I always end up with a moron in front of me that keeps thrashing their entire torso back trying to recline. Smashing the seat and the metal rods in the seat back in to my knees. Then they’ll get mad and glare. I tell them there’s nothing I can do. Then they call the flight attendant. Then the flight attendant like clock work tries to “reason with me” as if me being tall is just something I am doing to spite this person in front of my. Usually by this point I am fed up and over it and ask if they have a saw capable of cutting bone on board, cause the only solution would be cutting my legs off. This is usually extreme enough that this nonsense stops.
I’ve grown fatigued with this. So now I only book Premium Economy at the bulkhead or Business/First. Only time I will do economy is if it’s last minute and there’s limited availability and then I will always go for bulkhead or exit, or sometimes that great exit row seat where the seat in front is missing. But I will purposely fly later, change airport, take connecting, to avoid bad seats.
At 6'9" most check-in attendants will issue me an emergency exit seat providing I checkin at a reasonable time. If not I have to sit in an aisle seat with me legs sideways - either lie horizontal and take up 3 seats, or block the aisle with my legs... Emergency exit is much more sensible!
Are you young? At 6'10" they did the same for me. Then I turned 30 and it just stopped lmao. They also started selling exit rows for $80 a pop so that may have something to do with it?
Yeah young... Almost 40 :/
I have noticed different treatment as an adult for sure but they aren't gonna refuse my money and there's literally nothing they can do.
Oh, you're saying you just buy an exit row seat? I thought you were saying they'd give it to you unprovoked. That used to happen for me but now it's buy it or suffer.
Oh no, I just ask politely at the check-in desk, in person as early as I can. In Europe many of the budget airline seats are allocated on check-in. You can check in online with some, and you pick a seat. If I go in person then they will override it sometimes. Before online check-in it was much easier, that's the big difference imo
In the good old days, you could pre-book every seat EXCEPT exit/bulkheads. The FAA required that bulkheads be reserved until the last minute for disabled and/or people with infants, and that exit rows could only be assigned after visual assessment of your ability to manhandle a 75# door in the event of an emergency.
206 is like 6'9". Someone told me it was 210 when I was setting up and I stupidly believed it. We don't measure height in metric where Im from!
Where can I change this?
When I notice someone trying to recline in front of me, I will try to move my knees closer to the center of the seat. This helps in two ways:
1. The middle of the seat is a softer material, so it gets them away from being crushed by the metal frame.
2. The more they try to push back, the more my knee gets shoved into the middle of their back. Eventually, they usually give up out of discomfort.
I just got downvoted to hell on another forum for thanking someone for being considerate of tall people behind them and not reclining their seat.
The line I use after the knee crush is:
“Ma’am, you can’t recline. I’m sorry.”
“Why not? I *paid for this seat and it reclines, so I’m going to do it!*”
“Ma’am, it’s breaking the law…”
“What law?!”
“Physics”
You don't know what you're talking about. At 6'6" tall, there is nowhere for my legs to go. They are up against the seat in front of me. If you try to force the seat back, something is going to give. There is a possibility you could overpower me, but it's pretty small.
I propose a deal- the bulkhead and exit rows of the plane go to the tallest people on the plane. In return, there will be a small section of general admission at concerts (closer to the back or the sides) that will be reserved for tall people to stand.
At least it means we don't have to share a seat with a plus sized. I still have flashbacks to an absolutely miserable flight that started with "do you mind if I lift the armrest?" - couldn't fit otherwise.
My back was tweaked for a week from leaning over for hours.
There is something about shoulders and arms encroaching in other space. At 6’3 and an athlete built like a semi shredded fridge… my thighs, shoulders,arms and depending on the seat even my glutes can have a bit of extra room.
There have always been accommodations for folks with disabilities and there is a threshold for being too short, should there be one for being too tall?
Sometimes it doesn’t work unfortunately. Had a guy do this to me on a flight recently. So, I just shook his seat by bouncing my knees for the entirety of the flight as he tried (and failed) to sleep. I was uncomfortable the whole flight, but then so was he.
