I thought I'd give an update on my experiences as a tall person flying easyjet.

I'm 6'6", and I flew for the first time in years when I went to visit my
sister in Switzerland last week. I posted here at the end of February with my
concerns about flying, and the space that would be availiable to me.

Outbound Flight:

There wasn't any information on the easyjet web site about what to do if you
are tall, and my email enquiry didn't recieve any reply, so understandably,
I was nervous as I made my way to the boarding gate. Would I get an exit row
seat? If I didn't get an exit row seat, would I be able to fit in a normal
seat? What if the person in front decided to recline?

I'd taken precautions to mitigate the chances of having a problem. I knew
that the width of the seat wasn't a problem.. After all, I'm not obese, and
if I was, at least it'd be an issue that I could eliminate. Short of removing
bone material from my legs, My height isn't something I can change. I had
tried to measure the amount of legroom that I would require, but the
measurement commonly given for the space in front of the seat is the pitch,
which includes the thickness of the seat itself (a measurement that is not
given). My estimation was that I could sit in a normal seat, but my knees
would probably be pressed up against the seat in front, which isn't ideal in
terms of comfort.

I was flying mid-week, and returning mid-week. I wanted as empty a plane as
possible, although knowing that easyjet wanted a plane that was as full as
possible, I knew that a midweek flight wouldn't guarantee anything. I checked
in in good time, but even so, I wasn't within the first 40 passengers who
would be let onto the plane first. My stress levels were high.

After a brief chat with the lady at the boarding gate, the signs were good - I
would be allowed to pre-board. My stress levels dropped, but I wouldn't relax
until I was on the plane. The first call went to board - people with children,
and those requiring assistance to board. I wasn't either of those, but I moved
to the barrier. A lady to the left of me said to me "Excuse me... I have a
child!" brandishing the poor kid like some kind of magic pass, but the man at
the boarding gate explained to the lady that I was tall, and would pre-board.
Ultimately, there would be no conflict of interest.. The seats I wanted to sit
in would require someone over the age of 16, and with no physical disabilities,
for operation of the emergency exit door.

There was a brief worry, as the pre-boarders were halted at the exit door for
some airside traffic to pass, and the first batch of passengers started to
move up behind us. I needed to be sure that I got a precious exit seat!

Well, after fumbling with my passport and boarding pass at the entrance to the
plane, I saw the grey headrests in the centre of the cabin, and they were
empty. I made my way through, and sat down. Phew. I could relax. I had done it.

I read through the emergency procedures, and went through in my mind what I
would do in an emergency - get up, pull door towards myself, rotate door,
throw through hole, slide down wing. A lady in the next row asked if I was
happy to open the door, and I told her that I felt fully able to operate the
door should the need arise.

during the flight I had a chance to sit in some other seats. i think some of
the passengers thought I was a little strange as I went from row to row,
sitting in various seats. It seems that there is a subtle variation in the
legroom depending on where you sit, but as a rule, I could fit within the
space of a normal seat, but my knees were forced up against the seat in front.

I spoke to one of the flight attendants (I think there is an easyjet term for
them) and she said that the easyjet 737s had better leg room than the ones
that used to belong to Go, so that's something to watch out for.

The flight lasted 1h20m, I bought a ribena light carton at a pound and a
kitkat chunky, for 60p. I thought the prices were quite reasonable for snacks
served in a metal tube travelling at 500mph above the clouds.

Return Flight:

I managed to get in the first 40 passengers on the return flight, which was
good because the man at the gate at Basel airport (they were non-easyjet
staff) told me initially that officially only people with children, and those
requiring assistance to board could pre-board, and that tall people wanting an
exit seat weren't allowed to pre-board. This lack of consistency worried me,
and added greatly to my stress levels especially as the flight was much busier
than the outbound flight. I stayed standing at the barrier for the 40 minues
wait for boarding - I knew that the chap with the crutches and sticks, and the
people with kids wouldn't be allowed in the exit seats, and I was desperate to
have an advantage in the scrum that might result as everyone surged forward.

In the event, I was waved through after the chap with crutches, and managed to
get the same exit seat as before. I did notice that the exit seats had a
marginally different configuration though, and that the rear three emergency
exit seats on the left hand side of the plane had at least half an inch more
leg room than on the outgoing flight.

Conclusion:

Well, My advice is pretty much what others have suggested on this topic:

1)Check in 2 hours before boarding to ensure that you get in the first 40
passengers,
2)Enquire at the gate for what the boarding policy is at that airport,
3)Travel midweek to increase your chances of getting the right seat.

My advice to Easyjet (and other low cost airlines) would be:

1)Have a clear policy on boarding tall people or prioritise emergency exit
seats for tall people
2)Use thinner seats with a rigid back and a sponge layer that don't recline..
This will save weight and will increase legroom.
3)Dispense with trays - nobody eats from plates on low cost flights, and a cup
of hot coffee is better held in the hand than placed on a tray during
turbulence.
4)Position seat pockets and any other attchments where they won't interfere
with the knees of taller people.
5)Put clear information for tallies on your web site. Tall people that don't
know exactly where they stand (or sit!) with low cost airlines may simply pay
more and go with a national carrier, and they'll bring their family with them.

Well, that's about it. I hope this is of some use to someone. I'll shortly be
uploading this document to http://www.mechtopia.org.uk/flying/ should you wish
to link to it.