Please, Barbara, tell us how you TRULY feel!

[NotUrsula]

Some frequent flyers assert that when some legacy airlines reconfigured their aircraft, reducing pitch by adding extra rows of seats, they didn't restrict the recline to reflect the reduced pitch.

True. A 10-in. recline is a significant intrusion when the seat pitch is only 31 inches, but not so bad when it is 35. Older seats also have thicker back cushions, which also take up more space. The larger the plane, the more generous the recline usually is, because larger planes are most commonly used for long hauls.

I find that the age of the fittings makes a big difference in this regard. My personal pet annoyance is the passenger I think of as a seat-breaker -- the one who deliberately slams his/her body weight against the seat back while holding the latch. There are a lot of these people. The mechanism is only a ratchet; hit it hard enough and it will slip past the last notch. After years of this treatment, the seat won't stay fully upright at all, and it will recline much further than it was meant to. There are a LOT of seats like this on aircraft that haven't been refitted in a while.

As for rearranging things in the overhead: I don't have an issue if they are just shifting it an inch or two, or turning a case wheels-in. If there is a coat there, they should ask you to take it back for a moment so that they can put the case in without crushing it. Moving someone's case to another bin entirely is rude beyond belief.

Oh, and for short women: choose the aisle seat. You can toe your shoes off for a minute and stand on the seat cushion to put your carryon in the overhead. That's how most short people manage, just like we do in the grocery store.

 

[seashoreCM]

People, you gotta stand up for your rights about someone in your seat.

When bringing up the situation with the complaint resolution officer, you do not have to and in fact should not make reference to the larger person other than to say "somebody" is occupying your seat and the airline should find you another seat before departure.

What, pray, should happen if the larger person bought a ticket that cost thee times as much?

And about the TV controls, you need to do a lot of channel surfing to make it dawn on him he should not obstruct your controls. Just say you don't like commercials. And after so many times I don'[t think it is necessary to say excuse me eacn and every time.

Many taller people can actually make do better with existing seats by getting their rear back a bit more.

Also, just FYI, ..., put a shirt with sleeves in your carryon to wear on the plane. I really don't feel comfortable sitting skin-to-skin with a total stranger, though elbow to wrist is more or less OK. ... -- pack some long pants if you are seated next to anyone who isn't family!) The guy was wearing a MESH wife-beater T and a pr. of spandex athletic shorts --

I'm afraid I'm a big offender in this me-me-me attitude. How bad? Enough to get thrown out of the restaurant we have our [Boston] DIS meets at. The only way I can tell you were not talking about me is that I am not that large.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Tasmen]

I'm probably going to get flamed here, but my pet peeve is the large person sitting beside me who takes up half of my seat. Invariably, they get there before me, and lift the armrest completely so that they have more room (in other words, they can spill freely into my seat).

Wow. I've never had anyone actually lift the armrest so that they could have extra room. That's horrible. I did, however, on my last flight to Vegas sit in what I dubbed the 'overflow' aisle. The man on the aisle seat was overflowing into the middle seat which caused the guy in the middle seat to overflow into my seat (window). I was pressed against the window with one shoulder kinked forward the entire flight. I was extremely happy that the flight was only 2 1/2 hours.

 

[Bill From PA]

I've had large travelling companions 'spill' into my seat and solved it by returning the armrest to its functional position. Only once did a guy protest that his seat wasn't big enough for him to which I replied, "I need all of mine, too."

I'm reminded of a quip by some comic back in the day when deregulation kicked in and airfares dropped to more affordable levels. He said that there are a lot of people flying now who really ought to be riding on Greyhound.

Bill From PA

 

[Tasmen]

He said that there are a lot of people flying now who really ought to be riding on Greyhound.

Good quote.

 

[NotUrsula]

About the skimpy clothing -- coach seats on a plane put passengers in REALLY close quarters. I don't want to be 3 inches from exposed armpit hair on any man that I don't know in the Biblical sense, and I don't want the hair on your thigh touching my leg for two hours either -- that's a part of you I don't want to feel unless we're dating. (And for the record, mesh undershirts and excessive back hair are NOT an attractive combination, trust me.)