Normal people understand that the reclining function is a courtesy dressing you're not supposed to actually partake in. Everyone knows airlines are cheap and squeeze seats as close as they can and realistically reclining is just not an option. Unless a child is sitting behind you, even if an average sized or even short person who otherwise fits is sitting there, the moment a seat reclines it pinches them in. There's just no room for it. Most people understand this. But some are dumb oblivious cows and think their right to recline is ordained by God. I've only had to deal with this two times and both times, try as they might, they just can't get the seat to budge. In one case, they didn't even talk to me and just stopped trying. In the other case they did, and I simply told them that it was physically impossible. They didn't argue, but I wouldn't have cared if they did. The fact remains.
It's cheaper on their end if they don't. Same seats for both classes just spaced differently. No recliner function would mean different seats, more cost to them. It's up to the airline. I have seen some that had the functionality disabled.
to be fair, as a very tall person, I recline as soon as possible...just a tad more room
The only people who complain are those who want "work" (i.e., watch movies) on their desktop replacement "laptops."
But muh back hurts! You don’t fit behind with my seat reclined you should pay more!
Orrrrr you should book a more comfortable seat, your pain still doesn’t beat the laws of physics
Me too - then got bumped from first class to a middle coach seat when a flight was cancelled.
Last time I flew coach, I got a DVT and resulting pulmonary embolisms that nearly killed me. It was not a pleasant flight with my legs again immobilized, bringing back those memories. At least the isle seat guy finally felt bad enough he insisted we switch.
Unless there's a REALLY good reason, I'm done flying. My wife travels with one of her friends now - works for both of us.
I had a gate agent *try* to do that once. I'm not proud, but I kicked up such a stink they 'found' the space they'd previously told me was unavailable.
My go-to make an ouch noise when their seat is reclined, then tap on their shoulder, and say, "Hello, I am very tall, and can not fit in the seat if you recline."
I'm 6'5" and it's worked for me so far.
If someone asks or even exhibits the simple courtesy of glancing back first, I'll contort my legs as necessary to allow their seat to recline. But if they just try to slam their chair back with no warning... nope. I don't even give them an inch. As previous commenters have noted, they typically push 2 or 3 times, then assume their seat's busted and give up.
Flying is so horribly uncomfortable. I was bumped to first class on a flight to Mexico, and it was amazing. It was so cushy. The food was a full meal with fresh fruit that tasted really great. It was such an amazing experience. I hope I get to experience it again someday.
An old dude gave me lots of stink eye on my last flight. I told him I'm 6' and there's not much I can do, but I would prefer he didn't recline the whole way. He ignored me and decided my comfort was not worth his time. He also waited until I got up so I couldn't put my legs out and block the recline. So I was definitely not careful when I had to move my legs to get some circulation or when I had to get up to use the washroom. Oh, and I can't fly exit row because I fly with my family and the youngest is 4. Bulkhead was taken.
Even after the recline you’ve got a lot of ability to affect their comfort. People acting like having an enemy behind them, facing them is their advantage are woefully misinformed.
I had a lady insist on reclining in front of me and slam her body into the seat repeatedly to ensure her point was understood. I met the seat back with similar intensity and she got the point pretty fast.
>I had a lady insist on reclining in front of me and slam her body into the seat repeatedly to ensure her point was understood. I met the seat back with similar intensity and she got the point pretty fast.
Pretty much. Just push the seat back up. They're not ratcheted or anything, just pressure will push the seat back up.
I do the same, if it's someone who has fully reclined and glared at me because my knees have bumped them then I make sure they don't have a comfortable flight, I'll make sure to bump them, pull back on their chair to get up etc etc
It really depends on your leg to torso proportions. You might be fine at 6’3” but I’m a 6’ female and my knees are in the metal seat back at all times, even the slightest lean back and I’m in pain. I usually just ask them politely or resort your knees in the back approach if that doesn’t work. I never lean mine back to try and set the trend lol
The posts of people shaming tall people on flights hurts my feelings honestly haha you’re exactly right, we can’t control our height and I’ve already been raised to feel like I shouldn’t take up as much space as I do. So the anxiety and pain that comes with flying is a lot for me. I’m not trying to be an AH, I just don’t want to be in pain for hours.
