I just wanted to relate an experience that I just had with KLM. I travel annually from Chicago to Amsterdam. Being a very large person, I make my travel arrangements with not imposing on my neighbors in mind.
On past trips with this airline, I flew Business Class, not only for the larger seats, but for the increased space between them. As this is very expensive, it finally dawned on me to get myself two seats in coach, which would give me even more room for a fraction of the price. They always fly the same plane on this route, the 747-300 Combi, so I knew this plane very well, and six months prior to the trip, reserved the center four seats for myself, and my son and his wife who were accompanying me this trip. When making the reservation, I explained why I needed four seats for three people, and was assured that there would be no problem.
Upon checking in at O'Hare, I faced the first disappointment from this airline. Instead of the four center seats they assured me of, they stuck me in a window seat and my kids on another part of the plane. My second surprise was that the armrests only flip up halfway, leaving me to spend eight excruciating hours with one armrest digging into my hip and the other jabbing me in my ribs.
The trip back home was no better. Once again, they split us up, and knowing now of their strange seats with the semi-movable armrests, insisted on an aisle seat so that I could at least lean out away from the rib sticker (it didn't help, another eight hours of pain.) Imagine my surprise when I saw the people in the seats in front of me enjoying veritable couch because their armrests flipped all the way up, proving that they do indeed have seats with the type of armrests that I needed, requested, paid for, was promised and later denied.
Long story short, despite what KLM promises, they completely disregard their guarantees of special accommodation, instead freely handing those accommodations to those who don't need or request them. Any suggestions for an airline with more conventional seating?