shah269 0 #1 November 23, 2011 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2065094/US-Airways-passenger-forced-stand-7-hour-flight-400lb-man.html But before the door closed the airline asked a late-boarding passenger who weighed 400lbs to sit down next to him in the last empty seat. He added that there was a young exchange student from Eastern Europe on the same row as him who was 'pinned up against the window' by the obese man because there was so little space. In my job we call that the plush seat!Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #2 November 23, 2011 I would have been extremely pissed off. After the past three weeks of travel I have come to the conclusion that I hate air travel. This would have been the icing on the cake."The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theonlyski 8 #3 November 23, 2011 QuoteI would have been extremely pissed off. After the past three weeks of travel I have come to the conclusion that I hate air travel. This would have been the icing on the cake. Don't say cake, dude might get excited."I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890 I'm an asshole, and I approve this message Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shah269 0 #4 November 23, 2011 Quote Quote I would have been extremely pissed off. After the past three weeks of travel I have come to the conclusion that I hate air travel. This would have been the icing on the cake. Don't say cake, dude might get excited. HOLY SHIT THAT THERE WAS GOOD! oh so going to hell!Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiver30960 0 #5 November 23, 2011 I found it interesting that the article mentioned something about it being an oversight on the part of the airline and that he should have been required to purchase two seats, but by that time no more seats were available. What's the regulation? How many pounds requires a second seat? I'm also intrigued (and maybe just a bit saddened) by the fact that the overweight dude called himself out on it with the "worst nightmare" comment. BUT, it doesn't change the fact that the guy forced to stand wasn't the one that created the problem. How I would have handled it, especially if I was in my seat first: simply refuse to raise the armrest. Sorry dude, this is the 1.5' x 1.5' piece of crappy wannabe-flotation-device foam I paid an arm and a leg for, and I'm gonna keep it. As it is, I'm already doing much more rubbing up on the person next to me than would be acceptable in any open social situation other than airline flight, had to pay an extra $25 for the privelage of actually bringing spare clothes with me on my weeklong journey, and will have to pay more for a CAN of beer than I would for a decent drink in a posh New York nightclub. If you can't fit in your own seat, that's your problem, not mine. No more seats available? Sorry, there WILL be more flights in the near future, some of which are bound to have open seats. Elvisio "in the unlikely event of a water landing, the person in the seat next to you may be used as a flotation device" Rodriguez Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marinus 0 #6 November 23, 2011 Well, Call me an insensitive a-hole, but if you weigh 400 lbs, you did it to yourself and you shouldn't make it anyone else's problem. It's all very simple, you get fat because you take in more food than you need, and while I don't get judgemental about that, don't expect me to be sympathetic either. And fat people do indeed make great floatation devices in the unlikely event of a water landing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #7 November 23, 2011 Quote What's the regulation? How many pounds requires a second seat? I don't know that it's a regulation, but it's policy on several airlines (apparently including US Airways, according to the article). Southwest (which I fly most of the time) has a policy requiring folks to buy two seats. What's nice about the way they implement it is that if the flight isn't sold out and the larger passenger is able to get an empty seat next to them without purchasing one, they will refund the cost of the second ticket. Southwest defines it as "customers who are unable to lower both armrests and/or who encroach upon any portion of the adjacent seat." Now, I've definitely been on flights with people who can put down the armrests but still encroach - think very muscular guys with broad shoulders and slim waist/hips. It's always a judgment call on the part of the staff, of course, and (as shown by this article) they screw up from time to time. I fit in airplane seats now, but I've been the person encroaching when I was at a much heavier weight than I am now, and it sucks. For longer trips like that, I would do my best to get a first class upgrade (I was traveling enough that it was often possible) but if I couldn't... ugh. I felt horrible. I'm sure the people next to me felt horrible. My MO was always to get an aisle seat and lean as far out as possible. If I could get the aisle seats where the armrest on the aisle side went up, I'd pull that up to give a little more wiggle room. But it's pretty much a horrific experience for everyone involved, especially when you're pretty sure you're sitting next to someone who believes you're a lower form of life for daring to be that weight. