Temember the thread about passengers "of size" ?

[sbell111]

If this picture had been taken of the man sitting in two seats for the purpose of "look at that guy so big he takes two seats" I would have agreed it was inappropriate.

That is not what this was. This was proof that that guy was being a total jerk not buying two seats and proof to people that this IS an issue. IMO, this picture needed to be posted all over the internet. There are clearly people on the DIS that don't get how this could be an issue every time this comes up - maybe they get it now.

1. We don't know that he didn't buy two seats. We only know that two seats were not assigned. Given the amount that flights are often oversold by American, that's an important distinction.
2. American does not have a policy requiring 'persons of size' to buy two seats. They only push the issue if the flight is full. A passenger would not necessarily know that the flight would be full.
3. This pic needn't be posted on the internet. The FA should be disciiplined for ever posting pictures of any passengers.

 

[ogreenlee]

I could see where someone wouldn't know if they were real borderline, but this guy is large enough that he would have to know.

On a flight to Philadelphia, I had to ride beside a man who could fit in the seat, but his upper body still spilled over onto my side. I couldn't sit straight without rubbing my arm on his body, so I leaned for the two hour flight over into the aisle with my arm across my body. I was irritated to say the least. It's probably why this whole topic fires me up. It's one thing to share an armrest, but if I can't see the armrest.... I just don't see how it's fair for others.

 

[KAMLEM]

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

So you know this man? Is that why you are so defensive about it?

 

[maxiesmom]

. BUT, there's no reason this photo should have been released, period. It was used for the sole puropse of embarassing the man.

First off, you can't tell who tha man is, so how could putting a picture of the back of him be embarassing? Second, why are you assuming the picture was posted with the intention of embarassing the man? Could it be it was posted to provde the TA's point?

 

[ogreenlee]

Yes I can

Then you shouldn't have a problem. If you can fit into a harnessed rollercoaster seat, then you should probably be able to fit in an airplane seat.

 

[MiniGirl]

1. We don't know that he didn't buy two seats. We only know that two seats were not assigned. Given the amount that flights are often oversold by American, that's an important distinction.
   [*]American does not have a policy requiring 'persons of size' to buy two seats. They only push the issue if the flight is full. A passenger would not necessarily know that the flight would be full.
2. This pic needn't be posted on the internet. The FA should be disciiplined for ever posting pictures of any passengers.

Yes, actually they do. Like you said though, it isn't necessasarily enforced unless the flight is full. The policy is still there though.

We also do not know what happened to the f/a in question. I understand that his face cannot be seen, and I certainly understand taking a pic to show to your supervisor. I can even understand sending it to the author of the blog to illustrate a point. However, it should have been done with the agreement that it would not be posted.

 

[disykat]

1. We don't know that he didn't buy two seats. We only know that two seats were not assigned. Given the amount that flights are often oversold by American, that's an important distinction.
2. ]

1. 
   
   So you think he bought two seats, but they refused to give him the seats he paid for? Interesting stretch.
   
   When I fly American I receive a boarding pass giving me the seat number. I know how many seats I'm assigned before I board.

 

[ogreenlee]

I haven't been on a flight that wasn't filled to capacity in quite some time.

It's time for all airlines to require prior purchase.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

First off, you can't tell who tha man is, so how could putting a picture of the back of him be embarassing? Second, why are you assuming the picture was posted with the intention of embarassing the man? Could it be it was posted to provde the TA's point?

Posted to prove the point to whom? This is something that needed to be handled internally at the airline. No need for the general public to be involved.

 

[ogreenlee]

Posted to prove the point to whom? This is something that needed to be handled internally at the airline. No need for the general public to be involved.

It's the general public who is overweight, with some requiring two seats.

 

[happygirl]

Once the airlines saw how large the man was they should have had him get a extra seat,

The flight attendant was out of line for taking the man pic in the first place. the who ever leaked the photo out to the public was wrong for doing that.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

It's the general public who is overweight, with some requiring two seats.

So let's shame everyone into being thin? What purpose does this serve the general public? Is this like a Wanted poster in the post office? That the general public should be on the looked for this particular person? Why did it need to be disseminated to the general public? For what purpose?

 

[FireDancer]

For whatever reason the photo was taken, it did not need to be disseminated to the general public.

