Squeezed out on a US flight! What about passenger sizing? (merged threads)
Oct 15, 2011, 10:12 am
#91
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
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BadatThis -
There aren't enough thumbs-up smileys in the world for someone who stands up for themself the way you did. Not only was the customer poaching your space, but basically telling you to go to h@ll in the process.
I applaud you and also the crewmember for your actions.
There aren't enough thumbs-up smileys in the world for someone who stands up for themself the way you did. Not only was the customer poaching your space, but basically telling you to go to h@ll in the process.
I applaud you and also the crewmember for your actions.
Oct 15, 2011, 11:05 am
#92
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 84
I'm bigger passenger and can someone explain why if I buy 2 seats at equal fair I'm not able to collect miles for both seats?
Why I must pay taxes and landing fees twice? Why it's ok to charge 30$ for a few inches more leg room but 2 inches equals 100% double fare?
Why is it right that aircraft have different sized seats on each segment? Should a seat be standardized? If the majority of seats in airport gate area are 23" then why is 17" on the aircraft ok?
Why I must pay taxes and landing fees twice? Why it's ok to charge 30$ for a few inches more leg room but 2 inches equals 100% double fare?
Why is it right that aircraft have different sized seats on each segment? Should a seat be standardized? If the majority of seats in airport gate area are 23" then why is 17" on the aircraft ok?
Oct 15, 2011, 11:25 am
#93
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: Former long-time US GP; now AA dirt
Posts: 4,904
Will seats get even smaller? Ironically, it's quite possible that the coach seats on planes are not going to get any smaller because the the average person keeps getting larger. In other words, perhaps airlines can't fit any more pax into the planes due to weight allowances.
Oct 15, 2011, 12:24 pm
#94
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
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Why I must pay taxes and landing fees twice?
Why it's ok to charge 30$ for a few inches more leg room but 2 inches equals 100% double fare?
Why is it right that aircraft have different sized seats on each segment?
Should a seat be standardized?
If the majority of seats in airport gate area are 23" then why is 17" on the aircraft ok?
Oct 15, 2011, 12:47 pm
#95
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: New Orleans
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 655
Thanks for sharing how you dealt w/ difficult situation
I know I may be touching on comments that others have said, and I am by no means attempting to talk down about the COS.
So he then tried to pull out his Plat Perf card and have the flight attendant force me to put up the armrest. I countered with CP, so all of the sudden any amount of perf service was the same cause he didnt think I could have been in a higher class than him.
...Since you clearly cannot fit in your seat, I am going to have to ask you to de-plane and I will have the gate agent rebook you on a later flight. He tried to refuse and she informed him she was going to ask the capt to get a police officer since he was causing an interuption of service. He de-planed to the sound of clapping from a few people around me.
So I have told this long story not because I want to make some rude comments but because I feel it shows the need for a policy.
...
Anyway, I hope sharing my store helps others to understand why this needs to be addressed in some way. What if I had been someone who would not stand up for himself, or the Flight attendant had been pressured into trying to force me to share my seat?
-BadatThis
So he then tried to pull out his Plat Perf card and have the flight attendant force me to put up the armrest. I countered with CP, so all of the sudden any amount of perf service was the same cause he didnt think I could have been in a higher class than him.
...Since you clearly cannot fit in your seat, I am going to have to ask you to de-plane and I will have the gate agent rebook you on a later flight. He tried to refuse and she informed him she was going to ask the capt to get a police officer since he was causing an interuption of service. He de-planed to the sound of clapping from a few people around me.
So I have told this long story not because I want to make some rude comments but because I feel it shows the need for a policy.
...
Anyway, I hope sharing my store helps others to understand why this needs to be addressed in some way. What if I had been someone who would not stand up for himself, or the Flight attendant had been pressured into trying to force me to share my seat?
-BadatThis
A concern is someone thinking they have special rights because of elite status - the offender showing his platinum card. I think w/ the FA you had the result would have been the same had you had no status, but that might not always be the case.
