A story about experiencing discomfort while taking a long-haul flight next to a very large passenger is stirring controversy online. In community forums, opinions are divided between those who say a very large passenger should buy a premium seat or two standard seats, and those who say it is due to individual body type and must be tolerated.
On the 1st, a post titled "the worst airplane seatmate" was uploaded on an online community. It was written based on a social media (SNS) post by a woman in her 30s, identified as A, about what she experienced on a flight to Prague, Czech Republic.
In a video A posted on the 27th, it shows the arm and leg of the male passenger seated next to her spilling over into her space during the flight. The man sat with his legs spread, and A had to endure the long flight while sitting narrowly.
A said, "Even my mom doesn't cling to me like this," adding, "When I lower my head to eat, it feels like my uvula will touch his elbow," and said, "He used me as a cushion, and my shoulder and arm were pinned down."
The video has drawn attention with 7.52 million views and more than 1,000 comments.
However, A explained that the man next to her did not intentionally make others uncomfortable. A said, "He wasn't mean, and if I said something, he immediately curled up," but added, "When the man fell asleep, I was helplessly squashed."
According to A, the flight was fully booked at the time, making it impossible to request a seat change.
As this story spread, various opinions emerged in online communities. Some internet users criticized the male passenger next to her, saying, "If you're big, take business class or reserve two seats," and "You can curl up enough, but spreading your legs and inconveniencing others is a problem."
On the other hand, some defended the passenger, saying, "It's unavoidable because of body size," and "The problem is airplane seats that are designed narrowly in the first place."
In fact, some airlines require very large passengers to purchase an extra seat. In January, Southwest Airlines in the United States required passengers with larger builds to purchase an additional seat. Such passengers must buy an extra seat in advance, and if securing a seat on-site is difficult, even boarding may be restricted. In the United States as well, there was debate for and against Southwest Airlines' policy.
A also said, "After much deliberation, I conveyed the details of the discomfort to the airline," adding that she is waiting for a response on whether there is a course of action or a compensation guideline.