Chris Elliott writes about a man who was asked to stand onboard a Spirit Airlines flight, or so he says.
The man is apparently 6′ 7″ and that’s just pretty tall to be suffering a coach seat.
The average economy class seat “pitch” on a Spirit Airlines Airbus A321 — the distance between seats on an aircraft — is between 30 and 31 inches, which is well below the industry standard and hardly enough room for a big guy.
Except, no, that isn’t well below the industry standard. Industry standard for coach seating is 31 inch pitch (distance from seat back to seat back). So some seats on Spirit may be an inch shy and others equivalent to industry standard, but certainly not ‘well below.’ (And according to Spirit, seating on the A321 does have industry average 31 inch pitch.)
Now, according to SeatGuru the average pitch on one of Spirit’s other aircraft, the Airbus A320, has only 28″ pitch in coach. It would be fair to say that’s well below industry average. But it’s not fair or correct for Elliott to say that the Airbus A321 is.
Now I’m second to no one in my belief that it’s just a downright silly decision to fly Spirit. I don’t think I’ve ever had a positive thing to say about the airline, or can even really think of one.
But in this case, the criticism really seems to miss the mark.
Someone who is too tall to sit in a coach seat shouldn’t buy a coach seat. Elliott thinks they should have been given an exit row or bulkhead seat. Spirit charges for advance seat assignments, which can be paid for during the booking process. They specifically advertise more legroom starting at $25. This customer, well aware of their height, should have purchased additional legroom.
The passenger’s wife says that “this is more like a handicap” so presumably she thinks he should be given those seats for free.
The flight attendants suggested he stand, but nowhere is it suggested that he was actually ‘required’ to stand as the column suggests. That’s a reasonable suggestion for when the seat belt sign is off, and of course for during flight and not for takeoff or landing. Elliott acknowleges it’s legal, I think it was quite customer friendly, some flight attendants might argue that he should have to remain seated ‘for security’ reasons. Instead, they were trying to help him cope with the standard seats he chose to purchase.
If he’s got ‘a handicap’ (and I’ve never heard of height as a protected class), then he should be well aware of the challenges and investigate and plan accordingly. Here it seems the $25 for extra legroom would make meaningful sense. And I don’t blame Spirit.
Now, the airline isn’t the most helpful. Eliiott says that he and the passenger have emailed the airline and not gotten useful answers. Though it seems to me that the useful answers are on the airline’s website, under seating policies, and they should ask about buying up to seats with more legroom (which can be done during the booking processs, or at this point at the airport for the return flight if those seats are still available).
Instead, here’s what Elliott believes:
So what should Spirit have done? A flight attendant should have offered to switch Anderson’s son to a bulkhead or emergency exit row, which typically has more legroom. Failing that, the crew should have tried to upgrade him into a premium seat, which has 36 inches of seat pitch.
Of course, it’s not clear that those seats were unoccupied. And Spirit charges for those seats. I believe the passenger should have planned ahead and been willing to pay for them. Normally I suggest flying another airline, because Spirit just isn’t worth its cheap fares, but on the whole they would have faced the same challenges elsewhere.
What do you think, should tall people receive priority for complimentary upgrades, as Elliott seems to think?
Elliott is typically clueless. Surely this has come to your attention
GRRRRR. Im 6.5. The world is getting taller, the average height consistently so, but the airlines have done nothing about it. If there was a minimum standard, regulated across the airlines (ie 31 inch) then in that regard all would be working to a similar cost base (well for that component of their cost base). But spirit decided to cram an extra row in, to be more competitive. Now he had a choice, but we dont know the specifics. he could have flown with someone else more expensively or indirect for the same price. we dont know. what we do know is that he is 6.7. We dont know his career path, we dont know if the premium seats (J/F) were affordable to him. the $25 should be and thats his call and mistake.
