Comments on: “I’m normally not the type of person to complain, but …” http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/ The travel troubleshooter. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:51:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: KT http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/comment-page-1/#comment-19570 KT Tue, 19 May 2009 18:24:57 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/#comment-19570 I can't help but think Robin is not that smart. You say that they sell bigger seats in business or first class, but lets throw in a combination of lower class or middle class people who can't afford a 3 hour flight for 1000 dollars or people who can't afford to pay 400 bucks for two seats. Not everyone is made of money. Also, what about in people who are in my position. I don't need the extra room, but I also decided to fly to Fl on vacation last minute. Whether I was 500 lbs or 90 lbs, I can only take what seats are left on the flight I need. When I looked at the seats available a week before my flight there were maybe 5 left and all of them in economy and most of them middle seats. Sometimes you can't help where you get placed. Let me also point out, if you don't like sitting next to a fat person YOU PAY for first class seating. Or buy someone who is obese a first class ticket. My brother is 6'4 250 and hes not fat at all, he's built like a spiker for volleyball. He is uncomfortable as hell in airline seats. Not everyone has the money to waste on 1000 dollar business or first class seats. This about it this way, as far as obese people go, when compared to the car you drive, since you brought it up, if you could afford a porsche wouldn't you buy it regardless of whether u needed it or not? If I or any other person big or small could afford to fly first class or private jet everytime, then we would whether we needed the extra room or not. Maybe you should open up your wallet and get your fat hating friends to do the same and start an airline that flies only plus size passengers and their families. I can’t help but think Robin is not that smart. You say that they sell bigger seats in business or first class, but lets throw in a combination of lower class or middle class people who can’t afford a 3 hour flight for 1000 dollars or people who can’t afford to pay 400 bucks for two seats. Not everyone is made of money. Also, what about in people who are in my position. I don’t need the extra room, but I also decided to fly to Fl on vacation last minute. Whether I was 500 lbs or 90 lbs, I can only take what seats are left on the flight I need. When I looked at the seats available a week before my flight there were maybe 5 left and all of them in economy and most of them middle seats. Sometimes you can’t help where you get placed. Let me also point out, if you don’t like sitting next to a fat person YOU PAY for first class seating. Or buy someone who is obese a first class ticket. My brother is 6′4 250 and hes not fat at all, he’s built like a spiker for volleyball. He is uncomfortable as hell in airline seats. Not everyone has the money to waste on 1000 dollar business or first class seats.

This about it this way, as far as obese people go, when compared to the car you drive, since you brought it up, if you could afford a porsche wouldn’t you buy it regardless of whether u needed it or not? If I or any other person big or small could afford to fly first class or private jet everytime, then we would whether we needed the extra room or not. Maybe you should open up your wallet and get your fat hating friends to do the same and start an airline that flies only plus size passengers and their families.

]]> By: Amy http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/comment-page-1/#comment-10368 Amy Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:10:22 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/#comment-10368 I had this happen to me on an American Airlines flight. It was a 5 hour flight and I was in a middle seat- with the only empty seat on the plane was next to me. The man was so large that he couldn't get seated without raising the armrest. When I said no- it stays down, the FA told me that if I continued to be difficult she would have me removed from the flight. I was flying home because my dad was in critical condition in the hospital and could not miss the flight. So I let them raise the armrest and gee, surprisingly it wouldn't go down when the man was seated. For the rest of the flight I was IGNORED by the FA, no eye contact, no drinks (couldn't raise my arms anyway). The man ordered whiskey, one after another (it was a 9am flight) and took every opportunity to rub himself against my side throughout the entire flight. I was sobbing by the time I got off the plane. I wrote letters to the airline and the FAA about the safety issue. I received 1 call from the FAA, and a letter from the airline stating they were "sorry" about my discomfort, but they had no formal policy about large passengers. Oh- and they sent me a $50 voucher for a future flight. As if I would EVER fly their airline again. This is not an issue of fat- I want the entire seat I've paid for. Period. I had this happen to me on an American Airlines flight. It was a 5 hour flight and I was in a middle seat- with the only empty seat on the plane was next to me. The man was so large that he couldn’t get seated without raising the armrest. When I said no- it stays down, the FA told me that if I continued to be difficult she would have me removed from the flight. I was flying home because my dad was in critical condition in the hospital and could not miss the flight. So I let them raise the armrest and gee, surprisingly it wouldn’t go down when the man was seated. For the rest of the flight I was IGNORED by the FA, no eye contact, no drinks (couldn’t raise my arms anyway). The man ordered whiskey, one after another (it was a 9am flight) and took every opportunity to rub himself against my side throughout the entire flight. I was sobbing by the time I got off the plane.

