Should obese people who can't fit in 1 seat pay for 2?

I’ve been sat behind a couple that bought the whole row because they needed the room, which is fine, what wasn’t fine is the fact that she was so big the seat pushed right back on to me. Seriously the seat was an inch away from my face. I wouldn’t have been able to use the tray and luckily the flight was pretty empty so I could move.
But the women was so rude about me moving, she turned around and shouted ‘I’m already paying for a row, no need to get huffy you’re not exactly thin yourself. Stop drawing attention to me’

My husband is a large man, not obese. He's 6'2", very muscular, so he takes up more space than the average person. I guess he could be charged extra, too. I'm glad he isn't or we would never be able to visit family, expensive enough as it is.
I just wish they would design the seats to be a tad more accomodating. Not everyone is a 12 year old girl.

THIS!! I have unusually broad shoulders - comparable to many solidly-built men's, and while the actual seat part of a chair is never a problem, the width of the back frequently is. I sometimes 'spill' into the next person's seat at shoulder height a little, not because I'm huge, but because some airline seats are so damn narrow. (This does vary a LOT airline to airline, just to complicate things, and is one of the reasons I usually try to get either a window or aisle seat, which have a little more leeway.) If I'm in a three-seat row with two large-ish men, it really becomes a problem! Airlines need to allow for human beings of various dimensions rather than assuming we are all petite in pursuit of the highest possible profit/flight.

That said, if someone is genuinely unable to fit comfortably into one seat in general (rather than just one area!) for safety reasons it is preferable that they buy two seats. Weighing people at check in is never going to get my vote - it punishes people with high muscle mass or large build, regardless of their physique and 'seat-fit', but there could be a case for having a 'trial' seat in a discreet location, so that attendants could ask people to try the seat if they're concerned they may not fit - it would save drama and embarrassment on-board.

That would be awesome if you paid based on your weight. $x per lb. for travelers, that would be some motivation to lose.

But seriously, if you take up two seats, you pay for two seats. For airlines that have a large US presence, I'm surprised they haven't yet made super-sized seats for obese people. ,Abe the would be a seat and a half wide. So, rather than paying double, they pay a little more for the super-size seat. Where there are three seats, they would have two in a few rows. Easy solution.

Yeah. it would be unfair if they got two seats for themselves, but i couldn't get a free seat for my pigeon. T_T

As someone who does take up more than my fair share of space, I'm afraid that I have to say that yes, I do think that paying for seats is the right thing to do. In fact I believe most airlines have a policy in place on this matter, though it is not widely spoken about. I believe some of the airlines only charge 50 percent for the second seat.

Now, that said, I've not had to do this as of yet, as I generally travel with my husband and he's okay with the close quarters. But if I was travelling alone, I would either upgrade to business/first or purchase two seats. In part because I don't want to encroach on a stranger's space and make them uncomfortable and because I want to be comfortable myself.

Its business nothing personal. If you occupy 2 seats then of course you should pay. Just like those who choose to suck on cancer sticks(cigarettes) all day should pay more in healthcare and higher cigarette tax.

Ok...so EVRYONE chooses to be fat??? Really?? I guess fat people have extra money laying around in their cheeseburger stash. It's people like this that cause suicide in obese people!! You are judgmental, rude & inconsiderate.

I wasn't going to comment on this thread, but seriously? Telling someone that they are the type of person that cause suicide in obese people based off of one comment that they posted? You don't think that comment of yours was "judgmental, rude & inconsiderate"?

I didn't read all the comments, but I know how mean I am about to sound.

If you are so wide that you take up 2 seats, you should pay for 2 seats. I'd be so pissed off if I had someone taking up my seat because they were too obese for their own.

I think that seats have gotten smaller over the years, but if you have to use two seats then I suppose you should pay for the room that is being occupied.

i think yes! i would be deeply upset if i paid for my seat on a plane, then had some obese person beside me taking up half my seat and squashing me for the same price! defo they should be made to pay 2 seats xx

Actually the whole charged by the lb thing is interesting. Unfair in some respects, but interesting.

What it brought to mind was an experience I had in Vegas for a helicopter tour. Everyone was weighed at check in and seated accordingly. The scale was like a freight scale, a large metal plate where you stood as you were checked in and the weight was registered on the opposite side of the counter. It was every discreet. I don't recall if I was charged accordingly though, I believe it was done more related to balance of the helicopter.