The worst flight I ever had was one where I had to sit in the middle seat between my broad shouldered husband and another broad shouldered man. To top it off, my ears wouldn't clear and I was in pain for the whole flight. The fact that both men took up part of MY space made the flight that much more miserable.

So what's your collective take on people who take up more space than what they've paid for? Whether they be broad shouldered, obese, or simply inconsiderate by putting their junk in your space?

Maybe get rid of your husband--just joking.
I'll get an aisle seat everytime!

Unfortunately, that is what comes along with air travel. I recently rode on American, and luckily my husband and I were in a 2 seat row, so it was nice not having to be crammed in the middle. That is one suggestion-when booking a flight...ask about the aisles...
Another thing that our flight attendant did, was she went around the plane asking who was flying together and who was flying by themselves. Originally, I was crammed between my husband and another gentleman, but the flight attendant moved the gentleman to another aisle that had 3 seats but only 1 person sitting there. I don't know if it was appropriate for the flight attendant to do that, but it was nice to have the extra space...but that only works when your flight isn't crowded.

I get stuck sitting in the middle, due to my husband being larger than me. On one flight, I was in the middle, my husband had the window seat, and there was a stranger in the aisle seat next to me. When we started to land, he kept leaning over me to look out the window. I didn't like this stranger invading my personal space. We closed the shade on the window, so that he wouldn't be so close. My husband and I still laugh about it to this day.

When traveling by myself, I do request the aisle seat. But my long-legged hubby nabs that seat when we're traveling together.

I just see so many complaints about children, I was wondering if there were any complaints about oversized people taking up more than their share of the seating. You can't do a whole lot about being broad shouldered. But you can about being fat.

Yes, it does happen. Unfortunately the seats in the airplane coach section are getting more narrow. Unfortunately people flying are getting larger. The seatbacks do not recline as much as before. These are the new planes. The 757 and the 737. We will have to endure unless we have the money or upgrades to fly First class.
Now, taking up overhead space is another matter. I realize some travelers do not want to wait for their luggage. Fine. But do not bring a garment bag, a duffle, backpack, and computer case and expect to get it all in the overhead. I feel, that each overhead is designed for the 6 seats , 2 rows, directly underneath the overhead bin. If those 6 people brought what was allowed, 2 carry-ons, there should be room for their items. That is if the gate attendants and flight attendants actually enforce the size regulation.

X,

I guess that I just assume that I will be uncomfortable and squished while I am in an airplane seat and I am a smaller than average woman. My poor husband is tall and big (not fat) and I just feel doubly sorry for him and many other men who are crammed into a seat and have leg room that even I am uncomfortable with 8 inches less height and 80 pounds lighter!
To be honest, short of forking out the cash for a first class ticket, there are almost no alternatives as so many flights are completely filled and offer little chance to change seats. I guess that the airlines have gotten the message from consumers repeatedly that price matters the most and they have responded accordingly. Maria

I just figure on being miserable the duration of a plane trip. If it turns out that I have extra room, I consider it a bonus. I really dislike air travel period. But I like to go to new places, so I tolerate the discomfort with what little grace I can muster.

"X," this is dangerously close to one of the more vigorous arguments that surface here from time to time re:heftiness and travel (how inconsiderate of others' needs to be overweight... etc.). But assuming you are absolutely sincere in your comment:

You've got it backwards. You and the two men all paid substantially for space -- the airline just didn't give it to you. The airline chose to configure the aircraft so no one larger than a 2nd grader gets enough space. I hate being squished between people larger than me, but I would hate even more to be larger and trying to fit in a small space -- absolutely clautrophobic all the way around. Think how wonderful for all it would be if the space allotted were scaled to the largest of the men -- and only two people to a row?!? Other passengers aren't the inconsiderate ones. The airlines are.

Well said!! This type of thread brings out the nastys. Fat people, tall people, broad shouldered people, normal size people are not comfortable in coach seats. First class is not an option for 99% of us. The airlines are not concerned about passenger comfort just their bottom line.
I don't relish being in a coach seat for 6-10 hours so when I can I get up and walk around. There always seems to be room in the rear to stretch you legs and chat if you feel like it.

X
Just a point of fact--fat people know they are fat and believe it or not most are not happy about it. Can they or should they do something about it, maybe, but who are we to say?

So what makes this line of questioning any more objectionable than children traveling? I haven't seen your objections to those the arguments.

Your logic follows the same logic that says it's permissible to tell someone that they're too skinny, but it's rude to tell then next person that they're too fat.

