I exactly fit into the seats. My bum is exactly the right shape for the built-in bum-depression in the cushion. One would think that this would be more comfortable than when I was far too small. Alas, no. I wriggle constantly, trying to – just – let – me- argh, ok, move my foot a *bit* to the left and – no – argh – wedgie – shift up and surreptitiously pick my skirt and knickers out of my bum and – there, no wait – argh – scoot bum forwards – wedgie again, well shit, vodka please. Let me tell you, six hours of wriggling exhausts me, gives me aches and pains behind my knees and all along my back, gives me shadowed eyes and frizzy hair (because I catch it constantly on the head rest), makes my skin dry from stress, and fills my clothes with static.

I arrive at my destination looking like someone put me in a polyester bag and left me on the floor of a tube station for five hours. I can’t even imagine what a very tall person must be going through, but from their pained faces and tight smiles when I glance across the aisle I’m not sure I want to.

I understand that putting fewer passengers in an airplane will increase fuel expenditure. I understand that a person weighing 150 kilos takes up more of the airplane’s weight capacity. I also understand, however, how being such frugal pricks allows airlines to fit in those heavy-as-all-fuck luxury beds and the glass staircases and the chic bar in first class, making everyone in economy who is equal to or larger than a size 8 US and 5’7″ miserable in the process.

Private company has a right to offer whatever services they want to their customers my lovely rounded arse. Where’s regulation in all this? Beyond that: where’s the chomping-at-the-bit new entrepreneurial spirit that is a fat-and-tall-and-normal-friendly airline? Charge us all a bit more for lovely comfy seating that even MeMeMeMe can appreciate, do away with first-class, and you’ll make so much fucking money you’ll be able to make a papier-maché 747 out of Ben Franklins. WITH WIDER SEATS, GODDAMMIT.

NICE! great job and good to see you. :D

I think that if it was really about people taking up too much room, they’d be charging tall people, people with broad shoulders, bodybuilders, men who spread out WAY too far, people who insist on wearing bulky coats… but since they’re not, its fairly safe to assume that its not about the space being taken up. They know that they can overcharge fat people and nobody will speak up. Its horrible and they’re just taking advantage of the prejudice of the moment.

BUT! Aren’t we also several inches TALLER on average than 25 years ago? SHOULDN’T we be heavier in parallel, then??

I know I’m heavier than my grandma. I’m also five inches taller. She’s fatter than me. I just happen to weigh more.

It’s a false dichotomy. We have (relatively) better nutrition with every generation, children mature faster, and people are taller. Heck, go to any museum and look at the size of an average person from 100 years ago–I’d tower over a medieval knight and probably outweigh one by a hundred pounds. Yet we keep hearing “people are heavier! people are heavier!”

Well, duh. We’re just plain taller, too. Therefore, airlines need to keep in mind that the average flier isn’t going to be a 5’4″ man and a shorter woman. It’s going to be a 5’8″ woman and men over 6′ tall!

I tell you, between this and some of the other bizarro stories swirling around these days, sometimes I just don’t understand the world.

Kate, you look so cute.

I want two headsets, two little bags of peanuts, two pillows, two blankets and so on and so forth. If there is an included meal, I want two of those too.

Also I most definitely do not want ANYONE infringing upon my second seat that I most likely will not be taking up 100% of. Don’t touch my armrest!

My solution to the whole problem:
I think if the airlines are so *concerned* with the comfort of its thin cranky passengers and not cash that perhaps they should stop overbooking. If there were always rows of three and they only seated two people per row, everyone would get a seat and a half and they wouldn’t need to replace their seats (which probably is legitimately costly). I’m sure thin people wouldn’t mind having extra room.