In a restaurant you are not going to be that close to me if you don't know me, and if you did get that close I would be able to move away a bit and put space between us. I don't have that option on a plane. It's not that I'm prudish, but feeling (and smelling) that much of a stranger's skin is just too personal when I have no choice.

 

[tedhowe]

I'm probably going to get flamed here, but my pet peeve is the large person sitting beside me who takes up half of my seat. Invariably, they get there before me, and lift the armrest completely so that they have more room (in other words, they can spill freely into my seat).

I do sympathize with them - these seats are not built for anyone weighing more than 150 lbs. That being said, I didn't pay half price for my seat, so why do I only end up with half a seat? I end up having to scrunch into half of the already ridiculously small space and end up with all kinds of kinks in my neck and shoulders.

I'm sorry, but some people really do need two seats. I don't know if they should be made to pay for the second seat or not - I'm not getting into that arguement - I just know that I shouldn't be expected to provide the extra space for them when I've paid for my space fair and square.

No flames from me either... I am a Pooh sized flyer. My wife is large as well.
I gained weight throughout my 20's. Managed to stabilize my weight around the time I turned 30, and now that I'm 37, I'm finally starting to go back in the right direction.

When we fly for vacations, we don't fly coach class with one seat each. Before we had kids, we would purchase 3 coach seats for the 2 of us - leaving the middle seat open. Much more comfortable, and a reasonable premium. Now that we have two small daughters, we buy the 4 seats (we've always purchased seats for the girls - even when we flew when they were infants) - 2 and 2. In those situations, I do raise the armrest for a bit more comfort - I figure I paid for both seats, so why not.

When I fly for business (usually very rare - but about 6 round trips in the last 18 months) I don't have the option, so i do two things to try to be considerate of my row-mates.

1) I do everything possible to get an aisle or window. I can manage to take up room in the aisle and still get out of the way of the flight attendants or people moving up and down the cabin - or I can wedge myself into the wall of the cabin pretty well.

2), I NEVER take up more than my share of a seat - I make sure I have the armrest DOWN in it's lowered position and that I'm completely on my side.

I'm a pretty big guy, but my size is configured so that I am more thick rather than wide (I'm plenty wide enough, but not nearly as wide as some I've seen). So this may be easier for me to do than some others.

I also NEVER recline my seat more than just a crack. Because of how much my Pooh belly sticks out, I am very sensitive to the intrusion of space it can be.

I don't begrude people using the space they are allotted - whether that is reclining or not - I just try to use as little space as I can so that I'm not bothering others.

Ted

 

[RachelEllen]

I agree with most of the points, but I'm afraid I'm a frequant bathroom break offender. Some of us nervous fliers can't really help it.

(Not every half though, by any means, but at least every 2 - 3 hrs)

 

[MycatlovesEeyore]

No flames from me either... I am a Pooh sized flyer. My wife is large as well.
I gained weight throughout my 20's. Managed to stabilize my weight around the time I turned 30, and now that I'm 37, I'm finally starting to go back in the right direction.

When we fly for vacations, we don't fly coach class with one seat each. Before we had kids, we would purchase 3 coach seats for the 2 of us - leaving the middle seat open. Much more comfortable, and a reasonable premium. Now that we have two small daughters, we buy the 4 seats (we've always purchased seats for the girls - even when we flew when they were infants) - 2 and 2. In those situations, I do raise the armrest for a bit more comfort - I figure I paid for both seats, so why not.

When I fly for business (usually very rare - but about 6 round trips in the last 18 months) I don't have the option, so i do two things to try to be considerate of my row-mates.

1) I do everything possible to get an aisle or window. I can manage to take up room in the aisle and still get out of the way of the flight attendants or people moving up and down the cabin - or I can wedge myself into the wall of the cabin pretty well.

2), I NEVER take up more than my share of a seat - I make sure I have the armrest DOWN in it's lowered position and that I'm completely on my side.

