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I pay the same for my ticket as everyone else. But I don't get the same experience. Invariably someone spends the entire flight trying to recline their seat into my knees. I ALWAYS say something but it never seems to matter. The nimrod in front of me thinks that by repeatedly slamming their seat back, my knees will eventually disappear.
I have had to point-blank tell people who ask, "why don't you move your knees" that I have nowhere to move them. Some people are never going to understand that.
You aren't paying for an experience. You are paying for a seat, that is a fixed size.
Didn't read the whole thread, but I rely on seatguru before flying. I'm totally tiny - five foot two - but have been on a couple of planes where the seats were so crammed together than even my knees were jammed up against the seat in front. Even some transatlantic flights, which was pure torture. I also try to stick with airlines like jetblue that have extra legroom everywhere.
I have found in general an absolute lack of empathy for the very tall. It's as if the ability to dunk a basketball is the be-all and end-all of human existence. And nobody considers the fact that the world is engineered for people who are "average" height.
Very tall people should know the basics -- What is seat pitch. Which airlines have better (and worse) seat pitch, and also the seating configurations.
And yes, very tall people should become good at asking for what they want. Learn what seats might give an extra inch or two, and then ask for them. I have found that bulkhead is almost always booked solid months in advance (and usually by people who don't need the extra leg room, which I find irksome). But there are usually some oddball seats in the back that have great legroom. My wife and I have to split up most of the time, but she doesn't mind. She prefers it when we arrive and I'm not in considerable pain.
I pay the same for my ticket as everyone else. But I don't get the same experience. Invariably someone spends the entire flight trying to recline their seat into my knees. I ALWAYS say something but it never seems to matter. The nimrod in front of me thinks that by repeatedly slamming their seat back, my knees will eventually disappear.
I have had to point-blank tell people who ask, "why don't you move your knees" that I have nowhere to move them. Some people are never going to understand that.
You are one entitled guy, how do you know "they don't need it"? You seem to expect the world to accomodate you, but have nothing but contempt for others.
Nimrod? You are inconveniencing the person in front of you, taking away their ability to use the seat as it was designed for them and rather than acknowledge that they must sacrifice for you, you insult them and demean them.
Let me try and fix your statement for you based on the passenger not being able to recline the seat they paid for:
You: Oh I'm so sorry sir, this cramped seat is so small, I'm taking up all the room and you can't recline your seat.
Them: Ugh, well, can't you move your knees or something.
You: No sir, unfortunately I can not, I'm so sorry to have inconvenienced you, if there was a way I could move and not take your space, I would. Here since you can't recline your seat and you must leave it up for me and be less comfortable to make me more comfortable, let me buy you a drink, and my apologies.
Them: Why thank you, no worries, all the best to you too, we'll make the best of it together.
You: Thank you, your accommodation is most appreciated, cheers!
See how much better than could go when you drop the entitlement and have respect for others, rather than demanding free accommodation and then insult others while taking away from them.
A little shift in attitude and humility and recognition that others would have to sacrifice to give you more would go a long way. Drop the entitlement and contemptuous attitude and insults like "Nimrod".
You are one entitled guy, how do you know "they don't need it"? You seem to expect the world to accomodate you, but have nothing but contempt for others.
Nimrod? You are inconveniencing the person in front of you, taking away their ability to use the seat as it was designed for them and rather than acknowledge that they must sacrifice for you, you insult them and demean them.
Let me try and fix your statement for you based on the passenger not being able to recline the seat they paid for:
You: Oh I'm so sorry sir, this cramped seat is so small, I'm taking up all the room and you can't recline your seat.
Them: Ugh, well, can't you move your knees or something.
You: No sir, unfortunately I can not, I'm so sorry to have inconvenienced you, if there was a way I could move and not take your space, I would. Here since you can't recline your seat and you must leave it up for me and be less comfortable to make me more comfortable, let me buy you a drink, and my apologies.
Them: Why thank you, no worries, all the best to you too, we'll make the best of it together.
You: Thank you, your accommodation is most appreciated, cheers!
See how much better than could go when you drop the entitlement and have respect for others, rather than demanding free accommodation and then insult others while taking away from them.
A little shift in attitude and humility and recognition that others would have to sacrifice to give you more would go a long way. Drop the entitlement and contemptuous attitude and insults like "Nimrod".
WHO is entitled? You think the tall guy behind you should buy you a drink after you've broken his kneecaps, as some sort of apology for having the nerve to possess them?
The exit row on most airlines these days is considered an upgrade that costs extra, above and beyond the cost of the ticket. The OP has indicated that his employer is balking at paying anything extra for seats.
I can't blame his employer. When a company has a lot of employees that travel, those small upgrade costs can add up.
WHO is entitled? You think the tall guy behind you should buy you a drink after you've broken his kneecaps, as some sort of apology for having the nerve to possess them?
Wow. Just... wow.
This is, sadly, par for the course when flying. I would GLADLY have five or six inches removed from my legs if it were medically possible. People simply don't get it what it's like to be a giant in an world designed for "normal" people.
If airlines made the seats twice as tight so that people of average height could feel my pain (literally), perhaps THEN they might have a little understanding.
Since you are coming out ahead, why not offer your corp a "zero sum cost" tradeoff, such as "If you pay to upgrade my seat, I'll stay at a hotel one star level or more below my prior trips, and if you are still out of pocket, I'll substitute fast food for a restaurant meal at least once or twice until you are whole".
As you said, OP, even paying the measly $40, you have come out ahead.
I'm only 6-3 and can relate to the pain that airplane seats cause (though I'm sure it's way worse at 6-7). Ideally airlines would accomodate passengers with seating for various heights at no extra charge. Of course, they're more interested in making money and packing us all in like sardines. I agree with most of the posters though. Just eat the loss because you are coming out ahead on this deal.
Since you are coming out ahead, why not offer your corp a "zero sum cost" tradeoff, such as "If you pay to upgrade my seat, I'll stay at a hotel one star level or more below my prior trips, and if you are still out of pocket, I'll substitute fast food for a restaurant meal at least once or twice until you are whole".
As you said, OP, even paying the measly $40, you have come out ahead.
If it were really a measly $40 (and how dare you insult $40 by calling it "measly" ), that would be one thing. I have been quoted $150 for an exit row seat for a two-hour flight. On long-hauls, it's worth it if that's the only option.
But as I have said a couple times, people who are really tall can ask gate attendants and flight attendants for better seats and usually get them. It's a question of knowing the seating layout and arriving early enough. Since my home airport is Las Vegas, it's no big deal to drop by a day (or two or three) before departure and ask the gate attendant well in advance.
The attendants know full-well that the seat pitch isn't just a "tight fit" for really tall people. It can cause serious pain. Asking nicely will usually result in the most comfortable seats in coach -- except for bulkhead for some reason.
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), that would be one thing. I have been quoted $150 for an exit row seat for a two-hour flight. On long-hauls, it's worth it if that's the only option.
