Editor's Note: This section is a compilation of comments made about various airlines. It's by no means exhaustive. For detailed information which compares airline seat widths on various aircraft, find your airline and aircraft on SeatGuru.

American Airlines/American Eagle
Friendly to big folks. If you ask, they will try to place an empty seat beside you (by "blocking" the seat on the computer). You may need to ask ahead for a seat belt extender. Makes very large people purchase two seats.

Continental
Friendly to big folks.

Delta
Used to be generally thought friendly to big folks, but lately there have been complaints. One person who was large and disabled said she was refused a seat ("insurance requirements" were cited) after twice calling Delta to explain her special needs and being assured there would be no problem. Another person complained they were unresponsive to her need for a seat with an armrest that could be raised.

Markair
Friendly to big folks. Polite. Flight attendants are helpful and ask if you need a seat belt extender.

Midwest Express
They have four-across seating (rather than the standard five-across) on their DC-9s/MD-80s. The seats are all basically as wide as first class seats. Their major hub is in Milwaukee, and they fly cross-country.

Northwest Airlines
Gracious about seat belt extenders.

Polynesian Airlines
Very friendly to big folks. Go out of their way to make you comfortable, arrange for extra seats.

Reno Air
Friendly to big folks. Good about seating you in a comfortable row.

Southwest Airlines
Unfriendly to big folks. Have been known to fly someone to a connecting city, and then decide that the person is too fat for a single seat, and then demand that the person buy another seat to continue their journey. Some people have had OK experiences with them.

TWA
Friendly to big folks. Accommodating and discreet about extenders. Friendly counter staff.

United Airlines
Friendly to big folks. But were in the news a while back for being obnoxious about weight limits for flight attendants.

US Air
Friendly to big folks. NAAFA trained and very respectful and kind about size issues. Makes very large people purchase two seats. Discreet about seatbelt extenders, good about seating people next to empty seats, upgrading to first for a small fee.

Copyright 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 by Stef Jones (stef@bayarea.net).
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