And if you are not entitled to privacy when in public, why was Pete always so concerned about threads that showed unflattering pictures of people in WDW? Yeah, I get it's his board his rules... but I'm sure he was concerned for a reason. Doesn't matter if it's legal or not, it's all about perceptions and I sure wouldn't be too happy if I knew an airline (or airline employee) might be taking pictures of me to post online and say some not-so-flattering things about me.

Those are two completely different and unrelated scenarios. I can take all the unflattering pictures I want and post them on my own private site. Pete or anyone else who owns a site can decide what can and can't be posted, they can not decide what is and is not in the public domain.

Provided I am not libeling anyone and I am abiding by the applicable laws of blurring or otherwise obscuring the face I am within my rights to take the pictures, post the pictures, and discuss them how ever I would like within the bounds of law. Whether I should or not depends on what my preference is just like whether you read the blog or article depends on your preference.

So let's shame everyone into being thin? What purpose does this serve the general public? Is this like a Wanted poster in the post office? That the general public should be on the looked for this particular person? Why did it need to be disseminated to the general public? For what purpose?

No one is shaming him, they are posting a picture of him. If anyone is shamed by an unaltered picture of themselves that is their own perception of their self image.

 

[Planogirl]

How does this picture harm anyone? I can't see the man's face so I have no clue he is. If I could see his face I would agree that it's tacky to post his picture. I find this very informative personally.

 

[happygirl]

So you know this man? Is that why you are so defensive about it?

The reason is I think it horrible to embrass this man like thiis. I don't know him but I wouldn't want a photo like that of me out there for the whole world to see

 

[It'sWDW4me]

So you think he bought two seats, but they refused to give him the seats he paid for? Interesting stretch.

When I fly American I receive a boarding pass giving me the seat number. I know how many seats I'm assigned before I board.

Actually it is very possible that he did buy 2 seats but they weren't assigned to be together. That happened to me in 2006 with AirTran. There were 6 of us all together. There were only two seats together which my mom and DB10 sat in. They had my DS (10 at the time) on the other side of the plane about 6 rows behind me and the other two people (both 16) were in middle seats - we were scattered everywhere. DS and I were upgraded completely free to first class at check in.

Hmmm, but if he did have two seats purchased, why would the guy in the middle seat have been offered a seat on the next flight (per the articles) instead of simply switching to the 2nd seat (wherever it may have been assigned on that first flight) purchased by the guy on the aisle? Mr. Large would have 2 seats together and Mr. InTheMiddle would have still flown on this original flight.

 

[TinklednPants]

Now, wait a minute. This picture does not prove that he was being a jerk. It also doesn't prove that he didn't buy 2 seats. It could be that he did, but was assigned seats that weren't together. (Yes, I've had that happen before as well.) It would be in the airline's best interest to allow the larger passenger to remain on the flight and get the other guy on to the next flight. That way this plane technically goes out full (presumably), and then you only have to find 1 seat on the next flight. If the larger person was removed, you'd have to still find 2 seats together to accomodate him.

Those are very fair points. But I would wager the exception more than the norm.

 

[MiniGirl]

Those are very fair points. But I would wager the exception more than the norm.

I'm not sure what points you think are the exception, so I will address several.

1. I doubt the person was being a jerk. I flew for many years and had to deal with things like this. Every single time this happened the large passenger was very nice. I always figured it was because it was an embarrassing situation and they didn't want to make a scene and bring even more attention to themselves. Even just having to give a seatbelt extension to someone can be a touchy situation because nobody I flew with ever wanted to intentionally embarrass or humiliate the passenger.

2. It is the norm that tickets bought at the last minute are often not together. If he got there and was told he needed to buy an additional ticket, the chances are very good that they would not be together. In this instance it is also the norm for the agents to allow the man on board and have the flight attendants try to find people willing to move to accomodate him.

3. It is also true that it would be easier to try to find a single seat on a later flight than trying to find 2 seats together on a later flight, so it is easier to offer the smaller person an incentive to take a later flight.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

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

I'm sad for him. I feel bad that I even looked at it.

 

[momrek06]

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.

Well that is you, but I am guessing that as uncomfortable as this gentleman looks sitting half in his seat and half on the edge of it, he would not want the WWW posting this picture of him.

I only hope for his sake this was a very short flight.