https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 13:04:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2471940 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 20:05:10 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2471940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So could a family maybe end up paying less? Because then I'd be on board. :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2471562 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 15:21:29 +0000 sleepybear 2471562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm kind of confused by the concept too - so you basically buy a percentage of the bench that's supposed to correlate to your size? I agree that it'd be good for a family to just buy a bench together, but not too keen on the idea of sharing a bench with a stranger.<br /> I also wonder if there would be some larger people who'd say that having to pay more for a spot on the bench is discrimination. Plus I'm pretty petite, so I don't want people to be able to encroach on my space even easier - just because I'm small (and tend to squish myself as far from others as possible) does not mean you may have the unused portion of my seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2471440 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 14:29:22 +0000 MaryM 2471440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As long as there's an armrest, I don't see the difference. </p> <p>It bothers me how the armrest never goes ALL the way up. Sometimes I'd like to nap on DH's shoulder but can't because the lifted armrest is right by my head.</p> <p>But would bench seats also mean no reclining? I'd be totally on board for that. Seats are too close now for reclining to be acceptable and it's not as if the 2 degrees you're able to recline make that much of a difference </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2471296 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 13:32:58 +0000 Boogs 2471296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think for larger people and families it could be nice, so maybe just a couple of rows on each plane? Then maybe test out their popularity from there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2471216 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 12:31:04 +0000 Grace 2471216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This sounds cool! From the looks of it, obese people would purchase more of the bench. I wonder how they would make sure that a larger person purchased enough seat. Would you have to be weighed or measured? Cause I'm not on board with that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2471186 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 12:16:25 +0000 MrsSCB 2471186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Noooo way! I already feel like I have to strictly guard what precious little space I have. On my flight last week, I was next to a teenage girl with practically waist length hair. She was napping by lying on the tray table and her hair kept falling into my lap or onto my table or touching my arm. Yuck! I hate being touched (other than by loved ones, obviously), like it makes me physically recoil, so I really would not like this concept. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2471159 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 11:59:40 +0000 Freckles 2471159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: I agree!! I hate that now you have to pay extra to get seats with normal leg room. It's just awful and makes me so irritated.</p> <p>I would not like a bench seat at all. I hate people touching me on an airplane ride. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2471123 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 11:43:54 +0000 catomd00 2471123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not a fan of the idea. I don't think the solution should be make bigger seats, it should be people take care of their health and get smaller. Otherwise, pay for a larger seat in first class or buy two seats. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2471092 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 11:28:26 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2471092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be fine sitting on a bench seat with my family but I want space delineation when I am sitting with strangers. It would be too easy for people of any size to abuse and take more space than they ought to, making everyone around them less comfortable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2471031 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 10:59:39 +0000 MrsLonghorn 2471031@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would love to see "wide" seats (not bench seats, but like 2 seats where there are normally 3) offered for a premium price. I'm not obese, but would strongly consider it, especially on longer flights. This would be awesome when traveling with a lap infant! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2470989 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 10:37:17 +0000 snowjewelz 2470989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would not want to be on a bench seat for any duration of a flight unless it's with DH or DD! I think it could be an option... </p> <p>Whenever I sit on buses or trains, I am always the one someone picks to sit next to first b/c I'm small so the person feels they can get more space?? I've had just super comfortable rides b/c of that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2470977 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 10:33:49 +0000 yoursilverlining 2470977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bench seats would only be OK in my opinion for parties traveling together, like families. For strangers, no way. Too easy to abuse - regardless of your size. I can easily see someone determining that their expensive handbag "can't" go on the floor and has to sit on the bench next to them, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2470976 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 10:33:45 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2470976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think offering a wider seat (bench seat) at a higher price is a nice option. It would be also beneficial to families flying with a small child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2470973 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 10:32:55 +0000 nana87 2470973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: i agree, this totally opens up "manspreading" problems! people already passive-aggressively hog the armrest. also, this would mean no seat recline, right? unless the whole bench reclines as one unit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2470970 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 10:31:42 +0000 alphagam84 2470970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think obese passengers just need to pay for an additional seat so they can comfortably fit. I can't imagine how bench seating would actually work. I hate touching other people when flying and would be uncomfortable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2470967 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 10:29:15 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2470967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't want to sit on a bench seat. I like my own defined space. I could see having a few rows of bench seats though. </p> <p>@BabyBoecksMom: I agree! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2470957 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 10:26:28 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 2470957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the airlines need to stop trying to squeeze people in for more profits. I'm tired of them making seats smaller and closer together. I understand why they started it (when oil prices were super high), but that's no longer an issue. </p> <p>I think they've lost sight of everything they used to stand for. They no longer care about taking care of the customers... they only seem to care about their bottom line. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2470948 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 10:23:05 +0000 Foodnerd81 2470948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't understand this- can a larger flyer buy 1.5 seats? Or a little kid buy .5? Otherwise it seems like it might be a little more comfortable for obese passengers but way less comfortable for average sized. At least when a larger passenger is seated they have the guideline of the seat divider as where they should try to stay, even if they can't. Plus I feel like this opens up issues of average size people "man-spreading" too. I just think the lines delineating space are a good idea. </p> <p>(Says the woman who wants to draw a line down our king size bed so DH will stay on his side.) :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wdyt-bench-seats-for-airplanes#post-2470916 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 10:11:01 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2470916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/23/aviation/airbus-patent-could-bench-obese-passengers/index.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/23/aviation/airbus-patent-could-bench-obese-passengers/index.html</a></p> <p>On one of my most recent plane rides I sat next to an obese couple. They were very, very nice so when the woman lifted the arm rest separating us I didn't put it back down. Clearly that made her journey more comfortable as she encroached on my space a bit. I felt her and didn't like that aspect of the flight. I don't even like sitting next to DH on the same side of a small booth because his broad shoulders encroach upon my space. I don't know what the solution is as we get bigger, but for right now I'm not 100% on board with bench seating.</p> <p>WDYT </p>