Posted on 12/04/2011 11:26:12 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
At nearly seven hours, US Airways flight 901 is one of the longest domestic nonstop airline flights. And Arthur Berkowitz knows how long it takes to get from Anchorage to Philadelphia down to the minute. That’s because he says he had to stand for most of the flight when he returned to Philly last July.
Why would anyone stand for that long? Because he says a morbidly obese passenger seated next to him was spilling into his personal space, making it impossibly to sit in his assigned seat, and the flight was completely full.
“I didn’t fly from Alaska to Philadelphia on flight 901,” he says. “I stood.”
Telling an airline passenger who can’t fit into a seat to stand is pretty unusual. But it happens. The question is, what should the airline do about it?
Before answering, let’s review some of the specifics of Berkowitz’s complaint. He boarded the flight on July 29, and was grateful to find an empty middle seat next to him. But that gratitude turned to horror when the airline sent a late-boarding passenger who weighed more than 400 pounds to the seat. It was the last empty one on the plane.
“His size required both armrests to be raised up and allowed for his body to cover half of my seat,” he says.
Berkowitz immediately notified the flight attendants about the passenger. He recalls,
They were sympathetic, but could not do anything. No other seats existed on plane. They would not permit me to sit in their jump seats, and fully acknowledged the mistake by their gate agent, in allowing this individual on plane without requiring him to purchase and occupy two seats.
That wasn’t just a comfort issue, according to Berkowitz. It was also a safety problem.
“It did not allow me to use my seatbelt during takeoff and landing as well as required me to stand in the aisle and galley area for most of the seven-hour plus flight,” he says.
After he returned, he wrote a brief, polite email to the airline, asking it to refund his fare or for a voucher for the full amount. He also reported the incident to authorities, citing his safety concerns.
US Airways responded with an email that described his travel experience as “regrettable” and apologizing for the “difficulties” he encountered.
“Our intention is to offer the best travel experience possible,” it added. “The details you have provided indicate that we have failed to meet our intentions.”
The airline offered a $200 voucher for Berkowitz’s trouble. It didn’t address any of his safety issues.
He wasn’t happy with that, so he contacted me. I reviewed his case and agreed with him that US Airways might want to take another look at his complaint. I mean, leaving a passenger with no alternative but to stand for almost seven hours — if that’s true, then this might be one of those rare cases when a full refund is in order.
I contacted US Airways on his behalf. A representative told me US Airways had made its last, best offer. It didn’t say anything about the safety concerns this case raises.
Berkowitz says the airline is missing the point. It is glossing over the safety problems created by allowing overweight passengers to buy one seat.
“The $200 is inappropriate,” he adds. “I paid in excess of $800 for the ticket.”
Well pal, you’ve certainly got the right name! There was no other passenger. He took up both seats! Even if there was there certainly was no room for a third? Who sat first?
Some people gain weight due to meds they take, but no medicine causes someone to reach 400+ pounds.
Beat me to it, but I think there is more than one jump seat. ;)
My guess is that he probably did: I have.
Never take the middle seat
I took an aisle seat once, and got seriously clobbered by a suitcase. :(
You’re not thinking correctly. Mr. Fatso was seated in the middle seat in a row of three seats. This guy was squeezed out of his seat, and no doubt Mr. Fatso simply moved over so that one butt cheek was on each of the two seats he now occupied, thus leaving room for the third passenger to remain in his seat.
The airline, at minimum, needs to issue a full refund and apology. IMHO, passengers should have to buy tickets based on weight, including baggage. Also, if you are too damned fat to sit in a single seat, you should have to buy two, or go by sea.
I too enjoyed flying – before airlines started competing with Greyhound and Trailways.
All this complaining about over weight people on flights pales in comparison to my wife’s experience. She had to sit next to Dan Rather on a flight from Oklahoma City to Chicago.
I agree. I paid for my seat, so my half of the armrest stays down.
The fat guy can lift his half of the armrest...if he can do it.
But my half is staying down, period.
Believe it or not time. Yesterday morning our Pastor made an announcement from the pulpit that henceforth, he would have Deacons posted at the doors to redirect people to the basement area, where we have a dining area, when they brought food and drinks into the sanctuary area. This notice had already been posted in the church bulletin but apparently, not everyone reads the thing.
I've noticed three repeat offenders, two obese women and one obese girl about 10 years old. It's a sad day when people are so obsessed with food that they feel a need to bring their McDonald's breakfast to church with them.
One of the women and the girl (grandma and grand daughter) weren't there when the Pastor was discussing it, I hope somebody gives them a friendly warning before they come back - it ain't gonna be me.
Since you’re on a roll, how about regaling us with your favorite Pollock, ni***r or retard joke?
Calling fat people fat is merely observing a fact.
If you can’t fit in your seat, get off the plane.
I’d raise holy hell if an seatmate insisted in raising the armrest. I paid for my full seat space, and for that armrest.
Most annoying to me is most of the time in the gate while waiting to board, I always hear “this is a full flight”.
No one has asked the question; why are all the flights packed?? If there were seats available there wouldn’t be a problem. I travel often and most flights I’ve taken are full. Not only that, but try to find a direct flight. Good luck with that.
Could be that was his way of getting to pay for one seat. Show up late and pick a plane, see if you can get a ticket for ONE seat.
the decreasing amount of room the airlines provide each passenger
You suggest that we deny individuals the same opportunity to travel on a plane simply because they are morbidly obese.
“BTW-Obesity is a choice.”
BTW-Medical science is close to disproving that idea.
Is overeating 50 kcal / day a “choice”? How many non-anorectic persons on the planet have a grasp of one´s caloric intake down to the tens of kilocalories? Not many, I would wager.
Moreover, adding weight while maintaining an exercise level increases the intensity of the exercise, so tends to return to a moderate norm.
The main cause of obesity is self-delusion and excuse making.
You’re funny. I get the do more, but you assume that food consumption is the main problem. Unless someone is on a set diet, the more they do, the more they eat. My biggest problem was not eating enough.
I had PCOS and since my hysterectomy have lost 64 pounds without doing anything different. I stayed in a hospital for a week once (unrelated) and ate exactly what they gave me to eat, gained 2 pounds. And that was on a 1100 diet because I wasn’t very mobile, however it takes 1200 calories a day just to function.
But the opposite isn’t true. You can store/use less than you take in, but you can’t store/use MORE than you take in. (That is the “low metabolism” myth/excuse).
Some “foods” are great at triggering fat storage, which goes along with not having the energy to exercise. Sugar and fat are perfect (ever wonder why the obese talk about ice cream binges?) But 1000 calories of exercise will ALWAYS consume 1000 calories of ice cream.
On the other hand, when you gained weight on meager hospital rations it was because you were burning very little calories.
I will acknowledge that it is not simply a matter of personal strength or moral courage to avoid obesity. For various, reasons, it’s harder for some people to cut back on food, and to exercise. Those causes can always be overcome by more self-disclipline.
An obese woman tried to get me to raise the arm between us by saying “I think we will both be more comfortable if we raise this seat arm”.
I refused to raise it and we were both uncomfortable for the entire trip because her fat flowed over and under the arm rest.
I find this absolutely unforgivable of the airlines, to let huge people get on without buying 2 seats.
Some people gain weight due to meds they take, but no medicine causes someone to reach 400+ pounds.
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