The question is where do you draw the line. The other side of the coin is weight and heft – fat people. Now whatever your genetic condition if you dont eat you dont gain weight. The body can only convert mass – so if it does not go into the tank it cant go through or on it. I me ex pro rugby player so I have both issues, hight and heft. But I travel well, I maximise my miles as I am tomorrow to fly to JNB in Premium Economy.
Regulate the airlines to minimum standards of comfort, and plan for the future. But dont allow the fat brigade to weigh in – its not emotional, unlike so much eating 🙂
Happy holidays
This is a very simple matter.
Tall people are not disabled. They are not and should not be entitled to any sort of complimentary upgrade or force someone out of a preferred seat.
Come to think of it, disabled people rarely get such special accommodations as well, especially without paying extra. This applies to both low and full cost carriers.
If a tall person “can’t fit in a seat” or has serious problems with it, they should pay extra for the right seat for them, whether it be an exit row, an open bulkhead or a premium seat. Just as a customer of size should buy two seats if necessary. Neither should complain bitterly to the airline if they are in any sort of discomfort due to their “physical condition”.
His cheap @ss should have paid more for his own comfort…Does he not know by now “you get what you pay for”…idiot!
Short or tall we all suffer in those small uncomfortable seats and the airlines shouldd be made to give us ALL more room like back in the 80’s. Remember they. Added rows and reduced pitch and girth when profitability took a dive (nevermind Executive Management of same airlines makes millions a year plus stock options. I think the salary bubble should come next to the airline industry so that overhead becomes revenue, and rvolvr back to the good old days when flying wasn’t so horrible and actually pleasant.
there’s a reason the government classifies what counts as a protected disability group, if tall people should get free upgrades to first class, what about us Asians. According to popular belief, we are bad drivers, maybe the government should build us a special highway with extra wide lanes and bumpers on the walls.
If he knew what he was doing he would have played the claustrophobia card in relation to size and that probably would have worked. That is a disability and a protected class. Up until 9-11 it would have gotten him bumped into 1st class automatically but the rules have tightened since then. I’m 6’3, my brother’s 6’7 and my friend is 7’0 and we’re all AA Exp and never played the card but know others that used to do it all the time and right up to premium they would go.
It is not exactly the same problem as someone being overweight, weight can be controlled and height cannot. That being said, if there is an available exit row or bulkhead for purchase then it should be his responsibility to purchase it however you cannot expect him to pay for a upgrade or a higher class of service.
And what about if there are not exit or bulkhead seats available?
My stepmom actually is claustrophobic so it is not always a card and I think the ridiculous long drives she takes periodically make up for occasionally getting an exit row aisle seat or something. I also think people have no control over their height so it would be reasonable for the airline to try to accomodate them whether that be looking into availability for an exit row seat, letting them stand up, etc. In general it would be cool to be 6’7 but on a plane it would be cooler to be 5’7 and every seat would be like first class. At least seat the guy in an aisle seat and he can stretch one leg occasionally, and don’t seat him next to some sort of former NFL player.
If tall people are entitled to upgrades on aeroplanes, then short people should be entitled to being in front of tall people at concerts, movies and the theater.
When you also consider the other advantages a tall man has (ever heard of a woman looking for someone who’s “short, dark and handsome”?), then I would suggest the passenger in this case should take the rough with the smooth and pay for legroom.
This situation is so easily rectified by the customer purchasing the seat with extra legroom.
However, why would he want to do that when he can try for his 15 minutes of fame and carryon like an entitled brat.
If people want checkin staff to allocate exit rows due to height does that mean they will start measuring us all with tapes as we checkin to allocate the most appropriate seat?
Tall being a disability? I don’t buy that one. I think Martin says is well: “If tall people are entitled to upgrades… short people should be entitled to being in front of tall people at concerts.”
Being of average height, 5’6″, I am in that “short” position very often at such events Martin mentions. And, very often, I have to wind my neck around or sit with my feet on the seat to give me a little extra height. Do I get a new seat? No.
