfair to buy 2 seats, maybe you should request airlines to have bigger seats? If I'm paying more for the luggage, you shouldn't be surprised to pay more for invading the space of other passengers. I was in the same situation more than twice and fortunately, the flights weren't that long. If I had to squish in my seat for 5 hours by an obese person, I'd totally speak up, too.
When I took up more than one seat, I paid for two seats. That was MY responsibility. I saw people fatter than me cramming others on my flight and I found them disgusting for doing so. I no longer take up 2 seats and I still find them disgusting for forcing themselves upon others. It's not ok. ALSO not ok was the airline trying to sell my second seat. "Nobody is sitting in it" they said. Incorrect. My a**e fat is partway in it AND I PAID FOR IT. YOU ARE NOT SELLING IT TWICE. Should not have to fight that battle. Sold is sold. Sorry that guy needs a flight but not my problem. This delusional belief that obese people desire to be jammed up against less obese people can bugger off already. Less fat doesn't make you desirable and half the time it's not like the person next to you isn't hauling some lard of his own. Why they won't regulate this c**p already confounds me. The airlines get away with whatever they want. It's gotta stop.
I agree on all accounts, its an obese person's responsibility to make sure they do not encroach on other passenger's already small space. Also its totally unacceptable that airlines think they can sell the second seat someone has purchased in order to make everyone more comfortable, total and utter b******t.
Load More Replies...First, airline is at fault for having tiny seats, those can get uncomfortable even for not overweight people. Second, fully knowing that airlines do have such small seats the big man should have bought 2 seats. The least in the wrong here is OP, he paid full price for a seat he only had partial use of, it makes sense to sell it to the man as he was also using it. nowhere does it say the money made OP more comfortable but he now only owned 75% of the seat and ho more right to complain, the big man owned that space and had every right to occupy it. OP COULD have been an a*****e and insisted the big man leave the plane and get delayed, instead he gave him a better choice.
So basically you used a humans shame and low self esteem to blackmail them into letting you steal 150.00. This is reprehensible and I truly question if you have any redeeming qualities, do me a favor prove me wrong. Return the money with an apology and in the future treat every human you meet with dignity and respect . Think it about it this way your awful cologne chokes me but I say nothing for the 12 hours I spend next to you working all day why because I am a kind human and respect your choices, and I don't want to push my choice of scents onto you because that would not be a good manner to display.
I am appalled that he asked for compensation. I am not a small woman, however, I am not morbidly obese either. I sat down in my airplane seat and did not take up any of his seat and the guy next to me was so rude with talking under his breath and making sure he had his space, it was uncomfortable for me. The man finally got up and moved away from me because it was so awful to sit next to me. It was a horrible feeling to have and I feel for this man.
You should have said ''Thank you for moving'' lol. Don't let people make you feel like you shouldn't be there. You paid for your seat and you wasn't invading his space. Everything else is his problem.
Load More Replies...As a plus size woman (temporarily, as I am working hard to lose weight-down 20 pounds and counting😏), I feel it is my responsibility to buy two seats, since most of my weight is in my butt, which honestly is the size of two normal butts...smh...so, only fair to buy two seats, so as not to inconvenience someone else who paid fair and square for their ENTIRE seat. My worry, after reading these comments, though, is that they could force me give up one of my seats that I PAID FOR, just because they overbooked. I am blessed to have the most wonderful, caring, and compassionate boyfriend, that encourages and supports my weight loss efforts; not because he cares what other people think, but because he doesn't want to lose me like he lost a very good female friend, due to her obesity issues. It's no coincidence that I have only been dating him for a little over 2 months, and that's also how long it took me to lose 20+ pounds😊💖👍
He did the right thing, otherwise the guy would have been kicked off the plane. As far as the commenting passengers behind him, I could care less what the other people on a flight think.
So this is cool: apparently Southwest and Spirit both have really good policies for this. You're required to book 2 seats so that they can make sure there's enough space for you, but they have a refund process for that second "unused" seat. That way everyone is comfortable and no one is charged extra.
That is a great policy - so no-one is buying 2 seats on a half empty flight
Load More Replies...I think the two passengers came up with a quick win win solution that didn't take an airline or either passenger to court or bring in the fake police. And the plane didn't sit on the tarmac for 16 hours.
very good point about the flight avoiding getting delayed because of a dispute.
Load More Replies...I had a similar problem on a train home from NYC. There were no seats available besides the small one next to me, and a very wide man decided to sit down. As he tried to sit (butt first), he pressed his large rear hard into my arm and slid it all the way down to my hip. I can't describe how incredibly uncomfortable that was. Luckily, the ride was only about 90 mins. I jumped out of my seat and stood the whole ride.
"I felt bad for him but I was also thinking about my own comfort on the long flight — the comfort I paid for. " If you are sitting coach you are not paying for comfort.. You are paying for the cheapest flight possible from point A to point B. So if this guy wanted to pay for comfort he should have bought a ticket in first class and had all the comfort he could dream of. But he didnt.
