Tall Person Discrimination

Yes, I'm considered tall. And you know what bugs me most? When people say, "Oh, you're so tall!" If I said to a short person, "you're so short," that would be insensitive. So why is it okay for you to comment that I'm so tall, like it's the best thing to be? I've got news for you...it's not all that it's cracked up to be.

Oh sure, there are advantages to being tall. You can see over the cubicles in the office "cube farm." You get a better view in a crowd without having to stand on your toes. I even recall a study that was completed that showed that taller people were usually paid better and were promoted more often than their shorter counterparts (although not studying the report in detail, there could be other factors that influenced this). But did you ever consider how often tall people hit their heads? Or how about squeezing into a small car? I would certainly like to have the option of owning a small car, but alas, it is the domain of the "height challenged" elite. Sometimes larger cars and smaller SUV's are not even an option, because of the seat height.

I bring this up because of an observation I made during a recent business trip. Of course, I have difficulty travelling on airplanes. The seat pitch and backrest heights are not exactly conducive to a comfortable ride for a tall person. So of course, whenever I can, I request bulkhead or exit row seating. Much to my chagrin, this is usually impossible. Why? Because these coveted seats usually go to children and the elderly.

Now, I don't really have a problem with elderly passengers getting the bulkhead seats, if they require assistance, or have medical conditions that being in these seats, makes their trip more comfortable. However, I do not agree that children should get these seats. Two years ago, I was on an overseas flight. I specifically asked for bulkhead seating, but none was available. When I boarded and looked at the nearest bulkhead seats what did I find? All three of the middle seats were occupied by pre-teen children. Does this make sense when I, or any tall person, has to squeeze into a seat for an overnight flight?

Most importantly, I don't think that the elderly or children should get exit row seating, especially when it comes to overwing exits. Aircraft certifying authorities expect the passengers at overwing exits to be briefed on how to open the exits. If an emergency occurred, they would have to open the 40 lb door, pull it into the cabin, maneuver it around, and throw it out the opening. Do you think a pre-teen or elderly passenger could do this? What about the added complication of an elderly passenger in this location (who may have a medical condition) having to not only open the door, but get through it in a reasonable time so other passengers could do the same? This is a safety issue, and airlines should take note.

Maybe tall people should band together. Complain when you see children and the elderly in these seats. Just because we're tall, doesn't mean we always have things handed to us on a plate. It doesn't mean that we should have to suffer because we are well beyond the "average" height. There is handicapped seating on buses, handicapped parking, even maternity parking. Why can't there be tall person reserved seating on airplanes? Is this such a terrible thing to accommodate? I don't mind giving my height when ordering an airline ticket, if it puts me on a list to get a seat with extra legroom. In fact, if there are only 12 of these seats on an entire aircraft, the airlines should start with the tallest person on the flight and work their way down. Each person is allowed one travelling companion when the flight is longer than 3 hours. The caveat is that if you have a travelling companion that doesn't make the grade, then you have the option to decline the seat and go back into cattle class, and the next person on the list gets the seat. This sounds reasonable, doesn't it?

We can even have those neat little signs with a tall person graphic pasted to the rows of the coveted seats. Or if we really want to stick it to people, we can show a short person, and elderly person and a child in a circle with a line through it. Yeah, that's the ticket!

Yes, the sky IS blue in my world, and yes, I believe in a free and just society. Maybe I'm wrong on both counts because of all the bumps on my head.......or could it be that the bumps are just making me taller?

Wings Over The World