Temember the thread about passengers "of size" ?

[PrincessKsMom]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see him encroaching on his fellow passenger at all. I see him way too far out in the aisle, but I don't see him squishing the man next to him AT ALL. And if they did send the man next to the window to first class, why didn't the man in the middle move over? Seems like the logical thing to do.

I agree he should have purchased two seats. I also think he probably would have been better off in first class, but he looks like he's at least 6-1/2 feet tall. Can't imagine he had any legroom.

 

[happygirl]

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.

I know adults who laugh at this man There is no need to release the pic to the public.

 

[bookgirl]

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.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see him encroaching on his fellow passenger at all. I see him way too far out in the aisle, but I don't see him squishing the man next to him AT ALL. And if they did send the man next to the window to first class, why didn't the man in the middle move over? Seems like the logical thing to do.

I agree he should have purchased two seats. I also think he probably would have been better off in first class, but he looks like he's at least 6-1/2 feet tall. Can't imagine he had any legroom.

Look up the aisle there are people coming in to the plane so people were probably still boarding. That's why there appears to be a few empty seats here and there. Plus an average sized adult just hits the top of the seat kids or petite people would be below the sight line, so you may not see anyong in a seat but they could still be sitting there.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

There is no such thing as an invasion of privacy when you are in public. None. This is why the paparazzi can and do exist. If you step outside your door, everyone and their brother may photograph you to their hearts' content. Yes, that means pedophiles can take photos of your young kids on their way to school. It's also why we can arrest people who feel free to walk naked past your house.

Mind you, this was a machine owned by a company, so it's technically not in public. Rather, the company is allowed to treat the plane as their personal home space and have a lot more leeway with regard to what they and their employees can do within it. They can force you to use a seatbelt. They can force you not to smoke. They can make you change your seat if they think its best you not be in an exit aisle. If this photo was from a security camera in the plane would anyone say it was an invasion of the man's privacy? No, it would be the company protecting itself through a completely neutral form of observation.

Now the question of the photo's dissemination is another issue. Is it perhaps hurtful to the man in question? Yes. Is that tasteless? Perhaps. However, it presents nothing more than the facts. Sometimes the truth hurts. In the meantime, it showcases that there are issues in the employee workspace that could not easily be gotten across by these employees in any other way.

 

[ogreenlee]

There is no such thing as an invasion of privacy when you are in public. None. This is why the paparazzi can and do exist. If you step outside your door, everyone and their brother may photograph you to their hearts' content. Yes, that means pedophiles can take photos of your young kids on their way to school. It's also why we can arrest people who feel free to walk naked past your house.

Mind you, this was a machine owned by a company, so it's technically not in public. Rather, the company is allowed to treat the plane as their personal home space and have a lot more leeway with regard to what they and their employees can do within it. They can force you to use a seatbelt. They can force you not to smoke. They can make you change your seat if they think its best you not be in an exit aisle. If this photo was from a security camera in the plane would anyone say it was an invasion of the man's privacy? No, it would be the company protecting itself through a completely neutral form of observation.

Now the question of the photo's dissemination is another issue. Is it perhaps hurtful to the man in question? Yes. Is that tasteless? Perhaps. However, it presents nothing more than the facts. Sometimes the truth hurts. In the meantime, it showcases that there are issues in the employee workspace that could not easily be gotten across by these employees in any other way.

good way of putting it!

 

[happygirl]

If this guy didn't sign a release to have his photo released I hope he sues and wins.

 

[tzolkin]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see him encroaching on his fellow passenger at all. I see him way too far out in the aisle, but I don't see him squishing the man next to him AT ALL.

That's what I was thinking.

The first article makes the point of feeling bad for the guy next to him that's getting so squished, but it really seems like he's trying not to get into the other guy's personal space. I'm sure that's why he bought the aisle seat. The problem is that the aisle can't be used.

My MIL is a larger woman. She can fit in the airline seat (she flies 3-5 times a year to visit us), but I know she gets uncomfortable and very self conscious every time she boards a plane because she feels that people are imagining scenes like this.

 

[declansdad]

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

and you would know this how?

 

[C.Ann]

If this guy didn't sign a release to have his photo released I hope he sues and wins.

He can't and won't - because it does not show his face..

DD's wedding photo at a lighthouse in Maine showed up on brochures in the York County tourism center in Maine - and is posted on their web site as well.. It's a photo of her and her DH - from the back - looking out at the lighthouse where they were married, with the wind blowing her veil off to one side.. We came across it by accident - while in the tourism center.. It's still on their web site - 15 years later.. No permission or release required because it does not show their faces..

