Southwest Airlines created a high-flying stink when in June 2002, after winning several court cases, it announced its intention of enforcing its policy of forcing larger passengers to purchase two seats. The official reasons for this measure included some very humanitarian points. Claiming they "value, want and need your business" and "consider it a privilege each time" you travel with them, they listed their concerns as safety, comfort, fairness, embarrassment, and maintaining profits by not having to bump a passenger when you take up an extra seat. They neglected to mention the airline policy of cramming more people at a time into airplanes without regard to their comfort. You know the line "some of my best friends are (gay/black/etc.)? Southwest added they aren't against bigots - 'I mean, some of our employees are fat!' (Not an exact quote, but you get the picture.)

While Southwest took the brunt of public outcry (along with a lot of cheers for finally sticking it to fat passengers), don't go thinking other airlines are much better. In fact, most have a similar policy. They just haven't come out about it as publicly.

Shortly after Southwest's announcement, people reported an apparent disregard on flights for the new policy. Anticipating the embarrassment of being confronted at the gates with agents wielding tape measures and demanding double fares, things seemed to have blown over. It was as if Southwest were reconsidering their policy. Unfortunately, this didn't last. 

It isn't that it is right for one person to overflow into another's space. People don't like to have to give up any of what little space they are allotted on flights. The real problem, as even the average-sized person will tell you, is those tiny airline seats and the close spacing of the rows. It isn't just girth that presents difficulties. Consider people with long legs. The lack of leg room can cause considerable discomfort.

Some airlines are claiming that even though space between seat rows is smaller, there is actually more room because they have decreased the density of seat backs by 3 or 4 inches. Whoop-de-doo. Less padding in the seats, less room between rows. All this means is they were able to fit more rows into the planes.

This chart has been compiled to provide you with some information about what to expect on any flight you are planning. You can get information from the airline as to what plane they are using for any particular route. Figure just how comfortable (or uncomfortable) you are likely to be by doing a few quick measurements. You can measure your desk chair for comparison for seat width. Then relax your arms at your sides and have someone measure the distance from the outside of one elbow to the other. For pitch, while sitting measure from your back of your hips to the edge of your knees. Not going to be a good fit? Talk to the airlines ahead of time to see what arrangements can be made for your safety and comfort.

For now these are the seat sizes we are stuck with. There are a few things you can do to raise your chances of being more comfortable on a flight. Perhaps you can find a different airline with a more comfortable plane to fly on. Beyond that, try to fly during off-peak hours. Mid-day and Saturdays are good bets. Oh, and if you can fly MidWest, by all means do so. They are consistently earning passengers' praise for comfort and rates.