Continental's Policy on Large Pooh Sized Customers of Size

[kaytieeldr]

The last time I rented a car at National in Orlando, they gave us the worst looking car. It have several scratches...nicks...even a small dent or two. I went around the car three times with my video camera to have proof of what I was driving off in. The guy at the booth was looking at me strangely. Since he had refused to write all of the damages down...

When I rented a car from Dollar in Los Angeles, they gave me a drawing of a car and told me to check the car and mark ANY damage. I even indicated a smudge on the windshield

 

[robinb]

I have learned in life that having a camera can be an invaluable tool. I think had I been on the OP position, I would have probably snapped a photo of my seat to have proof of how little of the seat was really mine. Pictures are worth a thousand words.

I know that I stuck my foot in my mouth earlier in the thread, but I have to say that this sounds like a pretty mean thing to do to the COS. "Smile for the camera while I take a picture of your butt in my seat!"

 

[Lewisc]

I know that I stuck my foot in my mouth earlier in the thread, but I have to say that this sounds like a pretty mean thing to do to the COS. "Smile for the camera while I take a picture of your butt in my seat!"

ITA, the COS would have to have been very rude and obnoxious before I would have taken a picture.

 

[simpilotswife]

Didja ever think maybe it was your tone and demeanor that prevented a more satisfactory resolution to the problem?

Also in the end there were, in fact, seats on the plane so it sounds to me like you just did not want to go where they were willing to move you.

We're only getting one side here and it seems to be a not complete side (if it was full how could there be seats, connecting flight or no?). I would be willing to bet that the flight attendant, CRO and supervisor all would have a very different story to tell, apology or no.

 

[Lewisc]

It's a shame you didn't take the time to read the original post before you commented. The empty seats were a result of the flight not being held for an incoming connecting flight. Some of the seats were sold to passengers that were arriving on another flight. Their flight was delayed, the plane wasn't held hence the empty seats.

Obviously she was willing to move since she took the flight, occupying a seat assigned to a passenger that missed the flight.

I don't really see how there is another side. Now if the complaint officer had boarded the plane the other side might be the COS wasn't that big but there can't be "another side" in this case.

In this case the solution was obvious, upgrade someone to first class. Either the poster, the COS or some other worth passenger.

Also in the end there were, in fact, seats on the plane so it sounds to me like you just did not want to go where they were willing to move you.

We're only getting one side here and it seems to be a not complete side (if it was full how could there be seats, connecting flight or no?). I would be willing to bet that the flight attendant, CRO and supervisor all would have a very different story to tell, apology or no.

 

[inkkognito]

That armrest BS never ceases to amaze me, but it is recommended by the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance on their website. Here is a direct quote from their flying tips for Pooh-sized passengers (and no, I am NOT making up that organization...it actually exists, and that's really its name):

"ARMREST UP - When you get to your seat during pre-boarding, raise the armrest between seats. This may give you the inch or two of extra space you need. The chances are that the passenger who will be seated next to you won't say anything; if he does, smile pleasantly and say that you'll both be more comfortable if the armrest is up."

Sadly, they don't explain how it is more comfortable for the non-Pooh-Sized person to have someone else's body encroaching in the space that they paid for. Basically, they're recommending that the large passenger bully/shame/intimidate the other person into leaving the armrest up by making them feel they'll look bad/unfriendly/rude if they want it down. Good for you, Anne, for not buying into that, and Continental was WAY out of line.

Barb

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

When you get to your seat during pre-boarding, raise the armrest between seats. This may give you the inch or two of extra space you need. The chances are that the passenger who will be seated next to you won't say anything

They are right - I wouldn't say a word, I would simply pull down the armrest if someone did this to me.

I agree that the way Continental handled the situation was appalling. This is the one major US airline I have never flown and looks as if I haven't missed a thing.

 

[abner1776]

I somehow recall that on more than one occassion when I tried to raise the armrest(no one sitting next to me) the flight attendant instructed me to lower the armrest as it was an FAA requirement at least during takeoffs and landings. Maybe that rule has since been changed ?

 

[bicker]

No, it's still an FAA regulation: Armrests down. Tray tables up. Window shades up.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

I refuse to fly SWA but I have friends that were told this and it was based only on looking at them. They hadn't even boarded the plane.

