Pooh sized and airline seats

[danacara]

Originally posted by FergieTCat
If person who infringes on another passenger's personal space pay for two seats then:

Should the person who leans ALL THE WAY BACK pay for the seat behind him?

Should the parents of the child who kicks the seat in front of him for the entire flight for that seat as well?

What about the screaming baby who disturbs the passenger right next to him?

Why should it only be POS?

Though I appreciate Snoopy's point of view, I rather disagree. In installing seats that lean back to a certain angle, the airline implicitly says that to lean them back fully is within their policies. Kicking the seat is controllable, annoying, but easily stopped. The screaming baby is its own issue, I hate that, and honestly the parents of those babies should probably be required to buy every seat on the plane, ha. But to spill out of a seat, and to infringe on the purchased physical space of another in a fashion that cannot be controlled or prevented - it's not fair. It's unfortunate for Pooh sized people, but it's not unknown in advance. They have a different set of choices. Buy First Class. Fly Jet Blue.
I fly for work all the time. I go over my baggage allowance all the time. I pay for that. It stinks, but it's the way this world works.

 

[jrydberg]

It's my seat. I paid for it. Anyone else who wants to sit in it (in part or in whole) besides my daughter is out of luck.

 

[snoopy]

I guess I see both sides, just wondering where do we draw the line.

 

[cynsaun]

I think the line is drawn where a person's personal space is hindered.

Although babies screaming, kids kicking seats, and the "lounging" of the chair in front of a person can be annoying, these are the irritants expected when traveling by public mode of transportation.

However, after purchasing my ticket for a seat, I should be the only one that sits in it!

 

[MosMom]

I think if they are going to have this policy, they need to enforce it across the board. I noticed while watching Airline that one passenger was only made to show he could put the armrest down and did not have to actually strap in. Another passenger could put the armrest down but also had to show he didn't need a seatbelt extender. So which is it? Is it just that you can put the armrest down and not encroach on the other seat or is it that you have to put the armrest down AND fit into the seatbelt without an extender?

I felt really bad for the kid that had to show he could use the seatbelt as well because he had to call his girlfriend to have her buy him another seat.

 

[Crankyshank]

QUOTE]Another passenger could put the armrest down but also had to show he didn't need a seatbelt extender. So which is it? Is it just that you can put the armrest down and not encroach on the other seat or is it that you have to put the armrest down AND fit into the seatbelt without an extender[/QUOTE]

If I needed to pay for 2 seats because I need a seatbelt extender, I would be furious.

I am pooh sized, but i have a large frame so I carry it better than a lot of people. I can, and do, put the arm rest down. Sometimes, but not on all airlines, I do need a seatbelt extender. There are lots of people I know that are heavier than I am and spill into 2 seats but don't need an extender. Why should I have to buy 2 seats?[

 

[Chicago526]

As far as I know, the "line" is that the arm rest must be fully down, it's a FAA rule, so if the arm rest doesn't come down, the second seat must be bought AND empty for the full use of the plus sized customer. If the arm rest does come down, the airline then can determine it's own policy on if the person needs to buy a second seat.

It's a judgement call as far as the airline employees go, they have to "eye ball" and guess if the person will fit or not, it can't be an easy thing for them, either.

 

[snoopy]

Originally posted by cynsaun
I think the line is drawn where a person's personal space is hindered.

Although babies screaming, kids kicking seats, and the "lounging" of the chair in front of a person can be annoying, these are the irritants expected when traveling by public mode of transportation.

However, after purchasing my ticket for a seat, I should be the only one that sits in it!

Well I guess I was going back to the tall issue again. What about tall people, should they be required to buy two seats? Beacuse a tall person is likely to hinder the legroom of the person sitting next to them, even though they can put the armrest down. Same with a broad shouldered person. My husband is as fit as can be, but very broad. His hips aren't big, so no problem with the armrest, but I'm sure his shoulders touch the person next to him. Should he buy another seat? And if so, how do you go about enforcing it?

 

[Tiggeroo]

if you've never flown an airline before how do you know if you'll need two seats or one. Is there some kind of magic formula. Can you sit down, mark and measure your butt cheek spread then compare it with the companies formula. That's the problem I have. There needs to be some standardization. What if you are ok on the outbound flight, but somebody decides you are not on the return trip. Suppose you bought one seat and don't have the money for the second seat. If you buy early and your one seat is at a good price, then they want you to pay3x that for an extra seat on the day of the flight. It could be terribly embarrasing for a person. I'm taking a trip soon with several larger people who've never flown before. How do they know whether they need 2 seats. I'd really like to know.

 

[Chicago526]

Originally posted by Tiggeroo
If you buy early and your one seat is at a good price, then they want you to pay3x that for an extra seat on the day of the flight. It could be terribly embarrasing for a person. I'm taking a trip soon with several larger people who've never flown before. How do they know whether they need 2 seats. I'd really like to know.

Can't help you on the size question, but if you are required to buy the second seat, the airlines will honor the original fare you paid. So if you paid $250 6 months ago, they'll charge you another $250 for the second seat, even if the last minute fare is $1000.

The only thing you can do is to tell your plus sized friends that they may be required to buy a 2nd seat, and to make sure they have a credit card or money to do so, so they don't get stranded. They can always fight it with the credit card company after the fact.

 

[FergieTCat]

In installing seats that lean back to a certain angle, the airline implicitly says that to lean them back fully is within their policies.

