No More Third-Party Seat Belt Extenders!!!

[keishashadow]

likely a liability issue they're hoping to avoid. Consider this scenario:

Passenger uses an, unbeknowst to them, faulty extender (i.e. old, beat one that they bought on ebay for a few bucks).

throw in bad turbulence, not uncommon for those not wearing seatbelts to hit ceiling of plane if really bad.

non-airline extender fails and the ownergoes airborne then lands on the person next to him doing bodily damage.

I'd assume their would be an issue or two.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

You must be rather slim. Some airline seats are only 16 inches across.... I don't know many people who are comfortable sitting in a seat that size.

So do we change the seats or work to change society?

Changing the seats will cost everyone more including those who do not need extra width in the seat; or should we hold those who do not fit in the seats personally responsible.

Personally, I'm going with the latter. I fit in the seats with more than enough room, but I also take personal responsibility for my weight. I cannot control my height (but I'm only 5' 10" anyway), but if I were taller I would then choose to elect seats with greater legroom (or airlines with greater overall legroom), not demand that aircrafts have more legroom to benefit just me.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

No one on this thread has been nasty about anything. I am not all that tall (5'7"), but do have very long legs and I do manage to keep them in my seating area, I do not sprawl and I do not hog the arm rest, I do, however, insist it stay down when I am not flying with someone I know. I have flown "cheek to cheek" with a stranger (even with the arm rest down) and had most of my seat taken by this stranger. It was not fun and I was NOT happy. I said nothing, was not rude and managed to get throught the flight. What you said is valid, however, there are two sides to every coin.

I should have been more clear - you are right, no one on THIS thread has been nasty (yet - it isn't closed). I was talking about the comments of those who responded to the article in the comments section, not the posters here. I hadn't even read your posts yet, I was composing my own response while you were posting. I'm slow.

Your point about having long legs yet keeping them to yourself is well taken - I could say the same for my sons, who are 6'1" and 6'3" respectively. Still, there are plenty of tall/broad/long-legged/slender people out there who ARE rude, that doesn't mean I judge every tall person as if they are rude simply due to my past experience.

 

[gmeh1]

I should have been more clear - you are right, no one on THIS thread has been nasty (yet - it isn't closed). I was talking about the comments of those who responded to the article in the comments section, not the posters here. I hadn't even read your posts yet, I was composing my own response while you were posting. I'm slow.

Your point about having long legs yet keeping them to yourself is well taken - I could say the same for my sons, who are 6'1" and 6'3" respectively. Still, there are plenty of tall/broad/long-legged/slender people out there who ARE rude, that doesn't mean I judge every tall person as if they are rude simply due to my past experience.

People in general have become more rude, for some reason the "entitlement mentality" has taken over the common courtesy mentality and size seems to make no difference in attitudes, this rudeness comes in all sizes and shapes and it is a very sad state of affairs.

 

[gmeh1]

likely a liability issue they're hoping to avoid. Consider this scenario:

Passenger uses an, unbeknowst to them, faulty extender (i.e. old, beat one that they bought on ebay for a few bucks).

throw in bad turbulence, not uncommon for those not wearing seatbelts to hit ceiling of plane if really bad.

non-airline extender fails and the ownergoes airborne then lands on the person next to him doing bodily damage.

I'd assume their would be an issue or two.

Perfect point.

 

[gmeh1]

So do we change the seats or work to change society?

Changing the seats will cost everyone more including those who do not need extra width in the seat; or should we hold those who do not fit in the seats personally responsible.

Personally, I'm going with the latter. I fit in the seats with more than enough room, but I also take personal responsibility for my weight. I cannot control my height (but I'm only 5' 10" anyway), but if I were taller I would then choose to elect seats with greater legroom (or airlines with greater overall legroom), not demand that aircrafts have more legroom to benefit just me.

I have to agree totally with this post.

 

[mhconley]

If they are smart, they will color code or imprint the name of the airline on their extenders. Seems pretty simple.

And do what?... Go through seat by seat asking the "larger" people to lift their belly's and show their extender. That will go over well...