I wrote letters to the airline and the FAA about the safety issue. I received 1 call from the FAA, and a letter from the airline stating they were “sorry” about my discomfort, but they had no formal policy about large passengers. Oh- and they sent me a $50 voucher for a future flight. As if I would EVER fly their airline again.

This is not an issue of fat- I want the entire seat I’ve paid for. Period.

]]> By: yogagirl http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/comment-page-1/#comment-10269 yogagirl Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:56:17 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/#comment-10269 Oh and one other thing. I don't consider myself IGNORANT and too large for first class is ENORMOUS. It may be sad and pitiable that the person is enormous but they still are. Facts are facts. Oh and one other thing. I don’t consider myself IGNORANT and too large for first class is ENORMOUS. It may be sad and pitiable that the person is enormous but they still are. Facts are facts.

]]> By: yogagirl http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/comment-page-1/#comment-10268 yogagirl Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:55:08 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/#comment-10268 Also I fly constantly and it is my observation that the vast majority of passengers ARE able to put the armrest down. Why should this be so difficult? No armrest down, two seats. Period. No stealing space from another passenger. I really cannot understand how someone can defend the position that even if they are so large that they cannot put the armrest down and are taking someone else's property in the form of their rented seat space it's fine. If the armrest can be put down, I may not have the most comfortable flight if the person next to me is large, but then that falls into the category of making allowances for other passengers differences. Also I fly constantly and it is my observation that the vast majority of passengers ARE able to put the armrest down. Why should this be so difficult? No armrest down, two seats. Period. No stealing space from another passenger. I really cannot understand how someone can defend the position that even if they are so large that they cannot put the armrest down and are taking someone else’s property in the form of their rented seat space it’s fine. If the armrest can be put down, I may not have the most comfortable flight if the person next to me is large, but then that falls into the category of making allowances for other passengers differences.

]]> By: yogagirl http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/comment-page-1/#comment-10267 yogagirl Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:50:26 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/#comment-10267 Shawna at least you tried to be thoughtful. I myself am really tired of being told I'm insensitive, mean spirited, etc. and so on simply because I feel I am entitled to the ENTIRE SEAT I purchased. I firmly believe that if a person cannot fit into ONE seat, then they should be REQUIRED to purchase second seat. I simply do not understand how anyone can defend taking a portion of someone else's property because that is exactly what happens. I rent that seat, the ENTIRE SEAT, for the duration of the flight. People should have to rent the appropriate amount of space for their needs. I am not talking about tall passengers, husky passengers, etc. Seats are small and accommodations must be made for that. I'm talking about OBESE passengers who cannot put down the armrest. I feel there should be a rule on ALL airlines stating that if you cannot put down the armrest (which then means you are taking space you didn't pay for, space that BELONGS to someone else), then you must purchase a second seat. Period. How about the obese person being considerate of ME and feeling bad for ME for a change? And not taking MY space that they didn't pay for? Shawna at least you tried to be thoughtful. I myself am really tired of being told I’m insensitive, mean spirited, etc. and so on simply because I feel I am entitled to the ENTIRE SEAT I purchased. I firmly believe that if a person cannot fit into ONE seat, then they should be REQUIRED to purchase second seat. I simply do not understand how anyone can defend taking a portion of someone else’s property because that is exactly what happens. I rent that seat, the ENTIRE SEAT, for the duration of the flight. People should have to rent the appropriate amount of space for their needs. I am not talking about tall passengers, husky passengers, etc. Seats are small and accommodations must be made for that. I’m talking about OBESE passengers who cannot put down the armrest. I feel there should be a rule on ALL airlines stating that if you cannot put down the armrest (which then means you are taking space you didn’t pay for, space that BELONGS to someone else), then you must purchase a second seat. Period. How about the obese person being considerate of ME and feeling bad for ME for a change? And not taking MY space that they didn’t pay for?

]]> By: Sandy http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/comment-page-1/#comment-10168 Sandy Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:49:23 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/#comment-10168 "On February 15th, 2008 GENIE said wow, too large for FIRST CLASS? Now THAT is ENORMOUS!" Now THAT is IGNORANT. “On February 15th, 2008 GENIE said
wow, too large for FIRST CLASS? Now THAT is ENORMOUS!”

Now THAT is IGNORANT.

]]> By: Shawna http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/comment-page-1/#comment-9084 Shawna Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:13:11 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/#comment-9084 This is the reason I try very very hard not to fly because I am a plus sized woman and do not want to infringe on other peoples space. I have inquired about getting 2 seats before just for my own comfort and was told when I was purchasing the tickets don;t buy the second seat because this flight never sells out. Well I was on the one that happened to sell out there and back! This is the reason I try very very hard not to fly because I am a plus sized woman and do not want to infringe on other peoples space. I have inquired about getting 2 seats before just for my own comfort and was told when I was purchasing the tickets don;t buy the second seat because this flight never sells out. Well I was on the one that happened to sell out there and back!