Other similar threads on FT have talked about this problem. When they are the 2nd to arrive, the best thing is to not sit down and ask to be reseated or for an IDB. (stand up for your rights by not sitting down!).
United's policy seems a pretty good approach - from UA's www site:
*************************
Passengers requiring extra space
For the comfort and well-being of all customers aboard United flights, we have aligned with other major airlines' seating policies relating to passengers who:
are unable to fit into a single seat in the ticketed cabin;
are unable to properly buckle the seatbelt using a single seatbelt extender; and/or
are unable to put the seat's armrests down when seated.
If unused seats are available on the ticketed United or United Express flight, then a customer meeting any of the above criteria will be reaccommodated next to an empty seat.
If no unused seats are available on the ticketed flight, then the customer must either purchase an upgrade to a cabin with available seats that address the above-listed scenarios, or change his or her ticket to the next available flight and purchase a second seat in addition to the one already purchased.
*********************************
Sadly, it's usually left up to the customer to enforce this policy against a person of size. It's good that you posted your experience, which will help others prepare for this eventuality.
Oct 15, 2011, 1:15 pm
#96
Join Date: Apr 2009
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Posts: 2,708
heh, i should travel with a cane 
Oct 15, 2011, 2:52 pm
#97
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Tampa, FL, USA
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Oct 15, 2011, 2:54 pm
#98
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Oct 15, 2011, 3:37 pm
#99
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: US
Posts: 6
badatthis great way to handle your problem. You were much more diplomatic than I was a couple of weeks ago. My wife and I were flying on a flight from Charlotte to Chicago that we were not able to make because the originating flight was late.
We were bookd in middle seats on the next flight out. Not the best option but we had to get to Chicago. We joked about which seat each would get and who would sit next to the "fat guy". We both boarded and took seats with no-one else in our rows.
First comes the guy next to me sitting by the window. He must have been 6'2" and 300 lbs. It was workable since he knew he was large and sat close to the wall - a gentleman. The guy in the aisle seat must have weighed 400 lbs.
He was so large he brought his own extra long seat belt extender. My wife was turning red trying to stifle laughter. He immediatly tried to put his carryon in front of my seat and raise the arm rest. No being shy, I told him to move his bag to his seat and I pushed the armrest down and stared at him.
He tried to sit in his seat but just plain wouldn't fit. He squeezed and finally got close enough to the seat where he could buckle the extended belt. For the entire flight I sat on the edge of the seat closest to him making sure he wouldn't "appropriate" the seat I had paid for.
The F/A's were grinning the whole time. Luckily it was a relatively short flight. He never said a world as we left.
If I were a longer flight I would have gotten the F/A involved but it worked out for me.
I do agree that the airlines should follow through on any rules they have established regarding oversived passengers and not rely upon the person sitting next to them to complain.
We were bookd in middle seats on the next flight out. Not the best option but we had to get to Chicago. We joked about which seat each would get and who would sit next to the "fat guy". We both boarded and took seats with no-one else in our rows.
First comes the guy next to me sitting by the window. He must have been 6'2" and 300 lbs. It was workable since he knew he was large and sat close to the wall - a gentleman. The guy in the aisle seat must have weighed 400 lbs.
He was so large he brought his own extra long seat belt extender. My wife was turning red trying to stifle laughter. He immediatly tried to put his carryon in front of my seat and raise the arm rest. No being shy, I told him to move his bag to his seat and I pushed the armrest down and stared at him.
He tried to sit in his seat but just plain wouldn't fit. He squeezed and finally got close enough to the seat where he could buckle the extended belt. For the entire flight I sat on the edge of the seat closest to him making sure he wouldn't "appropriate" the seat I had paid for.
The F/A's were grinning the whole time. Luckily it was a relatively short flight. He never said a world as we left.