This is wrong (on their part, not your post). I have seen an altercation at the jetway where an SWA employee was insisting a COS needed to purchase a second seat. He said no and insisted they follow him down the jetway. Sure enough, he passed their test- he fit in the seat just fine with the armrests both down.

You may want to pass onto your friends that they canot give them the once up and down and determine anything. In this man's case, he carried his weight above the belt, but had average sized hips, thighs, and legs. He was quite comfortable in a regular sized SWA seat as long as the tray table was up. If they do fit comfortably within the confines of the seat, be sure a SWA employee follows them to the seats does the "test".

 

[ducklite]

Didja ever think maybe it was your tone and demeanor that prevented a more satisfactory resolution to the problem?

Also in the end there were, in fact, seats on the plane so it sounds to me like you just did not want to go where they were willing to move you.

We're only getting one side here and it seems to be a not complete side (if it was full how could there be seats, connecting flight or no?). I would be willing to bet that the flight attendant, CRO and supervisor all would have a very different story to tell, apology or no.

Excuse me?!?!? I was VERY polite. Probably a LOT more so than I should have been. Based on the way CO handled this, next time I won't be so nice. Maybe that was my problem.

The flight WAS sold out. When i asked the CRO for a different seat I was told there were no more seats available--all were booked, and it was only when passengers from a Virgin connection didn't make it in time were some seats freed up and at that point I did move. But when I asked to be reseated originally, there were NO SEATS TO BE RESEATED IN!

I WASN'T ASKING FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE FULL USE OF A SEAT.

The only "compensation" that I wanted when I called Houston was an apology and to be assured that this was an isolated incident and their policy wasn't adhered to. I got neither.

You maybe need to go back and learn reading comprehension 101, because no one else had difficulty understanding what the situation actually was.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

They are right - I wouldn't say a word, I would simply pull down the armrest if someone did this to me.

I agree that the way Continental handled the situation was appalling. This is the one major US airline I have never flown and looks as if I haven't missed a thing.

Her shoulder was blocking the armrest from being put down. She was sitting on my seatbelt. There was no way I could have put the armrest down without pushing her aside and then slamming it into her body. I wasn't going to have someone charge me with assault. That's why I only asked her to put it down, and when she declined I went to the FA, then the CRO.

Anne

 

[simpilotswife]

It's a shame you didn't take the time to read the original post before you commented. The empty seats were a result of the flight not being held for an incoming connecting flight. Some of the seats were sold to passengers that were arriving on another flight. Their flight was delayed, the plane wasn't held hence the empty seats.

Obviously she was willing to move since she took the flight, occupying a seat assigned to a passenger that missed the flight.

I don't really see how there is another side. Now if the complaint officer had boarded the plane the other side might be the COS wasn't that big but there can't be "another side" in this case.

In this case the solution was obvious, upgrade someone to first class. Either the poster, the COS or some other worth passenger.

I did read the original post and stand by my assertion.

I don't believe that all of those empty seats were from the connecting flight. Especially not when she claimed initially that there weren't any other seats except for FC. Suddenly now there are seats? Puh-lease....there has to be more to the story....

 

[ducklite]

I did read the original post and stand by my assertion.

I don't believe that all of those empty seats were from the connecting flight. Especially not when she claimed initially that there weren't any other seats except for FC. Suddenly now there are seats? Puh-lease....there has to be more to the story....

When the Virgin flight didn't make the connection, it left about eight seats onoccupied on the plane, and I took one of them. Until that point, there were no unticketed seats left on the flight, except for first class.

Why would you doubt that there were eight ticketed seats that ended up being open by the incoming Virgin flight that my flight wasn't held for? Why are you accusing me of lying about the situation? What on earth would I have to gain by it? Like I said, I turned down their "compensation." They entirely missed the point, jsut as you seem to be.

Anne

 

[simpilotswife]

Excuse me?!?!? I was VERY polite. Probably a LOT more so than I should have been. Based on the way CO handled this, next time I won't be so nice. Maybe that was my problem.

The flight WAS sold out. When i asked the CRO for a different seat I was told there were no more seats available--all were booked, and it was only when passengers from a Virgin connection didn't make it in time were some seats freed up and at that point I did move. But when I asked to be reseated originally, there were NO SEATS TO BE RESEATED IN!

I WASN'T ASKING FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE FULL USE OF A SEAT.