If the couple behind them thought that taking money was rude, then they should have switch for free :) Also, if I were in this situation I couldn't do this for big guy. I feel sorry for him.
Hm, tough situation. I think, it's not totally unreasonable to ask for some compensation for 5 hours of discomfort, but it still makes the guy look like a d**k. (not that someone who needs two seats and only buys one is much better)
I'm torn. As a skinny person who has had fat people taking more than half a coach seat, and as a tall person who often sticks my legs into other peoples space.....
I find the actual situation very hard to judge - not something I could ever do(ask for money for compensation in a situation like that) but I totally feel the guy. What I do find... amusing though is how quick people were to judge him for not willing to put up with this(for free)...while, when offered the option to put up with it themselves, none volunteered. It's so easy to be a white knight at someone else's expense, isn't it?
I've been in this exact situation before except I was the window seat and had two very obese men next to me. I was smushed against the wall and window the entire flight. When they saw my discomfort when they were handing out breakfast, they asked if they could have mine. Their smell was making me nauseous and I said fine. I did end up freaking out a bit when the nausea got the better of me and I had to get to the bathroom to vomit. I didn't say anything or complain at the time because I was only 15 and you just don't think at that age. But $150 would not be enough for me to endure that again. No amount would. These two found a way to make it work. My instinct is to call him the a-hole, but if you really think about it, he's not. Yes, airline seats are ridiculously small, but that guy should have bought two seats and the fact that he readily agreed to pay the guy makes me think he knew it. I think this was a somewhat unusual situation that deserves a pass on the part of the OP.
The airline sold the ticket and boarded the guy. They were responsible for letting that situation develop. They should have reimbursed the passenger who was inconvenienced.
What if another man of the same size was assigned to the seat next to him? The airline would be FORCED to do something about the problem.
The flight was full - only option would have been to seat the big guy next to a small child.
Load More Replies...It's a weird situation. I don't agree with the $150 blackmail, but I don't think either customer should have been made to suffer either. The plane manufacturers plan and sell the planes with plenty of space, but the airlines themselves cram additional seating in beyond the original specs of the aircraft. The airline is the one at fault here IMO, but that doesn't give the other guy a right to blackmail the big dude either.
I also don't believe in fat taxing people. But it's hard to come up with a solution here that is fair to all sides.
Load More Replies...Am I the only one surprised that someone was carrying around that much cash?
If it was an international flight, then not so surprising. You may not have an internationally functioning credit card on you, you will prepare lots of cash.
Load More Replies...If I decide to do a 3 point turn on a street and block both lanes, I am doing so willingly and I am responsible for making other people wait. If I am a lot wider than an airplane seat and I only purchase one, I am the one who is inconveniencing everyone else. There should have been a number of previous instances where the obese man should have been made aware of the situation before even boarding the plane. Buying the ticket. Going to the gate. Going through check in. There is always a human being there looking at the ticket and they should have seen that there is only one economy seat on the ticket and reacted. I can imagine how uncomfortable the situation was for both ... I think I would probably have suffered through the 5 hours without telling the waitress because it would have been too embarrassing for me.
Ah yes, I’m fairly underweight so when my dad goes on a flight I end up between him and one of my brothers who is a mini giant. They choose to ignore the fact that I get immense anxiety when people are two close. At least he gets me a snack box though : /
As someone who is myself overweight, there's obese and OBESE. I'm medically obese, but I fit in a plane seat. If he's big enough that he doesn't fit...yeah, he should have bought a second seat. But paying the guy next to him was cheaper...just not as comfortable.
You know what, people are so easily offended when they're fat. Dude if you're fat, you're fat. Don't blame me for lack in "humanity" for your own obesity. It's funny how fat people are justified by saying nasty things about skinny people, but once it's the other way around, people get soooo offended. It's definitely awkward! Personally I would really be upset of someone spilling into my seat. Seats are already too close for comfort. Being squashed in even more is terrible. Codo's to you for being "brave" enough to stand up for yourself. I would probably sit there hating myself for not saying anything and be angry at the fat guy for making his body fat my problem.
The airlines keep trying to fit more and more people into smaller spaces. They should be the ones paying. The overweight man shouldn't made to feel bad. Also another place blame belongs is to the government whom puts out false information on healthy living. There FDA is a fraud as well. I'm sure that's deeper than anyone ones to dig into though.
Yes, OP was an a*****e. You shouldn't make someone pay for something they can't help in the first place. (not to sound like an a*****e but) I feel really uncomfortable when strangers touch me... like brush up against me or lean against me or squeeze in next to me for a long period of time. I'm very touch sensitive. So, not only would I preferably only fly with people (like my friends) that I'm comfortable around, but if that wasn't an option I would avoid being close to people regardless. I don't care if you're fat or skinny or curvy or what... people touching me gives me anxiety. So, if this happened to me, I would probably find a different seat.
When I was 15, a guy, about 45, sitting next to me on a plane took up most of my leg room because he was manspreading. I was too young and didn’t have the courage to say anything about it then, but today it’d probably be considered sexual harassment. It was incredibly uncomfortable.