I think fat people should be banned from airplanes,theatres,restaurants, and sporting events

This type of thread always turns into a lynch the fat person thread, but I'd figure I'd give you a look at the other side.
O.k., I'm a frequent traveler because it is necessary for my job, but I also love to travel, especially to Europe. Oh, did I mention, yes I'm also overweight. Why I'm overweight? I suppose there are a lot of reasons, but no, I don't "choose" to be overweight which many of you seem to believe.
Think of how uncomfortable it is for me to travel...not only unconfortable, it's embarrassing. I'm 5'8" and 260 lbs. In everyday situations, I don't feel embarrassed because of my weight, I'm used to it. But when you sit in that seat on a plane, especially in the center of the row, it's horrible.
I've never really had anyone next to me that was really rude, but I always expect them to be. I do my best to make sure I don't overstep my boundaries. I always make sure the armrests are down, I keep my seat belt on, I make sure I am sitting very upright (never put my seat rest back), always sit knree to knee, foot to foot (no space between), give my seat partners the armrests (sit with my arms folded), and just try not to think of the discomfort. When the person in front of me puts their seat back, I want to scream, especially since I'm also tall, and my knees get crammed against the seat in front, but I just bear it. I bet most overweight people do the same sorts of thing. It really gets on my nerves when people complain, considering they would never put themselves through this extra discomfort.
Well, I know most of you won't change your opinions, but I just hope you can learn a little empathy.

I have a new stradegy when it comes to flying when I fly with someone or alone, we always ask for aisle seats. Recently I returned home from Spain with my sister. We were across the aisle from one anothe. I was in the middle section with 3 empty seats next to me---time to lie down I thought. She was to the side with 1 petite person sitting next to her. The problem was the 2 girls sitting infrom of them, they both reclined all the way back and they're heads were on my sisters lap. Luckily my sister came over to my section and the woman next to her was able to put her feet up on the seat because they were too crammed on the floor. Why do the airlines make seats that recline so far back it is ridiculous. Luckily the 2 girls didn't sleep the entire way the U.S. because this poor woman would have never been able to eat a thing. Another question is when I was coming home from Hawaii last yr. this enormous man (I'm sorry I would never intentionally hurt someones feelings but he must have weighed 300 +) was sitting behing me with his wife and a stranger. Before take off a flight attendent came up to him and said we have room and the couple was escourted to 1st class. Now can someone tell me why he got to be bumped up to first class just because of his weight? Sorry for the rambling

The problem is the AIRLINES cram as many seats as possible in coach so they can make more money! If you have a legit beef, write to the airlines, the department of transportation consumer aviation dept. etc. instead of whining about it here!!

As to fat people being able to do something about their weight, there are a lot of people who have a genetic disposition to being fat!! IMO, x you are rude, self-centered and completely full of yourself. AND, in this the holiest season of all, where tolerance and love should be utmost!!! Shame on you!!!

Why is it that all these people with so-called genetic predispositions to be fat reside in wealthy, food-abundant countries like the U.S. and Germany? You just don't see many genetically predispositioned fat people in poorer, food-strapped places like Africa, do you?

If you're fat, it's because you eat too much. Period.

Hey X:
Maybe you did not know if I contributed to the children argument because like you I choose to post without my real e-mail. I agree with Sheila, you are rude and self-centered. I wonder if you are as perfect as you think you are. If you re-read what I said I was being very diplomatic, maybe you should learn about the art of diplomacy. If you don't agree you resort to insults and belittling people. I feel sorry for you. Happy Holidays!

So the ranters got tired of the kids-traveling brawl and they are back to the horrible-fat-people arena. No imagination whatever. Just ignorance. Quarter-pounder: bloodhounds and St. Bernards are hefty; whippets and greyhounds are bony; poodles are brilliant; basset hounds are dumb but sweet. And sometimes heft is associated with poverty, believe it or not -- check out Russia, Samoa, and some farming and urban communities here in the US. If you think it's merely a matter of addiction or will-power, let's see how long you can go without posting a rude, lambasting come-back. There are, after all, some breeds that are stupid, ill-tempered, and also bark a lot.

This topic is OLD OLD OLD OLD OLD. If you really love it, why not search for all the previous threads and read them.

The difficulty I have with X's premise (that some people take up more space than they paid for) is that airlines are not selling "space." They are selling "transport." Obviously, if they were selling space, they would charge by the inch or pound. As it stands, they charge a 6-year old boy the same amount as a linebacker. So I try to remember that the airline simply owes me a safe place to sit. If I want more (more food, more legroom, more shoulder room), I can buy it by getting a first-class ticket.

After all, there are autos on the market that would be too confining for most of us. We respond by paying more (sometimes a lot more) for a more comfortable car. Why is airline travel any different?

Letitgo,
I loved your doggie allegory...

It may have aleady been suggested (excuse me, but I lacked patience to read through all the postings), but I find it best to get adjoining aisle seats. We can still hold hands across the aisle on takeoffs and when it gets rough (as occurs when pilots test how much turbulence it takes before the wings come off), or between cart passes. And best of all, it's never my elbow that ticks her off. It does get a bit inconvenient when we share a sandwich to supplement the nuts - everyone sees her pass it over, and they wonder where we got it, and why the airline doesn't do the same for them. But on the whole, adjoining aisle seats - the only way to go. Ciao.