I'm a pretty big guy, but my size is configured so that I am more thick rather than wide (I'm plenty wide enough, but not nearly as wide as some I've seen). So this may be easier for me to do than some others.

I also NEVER recline my seat more than just a crack. Because of how much my Pooh belly sticks out, I am very sensitive to the intrusion of space it can be.

I don't begrude people using the space they are allotted - whether that is reclining or not - I just try to use as little space as I can so that I'm not bothering others.

Ted

AMEN! I am right there with you. A little consideration and cognizance of your own body can go along way toward getting through a flight. I too am pooh-sized as is my wife. We always employ the techniques mentioned by tedhowe and never have noticed any issue.

One thing I have encountered that really disturbs me concerns long distance flights. My in-laws live on the left-coast and we live in NC. We always take the red-eye back so the trip does not seem so long. However there is always someone who insists on leaving the reading light on the entire night. They spend three quarters of the flight with their head bobing upand down asleep but refguse to turn off the light. Then they smirk if my daughter wakes due the light and cries or whimpers. Disrupts everyones sleep.

 

[ducklite]

However there is always someone who insists on leaving the reading light on the entire night. They spend three quarters of the flight with their head bobing upand down asleep but refguse to turn off the light. Then they smirk if my daughter wakes due the light and cries or whimpers. Disrupts everyones sleep.

I used to work nights and so taking a redeye was a no-brainer. I used to read through the entire flight. I once had a UAL FA snap at me and tell me to turn off the light and go to sleep like everyone else. That really pissed me off. Sorry if my light bothered someone, but I was minding my own business reading a book during "my daytime." I wasn't going to turn the light off so I could sit in the dark twiddling my thumbs. Had I decided to take a nap, I would have turned it off though.

Anne

 

[MycatlovesEeyore]

I used to work nights and so taking a redeye was a no-brainer. I used to read through the entire flight. I once had a UAL FA snap at me and tell me to turn off the light and go to sleep like everyone else. That really pissed me off. Sorry if my light bothered someone, but I was minding my own business reading a book during "my daytime." I wasn't going to turn the light off so I could sit in the dark twiddling my thumbs. Had I decided to take a nap, I would have turned it off though.

Anne

That is fine, but don't glare and smirk when the light either wakes my daughter or keeps her from going to sleep in the first place. That is the point I was trying to make.

 

[Lewisc]

I read that a discount carrier in China calculated that each flush takes a half gallon of jet fuel. They ask passengers to use the bathroom before boarding and to restrict their intake of liquids on board.

I wasn't sure if the newspaper was making this up but it seesm to be true
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/12/go_before_you_g_1.php

I agree with most of the points, but I'm afraid I'm a frequant bathroom break offender. Some of us nervous fliers can't really help it.

(Not every half though, by any means, but at least every 2 - 3 hrs)

 

[NotUrsula]

I just carry a small booklight. Less glare than the overhead light, and it nevers bothers anyone, no matter what time it is. I've got one on my laptop, too.

 

[ducklite]

That is fine, but don't glare and smirk when the light either wakes my daughter or keeps her from going to sleep in the first place. That is the point I was trying to make.

I could care less if someone's kid is sleeping or not, as long as they aren't kicking my seat, trying to talk to me while I'm reading, screaming in my ear, etc. Otherwise it's not my business.

I wouldn't glare or smirk unless a kid was being an absolute brat and the parents were doing nothing to stop the behaviour--and I'm not talking about a crying child during takeoff or landing because their ears hurt, I'm talking about a three year old allowed to kick my seatback for 20 minutes straight, run up and down the aisles, lean over thier seat and try to make a basket by dropping thier green army men in my drink, etc.

Anne

 

[antmaril]

If you want to sit at a 90 degree angle and rigid as a board in an unreclined seat, then that is your prerogative. "Reclining into my lap" is a huge exaggeration; seats only recline 6-10 inches, hardly into your lap. If this bothers you, then recline your seat and solve the problem. Most people recline their seats, I think it is expected.