*manspreading* is 90% not about "male dominance" or whatnot. It's because guys have balls and they need room to breathe.
Load More Replies...I wouldn't say the airline gave OP any "power" the situation was he could either deal with, or they'd make the obese person get off. He obviously didn't get what he paid for, a full seat. So, his cost analysis kicks in, he's willing to deal with the uncomfortableness for 5 hours, and that's a long time to have someone's fat pushed up against you non stop. They cut a deal they could both live with. End of story.
even skinny people are uncomfortable in those cramped b******t seats. f**k airlines.
IMO obese people shold not be allowed to fly after a certain size due to lack of space and it being a safety hazard. This would solve a lot of problems. I think (correct me if im wrong) that it is also more dangerous for people with higher cholesterol or fat in their blood veins to traver by plane as they are more prone to blood clots. It would also prevent situations like this.and if by any chance an emergency would occur on board- the rescue of an obese person would be difficult and might even make it difficult to get to other passengers as well. Also obese people would not have to suffer the humiliation on board either. Another solution is to build an air plane with fewer and bigger seats equipped to handle obese passengers if they absoultely have to travel. But the reality are that most countries do not have planes that are equipped to handle large passengers. Soif they are going abroad, they’d probably be better off using another means of traveling such as by train/boat/car/bus...
Me as a small person (I need ~60%) I would change the seat for a window seat.
What if the OP was not obese, but a very broad-shouldered athlete (think a linebacker or big fullback) or bodybuilder -- would that change how one thinks about the situation? Should it? I suspect that many us feel bad for the obese person and that affects our thinking. If we'd be satisfied with the solution offered for a big athlete (and I think most of us would be), we should be similarly satisfied for the obese individual.
Well.. This seems like a fair way of thinking. But if you take in consideration that people normally don’t sit on their shoulders. I’d rather have a shoulder at me, instead of somebody’s a*s. But still, if you are big, you should plan accordingly and pay for two seats regardless
Load More Replies...Whoever should have paid the “compensation” should not have paid half but 1/4 or 25% as confirmed by OP. Regardless, this did settle the dispute so there is a little credence to it.
People over a certain weight should be made to declare it so that the airline can make suitable arrangements. I would be seriously upset and annoyed if someone was encroaching on my seat and our bodies were pressing against eachother. Its not something I could put up with. Flying economy for longer than 3 hours is bad enough. An obese person shouldn't be put in this situation either as it will be embarrassing and upsetting for them. The poster deserves compensation but it should have come from the airline.
It was a tough situation, but I think it could have been solved in a better way. If i was OP, I would first try to ask the flight attendance quietly (aka going to them, not calling them over and point at the person next to me) asking if they could sit me somewhere else. If that was not an option, I'd come back, explain to the big guy that this is quite uncomfortable for me so he would know to not disturb me any more than that, remind him he will be a lot more comfortable if he buys 2 seats next time, maybe even start a conversation, get to know the person after that. To be honest, if you like the person next to you, being uncomfortable won't matter so much. I think in general we have to deal with discomfort on planes, like rude people, loud talks, crying babies, smelly feet, try to make the best out of it, and you won't have to question your soul over people's opinions :)
No... you handled it well dude. I mean the guy was big, he knows it. He bought one seat, took a chance, likely hoped the other was empty. End of story right! Not this time. Not critiquing his weight, but flying these days is a gamble! Sometimes you win, and you get a empty seat beside you, and you stretch out! Sometimes you don't. The issue here was he was taking up space you paid for! So asking for compensation was an alternative! The other was him having to take a later flight (according to the attendant). You did the considerate thing by giving him the option!
This isn't rocket science, let alone advanced air mechanics. Each seat has a defined amount of space. If you take up two seats, then you should have to pay for two seats. I get that sometimes being fat is due to lifestyle choices, while sometimes it's a legitimate medical issue, but we can't blame other passengers for that. When I go to the Post Office, I have to pay more to send a large package than a small package. When I want a large soda instead of a small soda, I pay for the price difference. Blah blah.
I wonder what the verdict is on the sub. I'd say the airline was the YTA , and the OP was a bit of YTA. I guess BP cropped the NTA, YTA, NAH, ESH, etc responses.
What in the heck are you talking about? What is NTA, YTA, NAH and ESH?
Load More Replies...I really struggle with the way MY OWN COMFORT has become the most important thing in our lives...
How is this even a question? Both parties identified a problem, negotiated, and ultimately compromised. Are we this far gone as a society that compromising is now victimization? Everyone got what they needed in this story by sacrificing some of what they wanted. This is a story about two people who worked together to overcome an issue.
I would have been a type who would have not let the person fill up part of my seat. I have social anxiety bipolar and need personal space. If the large guy spills into another seat then they need to buy 2 seats. Except for a small minority of people obesity is a choice.
There are airlines that would force him to either buy two seats or go in business class.
