Analysis: Fat-shaming on airplanes: Who should pay when one passenger occupies another's space?

Written by Tito Laclé

 A recent experience shared by Dutch columnist Babette Wieringa aboard an airplane caught my attention. Not only because of what happened, but because it is a situation I have personally observed and one that many passengers have probably experienced: you pay for a seat, only to discover that part of your space is being occupied by the person sitting next to you.

Wieringa describes how, during a flight, a woman who, by her estimate, weighed around 120 kilograms occupied part of her seating space. When Wieringa asked to be moved to another seat, the woman felt offended.

This experience raises a question that many people probably think about but hesitate to express: If someone needs more space than a standard airline seat provides, who should pay for that additional space?

The rights of both passengers

Imagine sitting on an airplane for a five-hour flight. You have paid for your seat, but the person next to you has such a large body that part of it extends beyond the boundary between the seats and into the space you paid for.

You cannot use the armrest, and you have to lean sideways or keep your arms pressed against your body throughout the flight.

Should you simply accept this to avoid offending the other person?

I don't think so. But that does not mean you have the right to humiliate someone who is overweight.

The other passenger has also paid for a ticket, has the right to travel with dignity, and is probably feeling just as uncomfortable.

This is where the real conflict lies: two people with legitimate rights, but insufficient physical space to accommodate both comfortably.

What are airlines currently doing?

The reality is that there is no universal rule. Each airline has its own policy, and the differences can be significant.

For example, KLM offers passengers who need more space the option of purchasing an additional seat, generally at 75% of the original seat fare. The airline also states that its Economy Class seats measure approximately 41.5 to 46 centimeters between armrests, depending on the aircraft.

Southwest Airlines uses the armrest as the boundary between two seats. If a passenger occupies part of the neighboring seat, that person may be required to use two seats.

If no additional seat is available, the airline may rebook the passenger on another flight. Southwest may also provide a second seat free of charge at the airport, subject to availability.

In Canada, the situation is different. On certain domestic flights, passengers with a recognized disability, including obesity that causes functional limitations, may be entitled to an additional seat without paying a second fare. This does not automatically apply to everyone who is overweight or to international flights.

These examples demonstrate that clear rules can be introduced without necessarily discriminating against overweight passengers.

Can a passenger be forced to pay extra when boarding?

That depends on each airline's conditions of carriage, seat availability, and applicable legislation.

An airline may have rules requiring additional space when someone cannot safely occupy a single seat, but that does not mean the crew can simply invent an additional charge on the spot.

If the aircraft is completely full, the situation becomes more complicated. There is no extra seat available, and depending on the airline's policy, a passenger may have to be transferred to another flight.

But there is an important question: Why should this problem only be discovered once everyone is already seated on the aircraft?

Airlines should be able to identify additional seating requirements during booking or check-in, without exposing or humiliating the passenger involved.

Who is really responsible?

I see three distinct responsibilities here.

The passenger who needs more space should, whenever possible, anticipate their needs and consult the airline before traveling. This is not about assigning blame, but about preventing conflict.

The neighboring passenger has the right to raise a concern discreetly if they cannot properly use the space they paid for. A respectful complaint is not automatically fat-shaming.

The airline carries the greatest operational responsibility. It determines seat width, sells the seats, and establishes the conditions of carriage. Therefore, it should not leave two passengers to resolve a problem that its reservation and seating arrangements failed to prevent.

What if this happens to you?

My advice is not to confront the other passenger directly about their weight.

Speak discreetly with a crew member, preferably before departure. Explain that you cannot fully use your seating space and ask whether another seat is available.

If no solution is offered, request that your complaint be formally recorded, including the lack of personal space and the absence of alternatives. After the flight, you can request compensation or a partial refund, although this is not automatically a guaranteed right.

It is equally important that the airline does not subject the overweight passenger to public humiliation.

And what about Aruba?

In Aruba, with its frequent air connections to the United States, the Netherlands, and the Caribbean region, this issue deserves attention.

No. Don't misunderstand me. I am not suggesting that every overweight person should have to purchase two tickets.

Weight alone is not a sufficient criterion. Some heavier individuals fit comfortably into a standard airline seat, while others with different body proportions may require more space.

The criteria should be the actual space occupied, safety, and the ability to use a seat without encroaching on someone else's space.

I believe airlines operating in Aruba should clearly explain their policies regarding these situations before passengers make their reservations.

How much does an additional seat cost? What happens when the aircraft is full? Who gets moved to another seat? And how are the rights of both passengers protected?

The final question

This is not merely a debate about body weight. It is a debate about consumer rights, human dignity, and corporate responsibility.

An overweight person should not be humiliated because of their body. But another passenger should not have to surrender part of the space they paid for simply to avoid an uncomfortable situation.

My question is this: If two people have each paid for a full seat, but the aircraft cannot adequately accommodate both of them, why should they bear the consequences instead of the airline?

The solution does not lie in humiliation or forcing people to remain silent. It lies in clear rules, respectful enforcement, and a system that recognizes every passenger's right to travel with dignity and comfort.