 

[declansdad]

If this guy didn't sign a release to have his photo released I hope he sues and wins.

he doesn't need to sign a release for this to be published.

 

[crashbb]

That's what I was thinking.

The first article makes the point of feeling bad for the guy next to him that's getting so squished, but it really seems like he's trying not to get into the other guy's personal space. I'm sure that's why he bought the aisle seat. The problem is that the aisle can't be used.

My MIL is a larger woman. She can fit in the airline seat (she flies 3-5 times a year to visit us), but I know she gets uncomfortable and very self conscious every time she boards a plane because she feels that people are imagining scenes like this.

My guess (and, like everyone on this thread, I wasn't there so it is just a guess) is that the passenger in the aisle seat wasn't allowed to keep blocking aisle and, once he moved over, was squishing the guy in the middle seat. The picture appears to be taken during boarding.

Moving the guy in the middle seat to another flight (I'm assuming that the original flight ended up being full, so he couldn't be moved to another seat on that flight), allowed the passenger in the aisle seat to use the space of both seats (though where his knees were supposed to go, I have no idea - he looks very tall).

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Let me start this off by saying that I am Pooh sized. Nowhere NEAR this guy but I'm not thin by any stretch of imagination. IMHO:

1. this guy's rights were not compromised by putting this pic on the net. This is from the back; nothing identifying his name, address, face, etc; was published as far as I know. Yes, he knows it's him. His family and friends know it's him. Is he embarrassed? Again, IMHO, too bad - he SHOULD be. He had to have known that a person of his girth would not fit in an airline seat. Can he fit in a regular seat at a movie theater? I think probably not. He should have purchased two seats or one in first class and he wouldn't have been photo'd and he wouldn't be embarrassed.

2. He's sitting ON the armrests. He's damaging property by not sitting on it properly and for how long? Sheesh.

3. Safety hazards galore: how can the flight attendents squeeze through the aisle past him? How would that affect the timeliness of them getting to someone experiencing a medical emergency when every second counts? What if equipment were needed in said emergency - how would that get past him? What if there is extreme turbulence? With him sitting on the armrests how well could the seatbelt (extended and not in proper use with the air pocket between his bottom and the seat) restrain him from being dumped to either side - he'd crush someone! What if there was an emergency landing? How long would it take him to squeeze up the aisle to the emergency exit? How many people behind him wouldn't make it to the emergency exit because it took so long for him to get there - if he made it at all?

4. He's affecting the comfort of the passengers around him. That poor guy sitting next to him - 'nuf said! How is the beverage cart supposed to get past him to the front of the plane?

No, I don't sympathize with this guy at all. It's completely his business how large he is. I have no problem with that. But I do have a problem with arrogance, stupidity, a sense of entitlement, whatever you want to call it. He should have bought two seats or not have been allowed to board.

 

[crashbb]

2. He's sitting ON the armrests. He's damaging property by not sitting on it properly and for how long? Sheesh.

THAT would explain why he looks 7 feet tall.

 

[FireDancer]

If this guy didn't sign a release to have his photo released I hope he sues and wins.

There is no expectation of privacy when one is on an airplane. It would be hard to sue and win anything when his name wasn't released, face wasn't shown, and he was not in an area where he had an expectation of privacy.

This is an example of someone who should have bought two seats, plain and simple. I know on SW they have a policy they can enforce to make a person who obviously needs two seats buy two seats. I do not know if AA has such a policy.

Getting all up in arms over the photograph just glazes over the real issue:

1. If anyone can't fit in one seat they should have to buy two.
2. If two aren't available they just can't fly.
3. If the airline doesn't have a policy in regards to over sized passengers they need one.
4. If they airline does have a policy it needs to be enforced and not just words on a piece of paper.

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.

I would have no problem if an un-doctored photograph of me was used by anyone if it was taken in public and wasn't misrepresented.

 

[ChrizJen]

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.

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.

I should clarify that I do think the man should have been required to purchase another seat. There's no 2 ways about that. He clearly did not fit in one seat. BUT, there's no reason this photo should have been released, period. It was used for the sole puropse of embarassing the man.

 

[happygirl]

Let me start this off by saying that I am Pooh sized. Nowhere NEAR this guy but I'm not thin by any stretch of imagination. IMHO:

1. this guy's rights were not compromised by putting this pic on the net. This is from the back; nothing identifying his name, address, face, etc; was published as far as I know. Yes, he knows it's him. His family and friends know it's him. Is he embarrassed? Again, IMHO, too bad - he SHOULD be. He had to have known that a person of his girth would not fit in an airline seat. Can he fit in a regular seat at a movie theater? I think probably not. He should have purchased two seats or one in first class and he wouldn't have been photo'd and he wouldn't be embarrassed.

