Flying can be 'hell' for tall passengers

[Liberal_in_LA]

(CNN) -- Standing 6 feet 11 inches tall, Quartknee Kwatek couldn't take it anymore when he was once forced to sit in an economy class middle seat on an international flight.

"Right after takeoff, I'm like, I can't deal with this, I'm totally boxed in," Kwatek recalled. "So I just went and sat in the bathroom."

The San Francisco, California, resident closed the door, put the seat cover down and relaxed with a book.

In those pre-9/11 days, he was able to lock himself in the lavatory for a long time before anyone became concerned, Kwatek said. When a flight attendant finally demanded to know what was going on, he explained his plight and she moved him to first class.

Most average-sized Americans already feel squeezed in like sardines when it comes to air travel in coach, but few can truly understand the discomfort of passengers who are much taller.

"Imagine being in a seat and you can't put your legs down at all," said Everard Strong, a magazine publisher in Concord, California, who is 6 feet 9 inches tall.

"Your toes will never touch the ground for the whole flight because your knees are resting against the seat in front of you. ... If the person in front of you decides to lean their chair back, then you just sort of enter a whole new level of hell."

As debate rages over how to accommodate overweight passengers on planes, some tall fliers who can barely wedge themselves into seat configurations designed for much smaller bodies are speaking out too.

"There are many, many ways for you to change your weight, but you cannot change your height," Strong said.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/10/14/tall.fliers.rant/index.html?hpt=C2

[Love Bug]

1. I'm 5'6" and my knees touch the seat in front of me in Coach

I don't know how anyone taller than me can stand it.

I hate flying and refuse to do it unless absolutely necessary.

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. flying - one of the few activities that it's advantageous to be short!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

38. Yes! The only time it's good to be short!

I'm five foot three. However, I have had big fat people slop over me sideways. That is very unpleasant.

I once dated a guy in the 70s whose Mom had a 2 door convertible Fiat. It had a rectangular hole behind the seats, with a lid over it that was a luggage compartment.

I got folded up and stuck in there. I weighed about 120. That was good for a laugh.

[raccoon]

48. You and Liberal in LA beat me to the post! nt

[ixion]

2. I'm 6' 3", and those seats suck horribly for me

so at 6' 11" I can see it being very painful.

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. I'm only 5' 4'' and can only imagine how awful it is for the tall.

[JCMach1]

31. 6 foot 1 is misery as well

and I regularly take long international flights.

[Dappleganger]

4. It is for my 6'5" husband...

you should see the bruises after sitting in coach, if he's not able to change seats.

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. bruises on his knees?

[Dappleganger]

8. Yes.

[Jim__]

5. I think flying can be hell for anybody.

And, yes, those undersized middle seats have a lot to do with it.

[aquart]

28. No middle seats in AA first class to San Diego.

And it was still the worst flight my mom ever had, including being stranded on the tarmac in the Bahamas for hours. That is, until the return flight. That was when the flight attendant accused my mother of yelling (she was complaining, not yelling. Hard to yell when she has trouble breathing)at her and then the captain came out and threatened to throw an 89-year-old, 5'4" (used to be 5'6") woman off the plane for saying she didn't like what was passing for first class.

We sent Mom in first class so the newly-diagnosed lymphoma patient could have maximum comfort. She said the seats were cramped and barely tilted back two inches. AA doesn't fly wide-body planes to San Diego these days.

[GoneOffShore]

9. Flying is hell thanks to the TSA and airlines who want huge bonuses for the CEO.

Remember to say - "I opt out" if they tell you to go through the Nude-O-Scope.

[exboyfil]

36. Total Compensation for American Airlines

CEO was $5.6M in 2009. That amounts to $.07/passenger in 2009. That amount won't buy much leg room.

Airline travel is a dying model. I remember 20 years ago that $200/ticket was good to Florida. That same $200/ticket is still available today. Only thing that has changed is that I am less able to come up with $800 (two kids and parents) than I was able to come up with $400 20 years ago. Actually coming up with the $400 is still a challenge.

We went to Hawaii on 2 Frequent Flyer tickets last week. I would never consider spending $1200 for two tickets (a pretty good price). We didn't spend $1200 total while in Hawaii for nine nights. It was the trip of a lifetime for my wife and myself, and a dream that she has had for over 20 years. We can never afford to go back.

