Travel tips for the tall guy?
January 10, 2012 3:01 PM Subscribe
How can I avoid getting my knees crushed in economy or paying to check a bag, even though I don't fly any one airline enough to gain elite status?
As a tall person who shaves with an actual razor, I'm doubly screwed when I fly since I need a few inches of legroom and am required to check my bag.
And although I travel a fair amount, it's necessarily split across several airlines, so I'll never have enough miles in any one frequent flier program for elite status. Are there any tips that might help me?
As a tall person who shaves with an actual razor, I'm doubly screwed when I fly since I need a few inches of legroom and am required to check my bag.
And although I travel a fair amount, it's necessarily split across several airlines, so I'll never have enough miles in any one frequent flier program for elite status. Are there any tips that might help me?
By "actual razor", do you mean a DE? I use a Merkur setup, and don't have to check for it; if you're talking straight-edge, go JetBlue or Southwest.
posted by ellF at 3:06 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by ellF at 3:06 PM on January 10, 2012
Note that Southwest also has slightly more back-to-front room in its seats than the economy seats on most other airlines. It's very good on the knees.
posted by willbaude at 3:08 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by willbaude at 3:08 PM on January 10, 2012
Can you scrutinize your air carriers' partnerships to see which you could use to get elite-qualifying points/miles on? For example, Alaska partners with Delta, so I can get Alaska miles (and upgrades) when I fly Delta.
I used to know American's partners better, but I seem to remember they have a wide variety of partners. See if you can stack your miles onto one plan to get elite status.
posted by arnicae at 3:13 PM on January 10, 2012
I used to know American's partners better, but I seem to remember they have a wide variety of partners. See if you can stack your miles onto one plan to get elite status.
posted by arnicae at 3:13 PM on January 10, 2012
To be more specific, Southwest gives you two bags free; JetBlue gives you one. (I am assuming you are in the United States and flying domestically.)
I think what fyrebelly is talking about is Early Bird Check In, which is actually $10 one-way regardless of the length of the flight. Strictly speaking it doesn't guarantee you an A boarding pass, although I'd guess in 99% of cases you will get an A boarding pass. It checks you in 36 hours (in order of purchase of Early Bird, so the earlier you buy your ticket the earlier you will be checked in and thus the better boarding position) ahead of Southwest's usual 24-hour madness to check in. (And then you have a better chance of getting an exit row seat).
posted by andrewesque at 3:15 PM on January 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think what fyrebelly is talking about is Early Bird Check In, which is actually $10 one-way regardless of the length of the flight. Strictly speaking it doesn't guarantee you an A boarding pass, although I'd guess in 99% of cases you will get an A boarding pass. It checks you in 36 hours (in order of purchase of Early Bird, so the earlier you buy your ticket the earlier you will be checked in and thus the better boarding position) ahead of Southwest's usual 24-hour madness to check in. (And then you have a better chance of getting an exit row seat).
posted by andrewesque at 3:15 PM on January 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Sorry for the typo, fyrebelley!
posted by andrewesque at 3:16 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by andrewesque at 3:16 PM on January 10, 2012
^ Provides seating charts that lets you know which seats are the most comfortable in each type of aircraft.
posted by springbound at 3:33 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by springbound at 3:33 PM on January 10, 2012
I travel all the time with actual razors and never check my bag. I always think they're going to stop me but they never do.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 3:33 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 3:33 PM on January 10, 2012
Oh, I almost always fly Air Canada.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 3:34 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 3:34 PM on January 10, 2012
JetBlue (as previously mentioned) gives one free checked bag and has better legroom than most. For an extra 30-50 bucks you can upgrade to more legroom and early boarding.
posted by TheCoug at 3:34 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by TheCoug at 3:34 PM on January 10, 2012
If you fly Delta, get one of their AmEx SkyMiles credit cards and your first bag will be checked at no charge.
posted by shiny blue object at 3:59 PM on January 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by shiny blue object at 3:59 PM on January 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
If you fly Delta, get one of their AmEx SkyMiles credit cards and your first bag will be checked at no charge.
