Injured Escaping From Body Mass

July 17, 2009

in Portly Stories

Traveling from Indianapolis to Dallas, I had a window seat and no one seated next to me. Then it happened, a late passenger comes down the aisle and lands next to me. He was large and smelled strange. After he got situated, he spread out in his seat into my seat. He even lifted up the armrest between us so he could have more room. All the way to Dallas, he had his elbows sticking out and his legs spread out so they touched my leg. I was unable to move to another seat since the flight was full. I spent the entire flight trying to get away from him and ended up with twisted back muscles. My only relief was when he got up for a short time. I put the armrest down and kept my arm on it the rest of the flight. Lucky for me I was able to upgrade to first class for my return.

{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }

SAW July 12, 2009 at 2:35 pm

Everyone complains about large people invading their space. Have to be honest, some of the biggest space-invaders I've had to cope with have been some REALLY small people.

Don't know why it is that you can be barely 5 feet tall, weigh 90 pounds soaking wet, yet have your legs and arms all over my space?

As for this particular story… Remember it's your RIGHT to have the armrest down, and it's all right to insist on it. Anyone wanting the armrest up should be polite and ASK FIRST.

I'm a big guy, and I understand the issues. I always make certain to keep the armrest down, and my arms crossed, 'cause truth be told, it's not my bottom that's the problem, it's my shoulders that never seem to have enough space.

Keeping myself OUT of other travelers spaces is important to me. I don't understand why so many others feel it's OK to just take over.

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Jeanie July 13, 2009 at 2:03 am

I only put my armrest up if I'm traveling with a family member. If my seatmate's a total stranger, I refuse to put it up at all.

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Hugh July 14, 2009 at 5:56 am

I agree 100% with the armrest thing, unless it’s family or friends, it stays down. I also have the issue with space because I have broad shoulders, so I usually sit with my arms crossed, or slightly diagonal in the seat, again, unless its family or friends next to me. It’s just being courteous and knowing your size and any limitations which come with it.

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Laura Cardwell July 14, 2009 at 8:47 pm

Could be worse, but that's no fun.

I'm glad I usually sit next to quiet normal sized women on flights. I'm just lucky I guess.

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Atari August 13, 2009 at 10:25 am

Wow, SAW, I would never have imagined you as a big guy.

Yet another example of how everyone is equal on the internet, and your knowledge of them is based solely on how they relate themselves via transcription.

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Sabrina August 25, 2009 at 11:55 am

I agree with all the people here regarding the arm rest. If you're too big that you need to

A) Fly with an extended seat belt

B) overflow your seat which disturbs other passengers

C) raise the arm rest so you can fit

…then its time to join Jenny Craig. Sorry, but its true. We have been accomodating large people for way too long. This is not the publics problem and should not have to suffer, its the individuals that cannot say no to a cookie or 12.

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MrClorox September 4, 2009 at 1:19 pm

I'm 6 ft 3, with broad shoulders, but I take great care not to overflow into anyone else's space. I don't want them in my space, so I stay out of theirs.

There is no way I would allow a stranger to raise the armrest between us. If someone next to me insists on spreading his legs apart so that he makes contact with me, then I reposition so that his leg meets the bottom of one of my shoes rather than my thigh. Unless I've accepted someone as a sex partner, I don't want body contact, thank-you-very-much!

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