Re: Airline Seating Strategy

Airline seating strategy is one of my favorite topics, and one that was
particularly relevant given my previously "circumferentially challenged"
condition. Glad to see I'm not the only person obsessed with the subject.
People who weigh 115 lbs. and/or are 5'5" tall can't see what all the fuss
is about (please, no "why don't you just lose weight" flamers), but for even
people of average size - given Americans' ever-increasing average size - the
issue is a real one involving not only comfort but actual health risk given
"economy class" syndrome recommendations.

A favorite pet peeve of mine is the passenger in front of you who thinks
that because the seat reclines, he/she has a God-given right to recline all
the way into your lap and pin the seat painfully against your shins. This
has already caused me a few beautiful deathmatches with people seated in
front of me. There is much written on this topic, so I won't go any farther
along these lines, but for those of you with feelings like mine, see
www.kneedefenders.com for a possible solution. Disclaimer: I have no
connection whatever with this company, other than having bought their
product. Also, be advised that the product will not work well with all
types of airline seats, as even the product info will tell you. I have
found that on the USAir 757 jets, a rolled-up section of newspaper tightly
wedged into the "fulcrum" area on each side of the seat between the tray arm
and the back of the seat works better than the knee defender blocks.
Recommendation: do it early in the flight - even as you are climbing so when
the person in front of you goes to recline the seat (a 1.0 probability on
late-night flights) he/she will just think the seat is broken and you will
frequently avoid a confrontation. Of course, if you don't mind the person
in front of you in your lap, ignore everything I've written.

For those of you who fly Southwest a lot, the service offered at
https://www.boardfirst.com/index.php5 may be of interest. Again I have no
financial interest, and have never flown Southwest, though I think I'd
defiinitely use this service if I did.

A third strategy of mine is to try to book two aisle seats across from each
other, as neither my wife or I like the window, and certainly not the center
seats. You can still have a conversation, and have more stretching and
getting up options with these seats.


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Airline Seating Strategy
    ... > Airline seating strategy is one of my favorite topics, ... > that because the seat reclines, he/she has a God-given right to recline ... > all the way into your lap and pin the seat painfully against your shins. ... I do love the window and will always opt ...
    (alt.vacation.las-vegas)
  • Re: How can I defend myself against reclining airplane seats?
    ... The minimalistic comfort that the airline provides me is the space between ... if you actually recline 2 ... > Don't complain when I recline and ram your knees. ... Your seat won't move past them, ...
    (rec.travel.air)
  • Re: reclining seats
    ... reclining on a transcontinental flight to be a rude event by itself. ... only rows in front of exit rows don't recline. ... The problem is finding a seat in a row behind a non reclining row. ... Complain to the airline, or pay for the extra room, but don't expect ...
    (rec.travel.air)
  • Re: How can I defend myself against reclining airplane seats?
    ... So when I recline, you DO want more room even though you say that you ... >The minimalistic comfort that the airline provides me is the space between ... full capabilities of his seat. ... >> Don't complain when I recline and ram your knees. ...
    (rec.travel.air)
  • Re: Airline Seating Strategy
    ... Well I too PAID for my seat & ROOM. ... I would LOVE to book the emergency exit row on every flight. ... I believe tht your right to recline ends where my shins begin. ...
    (alt.vacation.las-vegas)