"Don't Want to Travel Cramped Due to Overweight Passengers"… Heated Debate on US Social Media

Controversy Ignites in the US Over Obese Passengers

Photo of airplane seats to aid understanding of the article, unrelated to the article content [Asia Economy archive photo]

In the United States, a post expressing the sentiment "I don't want to sit next to an overweight passenger" has gained explosive sympathy and is spreading online. The New York Post recently reported that "an incident occurred where a passenger on American Airlines complained to the flight attendants because the person sitting next to them was overweight."

The story became known after passenger A posted it directly on the social networking service (SNS) Reddit. According to A, despite their complaint, the flight attendants took no special action and only responded by saying, "We will credit you points."

Angered by this, A posted the message, which was shared in real-time and sparked controversy. One local netizen commented on the controversy, saying, "Just as there are height restrictions for safe operation of amusement rides, it is appropriate to have weight limits to maintain a comfortable cabin environment," garnering sympathy. Another user also stated firmly, "It's not right for others to invade the seat area I purchased."

On the other hand, some netizens have pointed out that these remarks constitute hate speech against obese people, leading to ongoing debate.

A female passenger using American Airlines was shown squeezed between two obese passengers.
[Photo source=Online community capture]

Meanwhile, this is not the first controversy over airplane seats in the United States.

In 2022, a woman who used American Airlines posted on her SNS a photo along with the statement, "I am literally stuck between two obese people on the plane," which sparked controversy.

The airline responded to the post by saying, "We do not discriminate against passengers of any body type," but also apologized, stating, "We are sorry for the discomfort during the flight."