longtimereader firstimeposter

Out of the 100+ times a year I travel I run into this issue probably once or twice. There are certain situations where I would love to sit in the bulkhead, emergency exit, first class, etc. but due to unforeseen circumstances those seats were no longer available. I don't have "special needs", I'm just tall, and unfortunately there is not a lot of distance between the seat in front of me and and my knees if I am stuck in the back of the plane. If the person in front of me reclines their seat, the seat will hit my knees. If I move, the person will feel it in their seat. I don't complain to the recliner and I don't expect them to complain to me if their seat is moved around by my knees every few minutes as I try to get comfortable or readjust.

I can run the "it's there so I can do it scenario" for just about anything. Who controls the window blind on the plane? The window seat? What if the sun is blinding the person in the aisle? Must be the person in the aisles fault for not booking a window and they can stay blinded the whole flight.

You can recline whenever you want but my knees will be in your back and making you uncomfortable too.

PTravel

Sorry, but that's the definition of "special needs." Just as a Customer of Size needs more than the space provided by a single seat, you need more than the legroom provided by a standard E seat.

I understand. Again, that's the problem that results from your special need.

Do you complain if a COS, in trying to get comfortable, pushes you against the opposite armrest?

Yes, that's the unwritten rule, just as the middle seat gets both arm rests.

Then the blind should be adjusted. However, the problem is not the result of the person in the aisle having a special need beyond what the airline provides.

Sorry, but the analogy is not even close.

And I will consider you selfish for appropriating my recline for your knees, just as I would consider a COS selfish for appropriating part of my seat for their torso.

Oreto

Or one can try this approach as demonstrated by Arnold.

longtimereader firstimeposter

GadgetFreak

I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was a fellow Flyertaker.

State of Trance

I'm glad that everyone seems to be in a consensus that OP was in the right in his situation, but the fact that so many sound like they are unwilling to compromise even the taller person requests politely is disappointing. Maybe it's because we're on the internet, but I hope that in person most of us have more compassion for our fellow travelers. Traveling in Y sucks for most and I would like to think that two adults can work out a reasonable compromise.

milepig

I’m 6’4” and circumferencally challenged. Having “been there” too many times I never recline my seat out of respect for the person behind me and fly in total misery. Seat kickers are what handguns were made for.

kb9522

etch5895

It would be an easier pill to swallow if the airlines didn't fall all over themselves to see how many extra rows they can shove in by removing legroom (and lavatories). I'd like to see Congress and the DOT mandate space rules, for safety and evacuation purposes, if nothing else.

Dublin_rfk

If you don't like the product, don't buy the product.


Do you really want the federal government involved? See above and remember the ACA

etch5895

The 'product' benefits from my tax dollars. Therefore it can be subject to government regulations like many other products that serve the common good. What is wrong with the ACA?

Dublin_rfk

I believe that this falls under the category. If you have to ask. . .

PS: I apologize for bring politics into the thread.

darthbimmer

OP, I think you handled it fairly well. You started by speaking directly to the person banging your seat. That's good, though you could have been less harsh about it. Either way, once the seat-kicker refused to stop, you quickly got an FA involved. That's the right thing to do when a single attempt to resolve it individually doesn't work.

LtKernelPanic

OP you handled it fine though personally I wouldn't have talked to the idiot and went to the FA first.

Thankfully I've only had to deal with a persistent seat-kicker once. It started as soon as the engines spooled up for the take off roll out of ORD to PHX. I figured she was just nervous or a bit scared so I ignored it until finally about 20 minutes into the flight I turned around and politely said "You're not going to kick my seat all the way to Phoenix are you?" Thankfully her mom gave her the "knock it of NOW!" look and that ended it.

rjw242

Sorry, but these cramped seat configs are perfectly safe from an evacuation perspective (as rigorously tested, and occasionally demonstrated in real emergencies).