When a Seat Turned Into a Deal
Picture this: five hours, an aisle seat that’s a nice, airy space—until your neighbor decided to occupy a significant chunk of it.
The Situation
- Traveler BigBawluh took Reddit to the “Am I the Asshole?” breakfast—aka a subreddit for doubt. He’s on a 5‑hour flight, ate a popcorn popcorn, and was hoping for a quick stretch.
- Behind him sat a man self‑identified as “very obese.” According to BigBawluh, he was “seeping into about 1/3 of my seat.” Quick math—over 30% of your own legroom, folks!
- Attempts to negotiate space? No luck. The man tried to tuck himself in, but it was like trying to fit a loaf of bread in a peanut butter sandwich.
Escalation: A Flight Crew Called In
BigBawluh pulls out the “I need your help” gesture—the stewardess—and says, “Looks like we have a seat-hog in the next row.” The inside scoop? The flight was full, no extra seats. The stewardess offered the guy a green light to jump on a later flight.
The Big Price Tag Moment
After a heartfelt apology to the “seat‑occupant” (who apparently said, “I appreciate it”), BigBawluh throws a curveball:
“I’ll deal with this if you put $150 in my lap.” He’s gambling that half the ticket cost will remedy the legroom crisis. The guy, clearly satisfied, hands over $150 in cash—like a broker closing a deal. The flight mates, however, give him the “you’re mad, you’re weird” look.
Why the Debates Sparked
- Some see BigBawluh as a champion of comfort over courtesy, calling him a “humanitarian” of seat spacing.
- Others are hit hard by the “fat‑shaming” that might have creeped into the narrative. “You’re humiliating a human being; you can’t make them shrink!” — said mathxjunkii.
- horse‑ride judges: the compromise was a “legal haul.” Herefromthere says “the situation was… flat out awkward.”
- Design critics: maybe airlines should make bigger seats? Or give moose-size passengers an extra row.
Bottom Line: A Try‐and‑Error In the Clouds
Whether or not this was a legitimate negotiation, the morality of charging someone for a bit more space is still up for debate. Some say BigBawluh didn’t “extort” much, while others argue his offer was a risky gamble.
In short: We still haven’t found a reliable way to make a seat fit a whole person or split a leg room half and half. The etiquette of cramped air travel remains a debate destined for the skies—literally.
