Originally Posted by
Knee Defender
When the person-of-size in your question boards the plane at the gate, he/she cannot fit in his/her seat as it is normally configured for boarding. When the long-legged person in your question boards the plane at the gate he/she can fit in his/her seat as it is normally configured for boarding.
With all due respect, that's really sophistry. I've boarded many flights in which the arm rests are up, and how the seats are configured for boarding isn't the standard for how they should be maintained inflight.
Of course, the airlines could recline all of the seats before boarding and require an extra fee from a person who cannot fit in his/her seat under those conditions.
As I say, you have added an arbitrary benchmark, i.e. "how the seats are configured at boarding." Can you point me to something that says that should be the standard?
Some here seem to make an argument akin to this: You have a right to board and proceed to your seat. Someone is standing in the aisle for some period of time during boarding, blocking your way to your seat. Since you have a right to proceed to your seat, you therefore have a right to push that person out of the way to exercise your right to proceed. After all, you have a ticket in hand and a seat assignment, so you must have that right. Why else would the airlines provide seat assignments and tickets?
Wow. Okay, using your blocking-the-aisle example, I would say, "Excuse me, I need to get to my seat," and I'd expect that person to move. If your example pertains, then I should be able to say to the tall person behind me, "Excuse me, I need to recline my seat," and I'd expect that person to move.
I guess so.