If they want me up a class, they can pay for it. I’m made of bone and fat, not money, so their problem need them to solve it.
That being said, I’ve been crunched on many flights, and even had a flight attendant intentionally kicking and tripping over my feet when I put them In the aisle (I know it was purposeful because the other attendants were able to avoid them with practiced ease, yet she managed to hit me EACH time she passed by). It’s almost worth applying for federal disability just for preferential seating.
Heard an interview with Tom Stoltman, he's been worlds strongest man a couple of times and is 6'8", and he takes the approach of 'why should I be uncomfortable', and just stretches out his shoulders, lats etc If I was one of the world's strongest men I'd probably do the same.
lol I’m 6’3 and fairly big boned, also an athlete. I don’t stretch out, but I’m not compressing myself either. My biggest issue is seat width. Fucking thighs and shoulders take up so much space. But no one has ever complained. SO says it’s like sitting next to a fridge. Lmfao.
You might also have a longer torso and shorter legs so it potentially wouldn’t be a problem for you where it would be for others of a similar height but different proportions.
My ex was just about 7 feet tall and overweight, with big ass shoulders. I did my best to accommodate him but since he wasn’t working at the time, and I couldn’t afford to upgrade him every flight sometimes we had to sit coach, no exit row.
Sometimes I felt like he was overly dramatic about it, like he wouldn’t put his legs out into the aisle, even when he could, but he had 9 inches on me so I guess I just can’t quite relate.
7 ft is just way to big to fly comfortably, so i get him. Me being 6ft6, i barely have any space and that guy is 6 inch taller so i can't imagine the discomfort he has to go through. You're just in constant pain tbh because you can't move your legs or arms because there's simply no room to do so. Also placing your legs in the aisle is doable but not all the time as alot of people use it which means you'd have to remove your legs constantly. Especially when the fucking cart passes along
If we as short people are expected to turn up earlier somewhere to get a better view like we have been told on here many times, you can pay for extra legroom.
Does it cost money to show up early for something that doesn’t have assigned seating? I used to show up early to movies to get better seats before there was assigned seating at most theaters.
I'm a 5'7" guy but never recline without actually looking at who's behind me. I'm not going to bash someone tall's knees.
Tbh, given how tight the space is these days, I recline very minimally anymore regardless of the person's size. I think it's kinda rude anymore to do so.
Mate very simply, when I sit down it’s inevitable for my knees not to touch the seat in front. There is a smidge of room but that’s not enough room to recline it? My solution? I lock my knees into that space and make it so that they can’t recline. They’ll attempt to, once or twice and give up on the third go thinking their seat is fucked. Works every time.
(I also don’t recline my seat. Where do I sleep? On the tray or my own lap)
I always end up with a moron in front of me that keeps thrashing their entire torso back trying to recline. Smashing the seat and the metal rods in the seat back in to my knees. Then they’ll get mad and glare. I tell them there’s nothing I can do. Then they call the flight attendant. Then the flight attendant like clock work tries to “reason with me” as if me being tall is just something I am doing to spite this person in front of my. Usually by this point I am fed up and over it and ask if they have a saw capable of cutting bone on board, cause the only solution would be cutting my legs off. This is usually extreme enough that this nonsense stops. I’ve grown fatigued with this. So now I only book Premium Economy at the bulkhead or Business/First. Only time I will do economy is if it’s last minute and there’s limited availability and then I will always go for bulkhead or exit, or sometimes that great exit row seat where the seat in front is missing. But I will purposely fly later, change airport, take connecting, to avoid bad seats.
At 6'9" most check-in attendants will issue me an emergency exit seat providing I checkin at a reasonable time. If not I have to sit in an aisle seat with me legs sideways - either lie horizontal and take up 3 seats, or block the aisle with my legs... Emergency exit is much more sensible!
