
There are arguments for and against charging passengers who can’t fit in an airline seat more, but changes may be coming.įor domestic flights in Canada, any passenger who requires two seats can get the cost of the second seat refunded if they have a doctor’s note. Is it Discriminatory to Charge Passengers Who Can’t Fit in Their Seat More? While we go more in-depth in our Best Airlines for Overweight Passengers article, we recommend flying with JetBlue, Delta, American Airlines or Spirit. See Also: When Do Flight Prices Drop? Which Airline Should You Fly With If You’re Overweight?
FLYING INOTED AIRLINES OBESE FOR FREE
However, other airlines like Southwest and Hawaiian Airlines do their best to accommodate obese passengers by offering a second seat for free or refunding the advance purchase of a second seat. Generally, most airlines will charge more for overweight passengers in the form of purchasing a second seat. Airlines Won’t Directly Charge More for Overweight PassengersĮach airline has its own “passenger of size” policy, which is used to determine whether they will charge overweight passengers more if they are unable to comfortably be seated with both armrests fully down. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), outlined new guidance in a recent advisory that may require passengers to state their weight or even step “on a scale before boarding the aircraft”.įortunately, though, this is done at random and a passenger can refuse. If a passenger will clearly require the use of two seats, then they will be asked to purchase an additional seat.

There is No Weight Limit for Airline PassengersĪirlines do not necessarily require their passengers to meet any weight restrictions. If you can do this, you will not have to purchase an additional seat. Generally, all airlines will require passengers to comfortably fit within one seat with the armrests down. There isn’t a specific size at which you will suddenly have to purchase two airline seats.

At What Size Do You Need Two Airline Seats? Generally, though, airlines will require you to purchase another seat, whether that be in advance or at the airport.Ī seatbelt extender will also be necessary. Some airlines like Delta will not require you to purchase an additional seat, but may ask you to move or wait for the next flight where there might be additional seating. What Happens If You Can’t Fit in an Airline Seat?Įach airline has their own policy if you can’t fit in an airline seat.

You can also see an overview of all the aircraft variants the airline uses, as well as the seat pitch and seat width in Economy, Premium Economy, and Business class. You can view any airline, whether that be American, United, Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit, or any one of the other airlines, including international airlines like Emirates or Virgin.

SeatGuru lists the seat pitch and seat width for each jet of each airline, and will show you the best place to sit on a plane. So, the best thing you can do before booking your next flight is to find out what type of aircraft you will be flying on and then visit SeatGuru. Seat width is self-explanatory, but seat pitch is defined as the space between a point on one seat and the same point on the seat in front of it. The Best Way of Knowing If You Will Fit in an Airline SeatĪirline seats are measured in both pitch and width. Thankfully, you can find out exactly what the seat pitch and seat width are on your next flight, which will give you an excellent idea of whether you will run into any issues or not. Flying can be stressful enough without also having to factor in whether you will fit in the airline seat or not.