Regardless, Elliot could have paid more. That’s that.
Now, should airlines give *everyone* more leg room? Heck yes. Is that likely to change in our lifetime? No. So, plan ahead and pay up.
Oh, and, how does one determine how height is distributed? My ex, at 6′ had a 31″ inseam. I’m 6″ shorter, and I have the same (31″). So, does he need more legroom?
What about Mini-Me, does he get a special small half jumper size seat? In general, the airlines ought to try and have some type of policy that helps tall or large size travelers get into more comfortable seats. Maybe Chris Elliot should discover and advise his readers on the virtues of elite frequent flyer status, which would assist travelers in getting better seating, free checked bags, and possible upgrades.
The fact that he chose to fly Spirit was his first mistake. He wanted to economize and then decided to whine when he was uncomfortable. I’m sorry but I can’t feel bad for him given there are other options – another airline such as UA with E+ seating, pay the extra $25 for bulkhead or exit row or failing all else, drive.
I say the man should sue his parents for the bad (tall frame) genes that he inherited and use the court ordered award to buy the seats with extra legroom. Punish the guilty party, not the airline!
Make him pay up like the fat people have to. He already has to pay extra for tall clothing, why should this be any different?
This guy’s a maroon. I’m a 6’7″ 125k miles/year flier, and I know very well the pain and misery of sitting in coach on any airline. I paid my dues early on to earn status and have retained it with my carrier of choice so that I can get preferred seats and free upgrades. I don’t expect to given same just because I’m tall, nor would I tolerate anyone else getting it. I have gotten sympathetic looks from FAs and GAs who have offered to move to a better seat in my ticketed cabin where one is available, but I have never been so brazen as to ask or insist on it.
Does this guy also expect to be able to book a subcompact rental car and get upgraded to an SUV, too?
As a tall person, I make an effort to look at the legroom. I have no sympathy for the man, though if somehow height were ruled a disability, then it means we might be able to get rid of the CRJ-200 😉
I’m 6’6″, and I will never willingly travel Spirit. Unwillingly – I’ll make sure to pay extra for the legroom. Just like I pay extra for clothing and shoes.
Because height is not a disability. It’s an advantage. I look at all you little people from above, and I feel great.
No brainer – shell out the $ for a premium seat.
Is Chris Elliott for real? I mean, suggesting it’s the airline’s responsibility to find the pax a more comfortable seat – he is seriously taking the pi$$, and having a lend of his reading audience.
very hard to understand why NatGeo
can’t do better than the Elliott.
My husband is 6’5 and long flights for him in a typical seat can be torture (not to mention dangerous – hello, blood clots, anyone?)
If we can pay more for him to sit in a bulkhead or exit room, we do so. Sometimes that’s not an option though. What we typically do is get to the airport early enough to request an exit row seat. Usually the reservation agents take one look at him and give him a different seat.
Not everyone flies on a regular basis. I’m sure people check into UA every day with no idea with E+ is and sometimes they are sold out.
People are told that federal regulations require that they comply with what the FAs want. So if an FA tells you something, you’re supposed to do it. And there is being “asked” to do something which is really just a polite way of ordering someone to do something.
I think this was more egregious than not getting as much caviar as usual. Too bad he doesn’t have a travel blog.
I’m 6’4″ with long legs and I’m acutely aware of what planes have what seat pitch. Earlier this year I flew TLS-FRA-IAD, with FRA-IAD on UA where I bought an economy plus upgrade. My LH TLS-FRA was late, blew the connection, they put me on a later LH flight without E+ seats, and by then they’d assigned all the exit row seats. I think I made a reasonable attempt to buy a seat that I fit into. What do you think they should have done?
Thank you Chris Elliott for once again being the voice of reason. Now if we could only get the airlines to eleiminate their costly frequent flier programs…
Gary – Southwest in their cattle-call days used to consider extreme height (6’6″ and taller) a condition eligible for pre-boarding, and many of us have been searching for another airline as enlightened ever since.