I'm of larger-than-average girth but can squeeze into an economy seat using the supplied seatbelt without an extender or encroaching on my seatmates. (Although I do have to hold my elbows if stuck in a center seat.) I've considered buying a third party extender because I sometimes am lucky enough to fly business or first class and have problems with those seatbelts. They seem to be the exact same length as the economy seatbelts but are in seats 4+ inches wider which makes them tighter across my lap than those in economy class. I've looked at third party extenders because I am too embarrassed to ask the flight attendent for an extender and have suffered through some pretty uncomfortable flights.

Martin

 

[goofy4tink]

I should have been more clear - you are right, no one on THIS thread has been nasty (yet - it isn't closed). I was talking about the comments of those who responded to the article in the comments section, not the posters here. I hadn't even read your posts yet, I was composing my own response while you were posting. I'm slow.

Your point about having long legs yet keeping them to yourself is well taken - I could say the same for my sons, who are 6'1" and 6'3" respectively. Still, there are plenty of tall/broad/long-legged/slender people out there who ARE rude, that doesn't mean I judge every tall person as if they are rude simply due to my past experience.

And there will be no rudeness here. That's just not tolerated very well around here. Sure, everyone gets to have an opinion, but that opinion has to be stated with respect and civility.

My dh is tall...6'4''. His legs just do not fit comfortably on airline. Add to that the fact that I hate the middle seat...much prefer the window seat. So....when we travel as a family...3 of us, me at 5'8'' and dd at 5'11''....dd gets the window seat, dh gets the aisle seat so he can stretch out his legs a bit. I get to sit in the middle. And even when it's just dh and myself??? Yep, in the middle again. Dh hates being on the inside, by the window. I do wish they would have more options of just two seats vs three seats. But, that's not going to happen.

I do know that when my dh flies, he always seems to get that person who just has to put the seatback as far back as it will recline. And that usually bangs dh on the knees. And the seat won't recline fully, because of those knees!!! He had one lady that just kept pulling the seatback up and then trying to slam it down harder. No, that didn't work. Only served to bruise dh's knees. And again she tried..harder and harder each time. Finally, after about 5 mins of this treatment, my dh grabbed the seatback, and informed the woman that no amount of shoving was going to get the seat to recline as far as she wanted unless dh amputated his legs!! And that if she continued with the shoving? A FA would be called to prevent my dh from doing something 'silly'!!!! That woman was not a happy camper.

Then there was the time, when flying JB, that I competed with the passenger seated next to me, in the middle seat, for control of the common armrest. His ds was seated by the window, so he had no problem with the rest to his right....where his tv controls were. But no...he just had to use both armrests...including the one between us that had my tv controls on it!!! After repeated 'excuse me's', I finally started leaving my arm there if he lifted his up!! Then, he would try to move my arm, little by little.
So, it's not just the larger passengers that cause issues. Issue makers come in all shapes and sizes.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

goofy4tink - I don't post on this board often, but when I'm here it is obvious you make an effort to keep everything civil. My apologies if it sounded as if I felt otherwise.

I laughed at the part about the pax trying to inch your arm off the rest, it is a funny mental picture, though not fun at the time. Childish and annoying.

I am short and still feel cramped when the seat in front is reclined, I feel for anyone who is more than my 5'3" height. I never recline my seat, knowing I'll end up in the space of the person behind me - it's rarely enough to make the flight more comfortable, anyway.

 

[gmeh1]

goofy4tink - I don't post on this board often, but when I'm here it is obvious you make an effort to keep everything civil. My apologies if it sounded as if I felt otherwise.

I laughed at the part about the pax trying to inch your arm off the rest, it is a funny mental picture, though not fun at the time. Childish and annoying.

I am short and still feel cramped when the seat in front is reclined, I feel for anyone who is more than my 5'3" height. I never recline my seat, knowing I'll end up in the space of the person behind me - it's rarely enough to make the flight more comfortable, anyway.