I am an Engineer with two Masters degrees, and my compensation for my area is pretty good. What does that say about what is going on.

Flying was miserable. At least we saw four movies we had not seen before.

Originally we were going to use the miles generated from our credit cards to fly to Florida (four tickets). I was able to get the two Hawaii tickets and fly my mom from Florida to California to see her sister for less miles than four tickets to Florida.

I am not sure when I will ever buy another plane ticket unless it is for a funeral or a family emergency.

In the world of $200 coach tickets, you are going to have to suffer.

[blueamy66]

41. I'm a 5'11" girl...grew up flying AA...

as my Dad worked for them for 42+ years.

I loved first class....that's the only way I flew until he died 6 years ago.

I don't know what happened with your trip, but I only have fond memories. And no problem with leg room.

Flying ain't what it used to be, I'll give you that....but don't slam AA....

[exboyfil]

44. Flying was no better or worse than any other time or airline

Just hate sitting in that tiny space. I really wasn't slamming AA in my post. It is really amazing and a little scary that $200 is still an available price to Florida after 20 years. The problem is that it seems that far less discretionary income is available than it used to be (nothing to do with the airlines). I chose not to purchase $600 tickets for leisure travel. Actually I am chosing to not spend even $200/ticket when I am talking about four tickets. I can get to Florida much cheaper driving.

I do hate what AA did to St. Louis. They are flying the same small planes an additional hour to get to Dallas from my state, and I have to drive an additional hour to get to another airport. I understand they had to do it to survive in the industry, but I still hate it. I miss TWA.

AA did a great job getting me to Hawaii. All flights were on time, and almost the entire cabin crew was friendly and responsive. I got to see four movies that I had not seen before. While the $10 sandwich was expensive, it was far better than the free offerings I used to receive. I still hated the flights though especially the tiny planes to get to and from Dallas.

[cbdo2007]

10. Same thing with shower heads....

Good luck traveling and finding a showerhead over 5'10"!

Even the beds it seems like are extra short in hotels and stuff. This just isn't a world meant for tall people.

[Liberal_in_LA]

12. I see that on 'House Hunters' sometimes. Tall guy shows how shower head is aimed at his chest

[cbdo2007]

22. My wife and I just got a new house recently and I won't shower in the master bath

I go down the hall to the "guest" bathroom because I hate having to bend down while showering, and I'm only 6'1". :)

[Warpy]

27. I'm only 5'6" and I hate, hate, hate low shower heads

Fortunately, this dump has one that's about 75 inches as it exits the wall, about 72 inches at the head. That leaves room for a hand held shower attachement or a water saver head or whatever and it doesn't conk me on the head and it is high enough to rinse my hair from the top down without my having to contort under it.

BAN LOW SHOWER HEADS!

[HereSince1628]

11. USDA-APHIS regulations require that ALL animals be transported in a manner

that allows them to assume natural postures.

It has always puzzled me that mice, rats, cats and dogs being sent by air have more consideration for their space needs than humans.

[tularetom]

13. I'm glad I have no need to fly anymore

At 6'2" I'm a lot shorter that the guys described in that article. But even a few years back when I did occasionally fly, it was a miserable experience for me. After a flight that lasted more than about an hour, my legs would go to sleep when I went to get out of my seat, from pressing on the seat in front of me for the entire flight.

I can't imagine what it must be like for somebody half a foot taller than me.

[Kolesar]

14. and people make jokes like "how's the weather up there?"

:cry:

[Liberal_in_LA]

15. hee! Oh the humanity!

[Aristus]

26. My brother, who is 6'6", likes to joke that his standard response to that question

is to spit, and then say "rainy!"

B-)

[SoCalDem]

16. I can remember when airlines used to brag about their comfy/roomy seats

in COACH.. I am 5'2" so I have never had a problem..except for the "shared" armrests :evilgrin:.. I will not fly again because it's just an extra hassle I do not want to participate in anymore:)

[HelenWheels]

17. Oh, brother!

If you're tall you are entitled to first class?

[Wickerman]

23. empathy, try it sometime

it's actually free.

[treestar]

18. If First CLass isn't filled up -

Just put him there. 6 feet 11 inches - he deserves the break!