The same is true for the United Explorer card, presumably American has a similar card as well.
posted by foodgeek at 4:17 PM on January 10, 2012
The same is true for the United Explorer card, presumably American has a similar card as well.
posted by foodgeek at 4:17 PM on January 10, 2012
Do what I do (I'm 6'4"), ask for a seat in an exit row. Most airlines won't let you reserve an exit row seat ahead of time so you'll have to request it at the gate check-in desk. The downside is you don't get to store anything under the seat in front of you.
posted by tommasz at 4:24 PM on January 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by tommasz at 4:24 PM on January 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
In my experience, airtran has often had upgrades to first class available at check in for reduced rates (and cheaper first class fares generally.) In that case, you get better legroom and a free checked bag.
posted by mercredi at 4:37 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by mercredi at 4:37 PM on January 10, 2012
I used to request the exit row, but then I discovered it's full of dudes as big as me (>6', and either muscular or heavy-- I'm not muscular), and we all fly with our arms crossed because to do any less would be constant full arm contact with the other dude-- as it is, our shoulders constantly knock against one another. However, I have not encountered a restriction where I couldn't have a bag under the seat in front of me-- rather, just that it really had to be under there, and couldn't trip someone.
I really hate the front bulkhead seat, but that's an option because there's more legroom to compensate for your lack of footspace you might have under a chair in front of you.
Your best strategy, but one with obvious shortcomings, is to fly on flights that aren't crowded, so you can take row to yourself, flip up the armrest, and sit just a little diagonally. Extra benefit-- the flip-down tray won't poke your gut, if you have a gut like mine.
Alternate strategy: aisle seat. I love to look out windows more than the average flyer, I think, but aisle means free foot room, as long as you don't mind the elbow-clip from the serving carts are willing to retract your landing gear each time someone comes by... but on a red-eye, it's not that often!
Backup plan: become independently wealthy and lease a private jet now and then. Alternate backup plan: pilot's license-- cheaper than a private jet, and gives you something to do with your feet.
posted by Sunburnt at 4:41 PM on January 10, 2012
I really hate the front bulkhead seat, but that's an option because there's more legroom to compensate for your lack of footspace you might have under a chair in front of you.
Your best strategy, but one with obvious shortcomings, is to fly on flights that aren't crowded, so you can take row to yourself, flip up the armrest, and sit just a little diagonally. Extra benefit-- the flip-down tray won't poke your gut, if you have a gut like mine.
Alternate strategy: aisle seat. I love to look out windows more than the average flyer, I think, but aisle means free foot room, as long as you don't mind the elbow-clip from the serving carts are willing to retract your landing gear each time someone comes by... but on a red-eye, it's not that often!
Backup plan: become independently wealthy and lease a private jet now and then. Alternate backup plan: pilot's license-- cheaper than a private jet, and gives you something to do with your feet.
posted by Sunburnt at 4:41 PM on January 10, 2012
Depending on the plane, another seat that has plenty of legroom is towards the rear of the plane. Wherever the number of seats decreases, eg from 3 to 2 between aisle & window, try to get the window seat *behind* the first row of 2s. There's usually about a third to a half seat's worth of empty space next to it, just asking for your legs to stretch out in it.
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:56 PM on January 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:56 PM on January 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
I fly American, when you arrive at the airport and check in electronically and (if there is room) you can upgrade to first class for like $125. I know it is more than checking a bag but it comes with free checked bags and many MANY other perks, including ample leg room.
posted by magnetsphere at 6:40 PM on January 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by magnetsphere at 6:40 PM on January 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Also on American, all you need is a frequent flier number--no actual standing or status--to pay $24 bucks for an exit row or bulkhead seat. (DON'T TELL EVERYONE.)
And yeah: I get to the airport early with them, and re-check in, for pay upgrades, as magnetsphere notes. (SHH DON'T TELL EVERYONE THAT EITHER.)
posted by RJ Reynolds at 6:51 PM on January 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
And yeah: I get to the airport early with them, and re-check in, for pay upgrades, as magnetsphere notes. (SHH DON'T TELL EVERYONE THAT EITHER.)
posted by RJ Reynolds at 6:51 PM on January 10, 2012 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by fyrebelley at 3:03 PM on January 10, 2012 [1 favorite]