If I were a longer flight I would have gotten the F/A involved but it worked out for me.
I do agree that the airlines should follow through on any rules they have established regarding oversived passengers and not rely upon the person sitting next to them to complain.
Oct 15, 2011, 4:52 pm
#100
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Oct 15, 2011, 8:23 pm
#101
Join Date: Apr 2007
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I find that extremely hard to believe. Per your other comments on this topic, it appears to be the policy of your airline, not a law.
This sort of thing has made the news many times. I've heard some outrageous claims by the people that were forced to de-plane. Not once have I heard someone say that the F/A's aren't allowed to ask a COS to leave the aircraft.
This sort of thing has made the news many times. I've heard some outrageous claims by the people that were forced to de-plane. Not once have I heard someone say that the F/A's aren't allowed to ask a COS to leave the aircraft.
Oct 15, 2011, 8:54 pm
#102
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: The views I express here are not necessarily supported by any airline or codeshare partners, nor do I represent their views and/or opinions. They are my own OPINIONS dont like them dont read them.....
Posts: 1,462
I find that extremely hard to believe. Per your other comments on this topic, it appears to be the policy of your airline, not a law.
This sort of thing has made the news many times. I've heard some outrageous claims by the people that were forced to de-plane. Not once have I heard someone say that the F/A's aren't allowed to ask a COS to leave the aircraft.
This sort of thing has made the news many times. I've heard some outrageous claims by the people that were forced to de-plane. Not once have I heard someone say that the F/A's aren't allowed to ask a COS to leave the aircraft.
Oct 16, 2011, 1:44 am
#103
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Oct 17, 2011, 12:14 am
#104
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
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Posts: 1,573
WN's policy is, on paper, one of the best in the industry. However, where WN has had problems in the past is with the implementation of that policy. Some WN agents have been known to require those who need a belt extender to purchase a separate seat without giving them the chance to demonstrate whether they fit between the armrests....
...While these folks misapplying the policy are almost certainly in the minority, it creates an atmosphere of uncertainty that has led me to decline flying WN....
...While these folks misapplying the policy are almost certainly in the minority, it creates an atmosphere of uncertainty that has led me to decline flying WN....
My "baby" brother and his wife are both COS. He doesn't just "look to be 400 lbs" .. he is.
And, between the 2 of them, they buy 3 seats. I'm not talking about at check-in or being called out at the gate. They buy the extra seat at original ticket purchase.
Research it at the SW website. They give explicit instructions.
Book the extra seat in the same name, except the middle initial which is listed as "XS" (umm, that's "extra seat", not "extra small"
)In the end (not just those COS who are "forced" to buy the seat on day of departure) they get a refund if "push come to shove" (no pun intended) the flight was not full. How many airlines allow you remove a seat from inventory and then allow a refund ??
I wonder how many COS (no, I don't like that term, but we all understand what's being said) don't buy the seat in advance, thinking that if it had been removed from inventory for several days/weeks/months that they'd never get a refund. If all airlines adopted the SW policy, then I'd bet it would be common knowledge and more folks would accept the fact they spill over and buy the extra space in advance.
As it is, SW gets a bad rap for trying to be (and trying to get their COS to be) proactive.
The media is quick to point out when a SW employee gets a little over zealous and/or tackless in the enforcement. The media should do more to educate the public about real SW policy instead of trying to "over-sensationalize", but that's another topic
Steve
Oct 17, 2011, 8:21 am
#105
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Phoenix, AZ USA
Programs: AA Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 196
Blocking the egress of others
If one is seated in a middle or window seat, one must rely on the ability of the individual seated on the aisle to quickly remove themselves from their seat in an emergency situation.
A previous poster explains that an aisle seat passenger forcefully wedged himself in to his aisle seat.
More than a little scary, even in the "unlikely event".......
A previous poster explains that an aisle seat passenger forcefully wedged himself in to his aisle seat.
More than a little scary, even in the "unlikely event".......