Load More Replies...I agree with mathxjunkii. And I can't help but think if the OP would have changed his tune if the "offending person" was a woman. Airlines keep packing people in like sardines and they charge outrageous fees for that tiny tiny seat. And people act like every fat person is fat by choice. My son is on medication that keeps him heavy. He has no choice. I am not a small woman by any means, but not one of the people sitting on either side of me on my most recent flight complained. In fact we had a great time. There's being inconvenienced and then there's being an a*****e. The OP didn't need to be an a*****e. He could have sucked it up and tried to enjoy the flight the best he could without embarrassing a man in front of everyone. I'm also wondering how long it will be before obese people start suing airlines for scenarios such as this that are caused by small seats and overbooking.
ty Daria..not sure why you are getting down voted. I agree with everything you said.
Load More Replies...I fly reasonably regularly and it grinds my gears if my neighbouring passenger is "on" my seat. If you don't fit a standard seat. DON'T buy one.
Have people pass through an appropriate-sized gate when boarding. If they don't fit, they don't fly.
A man who asked question should have booked business-seat. Everybody has a right to book a seat no matter how they obese or smell (We cannot measure how it is comfort as it depends on a person). Also, seats price doesn't reflect its space, and most of airline profits comes from first class and business class. BTW, He could settle down the problem by putting a fat man into a seat along streets.
Whinning and making a profit, hmm. I wonder is Op is a ....
First I was like 'yes you are'. Then I was like, ok there was a compromise, 150$ was too much tho. But what I'm really thinking, it's very warped that when we people are getting bigger -- not only fatter, just bigger -- the seats are made smaller. It's somewhat unfair to make to pay for two seats. Also, nobody is never made their drunk and/or groping sitemate to pay, they had a better reason
Regardless whose at fault, OP was kind of an a$$ about it. It's the airlines responsibility to manage and enforce these situations. The obese man should have been aware and bought appropriate tickets. In the end, OP didnt need to publicly humiliate the guy. If the plane was aware and quiet, OP probably was more visibly indignant and vocal than he describes here. The world has enough a$$holes. I'm not saying just take what is dished out to you and not stand up for yourself but take a high road and have some dignity for 5 hours. His comfort in having obese man pay him $150 for the snake oil lawyers equivalent of "emotional duress" or "pain and anguish" smacks of ugly entitlement. In the end, everyone can do what they want. Obese man may or may not ever take care of his health. The airlines might continue to ignore their passengers. OP might always be an entitled jerk. He could have handled this differently.
I don't get why so many people say it's the airlines fault! Fat people chose a normal seat and not always but often chose to be fat! Like you can't complain when a table doesn't fit in your cars trunk, when you bought a small car.. it's not the fault of the furniture store ^^
If it was airline policy then they should have said something at checkin or the gate not embarrass him on the flight
This is tough, but I solely blame the airline for taking more and more seat space from everyone to line their pockets with more money.
The guy should have been offered compensation by the airline. He booked, paid for and expected a seat. Not half a seat. Why put a passenger on the spot to decide if he is willing to be responsible for having a fellow passenger kicked off the flight. They should also make it very clear when booking that very obese passengers cannot be accomodated in single seats.Maybe some people just hope there will be enough empty seats on a flight that they can get 2 for themselves at no extra cost.I wonder - would it have been different if it was a woman forced to be up close and personal with a strange man for 5 hours?
Load More Replies...I think this was a fair situation. While the airlines keep making seats smaller and smaller, especially in the economy section, you can still be somewhat heavy and fit just fine. I know, I'm plus size and don't spill into the seats next to me. This had to have been a very big person and others shouldn't have to suffer for their lack of preparation.
If airlines would stop shrinking their damn seats to squeeze as many passengers as possible into a plane, this wouldn't be an issue.
Very awkward situation. I can't say I think the guy is a jerk for speaking up - it's just not something I would do. I would silently stew about it and probably rant about it to family when I got home. I did get a bit of attitude from a couple with a baby who didn't pay for a seat for the baby and had to hold him on their laps because there were no other free seats for me to choose on a flight. People need to remember that everyone pays for a seatt and should get what they pay for L
seriously? they gave you attitude for sitting in the seat you paid for because they couldn't take an extra seat for free? I really don't understand this false sense of entitlement some people have. You want to give your baby a seat, buy a seat. simple logic... geez.
Load More Replies...The obese man was fine with the solution, the people sitting behind them shouldn’t be offended on his behalf. Aeroplanes are really cramped anyway and if he paid for a specific seat, why should he relinquish part of it just because the man sitting next to him eats too much cake, or whatever. It seems to be more and more common, that overweight people are given a complete pass purely because they're fat and people are walking on the eggshells of offence. It’s political correctness gone barmy. The world doesn’t revolve around them (although at their size they probably have their own gravitational pull), and people shouldn’t bend over backwards to accommodate them, for fear of being called discriminatory or worse. People have been losing their jobs over similar situations which is utter madness. This fella wasn’t in the wrong for what he did and the obese man was totally cool with paying him $150 for the privilege.
