Obese man booted from exit row, complains of "fat-shaming"

[dxwell]

It is disappointing that this is even a story - lazy media.
Media: "Mate, you're a pretty big unit, we can understand Qantas' focus on safety. Maybe you can share your angst on social media instead?".

 

[samh004]

At this stage I think it would be useful to know how often this man flies – i.e. was this his first flight in a year or does he regularly take to the skies and decided to treat himself on this occasion?

Reason I want to know (not that we'll get the answer) is because while an exit row does provide some extra space, a smart traveller would pick a comfort seat any day due to being able to raise the armrests for a double seat – that's real extra space.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

It is disappointing that this is even a story - lazy media.

As Don Henley says:

We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who comes on at five
She can tell you 'bout the plane crash with a gleam in her eye

 

[JohnM]

As Don Henley says:

We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who comes on at five
She can tell you 'bout the plane crash with a gleam in her eye

Have the cracking full performance:

 

[mrsterryn]

I am fat. Flying economy so much better all round to have a comfort seat.
Premium economy not so much of an issue.
Business or first no issue.
I usually dont need an extension belt ,have to say I would be mortified to have an exit row and need one.
Hopefully the staff were at least discreet? Mind you I suppose it is irrelevant now as he is happily telling the world

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Mind you I suppose it is irrelevant now as he is happily telling the world

Be embarrassed by 200 people on an aircraft but tell your story to 7 billion people on the Interweb.

 

[mrsterryn]

Be embarrassed by 200 people on an aircraft but tell your story to 7 billion people on the Interweb.

Exactly
I do not need media attention and millions to discuss my situation right or wrong

 

[Quickstatus]

If you need to raise the armrest you need an extra seat.

The best thing airlines can do is to actually make it easier to purchase an extra seat online. Currently you need to get on phone.

There should just be a tick box in the booking process to select extra seat.

 

[Quickstatus]

Flight attendant hits back at 'man who was fat shamed' on Qantas plane

Flight attendant Mark slammed Darren Beales, 36, and said there was no reason to kick up 'a stink' about being moved from an exit seat on his May 17 flight from Melbourne to Brisbane.

trib.al

Further info

It appears that he was refunded for the extra seat selection and they gave him a seat with a shadow.

He didnt believe he needed the extra seat - only the extra leg room.

Apparently the FA said QF would have sold him the extra seat at half price - goes to show the how much the QF fines are in proportion to the inclusive economy price

 

[Hvr]

'I felt very belittled and so small.'

Sometimes what you feel isn't reality.

 

[mrsterryn]

Flight attendant hits back at 'man who was fat shamed' on Qantas plane

Flight attendant Mark slammed Darren Beales, 36, and said there was no reason to kick up 'a stink' about being moved from an exit seat on his May 17 flight from Melbourne to Brisbane.

trib.al

Apparently the FA said QF would have sold him the extra seat at half price - goes to show the how much the QF fines are in proportion to the inclusive economy price

Interesting comfort seat only half price.
The only discount I have had in the past , admittedly international, was no taxes

 

[Denali]

He says there is more to him than his appearance, and wishes people could see past the numbers on a scale.

I don't see those people out there helping the community like I do.

She came down with an extender belt

I didn't need a second seat - it was a bit squishy but I had to make do.

On my bloody soapbox. Again, speaking as a fat person, its not the freaking numbers on the scale it the amount of space you use.

The seat was "squishy" That means he spilled over to the seat next to him. Thats not fair to any pax sitting next to him (although they found a shadow). I also doubt he would have fit into VA row 3 if he paid for it (arm rests dont lift up/table in centre console)

WTF does his community service make a difference? Only Bob Geldof gets to travel first class on a charity's dime - the rest of us have to pay (points or $).

This guy really needs to pull his head in because its looking better for QF every time he poses for a pic.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Apparently the FA said QF would have sold him the extra seat at half price - goes to show the how much the QF fines are in proportion to the inclusive economy price

Maybe it was half price on this flight. Or maybe QF offered an extra discount for him. But usually the comfort seat is the base fare, less fees and taxes. I guess on a $100 fare it might still be in the region of $60-70?

 

[Quickstatus]

That’s right. By the time the QF fine/tax is removed it’s approx half price.
The passenger has a point. He does need the leg room because the abdominal girth makes it uncomfortable sitting with knees drawn up. But he needs to understand he needs the extra seat too.

Come to think of it, the J seat serves both purposes. There is a chance he still needs SB extender in J seat though

 

[suze2000]

If he bought a comfort seat, he could manspread anyway?

 

[Quickstatus]

He is a bit of a wuss - these days it’s same as a “snowflake”. Don’t think he fits the manspreading type

 

[andye]

I think very few members of the general public (of whatever girth) know about comfort seats and in particular that they are cheaper than a regular seat. Would be good to spread that message

 

[Quickstatus]

I think very few members of the general public (of whatever girth) know about comfort seats and in particular that they are cheaper than a regular seat. Would be good to spread that message

That’s true but even if they did many would still not want to pay for the EXST even if priced about same as exit row

 

[suze2000]

That’s true but even if they did many would still not want to pay for the EXST even if priced about same as exit row

I would, if it was $20-$30 extra (which is what it is to SYD/BNE from here), but it's not - it would be at least $60-$100 extra. When most people choose their flights by price, who's going to be willing to pay 50% more for their seat if they are only going to be sitting in it for a couple of hours?

 

[Quickstatus]

Therein lies the problem. Currently the regulators and airline are tip toeing around the problem hoping it will go away.

If the airline wants to accomodate the passenger of size for free that’s their prerogative, but everyone should have the use of their seat which they paid for.

The real solution is a fare per kg. Currently preflight weight calculations assume 80kg for passenger. So maybe Below 80kg get discount. Above 80kg get a surcharge. And if need extension belt then need 2nd seat with the 2x80kg plus discount if less than 160kg. If no spare 2nd seat available, then cannot fly.