I am quite tall, and I have always found it nearly impossible to get either emergency exit or bulkhead seats when I fly. So when I can't fly Jet Blue (who actually provides leg room and not just a seat) I am usually stuck with my knees pressed against the seat in front of me.
My question is how do I approach breaking the news to the person in front of me that they cannot lean their seat back to crush my knees for an 8 hour flight. I have nearly gotten into fights several times before from people who say "too bad, I'm leaning back and I don't care" (a great many people haven't been civilized yet in our world). The flight attendants have also never helpful in these disputes.
My question (other than not flying) is what do I do about these cases? Thank you for your advice.
2007-11-30 04:34:00 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Air Travel
I also wanted to add one major overlooked point (which seems to be overlooked by those who aren't tall and haven't had direct experience with this problem):
This is not a matter of comfort vs. comfort. This is a matter of comfort (the person wanting to recline to be more comfortable) vs. not being in pain (when your knees are pressed already against the metal of the tray, the crushing pain of the person pushing into your knees is more of an assault--as someone astutely pointed out--than simple discomfort, and certainly not even in the same category of having to sit up straight for a few hours).
2007-11-30 08:13:13 · update #1
We had this discussion at work the other day with my tall boss. The problem never occurred to me because I am on the short side. But I would never say no if someone asked me to move forward. I usually take window and center seats, leaving aisles for taller people. Last time it happened to my boss, the person refused my boss, but the flight attendant made the person do it. I can't believe how rude people can be. And airlines really do need to give more legroom or accommodate taller people - even I'm feeling crowded.
My boss also found on a travel gadget website some clips you can attach to the seat back tray that prevents the seat from being tilted back. She has used these a few times. But the tray has to be down to use them.
2007-11-30 04:44:58 · answer #1 · answered by ? 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
First of all as a Flight Attendant my job is not to tell the person in front of you that they cannot put their seat back! They paid for the seat as did you! But, I will tell you that if you talk to the Flight Attendant nicely I'm sure they would be willing to try to get you a better seat, maybe a empty seat beside you, or in front of you! If I see a passenger that has some sort of special circumstance, I am happy to help them, but if they start demanding, the compassion starts dropping. You said it all, civilized! I can't even get a hello or a goodbye from a good number of passengers! It's all about them! I would be happy to have you on my flight, but talk to the FA's before the passenger, it's sure to get more results. Good luck!
2007-11-30 04:48:45 · answer #2 · answered by fitzlj 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The old adage about catching more flies with honey still hold true.
My wife is an airline CSA, and she's married to a guy who's 6'7", so when she sees a tall passenger, she will automatically try to get them in the emergency row or bulkhead rows, if anything is available.
When people come to her, and ask nicely and politely if she can do anything for them, she will bend over backwards to help them. When they exhibit a 'tude, they're screwed.
I know your pain though. I got stuck on a plane in a cramped row a long time ago, and the person in front kept trying to put the seat back. I had nowhere else to move my knees, and I told them so. They started to give me a mouthfull of "I paid for this seat..." and I said, "My knees aren't moving. If you continue to smash your seat into them, I am going to have you arrested for assault charges when we land." Seemed to have solved the issue. I took it out of the FA's hands.
2007-11-30 05:17:09 · answer #3 · answered by gromit801 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
As a Flight Attendant, I had NO AUTHORITY to force people to move or not to lean back their seats. I could ask nicely but I was extremely limited in what I could do.
My husband is very tall and, to be frank, overweight. I no longer have flight benefits so he buys a business class ticket each time. Yes, it's nice he can afford it but he knows he'd be too uncomfortable in economy.
When I worked, I tried to swap people as much as I could when they were unhappy about their seats. One gentleman went on and on about having to move because of a leg problem, his height, etc. I found him an emergency exit seat. I was so happy! It was a solo passenger but I was glad to actually find someone who was willing to trade for this imposed gentleman.
I told him the good news but when I mentioned this detail, he said if his wife couldn't come with him, he wasn't going to move.
So much for helping out a tall passenger... Kind of made me think twice before helping out another one, if you see what I mean...
2007-11-30 06:03:24 · answer #4 · answered by Eclipsepearl 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Try using this website to learn more about seat and legroom dimensions:
http://www.seatguru.com
Buy a ticket to sit in business or first class cabin where there is more legroom.
At the earliest opportunity AT THE airport, ask a ticket counter or gate agent to reassign you to a seat with more legroom if possible.
Also, how do I break it to YOU that "civilized" behavior went out the window when people started demanding airfares so low, airlines were forced to pack people in like sardines just to keep from going bankrupt. Every passenger has the right to enjoy the reclining seat feature they paid for, BTW.
You should stop blaming flight attendants, they don't carry tools to adjust the legroom on seats. You should stop blaming airlines for trying to stay in business. You should blame society for demanding more legroom, etc but not wanting to pay for it.
2007-11-30 05:00:29 · answer #5 · answered by Mr Smart 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
While I can empathize with your problem, you don't have the right to impede another passenger's comfort because you happen to be tall. That person also has a right to be comfortable, something that many passengers fail to understand. That passenger has a right to recline his or her seat as he/she also paid a fare. Why do you think all the seats on the airplane recline? It is so that all passengers have the equal right to be at least semi-comfortable.
The Flight Attendants cannot intervene on your behalf in this type of situation just because you complain. What could they say to the other passenger? "Oh, the man in from of you is tall, so you can't make yourself comfortable in your seat?"
Therefore, the burden is on you. Since you know your problem, you need to make your reservations far in advance and select the appropriate seats so that you can be comfortable. This is what people with special needs should do so that they don't encroach on other people's rights.
2007-11-30 05:37:20 · answer #6 · answered by bombastic 6 · 1⤊ 5⤋
Fly First Class, go to seatguru.com and find seats or airlines with the most amount of legroom. You have no right to tell the person in front of you what to do with their seatback. You can ask them nicely but if they say no your just going to have to deal with it.
2007-11-30 08:50:52 · answer #7 · answered by Stephen 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
they have to pay for 2 seats
2016-04-06 05:34:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