Let's just straighten something out - unless you are a person's doctor, do not comment or give 'advice' on their size and/or body and/or health. Saying the person "eats too much cake" isn't necessarily true. I've had people (sometimes adults, my TEACHER when I was in middle school) point out how skinny I am (like I don't know that) and that I should "eat a sandwich" or "eat more" or say that I "look like a stick" and the like. I know I'm thin as f**k!! I have a medical condition!! I can't absorb nutrients like normal people!! So unless you're someone's doctor, don't assume or comment about people's weight/size/body.
Load More Replies...Except that it didn't. The opposite, actually. The small guy wanted to be comfortable → he failed. The big guy got embarrassed on top of being twice as uncomfortable. The airlines gained no profit from the sum the big guy payed. Literally everyone lost, but they just chose not to complain any further.
Load More Replies...I hate the idea of someone spilling into my seat, but the guy should charge you back the $150 for having to feel humiliated for a long flight. What if the person had high anxiety or tourette syndrome or a weak stomach or a cold? I've dealt with 3 out of 4 of those, but it never would have occurred to me to ask them for compensation.
Someone with tourette or anxiety doesnt have his body partly lying over me. I would be the one getting 3 out of the 4 named sysndromes having a strange man press against me.
Load More Replies...I find this whole situation very interesting from an ethics point of view. Two parties have agreed a resolution to their problem, since agreement was made both parties must have felt that the agreement was beneficial to them. This happens all the time, it is in fact the basis of an economy. I pay for you to do things that I either can't do or don't want to do. Do you think the person who cleans the toilets at a night club really feels happy about that task every morning or do you think they feel that their pay is sufficient compensation? If they eventually feel that isn't the case can they not quit? Money as a form of compensation for time/injury/loss is fairly fundamental to our world.
Now as to the deal in question, why are you complaining about the OP asking for $150? Do you feel that is to much? Would you have sat in that seat for less. There was ample opportunity for someone to offer to swap with the OP for that $150 and then that person to return some of that money to the other passenger. The fact that no one did means that was the value in the market. This is a fundamental tenet of supply and demand. The value of a product is the price at the last transaction.
Load More Replies...Only reason I fly first class, when I do fly, which is worth it if you can swing it. To have a bigger seat, just to clarify why. The foods better too, wait that's probably why I need a bigger seat lol.
I know that this is going to offend a lot of people here, if you're an obese person, you know that you are big. That's not news for you, it's not a sudden surprise being obese and you definitely know that you're not going to be able to fit in one passenger seat only. If you're big, you're big, who cares? Just be aware that you are, and don't be a cheap a*s and buy 2 damn seats. I mean, if I pass over the 20 kgs limit in the check in, I have to pay a fee by every extra kg. An obese person who's about 10+ times heavier than a 20 kgs luggage gets away with buying only 1 seat? If you're overweight and think it's unfair to buy 2 seats, maybe you should request airlines to have bigger seats? If I'm paying more for the luggage, you shouldn't be surprised to pay more for invading the space of other passengers. I was in the same situation more than twice and fortunately, the flights weren't that long. If I had to squish in my seat for 5 hours by an obese person, I'd totally speak up, too.
When I took up more than one seat, I paid for two seats. That was MY responsibility. I saw people fatter than me cramming others on my flight and I found them disgusting for doing so. I no longer take up 2 seats and I still find them disgusting for forcing themselves upon others. It's not ok. ALSO not ok was the airline trying to sell my second seat. "Nobody is sitting in it" they said. Incorrect. My a**e fat is partway in it AND I PAID FOR IT. YOU ARE NOT SELLING IT TWICE. Should not have to fight that battle. Sold is sold. Sorry that guy needs a flight but not my problem. This delusional belief that obese people desire to be jammed up against less obese people can bugger off already. Less fat doesn't make you desirable and half the time it's not like the person next to you isn't hauling some lard of his own. Why they won't regulate this c**p already confounds me. The airlines get away with whatever they want. It's gotta stop.
I agree on all accounts, its an obese person's responsibility to make sure they do not encroach on other passenger's already small space. Also its totally unacceptable that airlines think they can sell the second seat someone has purchased in order to make everyone more comfortable, total and utter b******t.
Load More Replies...First, airline is at fault for having tiny seats, those can get uncomfortable even for not overweight people. Second, fully knowing that airlines do have such small seats the big man should have bought 2 seats. The least in the wrong here is OP, he paid full price for a seat he only had partial use of, it makes sense to sell it to the man as he was also using it. nowhere does it say the money made OP more comfortable but he now only owned 75% of the seat and ho more right to complain, the big man owned that space and had every right to occupy it. OP COULD have been an a*****e and insisted the big man leave the plane and get delayed, instead he gave him a better choice.
So basically you used a humans shame and low self esteem to blackmail them into letting you steal 150.00. This is reprehensible and I truly question if you have any redeeming qualities, do me a favor prove me wrong. Return the money with an apology and in the future treat every human you meet with dignity and respect . Think it about it this way your awful cologne chokes me but I say nothing for the 12 hours I spend next to you working all day why because I am a kind human and respect your choices, and I don't want to push my choice of scents onto you because that would not be a good manner to display.