Yes, but if armrests go up, isn't the airline implicitly saying that leaving them up is within their policies as well?

 

[jrydberg]

Sure, but taking up my space is not within airline policy. No one leaning their seat back takes up space specifically allocated to me.

 

[C.Ann]

Infringment on other peoples rights and/or space - as well as laws and/or rules prohibiting it - has become a way of life now.. The can of worms has been opened and there is no stuffing them back inside.. All I can say is the next time some kind of "infringement" issue pops up, folks might want to consider how they'll feel when it applies to something that will have a direct impact on them..

In this particular situation, I would not be happy if someone was spilling over into my seat, but I myself would have never "pushed" for this rule of forcing a pooh-sized person to purchase an extra seat because frankly, I don't consider it that big of a deal..

Still - "infringement" is a hot topic right now.. Everyone wants "their" rights protected in numerous areas (or at least until it impacts them on a personal level - at which point it becomes "discrimination") and unfortunately, folks can't have it "both ways".. Kind of boils down to "live and let live" - or deal with ALL of the rules - whether you feel they should apply to you personally or not..

 

[cynsaun]

Originally posted by snoopy
Well I guess I was going back to the tall issue again. What about tall people, should they be required to buy two seats? Beacuse a tall person is likely to hinder the legroom of the person sitting next to them, even though they can put the armrest down. Same with a broad shouldered person. My husband is as fit as can be, but very broad. His hips aren't big, so no problem with the armrest, but I'm sure his shoulders touch the person next to him. Should he buy another seat? And if so, how do you go about enforcing it?

If an individual has long legs, he/she can extend their legs under the seat in front of them. The luggage that may be stowed there should be put into the overhead compartment to allow for the extra legroom needed.

As for the broad shoulder issue. If I were sitting next to someone with broad shoulders, I would hope they would take into consideration they are encroaching on my personal space and adjust accordingly. An example would be to sit in an aisle seat and lean on the armrest toward the aisle.

 

[Abracadabra]

Originally posted by cynsaun
If an individual has long legs, he/she can extend their legs under the seat in front of them. The luggage that may be stowed there should be put into the overhead compartment to allow for the extra legroom needed.

Good idea, as long as there is room left in the overhead bin. On many flights I've been on this summer, there is scarcely room for a seatbelt in the bins. I really feel for people with long legs on long flights. It must be miserable for them.

As for the broad shoulder issue. If I were sitting next to someone with broad shoulders, I would hope they would take into consideration they are encroaching on my personal space and adjust accordingly. An example would be to sit in an aisle seat and lean on the armrest toward the aisle.

This is what I do. The only problem occurs when the flight attendants fail to announce that the cart is coming by. Just saying "Watch your shoulders, knees and feet" a few seconds before zooming by would save a lot of bruises, please. (I suppose this is partially my fault -- I tend to lean a little bit over the armrest so as not to bump shoulders with the poor person who's stuck in the middle seat. I figure their luck is bad enough -- I mean, who'd CHOOSE the middle seat to begin with -- so I try to avoid any infringement on their space.)

 

[cynsaun]

Very good point about the bin space Abracadabra. It is getting really bad. The problem is that people try to bring on too many carryons, some of which are too large and should really be checked!

I think what it boils down to is that people need to be considerate of others around them.

 

[Abracadabra]

Originally posted by cynsaun
I think what it boils down to is that people need to be considerate of others around them.

Excellent point! One that I should start practicing more often.

 

[snoopy]

Originally posted by Abracadabra
I tend to lean a little bit over the armrest so as not to bump shoulders with the poor person who's stuck in the middle seat. I figure their luck is bad enough -- I mean, who'd CHOOSE the middle seat to begin with -- so I try to avoid any infringement on their space.)

I always stick my kids in the middle seat -- DH takes one and puts him in the middle and takes an aisle seat, and I do the same. Little kids and really petite people are really the only people that could possibly be comfortable sitting in the middle.

 

[Abracadabra]

Originally posted by snoopy
I always stick my kids in the middle seat -- DH takes one and puts him in the middle and takes an aisle seat, and I do the same. Little kids and really petite people are really the only people that could possibly be comfortable sitting in the middle.

Good point. Now if you'd consider renting one of your children for my next flight ... -- just joking!

Sometimes I luck out and get an empty middle seat, but this summer the flights have been packed out -- even flying at odd times. I never thought I'd miss the days of 1/2 empty flights. Probably shouldn't say something like that though... might cause something terrible to happen.

 

[caitycaity]

If an individual has long legs, he/she can extend their legs under the seat in front of them. The luggage that may be stowed there should be put into the overhead compartment to allow for the extra legroom needed.

this doesn't always work. sometimes my legs hit the seat in front of me (depending on the kind of plane and i can't stretch my legs out regardless of if there is luggae there or not).

i agree with you that it's important to try to be considerate, but i also agree with c.ann about the entitlement issue. i seriously doubt flying in economy is very comfortable for most adults. sometimes there is nothing that can be done but grin and bear it.

i recently flew to france. the guy in front of me reclined his seat all the way and it was literally 2 inches from my face. i could not get out of my seat without injuring myself on the aisle armrest (which didn't move). but i didn't say anything to him, because i figure it is his right to do that, and why bother creating a huge problem when no doubt many people all over the plane are having the same issue. planes are not designed with the passengers comfort in mind (at least in economy). they are designed to cram as many people in as they possibly can. complaining to the flight crew isn't going to change that, especially if it is a full flight and you can't be moved.