Oh my!! I do not fly very often. I can count how many flights I have taken on one hand. I am one of those travelers that has to discreetly ask for a seat belt extension gizmo. It is embarrassing. I have always felt bad for people sitting on either side of me. However, I have never raised the arm rest. Luckily I have lost over 80 lbs over the last two years and I am thankfully taking up less space than I used to. Hopefully I will lose more before my next flight and others wont have to suffer.