[Liberal_in_LA]

20. I agree. If a person has a physical attribute that makes coach impossible, put them in 1st class

for free.

[Missy Vixen]

42. So, I should have been 6' tall instead of just fat

and the people on this website would be supportive of getting a first class upgrade for free?

Oh, I get it. The fat can change, can't they?

:eyes:

[Yeshuah Ben Joseph]

19. If you book your own flights, it helps to get the "emergency exit" seat in the middle of the plane.

Those rows have a little more leg room, because they're designed for people to actually walk through them if needed. Of course that also gives you the theoretical responsibility of getting that exit open in the event of a plane crash, but there are far less odds of that happening than a leg cramp or deep vein thrombosis if you aren't able to move your legs for several hours.

Fortunately for Me, I have no need of airplanes.

[lightningandsnow]

21. I think people are missing the point.

This world is not designed for people with non-normative bodies, whether they are tall, short, fat, use a mobility aid to get around, have chronic pain, or any number of things that can make someone's body marked as "different".

This is the status quo, but we don't have to accept it. It should be changed.

[TwilightGardener]

24. Meh. Everything is uncomfortable for everybody at some point.

[aquart]

25. 5'10" and it's aisle or die.

[CBGLuthier]

29. every whiny group has a reason they aren't like that other whiny group.

There are many, many ways for you to change your weight, but you cannot change your height," Strong said.

That sure sounds familiar. Where oh where have I heard a similar sentiment?

[Retrograde]

30. It's not that great for us short people either

I have very short legs and a relatively long torso. Standing, I can barely reach the overhead compartments. Sitting, though, my shoulders are at the same level as "normal" people many inches taller than me, which means I'm always jostling for shoulder room with the poor soul next to me. Or maybe airplane interior designers think people don't have shoulders, or side sideways for the whole flight.

I think the only people comfortable in the typical middle coach seat are extremely petite contortionists.

[hedgehog]

33. I'm with you there except you forgot to mention the eventual

agony from being forced to sit with feet dangling for hours on the longer flights.

My favorite joke: the common advice in travel columns to "get up and walk around the plane every hour or so"!

[Itchinjim]

32. I'm 6 '3" and it is bad enough on a big jet like a 767 or 777,

but on a smaller regional jet like a CJR100 it is utter hell.

[tanyev]

34. Lucky for them, relief is on the way!

[KamaAina]

35. 6'3", listed at 270, and flying tomorrow

the second leg on a regional, no less. :scared:

Then again, it could be on Southwest, which would probably try to make me pay for the seat in front of me. :P

[exboyfil]

37. I think the stand up economy spots (not seats)

being proposed for Europe sounds more attractive than bending my body into a pretzel. I am short but challenged in the other direction so leg room is not an issue (I actually don't mind having my luggage under the seat in front of me). I still hate flying, and I am fortunate to have a job which does not require much flying (only twice in seven years). I fly personally once every three-four years once our Frequent Flyer miles are built up from our credit cards.

[JanMichael]

39. We need taller planes. Obviously...nt.

[applegrove]

40. I once was in line for a flight. I suddenly had an out of body experience and I realized it was

because I was getting on a plane with a few US college basketball teams and their parents (they were heading for a tournament in Halifax). Everyone was so much taller than me. It was weird. And I sat beside two ball players and yup..they were uncomfortable in those regular seats.

[dkf]

43. The airbus seats are the worst!

I'm only a little over 5 feet tall but the seat was so uncomfortable it gave me a claustrophobic attack. That was the first time I ever felt like that in a plane.

[SmileyRose]

45. This thread tells me a lot about the DU.

Funny how the same DUer's who populate every "fatties on the plane" thread who blame the obese person for not being able to fit - claiming ANYONE who cannot fit should expect to pay for 2 seats or first class - are strangely silent in this thread.

The problem is that the seat configurations do not fit the modern body type. Period.

[PVnRT]

46. 6'-9"? It's bad enough being 6'-2"

Given the space issues, cost and the "security" bullshit in airports, I refuse to fly unless absolutely necessary. In fact, if I had to fly, I would consider not even bothering to take the trip.

[alarimer]

47. So you take up the bathroom so no one else can use it?

Asshole.