Joys of night-flights....

grannysue05
My pleasure! ha ha was to be lumbered with an eight hour red eye sitting next to a guy with' gas'. After a couple of hours into this dreadful smell I approached the purser with what I was experiencing, Can I be seated elsewhere as I had observed on the flight taking off there were many empty seats? I was refused due to the fact that those empty seats were now occupied by sleeping passengers who although it was clear had taken it upon
themselves to spread out, only in extreme circumstances would crew wake a passenger.

Just as aside ( and I suspected this would be the route this thread would take) is describing someone as a 'fattie' now acceptable ?

We have moved on in most areas for instance not using the 'n' word to describe black people , not describing disabled people as 'spastics' etc.

But on this thread several posters have openly mentioned 'fatties'. Is that ok?

I believe not but I might be in the minority it seems .

May I suggest, that discussing the issue of too much weight is now becoming taboo in our society. In the same way that certain discussions on race and Brexit are also avoided. However, I am not sure that this is helpful, as, again in my opinion, it appears that people feel it is OK to carry far too much weight, or if it is not, then they see themselves as victims. Being obese is bad for the individual, their families and the NHS. Isn't it time we could say this openly. Incidentally my husband has been grossly overweight. He is now losing the weight successfully and slowly and talk openly about being and having been fat. When he was truly obese, this was a conversation he would never have. He was in denial.

There is nothing wrong at all with respectfully discussing any subject. There is plenty wrong with using denigrating language to do it. Totally unnecessary, childish, and ridiculous.

I agree totally MissAdventure.

I'm not saying anything about not discussing weight but it's the terminology used. As someone mentioned previously it smacks of playground bullying.

In an ideal world on an aircraft you would sit next to someone who fitted neatly into their seat, whose legs weren't too long, who didn't have bad breath or body odour, who didn't have a cold , cough or sore throat, who spoke quietly but not too much, who wasn't travelling with children, who got up only rarely to go to the loo and who didn't allow their head to flop if they fell asleep. The world is not an ideal place but it would be a lot nearer if we learned to love one another and accept each others and our own imperfections with a spirit of generosity.

Well said mumofmadboys

It's horrifying to read all the judgmental remarks about so called "fatties"! Misha14, do you not think that people who are overweight know they are overweight; they don't need to constantly reminded. It also has the opposite effect. A lot of people who are overweight have low self-esteem so they comfort eat. Being continually told you are overweight just makes you feel worse. If they were cutting themselves or taking an overdose, there would be sympathy because of their "mental health" problems. A great proportion of overweight people suffer from those but somehow their way of dealing with it, food, is seen as something to denigrate.
And just for the record, I am not greatly overweight so this isn't something that hits a nerve because of that but I did make the mistake (in more ways than one) of having children with a man who had the "fat" gene in his DNA which has been passed on to 2 of my children. I used to be totally disbelieving about his mother who ate like a bird but was enormous but I've now seen that it is possible.

I expect all the people on this thread who are offended by the fat comments will, next time they fly, jump up heroically and ask to swap to sit next to a very fat person so the rest of us who think they should have to pay for two seats are spared that inconvenience. People are very quick to jump to the defence of fat people in circumstances like this but, I'm sure, would secretly be relieved that they aren't sitting next to one on a flight. If I'm wrong than I hope to see you on my next flight- just wave and make your presence known and, if I feel I need to, we can change seats. Problem solved.

I think you'll find people object the the word "fatty" actually. Its quite worrying to think some of you think its ok to use it.

Icanhandthemback ..... a fat gene??? Medical evidence for this OT pronouncement is surely required (and from a reliable source, not DM/DE fake news)

All worth it when we reach our destination

I too am appalled by the use of the word Fattie and the unkind comments people have made. As someone else said, overweight people are only too aware of it and often embarrassed about the room they are taking up, The thing to complain about is people's attitude, not their size. Even thin people can hog the arm rest (I have experienced this) or sit with this knees wide open (difficult to avoid if one is tall.) The worst plane journey I have had was next to a teenage boy who sniffed, coughed and sneezed the whole way and did not seem to have any handkerchiefs. None of us is perfect and a plane journey (even long haul) doesn't last for ever.
Personally I find it difficult to sleep with the seat back upright but if I have tried to recline I have had protests from behind even though the person in front has reclined (suddenly and without warning sometimes!) so I have had to suffer in silence.
To go back to the OP the suggestion of cleansing and toning on a plane is ridiculous!