The only "compensation" that I wanted when I called Houston was an apology and to be assured that this was an isolated incident and their policy wasn't adhered to. I got neither.

You maybe need to go back and learn reading comprehension 101, because no one else had difficulty understanding what the situation actually was.

Anne

My reading comprehension is fine.

You may have thought you were nothing but polite but that is your interpretation. Perhaps the way in which you approach people puts their backs up. Your willingness to embarass the person next to you in your quest to complain about the fat person invading your space probably did you in.

Honestly think about it....no one wanted to help you or move you? Not one person?

You should ask yourself what you were doing that would make so many people not want to satisfy your complaint.

 

[Lewisc]

I did read the original post and stand by my assertion.

I don't believe that all of those empty seats were from the connecting flight. Especially not when she claimed initially that there weren't any other seats except for FC. Suddenly now there are seats? Puh-lease....there has to be more to the story....

The plane doesn't wait for a connecting flight and as a result seats open up. Makes logical sense to me. The only thing that doesn't make much sense is why they didn't just upgrade someone to FC. Upgrade the COS, the seat would have been large enough and then Continental wouldn't have "rewarded" Anne with an upgrade for complaining. Upgrade some other "worthy" passenger. Really wouldn't have been very hard.

You think Anne is lying, you're the only one in this thread that has that opinion.

 

[simpilotswife]

When the Virgin flight didn't make the connection, it left about eight seats onoccupied on the plane, and I took one of them. Until that point, there were no unticketed seats left on the flight, except for first class.

Why would you doubt that there were eight ticketed seats that ended up being open by the incoming Virgin flight that my flight wasn't held for? Why are you accusing me of lying about the situation? What on earth would I have to gain by it? Like I said, I turned down their "compensation." They entirely missed the point, jsut as you seem to be.

Anne

I don't believe that those eight seats were connecting. It's very possible that the flight attendants did not want to move you due to your complaint.

Given that the CRO knew that they were going to close the door in 10 minutes and the people from that connecting flight still hadn't shown up and weren't likely to, it seems to me that they could have offered you one of those seats then instead of waiting. Like I said you should ask yourself why no one wanted to help you....not one person that you approached offered to allow you to switch. I know I would wonder why....perhaps you should as well.

 

[simpilotswife]

You think Anne is lying, you're the only one in this thread that has that opinion.

What I believe is that Anne is giving us her version of the story and I am entitled to feel that way. I think that if we asked the airline personnel that she dealt with that day, a very different picture would emerge.

 

[ducklite]

My reading comprehension is fine.

You may have thought you were nothing but polite but that is your interpretation. Perhaps the way in which you approach people puts their backs up. Your willingness to embarass the person next to you in your quest to complain about the fat person invading your space probably did you in.

Honestly think about it....no one wanted to help you or move you? Not one person?

You should ask yourself what you were doing that would make so many people not want to satisfy your complaint.

How on earth was I trying to embarass anyone? I asked her to put the armrest down and she declined. Rather than cause her any further embarassment, I discreetly found a flight attendent and asked for help in being moved to another seat.

I was told that wasn't possible because all the seats on the flight were sold out. It wasn't that they didn't "want" to, the seats were all ticketed except FC, and I was told that CO doesn't move passengers to FC without a paid upgrade, and this set of circumstances didn't qualify to have anyone moved, and that I needed to just deal with having 30% of the seat that I paid for taken by another passenger.

Anne

 

[simpilotswife]

How on earth was I trying to embarass anyone? I asked her to put the armrest down and she declined. Rather than cause her any further embarassment, I discreetly found a flight attendent and asked for help in being moved to another seat.

I was told that wasn't possible because all the seats on the flight were sold out. It wasn't that they didn't "want" to, the seats were all ticketed except FC, and I was told that CO doesn't move passengers to FC without a paid upgrade, and this set of circumstances didn't qualify to have anyone moved, and that I needed to just deal with having 30% of the seat that I paid for taken by another passenger.

Anne

Moving you to FC would have rewarded you and moving her would have embarassed her as well as the person she was traveling with. But then obviously you don't see that do you.

The CRO told you that the door was closing in 10 minutes so that meant that they knew the connecting flight was not going to show up but still did not offer you one of those seats. Like I said....ask yourself why that is.