# Are Fat People on Airplanes Becoming a Big Problem **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 27, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130 "2013-03-27T20:30:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/1 "2013-03-27T20:30:53Z")
I was reading [this article](http://travel.cnn.com/airline-fat-tax-should-heavy-passengers-pay-more-619046) about whether fat people should pay extra for air travel. In the comment section, there were a lot of postings by people who claimed that they had had bad experiences travelling by airplane due to being next to a fat person. I myself have not traveled on an airplane in the last 10 or 15 years. Before that, I traveled by plane a decent amount and I can’t recall even one instance where a fat person next to me made life unpleasant. The main annoyances I recall are people smoking cigarettes and the occasional screaming baby. So my question to frequent travelers: Is this becoming a big problem? Or is it just hype? ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/2 "2013-03-27T20:34:34Z")
I fly relatively frequently for my job (2-3 times a month) and I would say it’s a problem occasionally. I myself am average sized so when I am seated next to an obese person, it severely eats into my seat space. On longer flights it can become very annoying. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/3 "2013-03-27T20:36:03Z")
> [@](#): > > I fly relatively frequently for my job (2-3 times a month) and I would say it’s a problem occasionally. I myself am average sized so when I am seated next to an obese person, it severely eats into my seat space. On longer flights it can become very annoying. Thank you for answering. In a typical year, roughly how many times does it happen? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/4 "2013-03-27T20:39:44Z")
It’s only a problem when they try to steal my complimentary snack. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/5 "2013-03-27T20:42:04Z")
It was a problem for me once, and that was probably more than 20 years ago. I typically fly 2-6 times a year. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/6 "2013-03-27T20:42:28Z")
Yeah, about once every five flights or so, I get stuck next to someone whose fat spills over the armrest and practically into my lap. But flights aren’t the worst because the seating is more or less random - I am on the thin side and fat people make a beeline for seats right next to me on the bus and the train. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/7 "2013-03-27T20:47:11Z")
I haven’t been squished on a plane, but I get squished on the subway once every few months. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/8 "2013-03-27T20:50:04Z")
Yes, it’s a big problem. I’m tired of them larding it over me. Even their bags are overweight. Fat chance anyone will do something about it. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/9 "2013-03-27T20:52:47Z")
I wish they would make up special flights for obese people, people travelling with babies, smokers, busybodies, people with BO, and make them travel with each other, leaving the nice, quiet flights for us normal folks. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/10 "2013-03-27T20:55:51Z")
The problems that jump out in my memory are more related to large people in general – guys\* who aren’t fat, but who are large all-around. They are tall, they are proportionally wide, they have a lot of knees and elbows and nowhere to put them. I feel terrible for them because they can’t possibly be comfortable, and it’s also not comfortable for me. I would guess in 15 flights, I remember two specific times where this happened. \*in my personal experience, all of my overall large seatmates have been men, but this must be a problem for very tall women as well. ---
**Author:** ![PurpleClogs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@PurpleClogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleClogs)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/11 "2013-03-27T21:06:14Z")
I hate to fly partly because of this. I’m not small, so out of courtesy I sit with both arms tightly in front of me to avoid spilling over. It’s so extremely uncomfortable. Sitting by the window, I can lean against for extra space but it gets cold! Sitting in the isle is best, but I once had my elbow whacked good by the drink cart. I’d rather drive and just avoid the issue altogether. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/12 "2013-03-27T21:16:12Z")
Aren’t airline seats getting smaller, too? (Not trying to make excuses - I’m a fat person too embarrassed to fly coach!) ---
**Author:** ![R3d\_Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/13 "2013-03-27T21:18:01Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Aren’t airline seats getting smaller, too? (Not trying to make excuses - I’m a fat person too embarrassed to fly coach!) Shit, they should be getting larger. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/14 "2013-03-27T21:21:17Z")
> [@Anonymous User](#): > > Shit, they should be getting larger. Yeah! So many fat people! LULZ ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/15 "2013-03-27T21:24:48Z")
Airline seats should come in drink sizes: small medium and large. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/16 "2013-03-27T21:24:58Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Thank you for answering. In a typical year, roughly how many times does it happen? It happens less often on Southwest, which is what I primarily fly. More often on carriers where I don’t pick the seats. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/17 "2013-03-27T21:46:36Z")
I find if I wasn’t 6 foot 4 I might be able to sit into an aeroplane seat comfortably regardless of my vast corpulence. I’m sure my vast obesity offends all you perfect individuals out there but I really find the fact my knees touch the seat in front before I’ve even sat down more of an issue. By the way thing of my flab as a free heated pillow. Plane seats seem to vary quite a bit from not being an issue, to oh god kill me now I’m too embarrassed and uncomfortable to live sardined in here. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/18 "2013-03-27T21:47:56Z")
My SOs best friend is a big man and the airline told him he’d have to buy two seats. Problem solved I guess. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/19 "2013-03-27T21:52:42Z")
> [@sahirrnee](#): > > My SOs best friend is a big man and the airline told him he’d have to buy two seats. Problem solved I guess. Not sure if that would work on Ryanair, my local cheapo airline. I could buy two seats but they don’t sell seats by seat number. Not much use to me having two seats in two different rows. ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/20 "2013-03-27T22:17:20Z")
People are getting larger, airline seats aren’t, and the airlines don’t make it easy to purchase two adjacent seats even if you want to (for the most part, you have to cal the airline to do this - can’t use websites like Orbitz or Expedia to book your flight if you need two seats). So I’m not at all surprised it’s a growing problem (pun not intended). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130.md?page=2)