Airlines - Have they actually charged obese passengers more?
Perhaps ten years ago, airlines were given permission to
charge overweight passengers more money to occupy
seats in planes.
Can anybody cite an instant of this policy being applied?
If they take3 more seats, yes
Most airlines have a policy that if you don't fit in a seat with the armrests down and you can't put a seatbelt on, you have to buy an extra seat. If you refuse, you are ejected from the plane. I've never seen it happen on the plane, but I have seen obese people receiving "guidance" at the gate.
In the early days of flying, you were weighed with your luggage and charged by the pound. As a skinny old man who sends his luggage in advance, I'm all for bringing that policy back.
Yes, All the time.
Yes, frequently.
Trip Planning / Air Travel Do Larger Airline Passengers Need to Buy a Second Seat?
By Nancy Parode. Updated 02/16/18
Some US air carriers have announced policies that apply to what they discreetly call "passengers of size" or "passengers requiring extra space," - in other words, overweight airline passengers. The terminology is polite, but the airlines' policies are, for the most part, straightforward. If, when you sit down in your airplane seat, you need a seat belt extender or you can't lower both armrests, you may be asked to pay for a second seat unless extra space is available somewhere on the aircraft.
Both American Airlines and Alaska Airlines' website states that if you can't lower both armrests, you will need to buy a ticket for a second seat.
Delta's "litmus test" for larger passengers is their ability to sit in their seat while the armrests are down. If passengers can't fit into their seats, they will be reseated if possible, but they may be asked to pay for a second seat.
Southwest has decided to fully enforce its long-standing policy on Customers of Size. As of this writing, Southwest customers who are unable to lower both armrests will be reseated if possible. Southwest recommends purchasing an extra seat in advance.
Some airlines charge larger people the cost of an extra seat. Though if the airline still has space available, that person gets a refund of one seat. I think southwest does this.
Some are required to buy an extra seat where they don't fit in a standard single seat.
Airlines have seatbelt extenders. Some allow you to buy and bring your own on. Delta doesn't but they have some they can hand out. I was recently on a flight with someone who weighs over 300 pounds. She had trouble getting the seatbelts fastened, and she wasn't very comfortable, but she did fit in the seat.
Yes they have. If you take up more than one seat on the plane, you will be charged extra. Period. If the arm can't be fully laid down, that is considered taking up more than one seat. If you can't buckle even with the seat extender, that is taking up more than one seat
refuse the charge, and you will be booted from the flight. Cause any sort of stink, and you will be denied boarding or removed from the plane.
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