Those CRJ's are small and I seem to end up on them all the time flying in/out of CHS. My husband got home from his work trip last week complaining that he had to lean over all the way home from IAD (fortunately only 1.5 hours) and his back hurt. My husband is 195 lbs 6' so not small but never had a problem before, but on this flight there was a very big guy next to him. Not terribly obese he said just wide shouldered, probably close to 300#.

In June I was on a DL commuter from Ft Walton Beach to ATL, and when I boarded, there was a huge guy in the window seat, I had the aisle seat. 2 seats in the row. I did not see the armrest, at first I thought he had it up, then I realized it was engulfed within him. This is hard to describe but the armrest was invisible. This man's body had swallowed it up. I passed my row and went to the back of the plane and reluctantly asked for help. I have only done this twice - asked for help when a COS was next to me, and I fly a lot. I am always afraid of being deplaned, I have NEVER seen a COS of size deplaned, especially if they can somehow get the armrest down like this guy had. The FAs tend to offer a later flight to the complainer instead. So anyway she said there was one empty seat, in the last row, and she offered it to me, and I took it, although inside I was thinking, WHY DON'T YOU MOVE THE COS TO THE LAST ROW NEXT TO THE EMPTY SEAT AND MOVE THE PASSENGER IN THE OTHER LAST SEAT ROW UP TO MY ROW AND TAKE THE COS'S SEAT. But that's never how it works.

So, move two people, or one? Which is better?

Puddle jumpers have always been crowded and uncomfortable. However, you used to be able to avoid them unless you were flying to a small airport. And, the flights were rarely over an hour. Nowadays, you get a puddle jumper - and I classify all CRJs and ERJ145s as puddle jumpers due to interior space - for 3+ hour flights.

As long as you have regional jets on long routes, you're going to have issues like this. My advice is to avoid RJs if possible, or use Seat Guru to pick your seats better. If you're in the aisle, there's a good chance that the armrest on the aisle will go up. If so, do that, and scooch out some into the aisle.

But, as to the OPs point on seat belts, the best thing is for airlines to start making them a little longer. That would solve one problem.

I think moving two people is more appropriate. The person who failed to purchase enough seats to fit their body and therefore caused a problem necessitating seat moves in the first place definitely should have to move. The person in the last row gets to move up - this person did not cause the problem.

Longer belts do not make their body fit into one seat any better, does not stop them from sitting on their seatmates seat or body.

So, just to tie this one off:

The root issue was two FA's quoting exact opposite policies on extender seat belts in the exit row, each claiming the FAA as their source of authority. I may not be completely up on FAA policy, but I know when two people are telling me a completely opposite thing, but claiming the the same source of authority.

I'm not that huge a guy, I fit in the 21" horizontal inches allotted to a seat with both armrests down. That being said, I pay for upgrades to first when I can get them. That's not always an option. However, thanks to everyone who just jumped to the conclusion that I'm Fat ....... from the Austin Powers movie.

I know people can't see my experience when flying, that wasn't the purpose of that example. I was illustrating how arbitrary the policy is when you can walk off one plane and onto another and suddenly become a liability in an emergency.

UA already investigated and resolved this issue, which I appreciate, and apparently already took Republic off my routes and a number of similar routes for a number of customer complaints, not just about exit rows.

Laylla, you've ranted about fat people on planes in several threads. Perhaps you should just avoid coach, so as you can avoid all of these problems you seem to have?

Also, you should plan to never have kids, since you don't want to pack on the pounds from that. You don't want to injure yourself, which would prevent you from exercising all the time to keep your purportedly slim physique. In fact, just don't age, since humans tend to pick up weight. Don't hurt your back, don't get arthritis, none of those things that can cause you to exercise less and gain some pounds.

Also, make sure that your brush your teeth and tongue and use mouthwash before your flight. You wouldn't want bad breath, as that may offend your seatmate. Take care to shower, and use a douche. You want to be as fresh as possible so as not to give off an odor to your seatmates. Make sure you clothes, especially underwear, are clean.

Oh, as to your seatmate that somehow managed to completely cover the armrest - did you ask him if he would like the aisle so he could hang out over it instead? Here's a hint - big people, we know we're big. We are aware of it when traveling, and many of us try our best to be as non-disruptive to others as possible. I have seriously wide shoulders. With two 17" wide seats on a CRJ, if I'm on the aisle, I'll lean over as much as possible. If I'm on a window, there's not much I can short of crushing my shoulder into the window, if it's aligned properly. With a 31" seat pitch, my knees are going to be digging into the seat in front of me, and that's with the seatback pouch emptied. I'll try and stretch my legs out under the seat in front, and combined with emptying the seatback, can usually lead to the person in front not getting kneed too much in the back. My head will be pretty near to scraping the ceiling, but that shouldn't impact anyone.

So Laylla, the next time a big and/or tall passenger is ruining your trip by being big and/or tall, try and work with the passenger, instead of spewing venom on this board. Most big and tall folk will do what they can, but keep some perspective. If anyone is suffering on the plane, it's them. Honestly, anyone over 6 feet tall; or with a waste larger than 38 inches; or with a chest larger than 44 inches is not going to fit particularly well on a regional jet, or even a mainline plane with 17" seats.

^^^^

Well said!

Don't want to embarrass anyone
 

I have so far chosen to either put up with it without comment or complaint, or discretely ask a FA for help, and been moved. That approach seemed the kindest way to handle it. I would not dream of trying to "work with someone" about them overflowing their seat. I don't think there is anything they can do. That would be mean and cruel. Exactly what would you suggest in terms of "working with someone" on this issue?

I am in my fifties, and I have 4 kids, and I don't exercise due to health limitations.

I am 210 pounds, 6 foot, and size 38 pants. I had a hard time with the belt last month.

let's keep this civil
 

AND related to seat belt extenders in the exit row....thx

squeakr

co Mod TS/S

That would be nice in theory, but is entirely untrue in practice. I think they should have 50 lb weights at the gate, and in order to sit in an exit row you have to lift it over your head with one arm.

There are multiple exits because (1) the entire plane has to empty in 90 seconds (requirement for certification) and (2) there might be a fire or something else blocking one exit.

While many people can pick up 50lbs with one arm few can lift that amount of weight over their head. As such, the seats would be empty almost all of the time so yer idea would solve nothing. Now if the requirement as using two arms it might work.

Some doors weigh as much as 70 lbs. But whatever weight they decided to use would be fine with me. I just don't like seeing people who clearly can't lift the door sitting in the exit row.

as this thread has devolved into speculation
 

And not any practical applications I'm closing it now.
thanks

squeakr

co Mod TS/S