I am appalled that he asked for compensation. I am not a small woman, however, I am not morbidly obese either. I sat down in my airplane seat and did not take up any of his seat and the guy next to me was so rude with talking under his breath and making sure he had his space, it was uncomfortable for me. The man finally got up and moved away from me because it was so awful to sit next to me. It was a horrible feeling to have and I feel for this man.
You should have said ''Thank you for moving'' lol. Don't let people make you feel like you shouldn't be there. You paid for your seat and you wasn't invading his space. Everything else is his problem.
Load More Replies...As a plus size woman (temporarily, as I am working hard to lose weight-down 20 pounds and counting😏), I feel it is my responsibility to buy two seats, since most of my weight is in my butt, which honestly is the size of two normal butts...smh...so, only fair to buy two seats, so as not to inconvenience someone else who paid fair and square for their ENTIRE seat. My worry, after reading these comments, though, is that they could force me give up one of my seats that I PAID FOR, just because they overbooked. I am blessed to have the most wonderful, caring, and compassionate boyfriend, that encourages and supports my weight loss efforts; not because he cares what other people think, but because he doesn't want to lose me like he lost a very good female friend, due to her obesity issues. It's no coincidence that I have only been dating him for a little over 2 months, and that's also how long it took me to lose 20+ pounds😊💖👍
He did the right thing, otherwise the guy would have been kicked off the plane. As far as the commenting passengers behind him, I could care less what the other people on a flight think.
So this is cool: apparently Southwest and Spirit both have really good policies for this. You're required to book 2 seats so that they can make sure there's enough space for you, but they have a refund process for that second "unused" seat. That way everyone is comfortable and no one is charged extra.
That is a great policy - so no-one is buying 2 seats on a half empty flight
Load More Replies...I think the two passengers came up with a quick win win solution that didn't take an airline or either passenger to court or bring in the fake police. And the plane didn't sit on the tarmac for 16 hours.
very good point about the flight avoiding getting delayed because of a dispute.
Load More Replies...I had a similar problem on a train home from NYC. There were no seats available besides the small one next to me, and a very wide man decided to sit down. As he tried to sit (butt first), he pressed his large rear hard into my arm and slid it all the way down to my hip. I can't describe how incredibly uncomfortable that was. Luckily, the ride was only about 90 mins. I jumped out of my seat and stood the whole ride.
"I felt bad for him but I was also thinking about my own comfort on the long flight — the comfort I paid for. " If you are sitting coach you are not paying for comfort.. You are paying for the cheapest flight possible from point A to point B. So if this guy wanted to pay for comfort he should have bought a ticket in first class and had all the comfort he could dream of. But he didnt.
If the couple behind them thought that taking money was rude, then they should have switch for free :) Also, if I were in this situation I couldn't do this for big guy. I feel sorry for him.
Hm, tough situation. I think, it's not totally unreasonable to ask for some compensation for 5 hours of discomfort, but it still makes the guy look like a d**k. (not that someone who needs two seats and only buys one is much better)
I'm torn. As a skinny person who has had fat people taking more than half a coach seat, and as a tall person who often sticks my legs into other peoples space.....
I find the actual situation very hard to judge - not something I could ever do(ask for money for compensation in a situation like that) but I totally feel the guy. What I do find... amusing though is how quick people were to judge him for not willing to put up with this(for free)...while, when offered the option to put up with it themselves, none volunteered. It's so easy to be a white knight at someone else's expense, isn't it?
I've been in this exact situation before except I was the window seat and had two very obese men next to me. I was smushed against the wall and window the entire flight. When they saw my discomfort when they were handing out breakfast, they asked if they could have mine. Their smell was making me nauseous and I said fine. I did end up freaking out a bit when the nausea got the better of me and I had to get to the bathroom to vomit. I didn't say anything or complain at the time because I was only 15 and you just don't think at that age. But $150 would not be enough for me to endure that again. No amount would. These two found a way to make it work. My instinct is to call him the a-hole, but if you really think about it, he's not. Yes, airline seats are ridiculously small, but that guy should have bought two seats and the fact that he readily agreed to pay the guy makes me think he knew it. I think this was a somewhat unusual situation that deserves a pass on the part of the OP.
The airline sold the ticket and boarded the guy. They were responsible for letting that situation develop. They should have reimbursed the passenger who was inconvenienced.
What if another man of the same size was assigned to the seat next to him? The airline would be FORCED to do something about the problem.
The flight was full - only option would have been to seat the big guy next to a small child.
Load More Replies...It's a weird situation. I don't agree with the $150 blackmail, but I don't think either customer should have been made to suffer either. The plane manufacturers plan and sell the planes with plenty of space, but the airlines themselves cram additional seating in beyond the original specs of the aircraft. The airline is the one at fault here IMO, but that doesn't give the other guy a right to blackmail the big dude either.
I also don't believe in fat taxing people. But it's hard to come up with a solution here that is fair to all sides.
Load More Replies...Am I the only one surprised that someone was carrying around that much cash?
If it was an international flight, then not so surprising. You may not have an internationally functioning credit card on you, you will prepare lots of cash.