If I pay for a seat, I expect a seat, not half of one because the fat person next to me spills over on my lap, it is an incredibly uncomfortable experience. If you need 2 seats then pay for 2, don't claim half of mine, I don't pay for half a seat. It is getting ridiculous not being able to address fat issues, everywhere you go now people are getting huge, with a detrimental affect on health. I dread perching on the bus seat next to a large person as it is difficult to remain in the
seat. I have had to stand on more than one occasion because I couldn't squeeze in. Where's the fairness in that? As for people coughing and sneezing on aircrafts, what thoroughly selfish people they are, it's the I'm all right jack mentality. I think back to the days where travelling on a plane was a pleasure, but not anymore, seat sizes have got smaller, people less considerate.

As for cleanse and tone on a plane, how nice for the person next to you,what next commodes?

We have flown a lot and I maintain that I am tailored for the seats, but it is always the conduct of other passengers that is the problem. I have had objections from my reclining 'tough', people spreading into shared space, I always make sure they know I too am going to have a share!
Generally people are all the same, we just need a bit of communication.
Oh and please be kind and consider that we are all different shapes and sizes there is no need to be horrid, you might smell bad but are you hearing the larger people complaining? They still have to travel alongside you.

I really don't like sitting next to smokers. The smell makes me feel sick. However I would never complain on an aircraft that a smoker is polluting my air space!

Reading through these comments, I am disgusted by the attitudes of some people. As one of those 'fatties' that have been mentioned, I struggle with my weight every single day. Some of it is caused by health issues, some of it by eating the wrong things. Travelling by plane has become increasingly 'painful', as the seats get smaller and smaller. I don't 'enjoy' being overweight and do try to lose weight, but it's not easy and as my mobility has got worse, the trying to lose weight becomes more of a struggle. Suffering from anxiety and depression doesn't help, especially when reading stuff like this! We were not all designed to be stick thin, which I sometimes find unpleasant to look at, but I would never comment on someone's size as there may be reasons we don't know about for them being like that. I hope I never have the 'pleasure' to meet all the 'perfect' people on here who think it is okay to diss people re their size without knowing the reasons why that person may be that size. I would say 'you should be ashamed of yourselves', but you are probably so self obsessed that you would not see yourself as being anything other than 'perfect'. And if I sound angry, I certainly am!!!

I generally accept that people are different sizes, and that I may end up squashed into the side of the aircraft, though have to confess to a heartsink moment when this happens. But the overpowering smell of garlic or curry does actually make me heave, there is nothing I can do but spend the whole flight trying not to far or breathe! I wish the check in questions included 'have you eaten garlic or curry in the last 24 hours?' [Smile]

I did have a very large Hawian gentleman sitting next to me for one long distance flight. He was so large (in all directions) there was no way he could use the tray and the chap in the seat in front wasn't able to recline his seat! He did overlap a bit onto my seat, (I'm a 16/18 so he couldn't come far) but was very comfy to lean against and so lovely and charming I couldn't be upset.

I think I read somewhere that the size of an aircraft seat is based on a size 10/12, 5'6" woman. That's considered average taking into account those countries like India and China where people are much slimmer and smaller.

Gag or breathe! Wretched auto correct!

My main gripe is reclining seats. If the person in front decides to recline it takes up some of your limited space. Very uncomfortable if you are tall . It makes it difficult to have a drink without holding it in your hand all the time and if you want to read the book is almost stuck to you chest. If I notice the person in front trying to recline their seat I push hard on the back of the seat so they think it doesn't work. I am also happy to ask them kindly not to.

I am sorry you are hurt Magic writer

Plane seats are the invention of the devil, I have never sat in a comfortable one. Cleanse and moisturise in my dreams.
Fat genes, really ?

I don't like sitting next to anyone on an aircraft except DH! Try to reserve an aisle seat so if it's in a 3 DH takes the brunt of the fellow passenger!!