02-15-2010
02:34 PM
Its not hard to have compassion for passengers of size and still agree with the policy many airlines (including Southwest) have. I think even persons of size would be empathetic of an adjacent passenger who is forced to deal with the inconvenience and uncomfortable situation when their purchased space is encroached, whether from an adjacent passenger or a forward seat reclining into your face.
The fact of the matter is that all airlines cram so many seats in coach on planes as to make even those without extra weight incredibly uncomfortable. I see little difference between being encroached from the side or from the front - except that encroachment from the side is generally unintentional. You can't recline your seat without knowing you are going to be jamming your seat back into the passenger behind you - and thus that action is probably intentional on the part of a reclining passenger.
... View more