Load More Replies...If I decide to do a 3 point turn on a street and block both lanes, I am doing so willingly and I am responsible for making other people wait. If I am a lot wider than an airplane seat and I only purchase one, I am the one who is inconveniencing everyone else. There should have been a number of previous instances where the obese man should have been made aware of the situation before even boarding the plane. Buying the ticket. Going to the gate. Going through check in. There is always a human being there looking at the ticket and they should have seen that there is only one economy seat on the ticket and reacted. I can imagine how uncomfortable the situation was for both ... I think I would probably have suffered through the 5 hours without telling the waitress because it would have been too embarrassing for me.
Ah yes, I’m fairly underweight so when my dad goes on a flight I end up between him and one of my brothers who is a mini giant. They choose to ignore the fact that I get immense anxiety when people are two close. At least he gets me a snack box though : /
As someone who is myself overweight, there's obese and OBESE. I'm medically obese, but I fit in a plane seat. If he's big enough that he doesn't fit...yeah, he should have bought a second seat. But paying the guy next to him was cheaper...just not as comfortable.
You know what, people are so easily offended when they're fat. Dude if you're fat, you're fat. Don't blame me for lack in "humanity" for your own obesity. It's funny how fat people are justified by saying nasty things about skinny people, but once it's the other way around, people get soooo offended. It's definitely awkward! Personally I would really be upset of someone spilling into my seat. Seats are already too close for comfort. Being squashed in even more is terrible. Codo's to you for being "brave" enough to stand up for yourself. I would probably sit there hating myself for not saying anything and be angry at the fat guy for making his body fat my problem.
The airlines keep trying to fit more and more people into smaller spaces. They should be the ones paying. The overweight man shouldn't made to feel bad. Also another place blame belongs is to the government whom puts out false information on healthy living. There FDA is a fraud as well. I'm sure that's deeper than anyone ones to dig into though.
Yes, OP was an a*****e. You shouldn't make someone pay for something they can't help in the first place. (not to sound like an a*****e but) I feel really uncomfortable when strangers touch me... like brush up against me or lean against me or squeeze in next to me for a long period of time. I'm very touch sensitive. So, not only would I preferably only fly with people (like my friends) that I'm comfortable around, but if that wasn't an option I would avoid being close to people regardless. I don't care if you're fat or skinny or curvy or what... people touching me gives me anxiety. So, if this happened to me, I would probably find a different seat.
When I was 15, a guy, about 45, sitting next to me on a plane took up most of my leg room because he was manspreading. I was too young and didn’t have the courage to say anything about it then, but today it’d probably be considered sexual harassment. It was incredibly uncomfortable.
*manspreading* is 90% not about "male dominance" or whatnot. It's because guys have balls and they need room to breathe.
Load More Replies...I wouldn't say the airline gave OP any "power" the situation was he could either deal with, or they'd make the obese person get off. He obviously didn't get what he paid for, a full seat. So, his cost analysis kicks in, he's willing to deal with the uncomfortableness for 5 hours, and that's a long time to have someone's fat pushed up against you non stop. They cut a deal they could both live with. End of story.
even skinny people are uncomfortable in those cramped b******t seats. f**k airlines.
IMO obese people shold not be allowed to fly after a certain size due to lack of space and it being a safety hazard. This would solve a lot of problems. I think (correct me if im wrong) that it is also more dangerous for people with higher cholesterol or fat in their blood veins to traver by plane as they are more prone to blood clots. It would also prevent situations like this.and if by any chance an emergency would occur on board- the rescue of an obese person would be difficult and might even make it difficult to get to other passengers as well. Also obese people would not have to suffer the humiliation on board either. Another solution is to build an air plane with fewer and bigger seats equipped to handle obese passengers if they absoultely have to travel. But the reality are that most countries do not have planes that are equipped to handle large passengers. Soif they are going abroad, they’d probably be better off using another means of traveling such as by train/boat/car/bus...
Me as a small person (I need ~60%) I would change the seat for a window seat.
What if the OP was not obese, but a very broad-shouldered athlete (think a linebacker or big fullback) or bodybuilder -- would that change how one thinks about the situation? Should it? I suspect that many us feel bad for the obese person and that affects our thinking. If we'd be satisfied with the solution offered for a big athlete (and I think most of us would be), we should be similarly satisfied for the obese individual.
Well.. This seems like a fair way of thinking. But if you take in consideration that people normally don’t sit on their shoulders. I’d rather have a shoulder at me, instead of somebody’s a*s. But still, if you are big, you should plan accordingly and pay for two seats regardless
Load More Replies...Whoever should have paid the “compensation” should not have paid half but 1/4 or 25% as confirmed by OP. Regardless, this did settle the dispute so there is a little credence to it.
People over a certain weight should be made to declare it so that the airline can make suitable arrangements. I would be seriously upset and annoyed if someone was encroaching on my seat and our bodies were pressing against eachother. Its not something I could put up with. Flying economy for longer than 3 hours is bad enough. An obese person shouldn't be put in this situation either as it will be embarrassing and upsetting for them. The poster deserves compensation but it should have come from the airline.
