Sometime I just don't like to share..

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

no flames, sorry you had to fly that way i would have told the attendant for sure! but i have a big mouth

 

[SandraVB79]

I had the same thing happening to me flying back home in May (Lufthansa, Charlotte, NC to Munich, Germany)
I arrived at the very last moment at the gate (and had to get my boarding pass there) because of a delayed flight out of Orlando, and I was "lucky" to get the last seat (WTH??? I mean, I had reservations for that flight! I paid that flight. Well, the company paid, so they shouldn't treat me like someone who is lucky enough to win a lottery to get a seat on that plane!)
Since I had the very last seat, and I got on the plane as the very last person, it was impossible to switch seats.
I was in the middle part, first row (configuration 2-3-2 on first row), the middle seat. At my left side was a lady, at m right was a man... a Russian giant. I am not small, but that guy was twice as tall as I am, and at least three times as big. When he sat down, his leg crushed mine, and his arm was all the way in front of my chest. And did he smell nice... NOT! Think he had never heard of deodorant...
Lucky me, since at the first row, you can't put the arm rests up, since the trays are inside those. And even more lucky me, that somehow, before departure, the lady at my left upgraded to business and moved, so I could move too.
I can't imagine spending 9 hours completely crushed by that man. Nine hours having to hear him snoring (because he snored even when he was just breathing and awake!) right in my ear. I may not even think about all the complications I could have had because of his leg crushing mine (I have had a thrombosis, so long flights are already dangerous for me, my legs being "crushed" is dangerous, and both together is the recipe to end up in the hospital (at best) or on the cemetary (at worst) )

I know larger people have to be able to fly too, but something has to change. I mean, it's not that the larger people are the exception anymore. Maybe it's time for the airlines to have "special" seats in economy class that are a little wider than the regular ones, just like United airlines has the ecenomy plus with more leg room (ideal for people with long legs like me + for people with health problems like me). I guess those seats are more expensives than the regular economy ones (not sure, company paid) but I guess in case they provide wider seats for the larger people, they will not be as expensive as having to buy 2 tickets/ seats.


PS: for those that can't close the buckle, you can always ask for "extenders". That way, you too, will be safe in case of turbulence etc.

 

[cherjp]

monsterkitty

no flames here either it was your seat bought and paid for by you so that entitles you to sit in it. did you not speak to the stewards onboard? could your husband not have changed with you? anyway you were a lot more patient than i would have been . at least you can vent here it has probably done you a lot of good to do that . maybe he had something mentally wrong with him. you are a better person for not giving him a punch on the nose!!!
cheryl

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I just skimmed the posts but who or what is TED??

 

[MAKmom]

No flames, but a question...who's Ted?

What she said & do you know what flamed means

 

[Disney Ella]

If you pay for one seat, you should get to use all of it. If someone can't fit into just one seat, they need to pay for two seats.

 

[KelNottAt]

When you're flamed on a discussion thread it means the other posters criticize (some would say attack) you for having unkind or unpopular opinions.

Ted is an airline; subidiary of United.

If I had been in your seat I probably would have just sat there and suffered through it like you did. However, if I'm not mistaken, you would have been within your rights to approach the flight attendant in this way:

"Excuse me, but I'm seated next to a man who has been quite hostile toward me and the child behind him. I fear for my safety and would like him removed from this flight."

 

[Chattyaholic]

Some say the OP should have asked the flight attendant to be moved, but the OP said the flight was full so how could an attendant have gotten her a different seat?

 

[MushyMushy]

No flames from me! I'm pooh sized myself, and bought myself an extra seat to avoid a problem like that. Although I didn't have a problem fitting in my seat, I can tell you that having three to a row would have been mighty uncomfortable, so I'm glad I bought the seat.

If you ever find yourself in a position like that again, complain! Even if there's nothing they can do for you at that very moment, they can at least compensate you somehow for your suffering. Credits towards another flight, drink credits... whatever.

 

[babytrees]

No flames from me! I'm pooh sized myself, and bought myself an extra seat to avoid a problem like that. Although I didn't have a problem fitting in my seat, I can tell you that having three to a row would have been mighty uncomfortable, so I'm glad I bought the seat.

If you ever find yourself in a position like that again, complain! Even if there's nothing they can do for you at that very moment, they can at least compensate you somehow for your suffering. Credits towards another flight, drink credits... whatever.

Drink credits....that might have helped!! What a stinker you had to be by OP...although I don't think I would have complained either but a drink might have helped!!

 

[monsterkitty]

OP here.

Thanks everyone for understanding. I know this was a touchy subject when Southwest started charging some people for two seats, that is why I was afraid to post.

When I first got on the plane and saw who I was sitting next to, I did think about complaining. However, the flight attendants were busy with trying to get families next to one another. I thought a parent sitting next to their 5 yo was more important. When I sat down, an attendant did give the the, "oh, I am so sorry look," but did nothing about it. As I said, the plane was full and before we boarded they were giving round trip vouchures to 4 people if they waited for the next flight. If I would have asked to be moved, they probably would have bumped me off the fllight. I don't know if they would have also moved my husband to the next flight.

I couldn't change seats with my husband because there is no way the two of them would have fit. My husband is average sized, whereas I am small.

When the man was mean to the child behind me, I did give him my best evil teacher glare, and he looked shocked. Until we landed, he was more civil.

