Size-challenged travelers hit out at ‘discriminatory’ airline seat policies

Of course that is one of the reasons we try so hard to get into business class. At 6-2 and with some back problems (reclining issues) economy is a problem for me. BUT -- we all are at fault to a degree. We constantly want the cheapest tickets and that means more people in the same space. Anyone following the discussion about the "stacked" or two-tier seats. That one is scary.

How much wider, exactly, would a seat have to be to satisfy a plus size person? That is a question that should be asked. Plus size covers a wide array of plus.
Presently the size of a seat is 17.5” wide, three across. So the best they could do for a row is two seats, same space. That would make each seat 26.25 inches wide. Is that enough for plus size people? For any plus size people?
It is all about numbers here.

For every action, there will be a reaction. If seats get larger again then that means less seats per plane and likely higher prices to make up for the lost revenue.

I am a plus size woman...but just tipping into that size. I do not need a belt extender and I still fly economy. I am frugal, but also, outer Canadian airlines charge a mint for even a premium economy or economy plus.
As a woman, yes, I carry my weight in the hips, so those 17.5 inch seats are becoming unpleasant. I pay for my seat choice and choose a window to give a bit more space particularly on overnight flights. I am aware of my size and don't need to make it uncomfortable for the person in the middle seat either.
As to the question of how much extra is needed, well, some could fill that 26 inches. Not to poke at anyone in particular, but if it is anything like being on a bus with perpetual 'manspreaders', you can see why a seat and a half may be useful.
After my latest long haul to India and a new plan for SEAsia, I am looking for solutions for more comfort. Of course, there have also been posts and discussions here, so I will buy tickets eligible for points upgrades, or pay the extra for exit or bulkhead rows just so there is more air space even if no more seat space.

If you have to pay extra or buy two seats, would not that being getting closer to the cost of a business class seat? I have mixed reactions to plus size problems. I am very sympathetic to medical caused conditions but less so to non-medical but how do you tell the difference?

Do not agree with the assertion that the seats have gotten narrower. The 707, 727,737 and 757 all have a same size fuselage and have had 3-3 in coach since inception. I have not seen the aisles get wider , so it seems unlikely the seats have shrunk.

The airline is selling space. The more you want, the more you pay..

Do you really expect Toyota to sell a Sienna van for the price of Corolla ?

so it seems unlikely the seats have shrunk.

Seat width has seemed to shrunk, at least on United. It used to be pretty common for economy seats to be 18” wide. Now it seems that many are 17.1” wide. An inch may not sound like much, but the difference is especially noticeable to me on packed planes.

Airlines have added seats to their wide body aircraft. I recall seeing what was 9 across in 777 economy change to 10 across. Airbus announced a new cabin configuration that has 10 across on A350s. Some of that space comes from thinner sidewalls. Some may come from narrower aisles. I’m guessing that some comes from seat width.

It isn’t all about width. For many it is legroom. Plus-size should have not have inherently more value than someone who is tall.

people being able to fit in a seat isn't just about the width of the seat, but the pitch as well. We have discussed that people shouldn't recline....which would relate to the pitch. So a larger person trying to get in or out of a seat that is so close as to bump knees on the chair ahead is going to have even more problems and discomfort. It seems there are contradictions when doing a quick search as to whether the seats are narrower, but they do agree there are more seats in the planes these days.
And just for interest's sake, the medical definition of 'obese' is 30 pounds over an 'ideal weight'.....ponder that.

It isn’t all about width. For many it is legroom. Plus-size should have not have inherently more value than someone who is tall.

There are already options for tall people - opt for a bulkhead, exit row, or other premium economy seat, or spring for business class. All of these (apart from business class) are cheaper than having to purchase a second seat.

I think there is some correlation between large and tall people in that both have to spend more money for a better seat. Even premium economy can be nearly twice as expensive as coach, but you do get more room. My uncle is 6'4" and if you're sitting in front of him you will not be able to recline as he knee will stop you. It's not rude, just a physical fact.

But yeah, there is no free lunch. Fewer and larger seats means more expensive flights.

I have a male cousin who is 7'3" and overweight for his height. I can't imagine how uncomfortable he must be on a plane, even if he could afford to be up front. His tallest sister is 6'4" and not overweight for her height, but I'm sure she isn't very comfortable in an airplane seat either.

As I was reading the remarks on this topic, I was wondering what factors go into airline seat size decisions beyond profit. I expect there are none. If they based seat size on average height and/or weight of passengers it might lead to a slight increase, but probably not enough for many. I doubt that using the mode (the most common passenger height and/or weight) would help much either.

If airlines are truly concerned about passenger comfort and safety, perhaps they could take a lesson from medical waiting areas. At least where I go, there are mostly individual chairs with arms. There are some that have higher seat heights. There are some that are 1.5 to 2 times wider. There are some that are both taller and wider.

I expect that having to buy 2 seats and somehow sit in them would be awkward, extremely uncomfortable and not safe. I've noticed from behind them that some people are so tall that the head rest tops out at the base of their neck. That doesn't seem safe either.

Wouldn't it be great if there could be some seats designed especially for the taller and wider among us so they could be both safe and comfortable on their flight? How about some wide enough and designed for parents flying with a child too small to have their own seat? Maybe some wider seats could be designed with the flexibility to be changed for different kinds of passengers?

Now for an opposite scenario. My BFF in Chicago and her mom, V, were going to the west coast to visit relatives V hadn't seen in decades. She hadn't flown in many years, so they got 1st class seats for this special trip. V was quite small and thin. They weren't in the air very long before V requested that they move out of 1st class to smaller seats because her seat was very uncomfortable. Why? It was too big!

The Airbus A220 is a very nice plane to fly in on short haul flights. SWISS has them on many routes, and I see they are getting more popular in the US as well. They have a 2+3 seat layout, in a hull that is almost as wide as that of a 737, and as a result the seats are wider.