A few weeks ago, an AITA Reddit thread blew up when someone took to the Interwebs to ask fellow users for some advice about an uncomfortable incident he had on a flight.
He had recently been on a European flight and the person in front of him reclined their seat. To stay comfortable himself, he felt inclined to recline his own. That’s where things got tricky. The “tall” fellow behind him objected, and the recliner informed him if he needed the extra space he should have purchased extra leg room.
The Internet had opinions. Many opinions – on both sides of the issue. We’re wondering what you think.
Point: Tall people should have to pay for an airline ticket with extra leg room
On the one hand, airline seats seem to be getting smaller and smaller. If you want to put your seat back to give yourself a bit of space after spending a not insignificant amount of money on an airline ticket, shouldn’t you be able to do that?
If there’s someone on the flight who (for whatever reason) feels they need more space, is it on you to accommodate their needs and not get a nap in or save yourself from a deep recliner in front of you?
After all, passengers of size can be removed from a flight if they cannot fit into a standard seat using a standard seatbelt. These folks are required to purchase two seats so as not to infringe on other passengers’ space. Should being tall get you special treatment? Heck, no! Make ‘em pay!
Counterpoint: Tall people should not have to pay for an upgraded airline seat with extra leg room
On the other hand, tall guy bought his own seat fair and square. Maybe he’s on a tight budget. He paid just as much as the other passengers. Shouldn’t that buy him a little comfort as well? Or at least, shouldn’t his height not add to his discomfort?
Maybe there’s a third option to explore.
Should airlines make their seats more comfortable for a wider range of bodies?
It’s not a secret that Economy airline seats have become more uncomfortable over the years. It’s a matter of simple economics. The smaller the seats are, the more you can squeeze into Economy! Maybe it’s time to reconsider the space we allocate for Economy passengers. Maybe Jetblue is onto something. In a perfect world, the airlines would be more generous. But do we think that’s going to happen?
What do you think? Should tall folks have to buy their comfort in Economy?