I have to apologize… I stopped reading as soon as I saw the 28″ pitch. What?
The flight attendant should have been empowered to offer their seat.
I am 6’5″ and constantly struggle on planes with what god provided me.
I see no difference in the idiocy of complaints between a tall dude whining and Gary throwing a tantrum until Lufthansa pays up because someone didn’t place his fork in a first class seat obtained with miles.
Being 6’5″, I do appreciate it when I’m accommodated in an exit row or bulkhead, but I no longer expect it from most airlines. Delta still allows free exit row assignments on some airplanes, and I seek those out. I’ve found that many people are polite about reclining their seats when I’m behind them, and I appreciate their consideration and try to return the favor when I’m in a position to do so.
I do wish the airlines would be considerate enough of tall people to maintain REASONABLE limits (ie. 31″), and I don’t expect I’ll ever be flying Spirit as a result. 28″ is just ridiculous. I’m not expecting comfort, but giving me a seat I can actually sit in would be nice.
Being tall is not a disability but being put into a seat that is too small disables a tall person ie not being able to put feet on ground or not being able to move cramped in seat
If they start treating tall people as a special class on a plane, will people of normal height be treated as a special class when playing basketball?
This tall guy is simply too cheap to spend the money to get a better seat. Either he considers $25 or $50 too much or he is too lazy to investigate the seating arrangements for the carrier is traveling on. It’s his own responsibility or frugality and he expects special treatment for it. The only special class this guy belongs in is the “too stupid to fly” class. Whatever happened to self responsibility?
he should have paid the $25 or suffer the consequences.
how dare he think he needs special treatment
what about overweight people-is that a handicap?
you either pay the price or dont fly.
I can think of one reason to fly Spirit: $27 flights to Florida.
Tall people should be given preference for exit row and bulkhead seats to accomodate an unchangeable, physical feature they have. Period. This costs the airlines NOTHING and does not discriminate against those who are tall through no fault of their own. There’s no reason average height people should have a price advantage over everyone else due to seat pitch.
Wow, reading the comments and the op its clearly like revenge of the short people. A company should not be allow to offer a product that discriminates. They should make reasonable accomidation. Tall is not equal to weight, not that even weight should be “judged.”
This is not a question regarding tall people, but a question of Spirit’s customer service levels.
Do you think this kind of scenario has ever faced United? Continental? Delta? The reason this pops up now is because we here have an airline carrier that’s not willing to accomodate a pax with special needs. That’s Spirit. Others would simply have made it a priority to accomodate this passenger with a minimum of fuss.
This is a tough one because the proposed solution — granting tall people free access to roomier seats — seems wrong.
That said, the legroom on the Spirit A320s is ridiculous. I’m 6 feet tall, and I can’t fit my legs straight in front of me on the Spirit aircraft. It is very uncomfortable, and I can’t imagine anyone more than an inch or two taller being able to tolerate it. Indeed, despite many silly complaints, the legroom issue is really the only thing truly bad (at least for tall people!) about flying Spirit.
If all airlines went to 28″ pitch, I suspect the gov’t might step in and regulate this. There would just be too many complaints from constituents. You could argue that this is a safety thing, because it’s probably not to good for your legs to not be able to extend them forward. That said, given Spirit’s small size and quirkiness, I’m guessing this will just remain an oddball annoyance with them,
As a tall guy (6’8″) I sympathize with the guy but unless he got his ticket las second the fault lies with him. If he’s not on seatguru researching the seat assignment, trying to buy an economy plus type seat (charging for the exit row means you generally can get them these days), checking in at exactly 24hrs before flight to get the seats (and if not available, checking back at the 4 to go, 2 to go mark), calling the airline for better placement, going to the ticket counter for better placement, or going to the gate agent for better placement, well, that’s his fault. I can’t fly first class, but I fly a lot and probably have a “more legroom” seat 75% of the time. It takes more work and a bit more in money, but my knees thank me. Otherwise don’t ask the flight attendant about legs the aisle, just stick those bad boys out there and say “sorry” when people trip over them. Haven’t had a problem yet.