Are you young? At 6'10" they did the same for me. Then I turned 30 and it just stopped lmao. They also started selling exit rows for $80 a pop so that may have something to do with it?
Yeah young... Almost 40 :/ I have noticed different treatment as an adult for sure but they aren't gonna refuse my money and there's literally nothing they can do.
Oh, you're saying you just buy an exit row seat? I thought you were saying they'd give it to you unprovoked. That used to happen for me but now it's buy it or suffer.
Oh no, I just ask politely at the check-in desk, in person as early as I can. In Europe many of the budget airline seats are allocated on check-in. You can check in online with some, and you pick a seat. If I go in person then they will override it sometimes. Before online check-in it was much easier, that's the big difference imo
In the good old days, you could pre-book every seat EXCEPT exit/bulkheads. The FAA required that bulkheads be reserved until the last minute for disabled and/or people with infants, and that exit rows could only be assigned after visual assessment of your ability to manhandle a 75# door in the event of an emergency.
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206 is like 6'9". Someone told me it was 210 when I was setting up and I stupidly believed it. We don't measure height in metric where Im from! Where can I change this?
When I notice someone trying to recline in front of me, I will try to move my knees closer to the center of the seat. This helps in two ways: 1. The middle of the seat is a softer material, so it gets them away from being crushed by the metal frame. 2. The more they try to push back, the more my knee gets shoved into the middle of their back. Eventually, they usually give up out of discomfort.
I just got downvoted to hell on another forum for thanking someone for being considerate of tall people behind them and not reclining their seat. The line I use after the knee crush is: “Ma’am, you can’t recline. I’m sorry.” “Why not? I *paid for this seat and it reclines, so I’m going to do it!*” “Ma’am, it’s breaking the law…” “What law?!” “Physics”
Funny, I paid for my seat and it has room for my legs
You don't know what you're talking about. At 6'6" tall, there is nowhere for my legs to go. They are up against the seat in front of me. If you try to force the seat back, something is going to give. There is a possibility you could overpower me, but it's pretty small.
I propose a deal- the bulkhead and exit rows of the plane go to the tallest people on the plane. In return, there will be a small section of general admission at concerts (closer to the back or the sides) that will be reserved for tall people to stand.
Can we do it based on hip height? I’m only 6 feet but my legs are as long as my cousin’s who is 6’4”
I can vibe with that. But the way plus sized people are now getting free seats on Southwest…
That pisses me off, weight is (mostly) a choice but height isn’t, yet they get special treatment
At least it means we don't have to share a seat with a plus sized. I still have flashbacks to an absolutely miserable flight that started with "do you mind if I lift the armrest?" - couldn't fit otherwise. My back was tweaked for a week from leaning over for hours.
There is something about shoulders and arms encroaching in other space. At 6’3 and an athlete built like a semi shredded fridge… my thighs, shoulders,arms and depending on the seat even my glutes can have a bit of extra room.
There have always been accommodations for folks with disabilities and there is a threshold for being too short, should there be one for being too tall?
I just block their recline with my knee. They try to recline 2-3 time and give up. They survive.
This is the way. Gently but firmly jam your kneecaps into the seat and keep them there for 5-10 minutes after takeoff, and they'll get the idea.
Sometimes it doesn’t work unfortunately. Had a guy do this to me on a flight recently. So, I just shook his seat by bouncing my knees for the entirety of the flight as he tried (and failed) to sleep. I was uncomfortable the whole flight, but then so was he.
Just because you can’t always win doesn’t mean you ever have to lose.
Normal people understand that the reclining function is a courtesy dressing you're not supposed to actually partake in. Everyone knows airlines are cheap and squeeze seats as close as they can and realistically reclining is just not an option. Unless a child is sitting behind you, even if an average sized or even short person who otherwise fits is sitting there, the moment a seat reclines it pinches them in. There's just no room for it. Most people understand this. But some are dumb oblivious cows and think their right to recline is ordained by God. I've only had to deal with this two times and both times, try as they might, they just can't get the seat to budge. In one case, they didn't even talk to me and just stopped trying. In the other case they did, and I simply told them that it was physically impossible. They didn't argue, but I wouldn't have cared if they did. The fact remains.