Because I hate it so much, I just can't do it to the person behind me. I just can't.

 

[CarolA]

what gets my goat is the people who see that Im 4 foot 10 and still expect me to magically stuff my carry- in in the compartment (thats 5 foot 5")

No if YOU cannot get it iun the overhead we expect you to CHECK IT!!!! (And I am not very tall and I can get my stuff in there as can one of my coworkers who is 4'3" Short is not an excuse!

 

[nyfinfan]

I'm probably going to get flamed here, but my pet peeve is the large person sitting beside me who takes up half of my seat. Invariably, they get there before me, and lift the armrest completely so that they have more room (in other words, they can spill freely into my seat).

I do sympathize with them - these seats are not built for anyone weighing more than 150 lbs. That being said, I didn't pay half price for my seat, so why do I only end up with half a seat? I end up having to scrunch into half of the already ridiculously small space and end up with all kinds of kinks in my neck and shoulders.

I'm sorry, but some people really do need two seats. I don't know if they should be made to pay for the second seat or not - I'm not getting into that arguement - I just know that I shouldn't be expected to provide the extra space for them when I've paid for my space fair and square.

No Flames here either. From watching "Airline", aren't you allowed to put the armrest down if you want to. And if anyone encroaches the space over the armrest, they need to purchase another seat?

 

[MycatlovesEeyore]

I could care less if someone's kid is sleeping or not, as long as they aren't kicking my seat, trying to talk to me while I'm reading, screaming in my ear, etc. Otherwise it's not my business.

I wouldn't glare or smirk unless a kid was being an absolute brat and the parents were doing nothing to stop the behaviour--and I'm not talking about a crying child during takeoff or landing because their ears hurt, I'm talking about a three year old allowed to kick my seatback for 20 minutes straight, run up and down the aisles, lean over thier seat and try to make a basket by dropping thier green army men in my drink, etc.

Anne

You keeping the light on disturbing them or them doing something disturbing you. Not sure I see the difference?

 

[disneyldwjr]

You keeping the light on disturbing them or them doing something disturbing you. Not sure I see the difference?

I think the light being on when the person is reading is to be expected. The fact that it disturbs your children is an unfortunate situation, but, the pax with the light on does have a perfect right to have it on, just as they have the right to recline their seat, keep their try table up or down, go to the restroom, etc.
What I find hard to understand is why it is ok to keep the light on and disturb your kids is ok when it is being used but not ok when the person dozes off.
Does it disturb them less when it is being used?
As to Duckie's comments, well, I can sort of see her point. There is a large difference between someone keeping their light on and a child running amuk.
Keeping the light on is not misbehaving. Annoying other pax with a disruptive child is definitely disturbing and definitely in the category of misbehaving and not having consideration for others ( I suppose you could say the same about the light).
I find it difficult to expect someone to cater to anyone and alter their activities because someone cannot adapt to a given situation. This statement is made with the understanding that the behavior is within the bounds of being considerate. If a light disturbed me when I was sleeping, I just either wore a eye mask or covered my eyes with the blanket. I would never dream of asking someone to shut theirs off regardless of what state the other pax was in. They paid for that seat and that light is part of the seat area, ie: their space.

 

[ducklite]

You keeping the light on disturbing them or them doing something disturbing you. Not sure I see the difference?

If I was on a daytime flight trying to sleep it would be just as rude to demand all lights off and shades down. I wouldn't do that. Instead I'd bring an eye mask if I had a problem with the light.

The light is provided so people can read during flight. Not everyone sleeps on the same schedule. There is nothing impolite about quietly reading with the light provided. Watching porn is rude. Reading a best seller is not. If I was trying to insist every light around me was on, then of course that would be patently rude.

If the parents know the light bothers the child and keeps them from sleeping, then they could bring along an eye mask or a lightweight blanket to cover their eyes with. Or take daytime flights.

Allowing children to act like miscreants is extremely rude, particularly in situations where people are confined and can't get away from them.

Anne