(Also make sure to buy the guy in front of you a beer after he agrees not to lean the seat back.)
In response to bschaff1, I would be willing to let shorter people in front of me at a concert, especially if they would let me have their exit row seats. I’m a tall guy, and I always feel bad for the people behind me at concerts. My girlfriend is a shortstuff, though, so if we stand in the back, she can’t see. I keep trying to get her to just sit on my shoulders in the back, but so far she has declined my brilliant solution.
This is really a Safety Issue. If a tall person is in seat with their legs jammed in and there is an accident on take off or landing, chances are both or one of their thighs will be broken trapping them, and anyone window side of them on the plane. This is why tall people should either be guaranteed extra leg room seats – I don’t see why they should pay more than anyone else to ensure their safety, or that of others.
The reason for classifying people as disabled and accommodating them is because most things are made for people that are not disabled. For example: stairs. It’s real hard to climb stairs in a wheel chair, that’s why they make ramps.
Not unlike a very tall person having to sit in a very short airplane seat. If there are no upgrades available which is the case much of the time today with overbooked flights, a tall person is forced to sit in a seat that could very well do permanent damage to their hips, knees and back. Not to mention not being able to move for long periods of time which adds to the chances of getting DVT, ( deep vein thrombosis ), which can lead to blood clots, strokes and heart attacks.
I am taken back by the cold attitudes of people that do not see the whole picture.
People are getting larger and airline seats are getting smaller. There has to be some consideration for a tall person that can not fit in a standard sized seat. If they are not accommodated then it is discrimination. Tall people have no control over their height. Just like someone that is born with no legs has no control either.
I can not believe the stupidity and self centeredness of some people.
If you think tall people should have to pay more money than the short person next to them for the same level of comfort then you’re an asshole.
I think he should have been upgraded as he shouldn’t have to pay for larger leg room as it’s a handicap l so is a necessity not something for just comfort
It’s not his fault he’s tall
Maybe some of you unempathic so called normal sized people should be measured and forced to sit in a child seat for a few hours. With their knees up against the back of the seat in front of you. What the hell is wrong with you? You can not change your height. If you are obese that is different but tall is purely genetic. I am 6′ 6 ” and travel for work. I always try to plan ahead because of my height. Sometimes, especially today with nearly every flight booked, it is not as easy as one might think to get a seat that accommodates tall people. If you have never had to worry about it you just do not know, so some the comments here are just self centered assholes that can not see beyond their own nose.
Sit a couple of hundred thousand miles in my seat before you pass judgement.
As a Crew member During the boarding process at the aircraft door on a 12 hour flight, a passenger blurted out before even stepping foot on board:-
“I’m 5ft 9′ tall,I can’t possibly sit in Economy, I need to be seated in Business class!”
To which I replied…..”Sir, were you not 5ft 9′ when you made your reservation?”
To which he was slightly confused and sat in his Economy seat.
I am 6’4″ now and was 6’6″, sometimes it is impossible for me to seat in a regular seat. Impossible means my legs cannot reach the floor as knees are hitting the seat in front. I usually try to by E+ but it is not always possible, so I am standing during flight quite often. In general it is clearly discrimination against tall people. Why a shorter person has to pay for a regular seat and for me to get similar seating conditions in E+ I have to pay extra. This extra, by the way is not $25 for most airlines. If I am flying accross the contry it is $69 one way and about $160 one way oversees. That issue was not that critical in 80s and 90s when all regular seats had a 36″ pitch. At that time I did not have any problems seating in a regular seat.
With airlines trying to get more revenue it is not getting better for us tall people. Being tall is different of being big/wide and nothing we can do about it. So, it is discrimination against tall people