What is classed as a disability?
 

Folks, I am a non disabled male (43) who stands at 6'8", I have a 38" inseam and I need a seat pitch approx 3" longer than normal to sit for any duration on a flight without pain. As an example a 3 hour flight in a standard seat is akin to torture.
My question is this. Would this represent a "temporary" disability and as such would I qualify for a FREMEC card, with which I believe I can then use to pre-book a door seat (with legroom and usually draughty and probably smelly if beside the toilets) or equivalent.
Please don't think that I'm trying to find a way to jump queues or get better seats, I'm just trying to find a way that I can travel in same the comfort the rest of the passengers have.
Has anyone any thoughts on this?

is this a question of philosophy?
 

I am a short person, 5' 3". My feet often don't touch the floor when seated on an airplane. Usually an advantage on airplanes. I do work with some very tall people. I can see what you are saying.

My question is: is it fair to all concerned?

Let's see what the others say.

Definition of disability (from this site)

So while being tall can be inconvenient on a plane with limited leg room, I don't think it is a disability.

After reading that, the thought occured to me - if you're not disabled off the plane then you're not disabled on it. (unless it crashes).

well
 

I asked the tallest person in my office (well over 6'7") how he managed when traveling. His answer 'generally miserable on flights, beds too short and often showers are set too low.'

Did he consider himself disabled as a result?

He said 'no' but predicted if he went the way of his father, years would bring him bad knees, neck and back problems and joint pain.

Would he then consider himself disabled?

He said 'no' at his father's current age of 60, but there's no way to predict the future.

Due to my back issues, my doctor went to fill in the forms to declare me disabled. I told her not to bother since I was self-employed and as such did not qualify for the government program and had no private disability insurance.

The main issue for me is I can't sit for any length of time. At first I could only sit for minutes, now I'm up to about 3 hours on a plane without major pain or consequences the following day (unable to walk more than a pain-filled shuffle). I can now drive the six hours to visit my daughter but have to allow for stops to stretch. And on both a plane and in a car I have many aids to help seat me comfortably. Same in a bed.

In our office, I've modified my work environment so I can work standing, lying on the floor or on a kneeling chair. I move constantly from position to position but this isn't an issue since I work from my home.

I use a cane to get out of bed. I need a minimum of 30 minutes of concentrated walking and 20 minutes of floor exercises a day to manage pain free. If I don't get that, I get quite bad and can take up to 20 minutes of concerted effort to get out of bed. That's when I realize I am disabled.

I walk with a limp but don't need a cane to walk anymore. I use walking sticks when walking any distance (i.e. miles) since they help when I stumble (which I do often since the nerves in my foot were affected.)

I'm about to travel to Europe and will take the cane on board because I'm not sure how I'll be after so many hours in a seat. Despite the relaxing of carry-on rules to LHR, I'm dreading this trip greatly because I will be dehydrated (which aggravates my back further.) Not being able to choose when I take painkillers (since liquids are controlled substances now)
is very upsetting. Flight delays change when I need meds to peak and once something is taken, I have to wait hours until I can take something else.

I stand until the door is closed on the plane to reduce the amount of time I have to sit so I do not preboard but put off boarding as long as possible.

I don't look disabled and usually don't feel disabled but my regular life is now a memory (I miss baths and riding a bicycle). It will be interesting to see if international travel will be something I have to give up or not. I have 4 overseas trips planned between now and Christmas so this fall is a major test of my current condition.

This has me wondering - the arteries in my mom's legs are made of man-made material. Kind of like the dryer-vent tubing. If she sits for a long time the tubes can kink and cut off circulation. They don't spring back into place easily either. She has to sit in a chair with her hips up to keep her legs as straight as possible or lie down. She has a bunch of other ailments - she is definitely medically disabled. She has given up flying because she can't stretch her legs out and can't afford first/business class. Are there considerations for people like this so she could fly? I know she would love to go home to Ireland but can't make the trip otherwise.

You need to do some research.
 

If it is safe for your mother to fly business class, there are ways to get less expensive tickets. Some airlines have odd and off season specials. You need to find out what is OK for her.

Also, it may be less expensive for her to purchase 2 or 3 economy seats and use them all for herself, if her medical advisors say it is OK.

Things cost more when you're disabled. Airline tickets (for multiple seats, or first class or business) are no exception.