Is OTHER wrong in the post ? POST : Yes, this is in response to a recent thread (now locked) where a transaction occurred in which a "non-fat" person discussed and was provided by a "fat" person in lieu of being ejected from the flight because he "should have purchased two tickets because he knew he wouldn't fit into a single seat without *infringing* on the space of his fellow traveler".

I make no judgments on the original circumstance and feel, while dicey, the math arbitrary (I'll get to that here), that it all worked out about as well as it could.  I agree that the non-fat traveler was put in an awkward position not of his doing, but more (entirely?) due to the airline in this case.

I did a little quick research (for actual, *hard numbers*) and found with respect to the width of airline seats, "...average seat width has shrunk from 18 inches to 17 inches or less."  Further, "The average man in the United States is 5-foot 10-inches tall, and weighs 172 pounds. His shoulder width is 18-1/4 inches."  What does that mean in this context?  Well, it means that a male of average size is encroaching on his fellow passenger to the tune of at least 1-1/4 inches.

Now, what if you're a ***big*** guy.  Not *fat* necessarily, but simply big.  Maybe as a result of years of working out, or maybe it's literally just *natural*.  Think the type of guy that played offensive line in American football.  My shoulders are 22 inches wide, ergo, if/when I fly "coach", I'm encroaching on my fellow traveler in a 2-seat row by a solid 5 inches.  Am I the asshole for not buying a 2nd seat?  For not paying for "business" or some other class of seat?