]]> By: GENIE http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/comment-page-1/#comment-8978 GENIE Sat, 16 Feb 2008 04:06:11 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/#comment-8978 wow, too large for FIRST CLASS? Now THAT is ENORMOUS! wow, too large for FIRST CLASS? Now THAT is ENORMOUS!

]]> By: Mike http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/comment-page-1/#comment-8962 Mike Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:10:26 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/#comment-8962 I have my own weight issues, but I was once on a flight, in FIRST CLASS, where the other passenger was so large he couldn't get over the armrests into the window seat. I had to take the window (I MUCH prefer an aisle and had pre-reserved the aisle seat). I could only bear to take one bathroom break because it was so painful to watch him get in and out of the seat. I felt a combination of anger and pity for the guy. I have my own weight issues, but I was once on a flight, in FIRST CLASS, where the other passenger was so large he couldn’t get over the armrests into the window seat. I had to take the window (I MUCH prefer an aisle and had pre-reserved the aisle seat). I could only bear to take one bathroom break because it was so painful to watch him get in and out of the seat.

I felt a combination of anger and pity for the guy.

]]> By: GENIE http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/comment-page-1/#comment-8884 GENIE Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:55:40 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/im-normally-not-the-type-of-person-to-complain-but/#comment-8884 The airlines bear A LOT of responsibility in this matter, but only because they either FAIL to make policies regarding 'passengers of size' clear from the beginning of the reservation process, or they fail to ENFORCE written policies already in place (like requiring obese passengers to buy two seats) The airlines ALREADY OFFER LARGER SEATS IN THE FORM OR BUSINESS OR FIRST CLASS. As a passenger, I'd love to always fly up front, but I can't afford to, so when I fly coach, I'm assuming the restrictions of a smaller space. That said, I AM entitled to ALL OF THAT SPACE. Passengers KNOW if they will fit into a SINGLE SEAT with the ARMREST DOWN. If they do not, they THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BUY TWO SEATS, PERIOD. And the airlines should require anyone taking up more than their seat to either pay for another one or GET OFF THE FLIGHT. This is not ABOUT 'intolerance" or "hatred" of obese people. This is a SAFETY issue as well as a COURTESY issue. The reason someone is obese is NOT my business, but it IS my business when the 'size' overflows into MY seat. I've been in this situation several times and the FA refused to do ANYTHING because every seat was filled. Until people demand that the airlines make WRITTEN policies regarding this problem available to everyone, and then ENFORCE them, it will continue to cause major problems. I fly Continental often and I carry their WRITTEN POLICY with me on every flight. If I encounter this problem again and the FAs refuse to remedy the situation, I'm going to use that copy. If that does not work, I will despute the charge on my credit card. The airlines want to sweep this issue under the rug, and to do so is not prudent. Remember, we are ALL responsible for purchasing sufficient 'space' to contain ourselves, and we are ENTITLED to ALL of the space we're willing to PAY FOR. The airlines bear A LOT of responsibility in this matter, but only because they either FAIL to make policies regarding ‘passengers of size’ clear from the beginning of the reservation process, or they fail to ENFORCE written policies already in place (like requiring obese passengers to buy two seats) The airlines ALREADY OFFER LARGER SEATS IN THE FORM OR BUSINESS OR FIRST CLASS. As a passenger, I’d love to always fly up front, but I can’t afford to, so when I fly coach, I’m assuming the restrictions of a smaller space. That said, I AM entitled to ALL OF THAT SPACE. Passengers KNOW if they will fit into a SINGLE SEAT with the ARMREST DOWN. If they do not, they THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BUY TWO SEATS, PERIOD. And the airlines should require anyone taking up more than their seat to either pay for another one or GET OFF THE FLIGHT. This is not ABOUT ‘intolerance” or “hatred” of obese people. This is a SAFETY issue as well as a COURTESY issue. The reason someone is obese is NOT my business, but it IS my business when the ’size’ overflows into MY seat. I’ve been in this situation several times and the FA refused to do ANYTHING because every seat was filled. Until people demand that the airlines make WRITTEN policies regarding this problem available to everyone, and then ENFORCE them, it will continue to cause major problems. I fly Continental often and I carry their WRITTEN POLICY with me on every flight. If I encounter this problem again and the FAs refuse to remedy the situation, I’m going to use that copy. If that does not work, I will despute the charge on my credit card. The airlines want to sweep this issue under the rug, and to do so is not prudent. Remember, we are ALL responsible for purchasing sufficient ’space’ to contain ourselves, and we are ENTITLED to ALL of the space we’re willing to PAY FOR.

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