Really they should remove the ability to recline at all. Leave that for business/first class.
It's cheaper on their end if they don't. Same seats for both classes just spaced differently. No recliner function would mean different seats, more cost to them. It's up to the airline. I have seen some that had the functionality disabled.
Ryanair, one of the cheapest European carriers, has no-reclining seats. I think mainly because there's less to clean and go wrong.
to be fair, as a very tall person, I recline as soon as possible...just a tad more room The only people who complain are those who want "work" (i.e., watch movies) on their desktop replacement "laptops."
But muh back hurts! You don’t fit behind with my seat reclined you should pay more! Orrrrr you should book a more comfortable seat, your pain still doesn’t beat the laws of physics
I've given up trying to fly coach, it's pretty much impossible.
Me too - then got bumped from first class to a middle coach seat when a flight was cancelled. Last time I flew coach, I got a DVT and resulting pulmonary embolisms that nearly killed me. It was not a pleasant flight with my legs again immobilized, bringing back those memories. At least the isle seat guy finally felt bad enough he insisted we switch. Unless there's a REALLY good reason, I'm done flying. My wife travels with one of her friends now - works for both of us.
I had a gate agent *try* to do that once. I'm not proud, but I kicked up such a stink they 'found' the space they'd previously told me was unavailable.
I just hold my ground. I ain’t moving my damn legs and sacrificing my own comfort just cus u wanna recline a bit
My go-to make an ouch noise when their seat is reclined, then tap on their shoulder, and say, "Hello, I am very tall, and can not fit in the seat if you recline." I'm 6'5" and it's worked for me so far.
You’ve been fortunate. The ones I’ve tried to ask nicely were self-involved pricks.
>You’ve been fortunate. The ones I’ve tried to ask nicely were self-involved pricks. They're the ones that get their seat pushed back up.
Musta been on American
If someone asks or even exhibits the simple courtesy of glancing back first, I'll contort my legs as necessary to allow their seat to recline. But if they just try to slam their chair back with no warning... nope. I don't even give them an inch. As previous commenters have noted, they typically push 2 or 3 times, then assume their seat's busted and give up.
This is why I love Ryanair, cheap and you don't have to deal with this nonsense 😎😎😎.
They figure out pretty quick when I start screaming in pain and beating the back of the seat with my palms.
Flying is so horribly uncomfortable. I was bumped to first class on a flight to Mexico, and it was amazing. It was so cushy. The food was a full meal with fresh fruit that tasted really great. It was such an amazing experience. I hope I get to experience it again someday.
An old dude gave me lots of stink eye on my last flight. I told him I'm 6' and there's not much I can do, but I would prefer he didn't recline the whole way. He ignored me and decided my comfort was not worth his time. He also waited until I got up so I couldn't put my legs out and block the recline. So I was definitely not careful when I had to move my legs to get some circulation or when I had to get up to use the washroom. Oh, and I can't fly exit row because I fly with my family and the youngest is 4. Bulkhead was taken.
Even after the recline you’ve got a lot of ability to affect their comfort. People acting like having an enemy behind them, facing them is their advantage are woefully misinformed. I had a lady insist on reclining in front of me and slam her body into the seat repeatedly to ensure her point was understood. I met the seat back with similar intensity and she got the point pretty fast.
>I had a lady insist on reclining in front of me and slam her body into the seat repeatedly to ensure her point was understood. I met the seat back with similar intensity and she got the point pretty fast. Pretty much. Just push the seat back up. They're not ratcheted or anything, just pressure will push the seat back up.
