Bad Seat Experience
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CLE
Programs: UA,WN,AA,DL, B6
Posts: 4,163
Bad Seat Experience
I flew FLL-MDW today. Since I had a high B boarding group was looking for a isle seat, I walked down the plane looked like even at the back end all isle seat taken but mid cabin I saw one and sat down. The lady in the middle seat (trying to be nice) had to weigh 300-350LBS and the fat on her body was spilling into my seat and she had the armrest up. Her body was actually touching mine. So when does become a issue, do airlines have any rule in place. Her husband by the way was just as large.
Last edited by buckeyefanflyer; Apr 26, 2015 at 7:18 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
WN has a specific policy on this. You bring it to the FA's attention (you can go find an FA if you want to be discreet) and let them deal with it.
An agent ought to have caught this at the gate, but WN can still deal with it onboard.
An agent ought to have caught this at the gate, but WN can still deal with it onboard.
#4
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,525
I flew FLL-MDW today. Since I had a high B boarding group was looking for a isle seat, I walked down the plane looked like even at the back end all isle seat taken but mid cabin I saw one and sat down. The lady in the middle seat (trying to be nice) had to weigh 300-350LBS and the fat on her body was spilling into my seat and she had the armrest up. Her body was actually touching mine. So when does become a issue, do airlines have any rule in place. Her husband by the wind was just as large.
#5
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA EXP, DL-Plat, WN-CP | Hotels: Choice-Gld, IHG-Plt, Rad-Gld, HH-Dia, Hyatt-Glob, Marriott-LtPlt
Posts: 2,888
I flew FLL-MDW today. Since I had a high B boarding group was looking for a isle seat, I walked down the plane looked like even at the back end all isle seat taken but mid cabin I saw one and sat down. The lady in the middle seat (trying to be nice) had to weigh 300-350LBS and the fat on her body was spilling into my seat and she had the armrest up. Her body was actually touching mine. So when does become a issue, do airlines have any rule in place. Her husband by the wind was just as large.
What did the flight attendants do when you brought the issue of your neighbor's encroachment into your seat to their attention?
If the plane is not full, they will often try to move passengers around within the plane.
#6
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: None - fairly infrequent flier
Posts: 33
If she and her husband were the size that you indicate, I would think the two of them could have comfortably shared 3 seats, and probably should have been required to do so. However, as Allan38103 said, she was there first and you sat next to her. I don't see that either of the two previously seated passengers should be required to move so you, at at high B boarding position, could claim an aisle seat. I'm assuming there were other seats still available to choose from when you sat in the encroached upon aisle seat?
#7
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ONT
Programs: AA Gold, WN A-, UA S, HH ♦, IHG Spire, Hertz Prez O, TSA Disparager
Posts: 2,159
True dat. I'm no small person and I got wedged between two biguns on a completely full Delta 767 a few years back. We could not all sit up straight at the same time. I leaned forward during landing and take off and asked them to recline once in the air.
#8
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
Reminds me of a woman who sat next to me on a flight recently. I didn't notice the arm rest was up. When it was time to take off, I tried to lower the arm rest. I kept pushing and pushing, raising it, and slamming it down, not realizing that it was hitting HER. I actually felt bad for her, she had a look of horror on her face, and just sat there staring straight ahead. I just left it up at that point. It was only a 2 1/2 hour flight, and didn't kill me, although I am uncomfortable touching people I do not know, and our bodies touched from legs to upper arms. If I had been in a sour mood, I might have made a fuss, but mostly I do not like to cause issues, and embarrass people. With what I consider a relatively lenient COS policy, I wish more people would take advantage of it.
#9
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Runway 22 @ KROC
Posts: 706
Reminds me of when I got 'stuck' next to a [COS] LAS-ORD on UA . So fat she couldn't put the armrest down . Plane was full,so nowhere else to go.Not fun.
Last edited by nsx; Apr 28, 2015 at 4:04 pm Reason: pejorative redacted
#10
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: none
Posts: 1,668
#11
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: DFW,TX USA
Programs: Lifetime Platinum Marriott
Posts: 1,567
If the flight is full, FA will/can deal with it.
If it is not a full flight, then they usually assume people are smart enough not to sit there.
And if you do it is your choice and not an issue with that passenger.
Complaining because you took a isle seat where the person spilled over vs taking a middle or window is not a valid complaint.
If it is not a full flight, then they usually assume people are smart enough not to sit there.
And if you do it is your choice and not an issue with that passenger.
Complaining because you took a isle seat where the person spilled over vs taking a middle or window is not a valid complaint.
#12
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Inland Empire, semi-regularly going between LAX/ONT/SNA and IND/STL
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#13
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Runway 22 @ KROC
Posts: 706
See how you like someone you dont know rubbing up against you for 3+ hours because they're too cheap and ignorant to buy 2 seats.
Last edited by United_727; Apr 29, 2015 at 6:39 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: WN A-List+/CP, Hertz Pres Club, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 29