“Do You Know Who I Am?”: The Definitive Thread of DYKWIA Stories
Apr 13, 2018, 10:21 am
#8986
Join Date: Apr 2012
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Found this on Delta:
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...eat-space.html
"If you are unable to sit in your seat without encroaching into the seat next to you while the armrest is down, please ask the agent if they can reseat you next to an empty seat. You might also consider purchasing an upgrade to First/Business Class.
We will do all possible to ensure your comfort but you might consider booking an additional seat in order to ensure your best comfort during your travel. Please call Delta Reservations at 1-800-221-1212 and they will be glad to assist."
From OP's post, fatty didn't ask the agent if they could be reseated, they just took the seat. The "policy" also refers to "agent" rather than FA; so it seems like a GA should have been called in. Finally, the policy suggests that those "of size" should consider an upgrade. To me, the FA hosed this one up.
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...eat-space.html
"If you are unable to sit in your seat without encroaching into the seat next to you while the armrest is down, please ask the agent if they can reseat you next to an empty seat. You might also consider purchasing an upgrade to First/Business Class.
We will do all possible to ensure your comfort but you might consider booking an additional seat in order to ensure your best comfort during your travel. Please call Delta Reservations at 1-800-221-1212 and they will be glad to assist."
From OP's post, fatty didn't ask the agent if they could be reseated, they just took the seat. The "policy" also refers to "agent" rather than FA; so it seems like a GA should have been called in. Finally, the policy suggests that those "of size" should consider an upgrade. To me, the FA hosed this one up.
Apr 13, 2018, 10:52 am
#8988
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And of course, if the "victim" pushes back, it's also "easy" for the GA or FA to then view the "victim" as the problem, and at best, offload the victim and rebook them for the next flight and at worst, bring in LEOs and have them escorted or pulled off.
Last edited by ATOBTTR; Apr 13, 2018 at 11:39 am
Apr 13, 2018, 11:06 am
#8989
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TPA-MSP last week. Guy bought an economy comfort ticket, but was easily pushing 400 pounds and couldn't fit into a single seat. I was facing a delayed flight and got re-routed at the last minute on this flight in EC. Show up to my seat and this guy is sitting in my seat thinking he has two seats to himself. Turns out that he was seated in another row, but the armrest wouldn't go down, so he took my seat and the empty seat next to me because of his size.
I show up and see he is in my seat. We do the boarding pass exchange, and I call a flight attendant - this clearly isn't going to work for either of us. The DYKWIA starts now - the guy tells me that Delta values him more than they value me (he's a 2mm miler), so I should pick another seat and move on because Delta won't make him move. He wasn't wrong because that is exactly what happened. So I'm told by the FA that I can depart the plane for another flight or take this guy's middle seat in EC. We discuss how this is the seat I was assigned and his problem isn't really my problem. FA doesn't care and repeats my options to deplane or take his middle seat. I felt like the DYKWIA at the moment, but I didn't think it was fair that this guy could commandeer seats due to his size when he is 1) bragging about how much he flies, and 2) his size would clearly prevent him from sitting in one seat on an MD-90. This wasn't something that just happened; the guy knew there was no way he would fit in one seat.
The DYKWIA wins in this story because I got stuck in his middle seat. Choosing to deplane would have delayed my trip by 5-6 hours, so I was ready to get moving. Sent complaints to Delta, but have not heard anything back.
I show up and see he is in my seat. We do the boarding pass exchange, and I call a flight attendant - this clearly isn't going to work for either of us. The DYKWIA starts now - the guy tells me that Delta values him more than they value me (he's a 2mm miler), so I should pick another seat and move on because Delta won't make him move. He wasn't wrong because that is exactly what happened. So I'm told by the FA that I can depart the plane for another flight or take this guy's middle seat in EC. We discuss how this is the seat I was assigned and his problem isn't really my problem. FA doesn't care and repeats my options to deplane or take his middle seat. I felt like the DYKWIA at the moment, but I didn't think it was fair that this guy could commandeer seats due to his size when he is 1) bragging about how much he flies, and 2) his size would clearly prevent him from sitting in one seat on an MD-90. This wasn't something that just happened; the guy knew there was no way he would fit in one seat.
The DYKWIA wins in this story because I got stuck in his middle seat. Choosing to deplane would have delayed my trip by 5-6 hours, so I was ready to get moving. Sent complaints to Delta, but have not heard anything back.
