Obese man was humiliated because the flight was overbooked

[Inver]

Quote: A PASSENGER claims he was left "humiliated" after being told he couldn't board a plane.

Matthew Harper, who weighs 154 kilograms, claims he was told to step off the Southwest flight from Chicago to Denver, US, as it was overbooked.
He said he'd "never been humiliated like this in my life" and "felt like a criminal", TV station DKVR reported.


Read more: Overweight man was plane 'humiliated' | News.com.au

So the flight was overbooked but there was an empty seat next to him but then he was allowed to fly anyway? It doesn't make sense to me.

Being morbidly obese myself I will always choose to fly business class if possible.

 

[samh004]

Being morbidly obese myself I will always choose to fly business class if possible.[/FONT][/COLOR]

I generally just purchase two seats, as is that airlines policy and mentioned in the article:

The airline has a "customer of size" policy which encourages passengers to purchase a second seat prior to their flight if they "encroach upon any part of the neighbouring seats".

Mr Harper said he was aware of the policy but there was an empty seat between his brother and himself.

Sounds like they denied him access at first because they weren't sure if he would have a free seat next to him, and then when they realised he would, they let him on board. From what's written, it sounds like he didn't buy an extra seat, and they'd know that looking at his BP. If the flight had been completely full, they'd have to deplane him, so I wonder which would be more humiliating?

From the way it's written, it suggests to me he didn't have an extra seat, so perhaps in the future he should. If he did however, I'd say he has a case as he was then prepared and mistreated.

 

[whatmeworry]

Interesting the article title only describes the guy as overweight, but at 154kg he would have to very tall to be considered overweight by the BMI scale.

 

[JohnK]

I generally just purchase two seats....

Have you put on a lot of weight since we last met?

 

[whatmeworry]

Have you put on a lot of weight since we last met?

I suspect Sam got his quotes muddled.

 

[medhead]

I suspect Sam got his quotes muddled.

I don't. I suspect he generally buys 2 seats. But not because of weight as JohnK implies.

 

[samh004]

I don't. I suspect he generally buys 2 seats. But not because of weight as JohnK implies.

Indeed. Need the spare seat for my alternate personality

 

[burrco]

The problem with the US is that the culture is so lawsuit orientated, that every incident is surrounded by such hyperbole ("felt like a criminal" etc) to maximise the potential claim.

Without commenting on this case, I am always perplexed by people who claim they were humiliated running to the media so their humiliation can be shared on a nation/international scale.

 

[eastwest101]

Lots of information missing from the article making any conclusions almost entirely meaningless. The passenger did fly on the originally scheduled flight from what I can gather. I think the crucial questions are - did the pax in question have a paid and confirmed "extra seat"/comfort seat on this flight or not? If so - its shabby treatement, if not - its all a matter of conjecture along the lines of I suspect the pax rerquested and got an empty seat next to them and then subsequent to that the flight was filled or oversold and possibly Southwest tried to offload the pax.... maybe misunderstanding follows.

 

[HappyTraveler]

I checked some other articles about this case, and they clarify remaining questions:

1. He did not buy any extra seats, and he was aware of the policy
2. Airline told him that flight was overbooked and they could not let him in, however, they let him in right before the flight.
3. He found out that airplane was not completely full and the seat next to him was empty during the flight.


So, here is my take:
Overbooking is normal for all airlines, so I can see that flight could be overbooked and they told him that he could not board the plane (assuming overbooked flight). Then when some people did not show up, he was allowed to board and they arranged second seat empty next to him, for free.

I think he should be happy with $100 they offered him, but I guess he just wants to make some money and that's why he went to media and court. I think burrco is correct and sharing the "humiliation" with the media just demonstrates his real goals....

 

[eastwest101]

I checked some other articles about this case, and they clarify remaining questions:

1. He did not buy any extra seats, and he was aware of the policy
2. Airline told him that flight was overbooked and they could not let him in, however, they let him in right before the flight.
3. He found out that airplane was not completely full and the seat next to him was empty during the flight.

If indeed true then that sequence of events sounds a bit more believable and not at all unusual to me (and I have no reason to doubt/contest those facts). Would have been a more interesting and different story if the passenger had booked and paid for an extra seat.