{"id":262576,"date":"2026-05-29T01:41:30","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T16:41:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tenbizt.com\/en\/news\/uncategorized\/2026\/05\/29\/should-larger-passengers-buy-two-seats-the-viral-flight-debate\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T01:41:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T16:41:30","slug":"should-larger-passengers-buy-two-seats-the-viral-flight-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tenbizt.com\/en\/news\/tour\/2026\/05\/29\/should-larger-passengers-buy-two-seats-the-viral-flight-debate\/","title":{"rendered":"Should Larger Passengers Buy Two Seats? The Viral Flight Debate"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A\"<\/p>\n

[MyDaily = Reporter Seo Gi-chan] A woman\u2019s raw account of a recent flight has reignited the long-running debate over seat encroachment on planes.<\/p>\n

A video titled \u201c13-hour flight stuck up close with a stranger\u201d has been going viral across online forums and social media.<\/p>\n

In the footage, the woman says the large man beside her sat with his legs widely splayed, leaving her visibly uncomfortable throughout the flight.<\/p>\n

On-screen captions describe the awkwardness: \u201cNot even my mom sits this close to me,\u201d and \u201cWhen I lower my head to eat, his elbow almost hits my throat.\u201d<\/p>\n

She says he would slump onto her shoulder and arm when he fell asleep, and because the flight was full she couldn\u2019t move to another seat.<\/p>\n

She noted he wasn\u2019t trying to be mean \u2014 when she spoke up he immediately pulled in and made an effort \u2014 but once he dozed off she still had no choice but to shrink away.<\/p>\n

Readers sympathized, with comments like \u201cI\u2019d freak out from claustrophobia,\u201d while others pointed out the man\u2019s size might have made the situation unavoidable. Some offered a practical fix: \u201cIf you\u2019re big, buy two seats.\u201d<\/p>\n

This debate also ties into real airline policy changes. According to outlets including People, U.S. carrier Southwest Airlines began enforcing a policy in January requiring larger passengers to purchase an extra seat.<\/p>\n

Southwest\u2019s guidance says, \u201cCustomers who encroach on the adjacent seat must purchase the number of seats they need,\u201d and it defines the armrest as the boundary between seats.<\/p>\n

Even if a passenger hasn\u2019t bought an extra seat in advance, staff can require an on-the-spot purchase, and if no spare seats are available the airline can deny boarding \u2014 a move that has prompted many complaints.<\/p>\n

Some see the policy as a reasonable step for safety and comfort; others call it discriminatory because it relies on staff judgment. The fight over seat-occupancy rights looks likely to continue for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n

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