Oct 8, 2015, 2:43 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
"Passenger of Size" (PoS) also sometimes referred to "Customer of Size" (CoS)
Both acronyms are in FT Glossary
Both acronyms are in FT Glossary
Customers requiring extra seating
A customer flying in the economy cabin who is not able to safely and comfortably fit in a single seat is required to purchase an additional seat for each leg of their itinerary. The second seat may be purchased for the same fare as the original seat, provided it is purchased at the same time. A customer who does not purchase an extra seat in advance may be required to do so on the day of departure for the fare level available on the day of departure. The customer may instead choose to purchase a ticket for United First®, United Business® or United BusinessFirst®, or elect to pay for an upgrade to a premium cabin if there is availability to do so. United Airlines is not required to provide additional seats or upgrades free of charge.
A customer is required to purchase an additional seat or upgrade if they do not meet one of the following criteria:
The customer must be able to properly attach, buckle and wear the seat belt, with one extension if necessary, whenever the seatbelt sign is illuminated or as instructed by a crew member.*
The customer must be able to remain seated with the seat armrest(s) down for the entirety of the flight.
The customer must not significantly encroach upon the adjacent seating space. See our seat maps.
United will not board a customer who declines to purchase a ticket for an additional seat or upgrade for each leg of their itinerary when required.
*The average length of the seatbelt extension is approximately 25 inches. As the seat designs on our aircraft vary, it is possible that the seatbelt extension presented on your flight provides less than 25 inches of additional coverage. Regardless of the actual additional length the extension provides, if you do not meet the first criteria listed above when using the extension provided on your flight, it will be necessary for you to purchase an additional seat or an upgrade, where available.
Additional procedures
The additional seat must be available without downgrading or unseating another customer. If an additional seat is not available on the flight for which the customer is confirmed, he or she is required to rebook on the next United flight with seats available for accommodation. United will waive penalties or fees that may otherwise apply to this change.
If the customer is away from his or her home and must rebook for a flight for the following day, amenities including applicable meals and hotel accommodations for one night will be provided as appropriate. When the customer is able to rebook for a later flight on the same day as originally scheduled, amenities will not be provided.
A customer flying in the economy cabin who is not able to safely and comfortably fit in a single seat is required to purchase an additional seat for each leg of their itinerary. The second seat may be purchased for the same fare as the original seat, provided it is purchased at the same time. A customer who does not purchase an extra seat in advance may be required to do so on the day of departure for the fare level available on the day of departure. The customer may instead choose to purchase a ticket for United First®, United Business® or United BusinessFirst®, or elect to pay for an upgrade to a premium cabin if there is availability to do so. United Airlines is not required to provide additional seats or upgrades free of charge.
A customer is required to purchase an additional seat or upgrade if they do not meet one of the following criteria:
The customer must be able to properly attach, buckle and wear the seat belt, with one extension if necessary, whenever the seatbelt sign is illuminated or as instructed by a crew member.*
The customer must be able to remain seated with the seat armrest(s) down for the entirety of the flight.
The customer must not significantly encroach upon the adjacent seating space. See our seat maps.
United will not board a customer who declines to purchase a ticket for an additional seat or upgrade for each leg of their itinerary when required.
*The average length of the seatbelt extension is approximately 25 inches. As the seat designs on our aircraft vary, it is possible that the seatbelt extension presented on your flight provides less than 25 inches of additional coverage. Regardless of the actual additional length the extension provides, if you do not meet the first criteria listed above when using the extension provided on your flight, it will be necessary for you to purchase an additional seat or an upgrade, where available.
Additional procedures
The additional seat must be available without downgrading or unseating another customer. If an additional seat is not available on the flight for which the customer is confirmed, he or she is required to rebook on the next United flight with seats available for accommodation. United will waive penalties or fees that may otherwise apply to this change.
If the customer is away from his or her home and must rebook for a flight for the following day, amenities including applicable meals and hotel accommodations for one night will be provided as appropriate. When the customer is able to rebook for a later flight on the same day as originally scheduled, amenities will not be provided.
"Passenger of Size" (PoS) - What's the policy, experiences, issues, ...[Consolidated]
Feb 16, 2018, 3:03 pm
#241
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Carmel Valley(was Hawaii)
Programs: United 1K 2.7 MM
Posts: 1,174
Had an incident on a flight from BOS-SFO last Sunday that I'm amazed UA actually let happen.
Flight was completely full. A large gentleman was seated in a middle seat in row 20 on a ps 757. He was completely unable to sit down and waited until the end of boarding to request assistance from the GA. GA announces loudly if anyone would like to switch to an exit row seat, and ends up reseating the larger passenger in an aisle seat further back.
The part that amazes me was that this person was so large that you could barely walk down the aisle when he was seated. For a good portion of the flight, the FA's allowed him to stand in the galley forward of row 5 so they could do their service.
I felt bad for all parties involved here, and occurred to me that this could has easily become a safety issue due to the aisle being obstructed.
Flight was completely full. A large gentleman was seated in a middle seat in row 20 on a ps 757. He was completely unable to sit down and waited until the end of boarding to request assistance from the GA. GA announces loudly if anyone would like to switch to an exit row seat, and ends up reseating the larger passenger in an aisle seat further back.
The part that amazes me was that this person was so large that you could barely walk down the aisle when he was seated. For a good portion of the flight, the FA's allowed him to stand in the galley forward of row 5 so they could do their service.
I felt bad for all parties involved here, and occurred to me that this could has easily become a safety issue due to the aisle being obstructed.
