Don’t tempt me.
http://www.xojane.com/issues/sitting-on-manspreaders
“Still thinking about what could be used or designed as a boundary marker in front of the seat to defend against manspreaders…”
I don’t know about in front of the seat, but beside the seat, it is easy to tuck a folded up newspaper into the seat, that sticks up a few inches, in order to block people from spreading into your seat. What is worse is when the person beside you keeps farting, how do you keep that from spreading? I say that, while connected to Gogo in flight, breathing through my mouth.
But is a folded up newspaper really going to physically keep someone from spilling over? I would think the newspaper that is sticking above the armrest would just get folded over onto your lap, with them on top of it.
As far as unpleasant smells, I often times will carry a very small bottle (the brand I buy only comes in small bottles) of essential oils in a lavender scent. If there’s something I don’t want to smell (or minimize it), I’ll take out the bottle, put a tiny drop my finger and rub that under my nose. Sometimes when we sleep with the windows open at night, and the skunks are out, I’ll try that.
That’s a really good idea about the essential oil, teriwtt! I should definitely try that. It’s as if people think we don’t notice,or know who is doing it. We know! And the moron left a parting shot as he exited his seat, I could have used that lavender scent.
I think the newspaper generally works well, because most people aren’t trying to be jerks. They get the hint when you put up the barrier, for the most part. Otherwise, my husband has added magazines. And even a laptop computer.
I worked with morbidly obese patients. They spoke of the humiliation of having to ask for the extensor a for the seat belts. Some suggested they fly first class to avoid the embarrassment of not fitting into their seat.
That said, I dread the neighbor who tries to take over my space.
One of worst flights was the last woman to board took the middle seat next to me, with a dog who smelled like he/she had not had a bath in years. Half hour later, I’m in full allergic response. The hostess did move me, as my eyes were running, nose red, obviously sick. I’m not allergic to dogs, but filthy ones obviously get to me.
Wait, didn’t we have a thread on this before?
United’s Economy Plus is just extra legroom, not extra width, so you could still end up with issues if the next passenger is very wide.
On Southwest, the open seating means that if you are not the first onto the plane, you could choose whom you sit next to. Those who prioritize avoiding sitting next to “undesirable” other passengers over choosing a particular seat may prefer Southwest over pre-assigned-seat airlines for this reason.
DId anyone notice that the article is current but the date of the flight was 2012? Three years later, this is still in court.
As a small person, I really, really wish the airlines would work on this issue. I makes travel even more unpleasant.
Southwest has a policy on the subject:
https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/extra-seat/?clk=GFOOTER-CUSTOMER-COS
https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/faqs.html?topic=extra_seat_policy
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On full flights…which they all seem to be…how would a “complimentary seat” be possible??
It wouldn’t. Seems unanswered as to what happens in that situation if the flight is fully checked in.
On my 11-hour flight from London to Johannesburg, I paid $166 for my husband and me to get seats with extra room. I have long legs and HATE long flights. At the last minute, they substituted a smaller plane (DOWN to a 747!). We lost our extra leg room, but at least we didn’t get bumped like my parents did (we tried to switch tickets with them, but they refused). Flying is just not fun anymore.
Did they refund the extra cost of the larger seat that you did not get?
Yes, but if a tall person is sitting next to me (and I’m thinking anyone 5’10" or taller), there’s a smaller chance they’re going to try to man spread into my space if they have more leg room to spread out. If I’m sitting in Economy Plus, I also don’t feel so bad reclining my seat to minimize the spreading out from seat mates.
There are two types of obese or “wide” passengers. First, there are those who just aren’t much fun to sit next to because they just take up a little more than there share of space. I can live with this, although I’m certainly going to guard my space as well as possible.
And then there are the really huge passengers who can’t fit inside the armrests and will attempt to lift them up. Some people, including my wife, aren’t willing to stand up to these people because it is “embarrassing.” I don’t have any problem saying, “The armrest has to stay down.” It should be noted that a lot of “fat acceptance” websites tell obese people to board early and lift the armrest. Here’s a paragraph from one of these sites:
I sure won’t “be more comfortable” with my armrest “up” and my neighbor trying ot sit on me! The airlines don’t have any problem making sure the tray tables are up and seats are locked in full upright position for takeoff and landing. They need to do the same for the armrests. Perhaps if we would fine the airlines $10,000 or so every time they fail to step in and protect the customers from armrest lifters they would take it more seriously.
You can always take the bulkhead row. The tray is between the seats, so each person has his own 16 inches or whatever to put his hips in the seat. Of course he could overflow above the arm rest (that doesn’t go up or down), but his fanny is going to stay put.
Two people flying together can book window-aisle, leaving the middle seat open. Obese passengers rarely pick a middle seat. Also, some people will try to book an exit row seat, and if a seat encroacher sits next to them they will inform the stewardess that they do not believe they will be capable of assisting other customers. By law, they must be moved.
H and I have booked aisle seats for the last 20 years. He is 6"2 and I am 5"2 but so what? Just because I am short does not mean I want to be in the middle. Think about it–I cannot see anything except the back of a seat. It is so confining! H can sit anywhere and see over the seat. It does seem that others always assume that short folks need less when we actually need more.
I do not care if I lose the arm rest. I do care if the person next to me touches me.
I have pushed against men invading my space with their man legs.
I have determined, and am at peace with, saying to the next seat mate that they can have the arm rest but that I will not tolerate being touched.
period!
Bulkhead rows are usually reserved for “premium” pax. That’s one more reason to keep my Alaska status!
I recently flew and paid $99 extra for a window seat. When I got to my seat there was a child in it who was refusing to move and mother was doing nothing. If I hadn’t paid extra I would’ve been ok with it. He moved, but halfway through the flight he laid down, fell asleep with his legs on top of me and kicked me multiple times. He also had really, really bad gas!
Can someone please explain the “manspreading” thing? I REALLY HATE that. Why do guys do this? Is it to imply that they have big packages?