[Tony Figueroa]

http://youtu.be/WnIJf9kJCMs

On my L.A. to Chicago Flight (Number 1350 - Departed 6/16/11), I had a problem being seated next to a very large person who took up some of my seat (and even more after he fell asleep), he prevented me from lowering my tray table. He lifted the arm between us. I could not move my left arm to even read. It was a full flight. I gestured to the flight attendant who smiled and shrugged. I went to the galley to formally complain and again she smiled and shrugged. This large person should have been given two seats. I understand that there are people at every airline called "Conflict Resolution Officials" (CROs) who are trained specifically for situations with passengers with disabilities as well as obese passengers. He has National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) to go to if he gets the Southwest Airlines treatment. Please understand, I am not anti-obese, the guy next to me seemed like a nice guy, but why is my comfort and personal space less important than his? I did not want to hurt the guy's feelings or act like a jerk in public. It was bad enough that I could not sit with my wife (Donna Allen-Figueroa) but I did not expect to be spooning with a guy almost twice my size.

So far I have not heard back from American Airlines

[M37]

The flight attendant couldn't do anything; the large person had not bought two seats, therefore he wouldn't get two seats, no matter the discomfort of the person sitting there. You might have been able to achieve something by politely asking him to move over slightly, away from you, but that was the best you could have hoped for.

[Tony Figueroa]

1) I don't buy it.
2) Why didn't the flight attendant SAY anything? (she smiled and shrugged).
3) I am a frequent flyer. I complained on American's web site. They never responded. Why? It was their complaint page. After 30 days I put a video on youtube http://youtu.be/WnIJf9kJCMs still nothing.
4) Ask him to move over? Really? To where? Another dimension?
5) Do I have to be a jerk to get action? That's not me.

[STORMCLOUD]

So here is the solution. The Passenger Bill of Rights should say that if someone has a situation like this the airline owes them full refund. Trust me they would then do something about it. See my thread I had a similar experience.

No Very large people should not have to buy 2 tickets - that is too much. But there should be at least 4 special seats on an aircraft that travels long distance and it should cost at least 20% more and if those seats are full per flight, then very large people should have to book a different flight. People should have to declare their dimensions the way they do baggage weight. Why should a stranger passenger have to put up with discomfort? It is the responsibility of the airline to accommodate us all and appropriately. If you read my thread our very large person took 30% of my partner's seat who in turn took 20% of mine and my partner ended up barfing all over me because of the cramped discomfort...no kidding.



Last edited by STORMCLOUD; Today at 02:22 AM. Reason: typo