To expect people not to take over my seat on the plane

I thought you were speaking metaphorically at first.

Do you mean you literally balanced your tablet sideways on the arm rest to act as a barrier?

That is INCREDIBLY passive-aggressive. I suspect he found it hilarious and unfortunately he probably annoyed winding you up from that point forward.

Wary of confrontation? you weren't in a dark alley, you were on a plane, a polite 'could you keep to your seat' would suffice, if he's cheeky call the flight attendant.
Being assertive isn't confrontational.

I feel your pain. I recently spent almost 8 hours on a flight wedged in next to someone who spilled over into my seat and had his leg wedged up against mine.

100% agree OP!
I also try to block them like you did with your tablet.
Also, I move a lot, for ex if there is a leg in my space I’ll keep moving my legs around / up&down etc bumping into them every time (gently, but still annoying enough that they will often retreat to their own space).

Again, this is not usually possible DH unless it straightforward.
we tried to do it for other reasons.
airlines make money off havin a bum in that seat, luggage charges, food and drinks etc they don’t want to fly planes that are a third empty even if the seat is paid for.
plus - the is a very high chance it WILL be given away anyway.

🤷🏼‍♀️

You’re unlucky this is happening so much.
its not usually possible to buy 2 seats BTW there’s no option in bookings to buy an empty seat without having it assigned to a passenger AND with the rare airlines that do allow a ‘comfort’ seat to be bought easily, there’s no guarantee that it won’t be given away to a passenger on a buy flight/ overbooked flight anyway.

Thank you, will look into this more for future travel then!

I recently had elbow-wars with a woman. I already had my own squirmy child on the window side which is my own issue, but at least not inflicted on anyone else.

She was just met with resistance when she passed beyond the arm rest zone.
She decided to swap with another family member after a while. No capacity issue (both of us are small women that fit) just a chancer.

I appreciate that it's genuinely harder for larger people that don't have the length or width to comfortably accommodate their build, but I don't get any discount for being used as overflow space and compromising my comfort.

Yes even Ryanair allow it. They call it a comfort seat

In my experience, the second seat would get classed as a no-show as no second person would be checking in, and as airlines overbook all flights there would be a real risk of someone else being allocated my second seat and me losing out on money because tickets are non-refundable. Unless they have changed things in the last few years, which is why I'm asking about it. Have you actually done this yourself? And if so with which airline? Would be useful information to have for my MIL who refuses to travel as she's worried about the lack of space (she's not overweight, just worried about space).

You would literally book two seats the same way you book two seats if you were travelling with a companion. There is no limit to the amount of seats you can book, you do have to pay for them though.

Yes, I've travelled with a guy who was 6ft 7 and 20+ stone (did a lot of weights) but he fitted in the seat. It was tight but no spilling over. Budget airline.

Bollocks

For everyone saying large people should book two seats - is that even possible? I know it sometimes is on US airlines, but with UK or European ones?? I've never seen that option anywhere here, and I used to work for an airline.

Flying over to Boston for a rowing event last year, the plane was about 50% rowers. Literally chock-full of large-built but not obese men and women. Most (not all) of them kept their elbows and knees to themselves. It is totally possible, if people are polite and make an effort!

Rugby player types.

I overspill on some airline seats. I am of normal BMI and under six feet. My shoulders are wider than the seat back. The newer seats are not big enough for a lot of people of an ordinary size.

If he was travelling with a woman, the risk should have been a lot less.

In the same situation again, you could say something like “please could you keep your arms and legs within your own seat area as you are making me uncomfortable” and if he then touches you again or you have to move to avoid him doing so, call a steward and tell them “I’ve already asked this gentleman once to stop touching me, is there a way in which one of us can be moved as he’s making me feel uncomfortable”

’Built like a brick shithouse’ is the quaint old-fashioned expression, I think. Meaning a man who’s broad and hefty, but not fat. They do exist!

Very good point actually

im so tired of people wimping out by saying “oh i dont like confrontation”

VERY FEW DO! But speaking to someone ISNT confrontation, its saying “excuse me, can you not stick your elbows or knees into my seat area, thanks!”

or even a “do you mind..?” When it’s fucking obvious they know you know what they’re doing.

Irrelevant. If you need two seats you pay for two seats.

Large build? What's that?

Omg, I noticed this too! I wonder if it’s because they’re generally bigger than women so they feel they should be entitled to more space? Or they have such thick skins that it simply doesn’t cross their mind that what they’re doing is not ok

Are you serious, she challenged you for claiming your right to your seat? Some people are unbelievable! How did it end up?

I take the view that if you're in the middle seat you're entitled to the armrests, BUT you don't overspill them into the other seats.