The average American woman is size 14, and most men — who are 50% of the population, thus of airline seat occupants, are as big or bigger than that. Thus, at least 75% of the adult population in the USA is "a mere size 12" or larger. Your comment is utterly gratuitous and not germane to the point of either the…

No, 12 is average. Hello_My_Lover said "mere size 12" because this is an article about people who are larger than average. She's making the statement that an average sized person can't even fit in the seats. And she's also pointing out that a shorter person (because 5'3 IS short) also does not have enough leg room.

Well, had I described myself as "small" you might have a point. I would never describe myself as small. However, taking into consideration the context of this story and this comment, the point is that I am not a plus-sized woman, I have absolutely no difficulty fitting into any piece of furniture anywhere, so it makes…

Somehow, I think that the 'etiquette police' are simply using this as an excuse to fat shame. Oh, he got angry after you already apologized? THEN YOU DIDN'T DO IT THE RIGHT WAY, GOD LINDY WHY DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?

No matter how polite we fat people are, or if we have the temerity to act like a "Normal" person, it will…

Let's clarify a few things! I'm actually pretty much obsessed with etiquette and politeness. That's why I said "sorry," before I even asked the guy to move. I didn't touch him or get in his space in any way when I reached up to put my bag in the bin. I didn't "lean over him." In fact, I put my bag in the bin behind…

Did they include luggage in the equation? I think that's key. Then it's not about the size of the person, but an overall weight.

I was just flying home yesterday after some anxiety-ridden family christmas stuff and I'm an awful, horrible flyer (I'm very nervous and any time the plane bumps a little I freak the fuck out) and I was in a three seat row all to myself when a woman who barely just got on the plane in time started putting her bag in…

My personal favorite is the small child next to me with a parent too busy to watch them. Once had a kid reach into my purse and pull out my lipgloss on a plane. I was in the middle of putting something away in the overhead bin, and couldn't get to him in time. Fun story — the air pressure changes meant my lipgloss…

I have good news for you. Excessive cell phone talker will soon be the most hated person on the plane.

I had to stop reading halfway through because I'm flying this afternoon and already emotional enough about it.

Wonderful idea for either passengers or just the carry on! Watching someone try to cram a bag into the overhead bin kills me. They have size restrictions! You knew about them!

My worst in-flight experience. I'm in a window seat, aisle seat is occupied by a tall, broad-shouldered man. Middle seat is vacant. Another tall, broad-shouldered man gets on the plane at the last minute and comes down to our row. He looks at the middle seat and then at me. I'm heavy, but no where near occupying…

Here's my solution (and I'm a person of largeness, so spare me any fat-shaming talk): airlines should charge by the pound. Pile us and our luggage on the damned scale. Then THEY handle the luggage and give us a seat that fits. Larger seats in some rows, smaller seats in others. Make the seats like benches with…

Yeah, I'm slightly taller than average for a woman, and I'm size 12, and most commercial flights are torture for me. To look at me, you'd say I was slim. But I Do. Not. Fit. in airplane seats. If the person in front of me tries to recline their seat, it crashes into my knees and I have to deal with them basically…

I am a mere size 12 - my butt JUST fits. I am 5'3 - my knees almost touch the seat in front of me. 5-fucking-3.

Is it at all possible that he might have been having a bad day too? I mean you say something about having a hangover, but what if this guy's mother just died? It was a 7 am flight, what if he had to drive three hours to the airport to catch the flight? I'm not saying his surliness was right, but it's not his…

I haven't been on an airplane in a decade but as a fat person who uses transit, I just stand unless I get a single seat because people give me death glares if they have to sit next to me. Of course, I have low blood pressure and vertigo so if I do stand, I'm going to likely fall on you. And if I stand people get angry…

But, Lindy, if you're kind to them, they'll think they're people!!!!

I know someone who works in a Mass middle school, which has an on-site social worker to deal with all sorts of stuff, including this. Recently a 7th grader reported being raped at the school by a fellow student, and the little shit was prosecuted and sent to juvi. And it wasn't some scandal - a fucking crime…

Dear Rachel Bradshaw-Bean,