obese pax denied boarding
Nov 26, 2012, 7:51 pm
#31
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KLM was the original carrier. Delta is only tied because they tried to help this lady after KLM could or would not. It is unfortunate and tragic, but she did refuse medical treatment in the country she was in. I can hardly see how DL has responsibility here. Rather, shouldn't we look at the husband who knew of her weight and mobility issues and should have booked a seat that would accommodate her? He did book two coach seats for her so maybe he tried, but most carriers have seats called "business" or "first class". A person of her size would have at least "fit" in the forward cabin. Not sure what the weight limits are of those seats, but I've seen many a person of size up front.
One-way ticket to ____ after buying a roundtrip ticket from DL via AMS?
The "forward cabin" doesn't work as well for such obese passengers as multiple seats in the back cabin of a plane with three adjoining seats.
Nov 26, 2012, 7:56 pm
#32
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Nov 26, 2012, 7:59 pm
#33
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The airlines were able to board here even in October.
Maybe she gained weight and had further health complications in Hungary that further compromised her mobility after DL flew her to Europe and KL flew her beyond AMS in mid-September?
Maybe she gained weight and had further health complications in Hungary that further compromised her mobility after DL flew her to Europe and KL flew her beyond AMS in mid-September?
Nov 26, 2012, 8:03 pm
#34
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Misleading/dramatic thread titles such as this are one (of many) things that make DL executives dismissive of FlyerTalk @:-)
My condolences to the husband, but I think the LH spokesman was the must blunt and correct: “The question was never the seat belt. The question was the mobility of the passenger.”
My condolences to the husband, but I think the LH spokesman was the must blunt and correct: “The question was never the seat belt. The question was the mobility of the passenger.”
Thank You
Nov 26, 2012, 8:23 pm
#35
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They could afford a vacation home in Hungary but not.......well, nevermind. I'm joining the personal responsibility bandwagon. And, they bought a vacation home in a country where they didn't trust the medical community? Just looking at this woman's picture tells me her diabetes didn't pop up out of the blue one day.
Last edited by jetta2.0t; Nov 26, 2012 at 8:34 pm
Nov 26, 2012, 8:47 pm
#37
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As usual in these cases, the lesson here is to travel with medical evacuation insurance. Especially if you are in ill health.
Having grown up in Hungary their suspicion of the medical establishment there may have been well founded but they could have driven a short distance to a number of other nearby countries to obtain world class care.
Having grown up in Hungary their suspicion of the medical establishment there may have been well founded but they could have driven a short distance to a number of other nearby countries to obtain world class care.
Nov 26, 2012, 9:18 pm
#38
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Yes, that's why she ate too much foods, and it's very uncomfortable for her to fly. She didn't stop eating too much foods. She could die. She ate a junk foods. She didn't exercise, and she didn't lose the weight. She have to do exercise everyday.
Nov 26, 2012, 9:21 pm
#39
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Absolutely not! They won't even allow it. Only cruise ship. There's was no way to put her in the cargo ship. She will get seasick. She wasn't too uncomfortable for her to fly.
Nov 26, 2012, 9:37 pm
#40
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If an airline believes it is unsafe to fly you due to medical risk they can refuse boarding. Last thing the airline needs is a dead body on a several hour flight or having to put down somewhere on the way to have an ambulance cart someone off the plane.
I agree, while unfortunate, there is an element of personal responsibility here. DL should fight this with every lawyer they have.
I agree, while unfortunate, there is an element of personal responsibility here. DL should fight this with every lawyer they have.
Nov 26, 2012, 10:26 pm
#41
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Wrong. There are plenty of opportunities to travel as a passenger on a cargo ship. Whether it would be advisable to do so while in a state of medical decline is another matter.
Nov 26, 2012, 11:19 pm
#42
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425lbs. is enormous, too big to fit in two regular airline seats, and too big to fit in F seats. I'd be surprised if any Y row had enough space for her to fit from the anterior-posterior perspective. It sounds like multiple heroic attempts were made to try to load her onto aircraft, even using fire crews to help. I see no blame whatsoever lying with the airlines.
Life expectancy when one weighs 425 lbs. is pretty short, especially if they have severe enough diabetes to already have had a leg amputated and be nearing dialysis as this lady seemed to be.
As mentioned, even though health care in Hungary is questionable, the drive to France or Germany is not that far.
RIP.
Hope the judge imposes penalties for filing a frivolous suit.
Life expectancy when one weighs 425 lbs. is pretty short, especially if they have severe enough diabetes to already have had a leg amputated and be nearing dialysis as this lady seemed to be.
As mentioned, even though health care in Hungary is questionable, the drive to France or Germany is not that far.
RIP.
Hope the judge imposes penalties for filing a frivolous suit.
Nov 26, 2012, 11:27 pm
#43
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A more accurate title would be something like "Morbidly obese woman dies after refusing medical care while traveling."
Nov 27, 2012, 12:59 am
#45
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For the archives: the single American-quality hospital in Hungary is in Telki and it's not something any insurance would cover, I would suspect. But then again, while it's prohibitively expensive for most living there, we are talking of a few thousand dollars, perhaps 5K. There are some limited service private clinics at Budapest but they are not a hospital.
Last edited by chx1975; Nov 27, 2012 at 1:18 am