Flights - What to do when someone encroaches upon your space

[zoo2tycoon]

I'm one who would not raise arm rest. We have each paid for our small seat and if a person is pooh sized they have the same amount of paid for space as a non pooh sized person. I was definitely say something if it was extremely bad or a long flight. I usually sit on aisle and don't even use the shared armrest, but the taking of feet space or seat space is another matter. The person knows they don't fit in a seat, then they should get another seat. JMHO

 

[Happy_2_B]

How do you handle these types of situations?

Fly first class We do, but that was more tongue-in-cheek than anything. Some airlines like AA have economy plus seats- which provide a lot more room- for about $75.00 each way. Your issue is one that cannot be fixed. It is luck of the draw- I have had great flights in economy and not so great ones. Now I have enough miles to upgrade to first, so no longer an issue. Sounds like you fly a lot, so just keep banking miles- and you will get there, too.

 

[DisneyPrince1982]

Fly first class We do, but that was more tongue-in-cheek than anything. Some airlines like AA have economy plus seats- which provide a lot more room- for about $75.00 each way. Your issue is one that cannot be fixed. It is luck of the draw- I have had great flights in economy and not so great ones. Now I have enough miles to upgrade to first, so no longer an issue. Sounds like you fly a lot, so just keep banking miles- and you will get there, too.

International, I try to do first because of my accumulated miles. However, domestic air is a little different for me since my airline of choice is usually SW and there is no first class unfortunately.

 

[Magpie]

This kid just took over...hard to explain but he just did. She would have had to get a FA. We had a few whispered chats about it and I kept saying get the FA. She didn't want to embarrass the kid. The kid guzzled 3 full cans of coke and about 8 bags of crackers....I think he needs a little embarrassment.

I on the other hand would have taken it for about 5 minutes and then let him have it. There probably should be a warning sign on me that says "don't invade my personal space unless you want to be spoken to with a nasty attitude".

Your poor friend! I'm a mom of teens and I work with kids of all ages. No nasty attitude (I'm actually quite nice and polite), but that kid wouldn't have got very far with me.

Young people do what I say, even when they don't want to.

 

[tiger4me2]

I had this happen to me one time. The young man sat next to window. I was in the middle seat and my husband ( who is 6'8" was on the aisle seat. This person asked if my husband would change seats with him. I looked at him and said no as did my husband. Now the young man was skinny but not that tall. Then decided to use his three phone yes three phones even when FA told everyone to turn off all electronics ( this is when you had to turn them off ) then he put his leg over mine. I asked him to remove it. He didn't then husband remove it or else. Still didn't. I took it off and told him if he does it again it would be sorry. The FA saw all this and told the guy to remove it and turn off his phones or she would inform the pilot. She had to inform pilot. He came back and the guy to pilot FU. I told the pilot to call ahead to have him met by the police or airport security. Which he was going to do anyway. I worked with the police dept back then. He was met by the police dept that I worked for lol. I just had to stand there while they took him off the plane. People are just rude on plane well some of them. Really hate flying these days.

 

[scoobydooby]

If you're too big to fit into one seat you should pay for two. And go on a healthy eating plan. Flying is very expensive I do not pay to share my seat and I am not responsible for anyone else's weight problem. I let arm rest issues go, life's too short. I never put my seat back. I am a thoughtful flyer.

 

[seashoreCM]

Also, if it's an issue of the person in the middle simply spilling out of their seat, due to body dimensions not quite fitting, then again I let it go. What can they do, anyway?

But obviously if it's something truly egregious, such as they're extending their feet into my space or dropping crumbs into my lap, then I'd politely point it out. .

I. One of the two couldn't help it as he was a large man, so not a lot I could expect. .

Yes a larger person can do something, specifically book two seats for himself. The rest of us need to start a fad, complaining about it before departure. There are plenty of things the airline can do on the spot before departure. By the way, the airline does have "an ace up its sleeve." It can bump the larger person to another flight without compensation. However you the aggrieved person should not make suggestions except the one to "ask for volunteers" if the flight is full.

Actually, being bumped could have a therapeutic value to someone who just goes around encroaching on others' space.

 

[gumbypee]

and I have had the middle seat and the people in the aisle and window use BOTH armrests so I have none to use. I hate middle seats