For some reason someone reclining their seat has never bothered me, seems to make the tray table closer, which is nice since i like to put my book on the tray table. I always ask ther person behind me if it would bother them if I recline, I have yet to have someone say it would bother them.

 

[gmeh1]

And do what?... Go through seat by seat asking the "larger" people to lift their belly's and show their extender. That will go over well...

I'm of larger-than-average girth but can squeeze into an economy seat using the supplied seatbelt without an extender or encroaching on my seatmates. (Although I do have to hold my elbows if stuck in a center seat.) I've considered buying a third party extender because I sometimes am lucky enough to fly business or first class and have problems with those seatbelts. They seem to be the exact same length as the economy seatbelts but are in seats 4+ inches wider which makes them tighter across my lap than those in economy class. I've looked at third party extenders because I am too embarrassed to ask the flight attendent for an extender and have suffered through some pretty uncomfortable flights.

Martin

Do you have a better idea?

 

[yankeepenny]

Well I'm glad you didn't. The idea that someone might get tangled up in one is pretty silly, IMO.

NO -It is NOT silly. Nor impossible. I was tangled in a car seat belt that had the seat belt automatically move on the door and it got tangled with me in it.

The dealership had to replace the entire belt system. The situation was NOT silly, but maddening- car is undrivable in a state with seatbelt laws. IT wa also unsafe.

I dont joke about safety.

 

[goofy4tink]

goofy4tink - I don't post on this board often, but when I'm here it is obvious you make an effort to keep everything civil. My apologies if it sounded as if I felt otherwise.

I laughed at the part about the pax trying to inch your arm off the rest, it is a funny mental picture, though not fun at the time. Childish and annoying.

I am short and still feel cramped when the seat in front is reclined, I feel for anyone who is more than my 5'3" height. I never recline my seat, knowing I'll end up in the space of the person behind me - it's rarely enough to make the flight more comfortable, anyway.

No, you didn't sound that way at all....no worries. I just wanted to be sure that everyone understands that we just don't tolerate nastiness here. It serves no purpose.


The funny thing about reclining seats??? I seldom do it. Now, that isn't to say that no one should. But, you do have to be aware of your surroundings. But, people being people, just want what they want, when they want it.

I completely understand why there are rules about car seats, younger people, and overly large people not being allowed in the exit rows. I'm sure that the vast majority of 'large' adults feel that they are capable of helping out in the case of an emergency. But, What happens if they aren't? Now, everyone has to work around that unconscious person!! There have to be rules. Not everyone is going to like them but it is what it is.

 

[LadyBeBop]

I completely understand why there are rules about car seats, younger people, and overly large people not being allowed in the exit rows. I'm sure that the vast majority of 'large' adults feel that they are capable of helping out in the case of an emergency. But, What happens if they aren't? Now, everyone has to work around that unconscious person!! There have to be rules. Not everyone is going to like them but it is what it is.

Absolutely. As mentioned earlier, I'm Pooh-sized, and I wouldn't trust myself in an exit row. Several years ago, my husband, daughter (then 18) and I flew as non-revenue passengers. We lucked into a direct flight home with only three seats left. One was an exit row seat. I said, yes to the seats, but allowed one of the other two to battle for the exit seat.

i think DD took it. I ended up with the middle seat in the very last row. At least we were going home.

 

[goofy4tink]

Absolutely. As mentioned earlier, I'm Pooh-sized, and I wouldn't trust myself in an exit row. Several years ago, my husband, daughter (then 18) and I flew as non-revenue passengers. We lucked into a direct flight home with only three seats left. One was an exit row seat. I said, yes to the seats, but allowed one of the other two to battle for the exit seat.

i think DD took it. I ended up with the middle seat in the very last row. At least we were going home.

And you all arrived at the same time!!!!

 

[mhconley]

Do you have a better idea?

Yes! Let me bring on my identical FAA approved seatbelt extender. Like the pilot in the article said, there is nothing to maintain, it's a freakin' seatbelt. I'm tired of our nanny government bureaucrats making pointless rules just to justify their existence.

