Now before all you “size acceptance movement” types start berating me for “fatty bashing” I’m going to quash one of your arguments straight away:
Yes I AM also referring to people who are larger than normal, as an example members of any International Rugby Union front row or an American Football team linebacker.
However I’ve never had the dubious honour to be crushed in my budget airline seat by aforementioned athletes but I have on too many occasions had to share my personal space with lardy arses.
Now I’m no Alberto Contador but then again I ain’t no food shovelling, salad dodging, exercise shy, chubster who seems to think everyone and everything except themselves are to blame for their over-ample girth.
I’ve paid for my seat, as you have for yours, but why should I be okay with you spilling into my space? Seriously, passengers pay for excess baggage so why not for excess body size? How would this be gauged? Well why not stick passengers on a set of scales or have a frame, just like they currently do for hand baggage, and if you can’t fit in it then you pay for an extra seat.
Does this apply to everyone – OF COURSE IT DOES. Whether you’re a big sportsman (or sportswoman) then it should – if you don’t fit in the seat then you’re encroaching on your fellow passengers space. These budget airline seats are small enough as they are and there are numerous articles on the net that cover the importance of personal space.