Tall Men & Flying – Ordeal in the Sky

If flying wasn’t already something of a herculean task that tests your patience to the last limit, it is even more of an agony for someone who stands tall and proud above the ground; someone who can easily be spotted in a crowd because his head bobs over those of his average sized fellow human beings. I am talking about tall, really tall people!

An average American isn’t deliriously happy with the legroom he gets in most airlines. Their flight experience is hardly different from the sardines that are packed tightly in a jar. Can you imagine how much worse it could be for someone who has an above average frame? There are many who can’t even put their legs down at all since their knees are constantly knocking against the seat in front of them. And should the person in front take it into their heads to recline, the torture simply kicks up one level.



While there is an intense debate raging on the plight of overweight passengers and how airlines should deal with accommodating them on their flights, tall people have also decided to speak up and share their nightmare with the world. As one tall passenger rightly pointed out, while steps can be taken to reduce weight, there’s not much that can be done about altering your height.

Airlines, on the other hand, have found a whole new way to manipulate the misery experienced by the vertically endowed. United Airlines, for instance, charges $24 extra, in order to provide extra 5 inches of legroom for a one-and-a-half hour flight. They even have the cheek to condone their behavior by stating, on their website, that it is a “small price to bring such happiness to your legs.” It is highly doubtful whether the person shelling out this amount from his pocket sees it the same way.

Critics are of the opinion that airlines should make the effort to accommodate the needs of passengers of all sizes, even the tall ones. A one-size-fits-all attitude towards their passengers might be the most convenient strategy, but it is hardly the wisest. A possible solution could be to have one or two rows of seats in coach cabin that are bigger and provide more legroom. These sears can then be reserved for passengers who cannot fit into the traditionally sized seats.



Personally, it sounds way better than forcing tall people to take the aisle seats or having them depend on the generosity and consideration of flight attendants to get them better seats.