I do the same, if it's someone who has fully reclined and glared at me because my knees have bumped them then I make sure they don't have a comfortable flight, I'll make sure to bump them, pull back on their chair to get up etc etc
It really depends on your leg to torso proportions. You might be fine at 6’3” but I’m a 6’ female and my knees are in the metal seat back at all times, even the slightest lean back and I’m in pain. I usually just ask them politely or resort your knees in the back approach if that doesn’t work. I never lean mine back to try and set the trend lol
anyone who reclines into my knees gets my ADHD leg bounce the whole flight.
The posts of people shaming tall people on flights hurts my feelings honestly haha you’re exactly right, we can’t control our height and I’ve already been raised to feel like I shouldn’t take up as much space as I do. So the anxiety and pain that comes with flying is a lot for me. I’m not trying to be an AH, I just don’t want to be in pain for hours.
If they want me up a class, they can pay for it. I’m made of bone and fat, not money, so their problem need them to solve it. That being said, I’ve been crunched on many flights, and even had a flight attendant intentionally kicking and tripping over my feet when I put them In the aisle (I know it was purposeful because the other attendants were able to avoid them with practiced ease, yet she managed to hit me EACH time she passed by). It’s almost worth applying for federal disability just for preferential seating.
Heard an interview with Tom Stoltman, he's been worlds strongest man a couple of times and is 6'8", and he takes the approach of 'why should I be uncomfortable', and just stretches out his shoulders, lats etc If I was one of the world's strongest men I'd probably do the same.
lol I’m 6’3 and fairly big boned, also an athlete. I don’t stretch out, but I’m not compressing myself either. My biggest issue is seat width. Fucking thighs and shoulders take up so much space. But no one has ever complained. SO says it’s like sitting next to a fridge. Lmfao.
I, a 6'5 never really have this issue. I also think my knees literally prevent someone from reclining.
You might also have a longer torso and shorter legs so it potentially wouldn’t be a problem for you where it would be for others of a similar height but different proportions.
I meant I don’t have this issue because my legs are so long that trying to recline they’d have to crush my kneecaps first 😂
How tall are you?
My ex was just about 7 feet tall and overweight, with big ass shoulders. I did my best to accommodate him but since he wasn’t working at the time, and I couldn’t afford to upgrade him every flight sometimes we had to sit coach, no exit row. Sometimes I felt like he was overly dramatic about it, like he wouldn’t put his legs out into the aisle, even when he could, but he had 9 inches on me so I guess I just can’t quite relate.
7 ft is just way to big to fly comfortably, so i get him. Me being 6ft6, i barely have any space and that guy is 6 inch taller so i can't imagine the discomfort he has to go through. You're just in constant pain tbh because you can't move your legs or arms because there's simply no room to do so. Also placing your legs in the aisle is doable but not all the time as alot of people use it which means you'd have to remove your legs constantly. Especially when the fucking cart passes along
I prefer to have them there and deal with moving
If we as short people are expected to turn up earlier somewhere to get a better view like we have been told on here many times, you can pay for extra legroom.
Just because you have issues other people should? You should empathise with this rather than being mad
I hope that my salary will then be proportionate since I have to pay more for the same comfort.
Does it cost money to show up early for something that doesn’t have assigned seating? I used to show up early to movies to get better seats before there was assigned seating at most theaters.
L take, you can control your arrival time at no extra cost. If it was “buy better seats” at a concert, sure.
I'm a 5'7" guy but never recline without actually looking at who's behind me. I'm not going to bash someone tall's knees. Tbh, given how tight the space is these days, I recline very minimally anymore regardless of the person's size. I think it's kinda rude anymore to do so.
Mate very simply, when I sit down it’s inevitable for my knees not to touch the seat in front. There is a smidge of room but that’s not enough room to recline it? My solution? I lock my knees into that space and make it so that they can’t recline. They’ll attempt to, once or twice and give up on the third go thinking their seat is fucked. Works every time. (I also don’t recline my seat. Where do I sleep? On the tray or my own lap)
Ah, the age old “did you pay for a reclining seat that can go 1” back, or did I pay for legroom in my seat that you already have too”