Should obese passengers pay for two seats? Kevin Smith drama sparks debate. What do you think?

Director Kevin Smith's dispute with Southwest Airlines after his removal from a plane over the weekend in Oakland touches on what for years has been a hot-button issue in the airline world: Should obese passengers be required to purchase two seats?

Southwest is one of numerous airlines that requires passengers who can't fit comfortably into a single seat to purchase a second seat. Some passengers have hailed this policy, saying it's unfair to them to sit next to someone who takes up part of their seat.

But there have been legal challenges and protests over such policies. Last month, Air France came under criticism for asking obese passengers to pay 75% of the costs of a second seat, forcing the airline to clarify its policy. Critics argued the plan discriminated against people because of their weight.

United Airlines started charging obese passengers for a second seat last year. According to airline officials, United has received more than 700 complaints from passengers saying obese passengers  encroached on their seats.

In Canada, the government and courts have ruled that airlines must provide "clinically obese" passengers with an extra seat for no charge. Supporters of the policy said it will allow more disabled people to travel.

In the case of Smith, the director was outraged that he was told by airline employees to leave the plane even though he insisted that he fit in his seat.

"I know I'm fat, but was [the airline] really justified in throwing me off a flight for which I was already seated?" he wrote. "I broke no regulation, offered no safety risk."

Smith said the incident took place Saturday and that he was eventually able to make it to L.A. on another Southwest flight.

Southwest issued an apology to Smith on its Twitter feed. "We are sincerely sorry for your travel experience on Southwest Airlines," the airline said in a statement.

What do you think? Should obese passengers pay for two seats? Or is that discrimination? Share your view.

--Shelby Grad

Comments

[larsegar]

Well, if I pay full price for an airplane seat, I should get all the space within the seat to myself. If someone next to me is overflowing into my space, that is not ok. If someone is that big, they should have to pay for enough space to contain them.

[K2TheX]

This is the airlines fault. Staggered seating is available that allows the same number of seats, while increasing legroom, privacy, and also giving you a spot for your head to rest.

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/04/delta-airlines/

[Mike]

I want to watch his movies!

I want to give him my money!!

Kevin Smith is a marketing genius!!!

[dee]

I had a window seat in a three seat row. Just before takeoff they moved a heavy man to the aisle row with one seat between us. His rear and front were so big he touched the forward seat. I had to "go" but didn't because after seeing him get into his seat I knew how difficult it would be to get out. He was the nicest guy, I was trapped. I think he could have got in the 2 seats on the window side in retrospect but so what,life isn't perfect or fair.We need to have consideration for all, It is a fortunate person who never has troubles of some kind. Heavier people have to have consideration to others also and realize they too impact others lives in busy spaces. The USA is full of self rightous whiners.

[ryanman]

The airline restricts the size of a carryon bag. They should likewise restrict the volume of a passenger.

[Megan]

If I have crippling claustrophobia or social anxiety disorder and require extra space to be comfortable, can I require a free extra seat too? Somehow I don't think so. Mostly I think I would get therapy and medication, put up and shut up.

People don't choose their hardships, but they also don't force other people to pay for them. Gross obesity is something that can be remedied, too. It just takes sacrifice and dedication.

[Paul Smith]

Pay by the pound everyone.

[karin]

they should pay for two seats, even if the arm rest goes down but if their shoulders or waist is encroaching my seat this means they are to fat..also, I am tired of paying more taxes on pop and fast food because of the fat people..I do eat fast food about three or four times a week and I order the kiddie meals or share a whopper/fries and usually a shake with someone(ask for a empty cup)..I am 5'4", 118 lbs and it is because I know to either walk, bike or run 4-5 times a week, no weights at home so I use a couple of cans..I love Southwest and I appreciate that they care about the fact that I am paying for my seat and I don't want to share my space..keep your shoulders waist and arms in your space and I'll keep mine where it belongs

[TheBigPicture]

The should work it like standby...right before boarding, ask if anyone is willing to sit next to one of these characters knowing that their fat will be overflowing into your seat and you have to touch and smell them throughout the trip...

They will never get any volunteers...The x-large can't board...

[Renee]

yes, people that are sitting up on top of the person next to them is a problem. I sure would not want some heavy person taking up my space on a plane after I payed $300 to $400 dollars for a ticket. heavy people need to stop blaming others who find it to be unfair and speak up.

