# 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:** 12\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/121 "2013-11-19T14:45:08Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Also 2 million tons of excess greenhouse gas emissions. _I_ may eat a lot of beans, but don’t paint all other fat people with the same brush! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/122 "2013-11-19T15:01:29Z")
> [@DragonAsh](#): > > Mexicans (and Canadians, btw) are Americans. Yes, in the same way Peruvians are Americans in the technically was correct, it wasn’t what you originally meant, but in a here’s-a-bullshit-escape-hatch-of-fact- that-I-can-use-to-still-have-credence way. Good jorb. > [@DragonAsh](#): > > Oh, and I guess - congratulations, as of this year the USA, the richest country in the world (GDP: approx. $16,000 billion), is only the -second- fattest country in the world, by one percentage point, over Mexico (GDP: approx. $1,800 billion). Yes, I can see why you’re so butthurt by the allegations of fattiness. > :rolleyes: Oh, and this year, USA has the largest amount of Americans too. Facts are fun, especially when they’re unrelated. Way to go! ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/123 "2013-11-19T15:59:53Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Bwuh? An “all Americans are gigantically fat” joke? How long did it take you to come up with that one? Double bwah … mrAru has been retired from the Navy for almost 10 years and he still fits his boot camp issue dress blues, dress whites and dungarees. ---
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/124 "2013-11-19T16:45:09Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > Oh, and this year, USA has the largest amount of Americans too. Facts are fun, especially when they’re unrelated. Way to go! Oh, so close, yet so far! If we were talking about absolute population numbers, you might have been close to having something bearing the faintest of resemblances to a point. But since we’re talking about percentages…FAIL. ---
**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:** [November 19, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/125 "2013-11-19T16:54:16Z")
First… > [@brazil84](#): > > Are Fat People on Airplanes Becoming a Big Problem? Then… > [@brazil84](#): > > And how big of an impact do they have? This is uncalled for, rude and insulting and I demand an immediate and unreserved apology. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/126 "2013-11-19T16:54:39Z")
> [@DragonAsh](#): > > Oh, so close, yet so far! If we were talking about absolute population numbers, you might have been close to having something bearing the faintest of resemblances to a point. But since we’re talking about percentages…FAIL. No, we’re talking about seating on airplanes. Do keep up. ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/127 "2013-11-19T17:04:14Z")
> [@bump](#): > > _I_ may eat a lot of beans, but don’t paint all other fat people with the same brush! And really, if you’re going to be painting fat people, use a roller. Or better yet, a power sprayer. ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/128 "2013-11-19T20:10:36Z")
I once got on a plane that had more than its share of ‘big boned’ people. I was seated between two women who were well into their 300s, not related, but had been to a convention together along with other people on the plane. I don’t remember what the convention was exactly, but it was something ironic like an Overeaters Anonymous. I was sort of squashed between two walls of flesh. Getting off that plane was like escaping from the garbage crusher in Star Wars. Not the worst flight I’ve ever been on, but memorable. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/129 "2013-11-19T21:33:58Z")
I prefer to sleep my way through a flight, if there’s a biggun next to me I just snuggle against them and sleep away. They’re much softer and warmer than trying to lean against the side window. As long as they don’t smell, then I’m groovy. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/130 "2018-05-12T02:07:08Z")
For what it may be worth, since I started this thread a few years back, I had to start traveling by airplane regularly for work. Mostly trans-Atlantic, but also within the United States and to the Orient. Not once have I had a problem with sitting next to a person who was so fat that they spilled into my seat. Perhaps I have been lucky but I’m starting to think that the problem is exaggerated. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/131 "2018-05-12T03:50:40Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > I prefer to sleep my way through a flight, if there’s a biggun next to me I just snuggle against them and sleep away. They’re much softer and warmer than trying to lean against the side window. As long as they don’t smell, then I’m groovy. good for you, no need for fat shaming. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130/132 "2018-05-12T04:11:26Z")
I’m fat, not enough that I spill into the next seat (although I do tend to lean into the aisle a little when I can) but enough that regular seats are uncomfortable. Also I’m a little on the tall side. So I’m very lucky to be able to afford seats in Coach Plus (or whatever other name different airlines use). It’s not that much more legroom but it’s enough to allow me to change position from time to time. I only fly 2 or 3 times a year, so the extra cost is not a strain. So far I have never had to sit next to an obese person. My husband and I both like aisle seats, so we always pick our seats so that we can sit across the aisle from each other. The worst next-seat person I have had that I can remember was from another culture who didn’t speak English and who seemed to think that he needed to read his newspaper fully open without folding it. I managed after a few tries to inform him that his available space ended at the armrest. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-people-on-airplanes-becoming-a-big-problem/654130.md?page=6)