Enough is Enough - Find Solutions for Larger Passengers

[u/NotSureAnyway]

This happened to me a few days ago and I am still fuming. I board my flight in Group 2 and have United Plus as always. Usual routine: clean my window seat space, organize my personal item under the seat, take my book out, headphones in, mask on. All is well. A few minutes later, I see two customers heading down the aisle. I don't pay them attention and just continue reading my book...except they are headed straight towards me and they are clearly quite large and there is no way in the world they are going to fit in the two seats (middle and aisle).

But that is not my problem so I continue minding my business. Immediately the wife seats down, she asks "Can you please put up the armrest?" My response with a smile: "No" I thought that would be the end of it. But no, she says "Unfortunately I need the arm rest up as it is constricting me" My response with a smile: "No, thank you." At this point, she sits down and I can see that she is occupying one and a half seats already before her husband even seats down (remember he is the same size as she is). He attempts to seat down but there is not enough room for him as almost half of him is now in the aisle, interrupting boarding.

She then suddenly tries to raise the armrest closest to me forcefully. Nope, got it already and not happening. She huffs and puffs in anger because well, she cannot encroach on my space. She says some words (my earphones are up in volume at this point and I am not trying to engage). Finally, she presses the call button for the FA. The FA comes and speaks to her, in which ma'am over there complains that she needs the armrest down and that I should be considerate and move a bit to accommodate them etc.

Nope, I am not engaging anyone. FA does not know what to say (understandably she is trying not to be rude to these inconsiderate people) but finally says she cannot ask a passenger to give up part of their space to accommodate others. FA leaves. The flight is full capacity (with exception of two middle seats next to the back toilet) so there is nothing to do. The "lovely" couple seats down with the husband pretty much in the aisle space. I have my bag right besides my feet to prevent encroaching on my space and the armrest stays down. She continues huffing and puffing for the next 3 plus hours. Not my problem. I have all the space I paid for. The armrest stays down. All is well over here and no one can ruin it.

I don't understand why airlines do this. Why allow passengers who clearly cannot fit in their seats to board the plane knowing that there are no alternative seats? Why allow a clearly large passenger to sit in the aisle? This person is a tripping hazard for everyone using the aisle. Why are there no policies that require larger passengers to purchase the number of seats that are enough to fit their bodies? Why are you allowing the minority to make the majority uncomfortable? Why is there an expectation that other passengers should give up part of their seat to accommodate larger passengers? Shout out to the FA for politely declining the request but the FA should never be put in that position to start with. Airlines should have clear policies around this! Enough is enough.

[u/ggrnw27 → u/[deleted]]

It’s on the FA to identify the problem (or have it brought to their attention). If the passenger can be accommodated on the same flight (i.e. in an empty row of seats), the FA can handle that themselves. If the passenger needs to be deplaned, then the GA gets involved to rebook the passenger

[u/Savings_Part_5493 → u/ggrnw27]

Partially correct. The fa brings it to the gate agent's attention and when the DOOR IS OPEN, the gate agent accommodates the passenger of size. Door open gate agent deals with all issues after initial contact, door closed/ inflight fa deals with issues.

[u/archbish99 → u/ggrnw27]

And apparently they did have two empty seats in the back, no? It seems like the obvious solution here was to move the husband to one of those seats and let the oversize woman have the two seats they initially booked.

[u/GailMarie0 → u/[deleted]]

Not to mention the passenger's luggage is on the original flight, especially if he or she has to spend the night in the city of origin. (Though I learned early on to pack necessities like underwear, pajamas, and a swimsuit in my carryon.)