Feb 17, 2018, 10:42 am
#242
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,882
Years ago I had an experience I'll never forget. Sitting in an economy window seat when a huge woman sat down in the middle seat and immediately lifted the armrest, saying to me "I need that up". When I told her I prefer it down she just ignored me. I could not physically put it down because a large part of her body was oozing into my space -- I was mashed up against the window. I rang my call button and when the FA came I just gave her a look (eyebrows raised, head tilt towards the woman next to me). They started arguing with each other so I just put my headphones on. Next thing I knew the large woman was being escorted off the plane, but not before she started yelling and swearing at me! I just pointed to my headphones and mouthed "I can't hear you", and then she threw her seat belt extender at me!
The point is -- no need for a confrontation. Let the FA deal with it -- it's their job whether they like it or not.
And if you're too large to fit in a seat, for crying out loud, buy the second seat. We all have our problems. Your problem is NOT my problem.
The point is -- no need for a confrontation. Let the FA deal with it -- it's their job whether they like it or not.
And if you're too large to fit in a seat, for crying out loud, buy the second seat. We all have our problems. Your problem is NOT my problem.
Feb 17, 2018, 11:29 am
#243
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,004
Absolutely. I don't know why this passenger wasn't prevented from sitting here. Could you imagine in the instance where the plane needs to evac and this person is there? Ugh.
Sep 27, 2018, 5:30 am
#244
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 30
Seat Belt so Short Non-POS Needed Seat-Belt Extender
Yesterday I flew BRU-ORD in Business. I am a 190 pound 5’5” woman, who has lost a 40 pounds from her high weight. I’m obese, but have no problem fitting in a regular seat, and have NEVER needed a seatbelt extender, even at 240 pounds, flying in couch on United Express. Yesterday, I couldn’t comfortably buckle a Business class seatbelt (it buckled but was very uncomfortable) and it took the flight attendants 10 minutes to locate a seatbelt extender. I was pretty pissed.
Sep 27, 2018, 6:12 am
#245
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,239
Yesterday I flew BRU-ORD in Business. I am a 190 pound 5’5” woman, who has lost a 40 pounds from her high weight. I’m obese, but have no problem fitting in a regular seat, and have NEVER needed a seatbelt extender, even at 240 pounds, flying in couch on United Express. Yesterday, I couldn’t comfortably buckle a Business class seatbelt (it buckled but was very uncomfortable) and it took the flight attendants 10 minutes to locate a seatbelt extender. I was pretty pissed.
Sep 27, 2018, 6:13 am
#246
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Not sure I understand the issue. So long as they got you the extender prior to the flight closing, does it really matter enough to complain here? FA's have many things to do before an aircraft departs. While yours was a safety issue and thus important, so long as the task was accomplished, seems all that matters.
Sep 27, 2018, 6:22 am
#247
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 30
I’m actually not mad at the FAs. They did their jobs, but the seat belt should not be that short. Yes, I’m overweight, but if I’ve never needed an extender on a coach seat, even on a puddle jumper, even when 40 pounds heavier, it’s crazy that I would need in Business. United shouldn’t have seat belts that short in International Business, where the seats are supposed to be wider and more comfortable.
Sep 27, 2018, 6:40 am
#248
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I’m actually not mad at the FAs. They did their jobs, but the seat belt should not be that short. Yes, I’m overweight, but if I’ve never needed an extender on a coach seat, even on a puddle jumper, even when 40 pounds heavier, it’s crazy that I would need in Business. United shouldn’t have seat belts that short in International Business, where the seats are supposed to be wider and more comfortable.
Sep 27, 2018, 9:46 am
#250
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I think the extender was needed on a UAX flight as per Rosehill28 in post #244 . Curious as to aircraft type...
Sep 27, 2018, 9:54 am
#251
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,217
I always have sympathy for the person in the middle seat so do my best to allow then the armrest, etc but with slimmer seats I have to think this will become more of an issue.
Is there a proper way to ask someone to sit sideways on a flight when it is impacting your space?
Sep 27, 2018, 12:42 pm
#252
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
I experienced this on my last flight, just a short hop LAX-LAS and fortunately as I was in 7F the seats are fixed so there was no overflow from the armrest down but the shoulders were so wide I was jammed up against the window at an uncomfortable angle.
Is there a proper way to ask someone to sit sideways on a flight when it is impacting your space?
Is there a proper way to ask someone to sit sideways on a flight when it is impacting your space?
That's also one of the reasons I would never choose a window seat. I'd rather sit in an uncomfortable angle in an aisle seat and get a chance to stand up if it becomes unbearable due to the POS next to me.
Sep 28, 2018, 5:55 am
#253
formerly 1984SW
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,058
I wish there were some other acronym besides POS for these folks. When reading the above posts I kept reflexively mentally reading POS as "piece of s***" and flinched at the aggression of the poster. Then I would have to re-read with the "person of size" meaning and calm down.
Sep 28, 2018, 7:00 am
#254
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 151
I wish there were some other acronym besides POS for these folks. When reading the above posts I kept reflexively mentally reading POS as "piece of s***" and flinched at the aggression of the poster. Then I would have to re-read with the "person of size" meaning and calm down.
Sep 28, 2018, 8:22 am
#255
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,239
I wish there were some other acronym besides POS for these folks. When reading the above posts I kept reflexively mentally reading POS as "piece of s***" and flinched at the aggression of the poster. Then I would have to re-read with the "person of size" meaning and calm down.