Temember the thread about passengers "of size" ?

[TinklednPants]

Check out this article and photo.

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/unusual-attitude/2009/11/passenger-creates-big-debate-a.html


"This is sent to me with the absolute assurance that it's a genuine picture taken by a flight attendant at American Airlines. The F/A took it to show her manager what was happening on the aircraft (757???) and why she was unhappy about it. Seems the guy paid for only one seat and the gate staff let him board.

You can see the F/A's point of view - how the heck is s(he) supposed to deal with it. Sympathise with the guy or not, he's a major safety hazard in an evacuation, a gross inconvenience for the cabin crew, and I would suggest a totally unacceptable travelling companion for the guy next to him.

I don't know what the actual outcome was but it seems unimaginable that he was allowed to fly in the end. Not that anything on a commercial airline is actually unimaginable, but close anyway.

A good friend of mine had a similar experience sitting next to a guy who was big but I don't think as big as this, for a long-haul flight and was effectively injured by sitting for several hours in a contorted position with his fellow pax half on top of him. The airline that did that to him was utterly unsympathetic throughout a lengthy correspondence afterwards. OK, Emirates since you ask. Ironically my chum is now in a senior position with another carrier.

Anyone know how how the American affair turned out?"

 

[happygirl]

Check out this article and photo.

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/unusual-attitude/2009/11/passenger-creates-big-debate-a.html


"This is sent to me with the absolute assurance that it's a genuine picture taken by a flight attendant at American Airlines. The F/A took it to show her manager what was happening on the aircraft (757???) and why she was unhappy about it. Seems the guy paid for only one seat and the gate staff let him board.

You can see the F/A's point of view - how the heck is s(he) supposed to deal with it. Sympathise with the guy or not, he's a major safety hazard in an evacuation, a gross inconvenience for the cabin crew, and I would suggest a totally unacceptable travelling companion for the guy next to him.

I don't know what the actual outcome was but it seems unimaginable that he was allowed to fly in the end. Not that anything on a commercial airline is actually unimaginable, but close anyway.

A good friend of mine had a similar experience sitting next to a guy who was big but I don't think as big as this, for a long-haul flight and was effectively injured by sitting for several hours in a contorted position with his fellow pax half on top of him. The airline that did that to him was utterly unsympathetic throughout a lengthy correspondence afterwards. OK, Emirates since you ask. Ironically my chum is now in a senior position with another carrier.

Anyone know how how the American affair turned out?"

I don't see why this pic was released to the whole world. I guess just to embrass the guy in the pic

 

[ChrizJen]

I don't see why this pic was released to the whole world. I guess just to embrass the guy in the pic

I agree completely. It was a "gross" (to use a word from the blog ) violation of the passenger's privacy. If the flight attendant took the photo to show a supervisor, it should have NEVER gone any further than that. It's disgusting to me that this poor man now has his photo all over the internet for the world to see. How embarassing for him. Shame on the people involved in spreading it around.

 

[ogreenlee]

Call me crazy, but I feel sorry for the man beside him, and the people who have to work around him.

Do y'all think that is fair?

This is also taken of the man's back and not his face. I know a guy that big. He was a childhood friend of my DH. They went on to college together. He was at our house when my DH and I were dating and went to use the bathroom. He used our sink to help lift himself off of the toilet, and broke the sink off the wall and into three big chunks. I had to replace all the chairs that went with our dining room table. Our sofa didn't make it to Atlanta with us because it had sunk in the middle.

Now granted... he was an awesome guy, but gees louise his friendship cost me a fortune.

 

[Stacerita]

It looks like they wouldn't have been able to send the beverage cart down the aisle either.

 

[C.Ann]

While I agree it should not have been posted, I'm wondering if it's actually "true"..

Look carefully at the photo.. There is a young boy sitting next to him and it appears that no one is sitting in the window seat.. If it was such a problem during the flight, why didn't the FA have the boy move over to the window and the man could have occupied 2 seats - the aisle seat and the one between him and the child..

If in fact it is true, while the photo should not have been publicized, the man definitely should have been required to purchase two seats..

