[profcox]

I'm 6'7" 265 pounds. I take responsibility for my weight, but not my height. The leg room on all airlines is excruciating. Now I hear rumors about paying by weight and smaller restrooms. Enough is enough. When, if ever, will tall people receive a break on passenger semi-comfort?

[jimworcs]

This is a regulator problem, not a specific airline problem. Over the years, as society becomes more affluent, the height and weight of the average person increases. The safety regulators do not appear to keep up and amend the arithmatic upon which basic assumptions are made, in relation to the overall weight of the aircraft, but also in relation to the ability to evacuate within specified times.

A few years ago there was a crash in Charlotte, NC after the centre of gravity of the aircraft was incorrectly calculated. This lead to re-investigation of the assumptions which pilots use to calculate weights, and for the first time, average weights of passengers were revised upwards. It took a crash for anyone to do anything.

Likewise, the height of the average passenger has most certainly changed over the last 5 decades. This appears to have co-incided with cost sensitive airlines cramming more and more seats into the aircraft, dramatically reducing the leg room. There are inevitable health effects of this, not least DVT, but I would speculate that it is likely to also impact the speed of egress in an emergency evacuation. Sadly, it appears we need deaths to have any action taken on this.

Regulators in both Europe and the US, who largely dictate the safety standards for aircraft around the world are far too cozy with manufacturers and airlines and allow "commercial considerations" to be taken into account when certifying aircraft.

An example of this is the permitting of unrestrained animals in the cabin in the US, which is only done for commercial reasons and is utterly unsafe and allowing children under 2 to sit on the lap of a parent with a loop belt. The loop belt gives an illusion of safety, but the child will almost certainly be crushed to death or become a missile, (as will fifi the toy poodle).

This is about much more than your discomfort as a tall person... it is about safety, but our regulators are busy looking the other way. People are fatter and taller.... the seats are getting smaller and closer together...and the regulators are walking around whistling and pretending not to notice. Ridiculous.

[The_Judge]

What Jim??? The regulators are pretending not to notice? Someone here is almost always screaming for re-regulation. Do you know who that is???? Hmmmmmmm???

[jimworcs]

Yeah, it's not easy to be a lone voice!! lol

[Pelagia]

I am new to this forum. I like forum discussion very much. Mostly I need to do air plan journey for business purpose. I am also 6'5'' same problem with me. I feel tired after journey.