Should I write United, the parent company of Ted, and voice my displeasure? Or should I let it go?

Thanks again everyone, for understanding.

ETA: Drink credits may have been a good idea.

 

[Hannathy]

I am the opposite of Pooh size and have always dreamed of airlines and busses(think poor college) having not just armrests but actual dividers that could slide between the seats and keep everyone in their paid for space and if you don't fit buy another. (it's not like you became pooh sized walking down the ramp and it is a complete surprise) I was always picked by the Pooh sized to sit next to because they figured they could use some of my seat without problem. I've endured some pretty squished rides but not anymore, now that I am older I say something to the person and thanks to this board will now say something to the attendant. Next time I think I will ask the person for a partial payment on my ticket since they are using a percentage of it.

 

[poohandwendy]

LOL, I was also wondering about 'Ted'...what an ignorant jerk. Sorry you had such a painful flight, in more ways than one.

 

[luvwinnie]

Hopefully you will never see that moron again. I endure this often on the bus. I find myself practically hanging off MY seat because the person next to me is taking up part of mine. I love when you scoot over to keep from touching the stranger (hate touching people I don't know) and they think that means you are giving them more room so the scoot closer!!!! AHHHHH!!!

 

[MushyMushy]

Hopefully you will never see that moron again. I endure this often on the bus. I find myself practically hanging off MY seat because the person next to me is taking up part of mine. I love when you scoot over to keep from touching the stranger (hate touching people I don't know) and they think that means you are giving them more room so the scoot closer!!!! AHHHHH!!!

I'm the same way with being touched.

Big purses make good barriers.

 

[roseprincess]

I think you should write United Airlines, about the issues you had to deal with on your flight. I feel bad what you had to deal with.

Somewhat OT- I have a friend that works for United, but she work in the cargo accounting dept. Anyways, about 2 or 3 yrs ago, she tells me she is going on vacation and going Ted. I was like "what is Ted??" I thought Ted Kennedy bought his own airlines and named it after him?? I really thought this at first. My friend said no, Ted is named after the last 3 letters of United. I told my friend that Ted is a strange name to name an airlines. I told her I really thought Ted was named for Ted Kennedy for some odd reason .(I don't care for Ted Kennedy, but because he is in the political news most of the time, I really thought Ted airlines was named because of him. What was I thinking??).


Rosemarie

 

[MushyMushy]

I am the opposite of Pooh size and have always dreamed of airlines and busses(think poor college) having not just armrests but actual dividers that could slide between the seats and keep everyone in their paid for space and if you don't fit buy another. (it's not like you became pooh sized walking down the ramp and it is a complete surprise) I was always picked by the Pooh sized to sit next to because they figured they could use some of my seat without problem. I've endured some pretty squished rides but not anymore, now that I am older I say something to the person and thanks to this board will now say something to the attendant. Next time I think I will ask the person for a partial payment on my ticket since they are using a percentage of it.

Would you really humiliate somebody that way?

I can see doing it to someone who was being a jerk, but geez.

 

[pearlieq]

Some say the OP should have asked the flight attendant to be moved, but the OP said the flight was full so how could an attendant have gotten her a different seat?

It's not that the OP should have asked to be moved--that just makes it someone else's problem. The OP should have alterted the flight attendant to the situation and if there wasn't another seat to be purchased on the plane, the man should have been removed from the flight. Harsh, but that's the breaks.

I do NOT advocate saying anything to the other passenger--this is the flight attendant's problem to handle. I really hope Hannathy was joking, because saying something like that would be pretty darn rude! There's a difference between respectfully sticking up for yourself and just being a jerk.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

YOu have every right to be upset. I would be PO if i couldn't sit comfortably in my own seat let alone have the arm rest down. If the person next to me was taking up some of my seat that i paid for and was rude to me, i would have called over the stewardess and tell them that i want that person to be moved or to move me. There is no way that my hard earned money would be spent sharing it with a rudeperson sitting in my seat. I am sorry, but anyone that cannot fit into one seat needs to buy 2 seats. I don't care, why should someone else have to be uncomfortable. There is no reason why anyone shouldn't sit into a seat. They are not unreasonably small. Too bad, lose weight. I don't care if i get flamed, but there is no excuse for people being that big to not be able to fit into a seat. I was on a flight where the woman behind me asked me not to put my seat back becasue the tray was digging in her. I said too bad, i paid for the seat and i want to be comfortable. She called the stewardess over and i told her that i paid for it and that maybe she should move. I had been overweight for most of my life so i know what it is like. If i knew there was a possibility that i wouldnt be able to fit into a seat you bet that would be enough for me to do something about it.
I would have demanded a refund.

 

[pearlieq]

There is no reason why anyone shouldn't sit into a seat. They are not unreasonably small. Too bad, lose weight. I don't care if i get flamed, but there is no excuse for people being that big to not be able to fit into a seat.

Frankly, they are unreasonably small. I don't think there's anyone in the world who relishes the comfort and spaciousness in coach.

You're the first person on this thread to be outright rude. NO ONE here is disputing that the OP deserved the full use of her seat and the man was in the wrong.

Why do you need to take it a step further and pass judgment on people? Since when did you get to determine what anyone "should" weigh? Sorry, I didn't realize God himself had registered on the DIS boards under the name "arielsleepingbeauty" to spread wisdom from on high...

As long as it doesn't affect you, it's none of your business what anyone's body looks like.