 

[TinklednPants]

I agree completely. It was a "gross" (to use a word from the blog ) violation of the passenger's privacy. If the flight attendant took the photo to show a supervisor, it should have NEVER gone any further than that. It's disgusting to me that this poor man now has his photo all over the internet for the world to see. How embarassing for him. Shame on the people involved in spreading it around.

Well it's not like you could actually recognize the guy. Not much different than when the local news runs a story on obesity and shows everything but blurs the face.

 

[ogreenlee]

While I agree it should not have been posted, I'm wondering if it's actually "true"..

Look carefully at the photo.. There is a young boy sitting next to him and it appears that no one is sitting in the window seat.. If it was such a problem during the flight, why didn't the FA have the boy move over to the window and the man could have occupied 2 seats - the aisle seat and the one between him and the child..

If in fact it is true, while the photo should not have been publicized, the man definitely should have been required to purchase two seats..

That looks like a grown man sitting next to him, and a laptop in the window seat.

 

[TinklednPants]

While I agree it should not have been posted, I'm wondering if it's actually "true"..

Look carefully at the photo.. There is a young boy sitting next to him and it appears that no one is sitting in the window seat.. If it was such a problem during the flight, why didn't the FA have the boy move over to the window and the man could have occupied 2 seats - the aisle seat and the one between him and the child..

If in fact it is true, while the photo should not have been publicized, the man definitely should have been required to purchase two seats..

It's true. I've since seen it several mainstream papers. Apparently the resolution was that the neighboring passenger left for an upgrade to 1st class on the next flight. At least thats what I'm hearing.

 

[ogreenlee]

http://www.switched.com/2009/12/03/airplane-photo-reveals-disturbing-reality-for-large-passengers/

that's a grown man beside him, and not a small one.

 

[momrek06]

I don't see why this pic was released to the whole world. I guess just to embrass the guy in the pic

Yes, why was that necessary for American Airlines to do that? Idiots.

 

[happygirl]

Well it's not like you could actually recognize the guy. Not much different than when the local news runs a story on obesity and shows everything but blurs the face.

This guy family now it's him and his co-workers know it's him. The photo is only used to show how big this guy is.

 

[crashbb]

Yes, why was that necessary for American Airlines to do that? Idiots.

American Airlines didn't realise it (at least not according to the story). A FA (not acting as a company representative) released it.

 

[C.Ann]

http://www.switched.com/2009/12/03/airplane-photo-reveals-disturbing-reality-for-large-passengers/

that's a grown man beside him, and not a small one.

You're 100% right! In the link you provided it's much clearer to see that.. Thanks!

Bottom line - this man should definitely have been required to buy two seats.. That's not fair - or safe - for anyone on that plane..

 

[momrek06]

American Airlines didn't realise it (at least not according to the story). A FA (not acting as a company representative) released it.

Well that FA is an idiot then. I hope AA does something about the FA photographing customers and posting them on a blog (or wherever this was originally posted).

Let me state that the man should have bought two seats BUT just the same, his picture does not need to me all over the internet.

 

[ogreenlee]

I'd love to know if that was his first time flying.

I don't think the FA was an idiot. I think she or he was trying to make a point.

 

[momrek06]

I'd love to know if that was his first time flying.

I don't think the FA was an idiot. I think she or he was trying to make a point.

Whatttt, would you like someone unknown to you, taking your picture or a picture of a member of your family and posting it on the internet in hopes of making a point. Please, really.

 

[TinklednPants]

This guy family now it's him and his co-workers know it's him. The photo is only used to show how big this guy is.

One could also say that it is being used to draw attention to a growing (no pun intended) problem in airline travel.

 

[happygirl]

I don't buy for one second that this flight attendant did this for concern for others. I bet she/he could sit back and show there friends this man on the flight so they could all giggle and make fun of this man

 

[ogreenlee]

I don't buy for one second that this flight attendant did this for concern for others. I bet she/he could sit back and show there friends this man on the flight so they could all giggle and make fun of this man

Of course you would. No way could it be to show the conditions and safety hazards that she has to work with. No way could it be to show what the PP said about a growing problem with flights.

It's ONLY to sit back and giggle. I promise you that most folks of healthy size to not sit around giggling at people that big or heavy. Kids or teenagers might laugh, but they laugh at everything.