The problem as I see it is that the airlines have already tried making the seats (slightly) larger and raising ticket prices. But people have spoken with their wallets. They *think* they want the cheapest seat possible (or maybe impossible as the case may be).

Given that, I think they have to somehow measure everybody and make large people buy two seats. I just don't see how anything else will be accepted by the flying public, and I don't see any airline making bigger seats first.

persimmondeb, you say,

"And it is cruel to tell them that they should not be so large. They know that."

If they "know that," then they know when they buy a plane ticket that there could be a problem fitting in one seat, and maybe they need to consider that, and buy two? As long as we consider it cruel to discuss obvious facts with people, the problem will never be solved.

Think about just how diminutive airline seats are. Compare them to the seats on just about any other public conveyance. I can easily see someone who does not fly frequently not realizing that they might have a problem.

dmlove - I meant, if necessary, speaking to the FA without worrying about the feelings of the seatmate.

That was the game, by the way. Wasn't it miserable? Hey, at least the Bruins won! GO BRUINS!!!

I find it hard to believe that an obese person wouldn't wonder whether or not they'll fit into an airline seat. Do they never sit in a chair and witness that they're too large for the chair? Come on, that excuse doesn't fly. Pun intended.

How many chairs have you seen that are the size of an airline coach seat? Unless they're intended for kindergartners or are one of my mother's early nineteenth century farmhouse chairs (which only myself, my sister, and small adult guests are allowed to sit in-she has been known to wisk them away from visiting men). Someone who routinely has trouble with chairs should, yes, have the sense to realize that they might have a problem, but I think that there are plenty of people who are not overly challenged by bus seats, furniture, etc., who may have trouble with the airline seat.

Sorry, whisk. She's not doing laundry.

The FA did what he could for you.

It's a good thing you're not flying NW anymore, because they're the only airline with large passengers.

And you did actually have a seat. You were sitting during takeoff and landing, and you got transportation from point A to point B.

Using your CC provisions not to pay borders on fraud, if it's not outright fraud.

I can take a big clean-smelling person next to me, but having a sweaty, smelly person next to me is absolute torture.

Okay, this may sound weird. On my last trip I had a flight from Houston to San Francisco. As I approached my row, I noticed that the middle seat was open, and the gal in the window seat was very large. I got settled and ask if she might be more comfortable if I put the armrest up. I asked if she was okay. She said there was nothing that losing a few pounds wouldn't fix. I said "for me too!", and we laughed about it. She was almost like a soft pillow. But the important thing was that she was clean and didn't smell. The three of us that were seatmates got to talking (I almost never engage in conversation with anyone on planes) and had a nice time. The guy next to me got up to go to the restroom and found someone sprawled at the back of the plane. A flight attendant called for medical assistance, and the big gal next to me, who was a nurse, went to help and got the guy stablized. So my two seatmates ended up saving a person in distress. I was so proud! No complaints from me about sitting next to a big person.

"And you did actually have a seat. You were sitting during takeoff and landing, and you got transportation from point A to point B.

Using your CC provisions not to pay borders on fraud, if it's not outright fraud."

Fraud?? Please. I won't even bother to respond to all the negative posts tonight..It's not worth it. And to the one who called me an exagerator and constant complainer. Yeah, right. Believe what you want to. You do not know me.
See how you feel after having to stand on a 6 hour overnight flight.
Sorry, I don't consider sitting 10 minutes at take-off and 10 at landing to be worthy of paying full price for that segment.

A lot of insensitive people out there today..
Thanks to my "supporters". And yes, I know next time to be more assertive and speak up without worrying about hurting the other's feelings. But frankly, if they had pulled her off the plane, I am sure NW was worried about a discrimination lawsuit.
It's a no-win situation.

"Could we just stop pretending that the FA did not understand what Alexa's problem was?"
Thank you M, that's it exactly. Playing dumb didn't help the matter.
It was clearly obvious what was going on. I was hoping the FA would fully get it before take off.
There was a couple pointing at her while getting off the plane and making remarks, about her size, I assume.
As I think about it, to be honest, if it were to happen again I can't picture myself saying right in front of the person, "this lady is huge and taking up my seat, find me a new one". How does that person feel then??? Maybe I would just write a note to the FA to explain.
I am not sure even if I were assertive if it would have changed the situation.