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #8 November 23, 2011 I had a very similar experience recently, also USAir, on a 3-hour flight. They put Big Guy in a 3-seat row, him against the window, me in the middle and another guy on the end. (I had to travel on short notice, otherwise I always get an aisle seat.) Not sure how big he was, but most certainly well over 300 lbs. For 3 hours, Big Guy sat pinned to the window with his arms tightly crossed across his chest, and I couldn't move a millimeter, couldn't even protrude into the aisle if I'd wanted to. Not pleasant. I'm not unsympathetic toward others, and I know air travel is expensive even buying 1 seat, much less 2, but the airline should not have let that happen. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel99 505 #9 November 24, 2011 There is no regulation or weight limit (it is in the article). I do think that it is a genuine safety issue though. The airlines should take a responsible approach, and dedicate a 'fat section'. These seats should be more expensive but not the cost of two seats. They should also provide those clients with appropriate seating. I'm surprised an overweight person hasn't suffered from a blood clot and sued an airline yet.Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arvoitus 1 #10 November 24, 2011 Quote What's the regulation? How many pounds requires a second seat? When you stop walking and start waddling to move your corpse around.Your rights end where my feelings begin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hellis 0 #11 November 25, 2011 Quote And fat people do indeed make great floatation devices in the unlikely event of a water landing. I don't agree with you. First you have to get him out of his seat, then try to push him trough the plane and out of the door. Sure he will float, but 10 minutes later he will start complaining about beeing hungry. No take the life jacket below the seat Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
npgraphicdesign 3 #12 November 28, 2011 Maybe I am an unsympathetic a$$hole as well, but unless you have a proven medical condition that makes you gain weight, you have no right to complain. If you eat your way to obesity, don't exercise, don't maintain a healthy lifestyle, you have NO right to complain about having to do something LIKE purchase 2 seats on an airline, or complain about a store not having clothing in your 'size' (Heard that one in person one day in a clothing store). Have some respect for yourself. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shah269 0 #13 November 28, 2011 Why do you think I'm only interested in skinny girls! So if we have this problem we can pull up the arm rest and we can cuddle under one of the fat rolls!Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jrmrangers 0 #14 November 29, 2011 What they spent on lunch the last two weeks probably equalls the ticket price!!! Eat less move more it's pretty simple. No one did this to you so don't feel that someone else should help you with it!Wait , I pull what first? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
regulator 0 #15 November 29, 2011 I know for sure I'd be pissed off. And I would definately make it known that fatass WILL NOT be in front of me in line to get off the damn plane. Yeah Ive been standing up for the past 7 fucking hours...I'll be DAMNED if your fat ass is going to get in front of me getting off this plane. And I'd make sure I said it loud enough so every person including the pilot heard me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wayneflorida 0 #16 November 29, 2011 1. If it were me I would put on my rig an walk up and down the plane stopping a every door or emergency exit. Just play with their heads. 2. The fat man would be the one standing. 3. The captain would have a visit from the FAA. 4. The medics would taking me away in a straight jacket by time the plane landed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shah269 0 #17 November 29, 2011 Quote1. If it were me I would put on my rig an walk up and down the plane stopping a every door or emergency exit. Just play with their heads. 2. The fat man would be the one standing. 3. The captain would have a visit from the FAA. 4. The medics would taking me away in a straight jacket by time the plane landed. Man i'm from Iran i can't do that shit. I even ask for more ice....Im tazed and sent off to Cuba wondering where I can get a good BLT!Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
npgraphicdesign 3 #18 November 29, 2011 Quote 1. If it were me I would put on my rig an walk up and down the plane stopping a every door or emergency exit. Just play with their heads. 2. The fat man would be the one standing. 3. The captain would have a visit from the FAA. 4. The medics would taking me away in a straight jacket by time the plane landed. I'd pay to see #1 in real life. Or you could just tell the stewardess to ask the captain to descend to 10000 feet and slow down a bit so you can get out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,523 #19 November 29, 2011 Quote Quote 1. If it were me I would put on my rig an walk up and down the plane stopping a every door or emergency exit. Just play with their heads. 2. The fat man would be the one standing. 3. The captain would have a visit from the FAA. 4. The medics would taking me away in a straight jacket by time the plane landed. I'd pay to see #1 in real life. Or you could just tell the stewardess to ask the captain to descend to 10000 feet and slow down a bit so you can get out. Ask for 10k, Flaps to 15 degrees, gear down, 150 knots and depressurized. It helps (but not really) if you are in a 727."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jrmrangers 0 #20 November 29, 2011 I would have sat on the fat bastard like a bean bag before i would have stood the entire flight. That or stuff fatty into one of the restrooms Wait , I pull what first? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