[kgoddess]

Having been smashed by a person who overflowed their one seat, all I can say is I totally agree with the policy that if you can't fit in one seat, pay for 2. Why should other passengers be squeezed to the point of being unable to move? Either that or make the seats larger. Oh, by the way, I am NOT by any means considered a "slim" person.

[Nathan]

It seems so obvious to me... You don't fit in one seat? I guess you'll need to buy a second one. Sometimes my first espresso doesn't wake me up. Should Starbucks be required to give me a second for free because I'm less susceptible to caffeine?

[Ebby]

Sabrina - Remember when garments came in "One Size Fits All?" What do they say now? "One Size Fits Most." Sadly, in this country, if SW tried to make seats that accommodated everyone, seats would look more like loveseats than single person chairs. In order to make up for what they would lose financially on each flight, in terms of how many FEWER passengers each flight would carry, tickets would be OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive. And those large passengers who can't afford an extra charge? They still wouldn't be able to fly.

[jake]

I will be honest im fat, and i would not want anybody to have to sit next to me on an airplane, they shouldnt have to pay for a seat and and have to sit next to me smothering them. its not fair to them. I do think airlines should have a few larger seats and charge more for them, that would really solve things.

[Joe]

I feel badly for Mr. Smith. Clearly his obesity has become a health issue and it had to be embarrasing to be asked to leave the plane - perhaps this will motivate him to think about the impact his obesity is having on his quality of life. I have heard him joke about his obesity in the past. That being said, I have been in the unfortunate position of being uncomfortably squeezed in next to an obese person (or worse yet the middle seat between two people) and I think they should either pay for two seats or the airlines should designate a special seating area (much like a wheel chair space).

[R Stephen Karvwatt]

Most definitely. They might be able to get their self into a seat between the armrests but their upper body will overflow into the adjoining seat. If they are in the middle or aisle seat, there is no way that a person blocked in can get out to use the rest room without the obese person getting out of their seat or if in an emergency exit the plane.

As an aside these convience and safety issues also pertains to people using laptops and are not sitting in a window seat.

[Mike]

What the airline charges you is none of my business. But the space I paid for is my business. If you encroach on my space because you're too big, you're stealing from me. Pay for the space you use, don't claim you're entitled to steal it from another passenger.

[Lon]

Yes they should have to pay more, how can airlines justify making me pay for additional bags or a heavier bag when my bags and I weigh far less than the obese person I have to sit next to for hours at a time.

[Steve Lackow]

this is a great opportunity for airlines to create a new product - a row or two of coach seats with more room for those who are big, tall or traveling with very young kids; as primarily a biz traveler, Southwest has always been among the very worst experiences and i will only fly them if i have no other choice

[Ronald Nowack]

If a person is so overweight that he/she makes it extremely uncomfortable for passengers on either side....yes! I do think the overweight person should pay for two seats. Have you ever sat next to someone like that? I have. And it can be unbearable on any flight longer then a ten minutes.

[J]

Airlines should DEFINITELY charge larger folks for an additional seat. Larger doesn't have to mean fat - could include really tall people too.

I am not bashing large people (size or height). I just find it incredibly uncomfortable and intrusive to share my seat and space with someone else because they don't fit in their assigned space.

Agreed - coach seats on airlines are small. However, if a larger person needs a larger seat, it might be cheaper for them to buy a business class seat which is larger, rather than buy two in coach.

[vlukas]

I am fat. It is my own fault. My fellow humans should not be made to suffer because of my problem. Two seats for sure! Smith new he was wrong because he originally purchased two seats for his scheduled flight. Landing an earlier flight with only one seat available was a dumb idea. What did he think, the second flight was roomier, or was he just pulling a fast one.

[fair.is.fair]

What can we do so that the airlines can group all of the obese people together and put them all into side by side seats. Problem solved. Normal-sized people don't have to deal with spill-over, and the obese can either choose to buy 2 seats or deal with it.

[T.L. Ensminger]

During my years of heavy air travel I sat next to many of these overstuffed fatties and hated every minute of the journey. YES - MAKE THEM PAY or kick them off.

[Ruggles James]

It is an airplane - Airplane pilots keep the plane in the air by knowing how much the plane weighs on take off and landing. Presently the FAA use 170 lbs as an average for the pilots to calculate weight by multiplying the number of souls on board times 170. It is a safety issue. If we can't weigh every passenger then the pilot has to have the discretion to off load as he sees fit. If a passenger buys two seats he weighs 170 lbs times two and the pilot knows how much fuel he can put on before the plane is too heavy to fly. If you've eaten enough to qualify as two passengers you need to buy two seats.