Martin

 

[k&a&c'smom]

For some reason someone reclining their seat has never bothered me, seems to make the tray table closer, which is nice since i like to put my book on the tray table. I always ask ther person behind me if it would bother them if I recline, I have yet to have someone say it would bother them.

I know a lot of people don't seem to mind, and most probably don't even think about the person behind them. Not deliberately trying to be annoying, like in goofy4tink's situation. Most people are kind of oblivious rather than malicious, it seems.

I have issues with a pinned ankle and bad knee, so that's probably why I feel cramped when the seat is reclined.

The funny thing about reclining seats??? I seldom do it. Now, that isn't to say that no one should. But, you do have to be aware of your surroundings. But, people being people, just want what they want, when they want it.

I completely understand why there are rules about car seats, younger people, and overly large people not being allowed in the exit rows. I'm sure that the vast majority of 'large' adults feel that they are capable of helping out in the case of an emergency. But, What happens if they aren't? Now, everyone has to work around that unconscious person!! There have to be rules. Not everyone is going to like them but it is what it is.

I waited for my kids to get to the age we could sit in an exit row - then had my knee give out! Phooey. My boys don't fly often, so they have yet to get the extra leg room. (we mostly fly SWA, so no other option for leg room)

mhconley - I have to agree with you, I really don't see any reason why they would need to make this rule if there are identical extenders on the market. They have a rule for the locks to be FAA-approved, just make the extenders have the same rule. I'm sure that would cover any liability issues.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

My dh is tall...6'4''. His legs just do not fit comfortably on airline. Add to that the fact that I hate the middle seat...much prefer the window seat. So....when we travel as a family...3 of us, me at 5'8'' and dd at 5'11''....dd gets the window seat, dh gets the aisle seat so he can stretch out his legs a bit. I get to sit in the middle. And even when it's just dh and myself??? Yep, in the middle again. Dh hates being on the inside, by the window. I do wish they would have more options of just two seats vs three seats. But, that's not going to happen.
...

Then there was the time, when flying JB, that I competed with the passenger seated next to me, in the middle seat, for control of the common armrest. His ds was seated by the window, so he had no problem with the rest to his right....where his tv controls were. But no...he just had to use both armrests...including the one between us that had my tv controls on it!!! After repeated 'excuse me's', I finally started leaving my arm there if he lifted his up!! Then, he would try to move my arm, little by little.
So, it's not just the larger passengers that cause issues. Issue makers come in all shapes and sizes.

When my husband and I fly on a plane with a 3x3 configuration, we often select seats on the aisle across from each other so neither of us has to take the middle seat.

As far as the armrests, airplane etiquette dictates that the poor person in the middle seat gets both armrests. The window and aisle seats each have an armrest no one else can use. You should not have wrestled that man so you could have both armrests. You're lucky he didn't retaliate by constantly asking you to get up so he could take his son to the restroom or to stretch his legs.

 

[CarolMN]

......(snip).....As far as the armrests, airplane etiquette dictates that the poor person in the middle seat gets both armrests. The window and aisle seats each have an armrest no one else can use. You should not have wrestled that man so you could have both armrests. You're lucky he didn't retaliate by constantly asking you to get up so he could take his son to the restroom or to stretch his legs.

Did you miss the part about trying to access the controls for the TV? How was she supposed to do that if the middle seat person was always blocking them?????

Never read or saw that the middle seat gets both armrests. If that is truly the case, there must be a lot of people who don't know about that rule of airplane etiquette (And in my experience, most of them seem to be men).

 

[k&a&c'smom]

As far as the armrests, airplane etiquette dictates that the poor person in the middle seat gets both armrests. The window and aisle seats each have an armrest no one else can use. You should not have wrestled that man so you could have both armrests. You're lucky he didn't retaliate by constantly asking you to get up so he could take his son to the restroom or to stretch his legs.

Surely this doesn't apply in the case of the arm rests containing your TV controls? I can't imagine etiquette would require you give up your controls for the person in the middle to have 2 arm rests??