It was a tough situation, but I think it could have been solved in a better way. If i was OP, I would first try to ask the flight attendance quietly (aka going to them, not calling them over and point at the person next to me) asking if they could sit me somewhere else. If that was not an option, I'd come back, explain to the big guy that this is quite uncomfortable for me so he would know to not disturb me any more than that, remind him he will be a lot more comfortable if he buys 2 seats next time, maybe even start a conversation, get to know the person after that. To be honest, if you like the person next to you, being uncomfortable won't matter so much. I think in general we have to deal with discomfort on planes, like rude people, loud talks, crying babies, smelly feet, try to make the best out of it, and you won't have to question your soul over people's opinions :)
No... you handled it well dude. I mean the guy was big, he knows it. He bought one seat, took a chance, likely hoped the other was empty. End of story right! Not this time. Not critiquing his weight, but flying these days is a gamble! Sometimes you win, and you get a empty seat beside you, and you stretch out! Sometimes you don't. The issue here was he was taking up space you paid for! So asking for compensation was an alternative! The other was him having to take a later flight (according to the attendant). You did the considerate thing by giving him the option!
This isn't rocket science, let alone advanced air mechanics. Each seat has a defined amount of space. If you take up two seats, then you should have to pay for two seats. I get that sometimes being fat is due to lifestyle choices, while sometimes it's a legitimate medical issue, but we can't blame other passengers for that. When I go to the Post Office, I have to pay more to send a large package than a small package. When I want a large soda instead of a small soda, I pay for the price difference. Blah blah.
I wonder what the verdict is on the sub. I'd say the airline was the YTA , and the OP was a bit of YTA. I guess BP cropped the NTA, YTA, NAH, ESH, etc responses.
What in the heck are you talking about? What is NTA, YTA, NAH and ESH?
Load More Replies...I really struggle with the way MY OWN COMFORT has become the most important thing in our lives...
How is this even a question? Both parties identified a problem, negotiated, and ultimately compromised. Are we this far gone as a society that compromising is now victimization? Everyone got what they needed in this story by sacrificing some of what they wanted. This is a story about two people who worked together to overcome an issue.
I would have been a type who would have not let the person fill up part of my seat. I have social anxiety bipolar and need personal space. If the large guy spills into another seat then they need to buy 2 seats. Except for a small minority of people obesity is a choice.
There are airlines that would force him to either buy two seats or go in business class.
Load More Replies...I agree with mathxjunkii. And I can't help but think if the OP would have changed his tune if the "offending person" was a woman. Airlines keep packing people in like sardines and they charge outrageous fees for that tiny tiny seat. And people act like every fat person is fat by choice. My son is on medication that keeps him heavy. He has no choice. I am not a small woman by any means, but not one of the people sitting on either side of me on my most recent flight complained. In fact we had a great time. There's being inconvenienced and then there's being an a*****e. The OP didn't need to be an a*****e. He could have sucked it up and tried to enjoy the flight the best he could without embarrassing a man in front of everyone. I'm also wondering how long it will be before obese people start suing airlines for scenarios such as this that are caused by small seats and overbooking.
ty Daria..not sure why you are getting down voted. I agree with everything you said.
Load More Replies...I fly reasonably regularly and it grinds my gears if my neighbouring passenger is "on" my seat. If you don't fit a standard seat. DON'T buy one.
Have people pass through an appropriate-sized gate when boarding. If they don't fit, they don't fly.
A man who asked question should have booked business-seat. Everybody has a right to book a seat no matter how they obese or smell (We cannot measure how it is comfort as it depends on a person). Also, seats price doesn't reflect its space, and most of airline profits comes from first class and business class. BTW, He could settle down the problem by putting a fat man into a seat along streets.
Whinning and making a profit, hmm. I wonder is Op is a ....
First I was like 'yes you are'. Then I was like, ok there was a compromise, 150$ was too much tho. But what I'm really thinking, it's very warped that when we people are getting bigger -- not only fatter, just bigger -- the seats are made smaller. It's somewhat unfair to make to pay for two seats. Also, nobody is never made their drunk and/or groping sitemate to pay, they had a better reason
Regardless whose at fault, OP was kind of an a$$ about it. It's the airlines responsibility to manage and enforce these situations. The obese man should have been aware and bought appropriate tickets. In the end, OP didnt need to publicly humiliate the guy. If the plane was aware and quiet, OP probably was more visibly indignant and vocal than he describes here. The world has enough a$$holes. I'm not saying just take what is dished out to you and not stand up for yourself but take a high road and have some dignity for 5 hours. His comfort in having obese man pay him $150 for the snake oil lawyers equivalent of "emotional duress" or "pain and anguish" smacks of ugly entitlement. In the end, everyone can do what they want. Obese man may or may not ever take care of his health. The airlines might continue to ignore their passengers. OP might always be an entitled jerk. He could have handled this differently.
I don't get why so many people say it's the airlines fault! Fat people chose a normal seat and not always but often chose to be fat! Like you can't complain when a table doesn't fit in your cars trunk, when you bought a small car.. it's not the fault of the furniture store ^^
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