Thanks, Orlando for your understanding!

Alexa, until people have it happen to them they don't realize how awful it is to sit next to someone who really CAN'T lower the armrest. When it happened to me the armrest was behind the woman, she was so large. Luckily, mine was a short flight and I was next to a friend on the other side. And then there are the apologists for the overweight. Yes, we don't know their situation, but their physical problem does not equal my problem on a plane. Buy two seats or take the train if you can't put the armrest down!

"if it were to happen again I can't picture myself saying right in front of the person, "this lady is huge and taking up my seat, find me a new one". How does that person feel then??? Maybe I would just write a note to the FA to explain."

If these are the only options you can come up with, maybe you lack the basic skills to interact in public transport. Seriously, the passive agressive approach to this situation is more startling than anything you mentioned.

huh? Passive-aggressive approach? Are you a shrink?

Of course I wouldn't word it that way but that is what the lady sitting next to me would have thought. I mean come on. What else would she have thought???

I can sense your disdain towards me for whatever reason. You have your reasons, and I have mine for feeling the way I do, so please let's just leave it at that.

Alexa, don't even bother trying to respond to the psycho-analyzers. You're right -- it's not worth it. FWIW, I completely understand why you prefer not to say anything in front of the woman, and, in fact, why you prefer a non-confrontational approach. Everyone can have their opinions about whether you are within your rights here or not (but fraud? are you kidding me?), but the "psycho" analysis is ridiculous.

<It's a no-win situation.>

Yes, it is. And as such, how was NW supposed to handle it? You're putting all the blame on NW and refusing to pay for the flight, however, you haven't provided anything that they COULD have done to have resolved the problem. The flight was full - there were no seats to move you to.

If they had told you that you would have to wait for the next flight because they didn't have another seat for you, you would be mad about that.

If they had told the obese woman that she would have to wait for the next flight because they didn't have another seat for her, she would be mad about that.

There was NOTHING the airline could have done that would have been acceptable - either way, someone would be online talking about the incident and saying "I'll never fly NW again".

In the end, you're not going to get any compensation. You've turned down their voucher which was fair. They've already lost you as a customer. So why would they bother giving you a full refund. Obviously, from this thread, it is not a "given" that you are completely in the right.

In addition, if you do get the publicity and you're asked "what should NW have done?", you don't have a lot of reasonable suggestions to offer. It will come down to who deserved to be on the flight more: the fat person or the thin person. That's not a battle I would want to be a part of- you're either going to look like a skinny b**ch or a fat slob.

You paid for transportation between two cities. NW provided that. If you wanted to be sure you'd have a comfortable ride, you could have ponied up for first-class yourself.

You chose to stand.

NW took you where you wanted to go, you were on the flight, it was physically possible for you to sit in the seat. They provided their end of the deal. Maybe not to your liking, but you still got where you wanted to go. And you could have been sitting the whole way if you wanted to.

So by not paying them, you're basically stealing from them, using your credit card protection provisions. In other words, fraud.

myownheroine, do you honestly believe that in order to ensure a "comfortable" ride, the person who would otherwise take up only one allotted coach seat in this situation should instead buy a first class ticket, as opposed to the person taking up 1-1/2 seats not being allowed to do so? If so, you're crazier than I thought.

I suppose you think that it's okay for a smoker to blow smoke in your face, since you could move out of the way?

Dmlove - what does first class have to do with anything?

Myownheroine was simply pointing out that the OP HAD a seat. It was the OPs choice not to utilize that seat. Had the OP made it known BEFORE takeoff that there was a problem with the seat, something could have been done (whether it would have been more satisfactory to her is questionable as she had a 50/50 chance of being the one kicked off for a later flight). Unfortunately, the OP did NOT make that problem known.

Whether or not the FA could guess what the problem is, by not speaking up honestly, the OP made it acceptable for them to ignore the problem.

This is like going to a restaurant, eating the entire meal, then telling the waiter that the meat was overcooked and unedible and you refuse to pay for it. Once you've eaten the meal, you've lost the argument.