Then again, maybe he should be a 4MM since he has 4MM BIS
Last edited by dilbertsdaddy; Apr 13, 2018 at 11:26 am
Apr 13, 2018, 12:08 pm
#8990
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While all/most will likely agree that the FA screwed up, the question is what will come of it? Likely nothing except some apology miles to the OP. The issue here is that many people like the OP are getting sick of the airline caving to the abusers. I get OP's decision to also cave. OP's decision was basically under duress. His options became "accept it or wait another 5 hours". OP was forced into a no-win and the airline (and FA) caved to the wrong person, because that was the easier and less painful route for the FA, even if not the right one, and THAT is the problem. The "right" solution is not the expedient one. The "wrong" decision is expedient and less painful. The airlines (and crew) have learned these people (the ones who abuse the system) are more likely to push back and raise a stink versus the "victim" and thus it's easier on their part to just make it the victim's problem rather than make the right decision and put the abuser in their place.
And of course, if the "victim" pushes back, it's also "easy" for the GA or FA to then view the "victim" as the problem, and at best, offload the victim and rebook them for the next flight and at worst, bring in LEOs and have them escorted or pulled off.
And of course, if the "victim" pushes back, it's also "easy" for the GA or FA to then view the "victim" as the problem, and at best, offload the victim and rebook them for the next flight and at worst, bring in LEOs and have them escorted or pulled off.
Apr 13, 2018, 2:39 pm
#8991
Join Date: Oct 2009
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What exactly would you have done differently? OP notified FA, FA refused to do anything about it, and OP made the decision that getting to his/her destination was more important than a seat preference for a couple hours. Had OP chosen to deplane to get the GA, it's likely they may have just shut the door and left at departure time, leaving OP stranded.
Doesn't make it right, but sometimes getting somewhere on time is the more important outcome. OP should definitely follow up on the complaint, on his own time, until DL provides a satisfactory response.
Doesn't make it right, but sometimes getting somewhere on time is the more important outcome. OP should definitely follow up on the complaint, on his own time, until DL provides a satisfactory response.
The real question is what would they have done if the plane was sold out? Make someone get off the plane so the POS can have 2 seats without paying for them.
Apr 13, 2018, 3:54 pm
#8992
Join Date: Apr 2012
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Makes you think, considering GAs are perfectly willing to police bag size and gate check, but not waist size. Reading back through this one, the problem started when the GA allowed this POS to board with a single ticket. Did POS also board with the "pax requiring extra time in boarding"?
Apr 13, 2018, 5:22 pm
#8993
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I disagree. Unless the OP took pictures Delta really has no way of knowing what happened other the what the OP tells them. The is not a chance in hell that guy would have taken my seat I am not putting up with it.
The real question is what would they have done if the plane was sold out? Make someone get off the plane so the POS can have 2 seats without paying for them.
The real question is what would they have done if the plane was sold out? Make someone get off the plane so the POS can have 2 seats without paying for them.
Once the FA stated their (incorrect) decision, it was clear that OP was either going to end up in the middle seat or back in the terminal waiting for the next flight.
Apr 13, 2018, 7:04 pm
#8994
Join Date: Nov 2005
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Having been in a similar situation. The OP should have asked for the GA and have them document the issue. However, the GA would have just backed up the FA because at end of the day a PAX is not guaranteed anything but transportation from point A to B.
For the OP your best recourse is to request Delta$$ for your inconvenience. When it happened to me I asked for and received $100. At this point I would ask for $250.
For the OP your best recourse is to request Delta$$ for your inconvenience. When it happened to me I asked for and received $100. At this point I would ask for $250.
Apr 13, 2018, 8:57 pm
#8995
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Apr 13, 2018, 9:21 pm
#8996
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
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If this event took place during SKY boarding (assuming OP boarded with their assigned boarding group), there certainly was sufficient time to have a GA sort out the seating issue.
Apr 14, 2018, 7:20 am
#8998
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It sucks but she was doing her job. One could be "technical" and say that fatty should first have asked the FA to move him
Apr 14, 2018, 7:47 am
#8999
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,239
from Quora: In the United States a flight attendant will move the passenger that complains, except in some special cases if that other passenger is a 1) “passenger of size” (ie obese), if the flight attendant determines he is too obese to occupy only one seat. (she can also ask "him" to deplane and purchase two seats.
It sucks but she was doing her job. One could be "technical" and say that fatty should first have asked the FA to move him
It sucks but she was doing her job. One could be "technical" and say that fatty should first have asked the FA to move him
Apr 14, 2018, 8:47 am
#9000
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from Quora: In the United States a flight attendant will move the passenger that complains, except in some special cases if that other passenger is a 1) “passenger of size” (ie obese), if the flight attendant determines he is too obese to occupy only one seat. (she can also ask "him" to deplane and purchase two seats.
It sucks but she was doing her job. One could be "technical" and say that fatty should first have asked the FA to move him
It sucks but she was doing her job. One could be "technical" and say that fatty should first have asked the FA to move him