I’m in camp if they give you the option you have to assume the person in front will fully recline. No point in getting mad over it. If you want or need more space just get the premium seats if it means that much to you.
Fun story: in the 1980s I flew with a co-worker on Northwest DC-10. Co-worker was a tall solid guy. Person in front tried to recline their seat into his knees. Knees prevented full recline. Person complained to FA. FA yells at my co-worker telling him he has to move his knees to facilitate full recline for person in front.
I'm 6-5, really long femurs. This happened to me one time as well. I told the flight attendant to move my already spread and jammed knees for me. She quickly realized that there was no orientation of my femurs that would make everyone happy.
I'm hearing that because I'm 6'6" I should either be able to pay for premium or just never fly. That's a good excuse to get out an in-laws wedding next summer - I'll run it by my wife.
We are in the trolley problem, not the prisoners dilemma.
And on some planes they even allowed those seats to recline a little, so maybe not in any philosophical debate other than that people often don't consider other people's suffering
Every now and then I fly in a small plane that takes me from a major hub to my hometown about 200 miles away. Basically if I’m already at the airport coming off another flight, it’s easier just to hop on a plane than Uber an hour away across the metro and then drive back down south.
The plane only has 55 seats and no premium seats. I see tall people struggle all of the time.
I'm also 6'6" and that's a realization I came to years ago. Pre-pandemic it was 'pay for first class', post-pandemic it's been 'never fly'. (And if I'm lucky I'll never have to get on an airplane ever again)
So many things are biased in favor of tall people, I have no problem with them having to pay more for a larger seat rather than externalizing those costs onto everyone else.
As a tall person (not even that tall, 190cm) I'm going to have to vehemently disagree.
Car, airplane, train bus, metro, etc. seats and space available are designed for shorter people. Doors are sometimes too short (I've taken multiple violent hits to the head due to this abroad). Clothes are harder to find.
Do you have any other counter examples? Maybe i only see when I'm inconveniences and miss when things are made for me.
"According to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index daily poll of the US population, taller people live better lives, at least on average. They evaluate their lives more favorably, and they are more likely to report a range of positive emotions such as enjoyment and happiness. They are also less likely to report a range of negative experiences, like sadness, and physical pain, though they are more likely to experience stress and anger, and if they are women, to worry. These findings cannot be attributed to different demographic or ethnic characteristics of taller people, but are almost entirely explained by the positive association between height and both income and education, both of which are positively linked to better lives."
I can reach into the cupboard above the refrigerator without a step stool. Oh, yea, I can see over most people in a crowd.
I jest, but I'm just a bit taller than average. Occasionally, my wife will point out something that's far easier for me because it's in my reach and not in her reach. Except in cramped circumstances, being taller gives you more flexibility.
> Height discrimination (also known as heightism) is prejudice or discrimination against individuals based on height. In principle, it refers to the discriminatory treatment against individuals whose height is not within the normal acceptable range of height in a population.
> So many things are biased in favor of tall people, I have no problem with them having to pay more for a larger seat rather than externalizing those costs onto everyone else.
Case in point? Tall people are outside the normal, acceptable range of height. They certainly get micro- (and in this case, macro) aggressed for it. In my experience, the micro-aggressions seem more blatant because being tall is perceived as being an obviously good thing. People want to be comfortable in their bodies.
Drawback to that first one - Everyone asking if you play basketball. Especially obnoxious during junior high - No, I just put on like two feet of growth, I'm lucky if I can even figure out where my feet are, to say nothing of running with them.
I'm of a similar height and you're leaving out the third option. Fly and suffer. Sit like a GSD with hip dysplasia.
But in all seriousness, you're not used to it by now? Paying more for clothes that fit properly, a car that fits without hair brushing on the headliner or knees in the steering column, air mattresses, real mattresses, tents, bicycles, shoes, etc.
It's true - I'm used to having to pay more for the same and for putting up with a certain level of expected discomfort. I just find with flying there's not a good alternative option. I can shop around for a car that fits me in the right price range, I straight up just don't have a choice with flying.
If they need more space they can pay for a seat that reclines more then