2. He's sitting ON the armrests. He's damaging property by not sitting on it properly and for how long? Sheesh.

3. Safety hazards galore: how can the flight attendents squeeze through the aisle past him? How would that affect the timeliness of them getting to someone experiencing a medical emergency when every second counts? What if equipment were needed in said emergency - how would that get past him? What if there is extreme turbulence? With him sitting on the armrests how well could the seatbelt (extended and not in proper use with the air pocket between his bottom and the seat) restrain him from being dumped to either side - he'd crush someone! What if there was an emergency landing? How long would it take him to squeeze up the aisle to the emergency exit? How many people behind him wouldn't make it to the emergency exit because it took so long for him to get there - if he made it at all?

4. He's affecting the comfort of the passengers around him. That poor guy sitting next to him - 'nuf said! How is the beverage cart supposed to get past him to the front of the plane?

No, I don't sympathize with this guy at all. It's completely his business how large he is. I have no problem with that. But I do have a problem with arrogance, stupidity, a sense of entitlement, whatever you want to call it. He should have bought two seats or not have been allowed to board.

Wow, If they let him on the plane and they saw how big he was where is the airline responsbility? How in the world would you know that you need two seats If you had never flew before? On the other hand the airline should have know he was two big for one seat

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I should clarify that I do think the man should have been required to purchase another seat. There's no 2 ways about that. He clearly did not fit in one seat. BUT, there's no reason this photo should have been released, period. It was used for the sole puropse of embarassing the man.

Wow, If they let him on the plane and they saw how big he was where is the airline responsbility? How in the world would you know that you need two seats If you had never flew before? On the other hand the airline should have know he was two big for one seat

I think the airline should be more embarassed than this passenger. Who was in charge? Who didn't do their job that day? Why shouldn't the passenger in the middle seat expect compensation from the airlines? They are the ones who get to make the final decision. They didn't do their job, so now we'll all sit around and talk about the man instead? Why is there responsibility relieved?

 

[Magic Mom]

I'm of the opinion that people larger than a certain size should be required to buy two seats, however I think its absolutely disgraceful that a flight attendant would take a picture of an obese passenger and release it to the public. She/he shouldn't don't have any business taking pictures of passengers in the first place.

 

[sau418]

From what I understand the guy in the middle seat was taken from the flight and upgraded on the next flight. (and maybe there is more to this...) Should the gentlemen that did not fit in his seat have been removed first? After all the guy in the middle fit in his seat, and should not have been inconvienienced due to the airlines improper handling of the situation at the start?

 

[MiniGirl]

It appears this photo was taking during the boarding process. There are too many people in the aisles and overhead bins still open for it be during the flight. Since this man is also so much taller than those around him, it would appear that he is sitting on the armrest and not in the actual seat. That is why he is so far out in the aisle and also why the guy in the middle seat does not appear to be too crowded.

If I had to guess, I would say that as soon as the second passenger got there they realized there would be a problem. When this photo was taken, a flight attendant has either at the gate (if she was allowed to get off) or was on the phone to the gate agent. I also would not be surprised if they were told to "deal with it" by said gate agents. That was what frustrated the f/a enough to take a photo to show her supervisor.

Passengers having to purchase an additional seat is not a new policy. It was in place 20 years ago when I started flying. Problem is that nobody wants to be the one to have to tell the passenger that they need to purchase an additional seat because of their size. Put yourself in that situation for a second, and you can see just how uncomfortable it is for everyone involved. As a result, many employees look the other way, and just hope for the best. However, inevitably, a time comes when the flight is full or the passenger next to the larger person says something, and it must be dealt with. When it gets to that point, it is never pleasant.

As our population gets larger though, this will happen more and more. I don't pretend to know what the solution is because nobody will want to be the one to tell a person they're too large and must buy another ticket, so it'll keep happening.

And to the pp, who said this photo was taken just to make fun of the man, I highly doubt it. I truly believe it was taken in frustration. Remember f/a supervisors work in an office and really do not understand what their f/as have to deal with on a daily basis. Also, many f/a supervisors (at AA anyway) have never even been f/as, so they really do not know what it is like. Things get passed down the line and it is always the f/as who have to deal with it. I've had agents shut the door on me as we were waiting for meals (back when they had meals), while we were still trying to find space for carry ons, even while we still had passengers looking for seats. With a smile and a wave, they close the door and say, "Too bad. It's departure time. We're not going to wait for those meals, etc." I think this f/a was just really frustrated when s/he took it.