How would you deal with this situation?

[gefsmith]

Hi there, just keen to get the thoughts of other FF's out there...

So recently I was booked Syd-Mel on a full flight. I was 9A and at time of check in 9b was empty and 9c occupied.

Seated early, about 5 min later an approx 180kg male came and took seat 9b. Unfortunately this left me literally pressed against the wall.

As I have spine issues I knew this was going to result in my arrival to Mel in extreme pain due to the angle I was now seated in.

Fearing this I got up and requested FA for a potential reseat. I was advised flight was full and there was no way I would be moved. I explained my spine and that staying where I was had a very high chance of me getting off the plane in extreme pain.

I was told that was a shame and advised to either sit or get off the plane but I needed to hurry up as they needed to leave asap. "oh and by the way, if you choose not to fly you are going to forfeit your fare and have to buy another ticket".

I explained this was not really good either way and requested further assistence... FA sighed and went back to top of gate.

Brought another person down who FA introduced me by "this is 9a and he doesn't like his seat".

Again expalined my spine issue and again was told that the next 2 flights were also full and that I would have to buy another ticket.

Again explained that I felt my physical health was being put at risk and asked what they could do to help avoid this...

Again told to either sit or get off but to hurry up and make up my mind. I asked to be reseated on another flight but that I would prefer not to have to buy another ticket...

Again sighs and "i'll get the airport manager" but you have to let me know now if you're not flying as we have to pull your bags. I said I'd prefer to not be in pain so I guess I'm not flying.

Thankfully this man arrived he was very nice and he was more than happy to reseat me on next available at no fee.

I have to say I was very grateful to the manager, however the other staff members I dealt with were somewhat passive aggressive and I found it very annoying that I didn't even have a name, well other than 9a...

So just wondering, how would you react if a full plane left you with the option of being pressed against a wall for a flight?

 

[TheInsider]

Book 2 seats next time, especially with you back issues, then you won't have this issue at all. Not meaning to be nasty. (That's the only guaranteed way of not having anyone next to you!)

 

[mannej]

Apart from a lack of empathy, there isn't a lot that can be done if it has got to that stage on a full flight.

If you do require the space due to a medical issue, a comfort seat may be your only option to guarantee the shadow.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I think the OP is stating that not only didn't he/she have a shadow but the pax in 9B was encroaching on the space in 9A.
Kudos to the Airport manager for solving the problem. I would be very unhappy if I couldn't fully use the space available in my seat. I don't have health problems though. The CSM and FA shouldn't be sighing or referring to the pax as 9A. That's not on IMO.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Someone is about to take your shadow and your medical issues mysteriously flare up...?

I wouldn't be impressed either, but why make the issue about YOU instead of an oversized passenger who might have required 2 seats?

If I thought the pax next to me would cause extreme discomfort I would query them if they're feeling okay and able to continue through the flight without impacting my personal space. Ask them if they've flown before and how they've handled similar situations etc.. Last resort would be get up, find the manager and ask how a passenger of such size could be expected to fly when there isn't the required seating available to them. After all, the flight is full but they clearly require 2 seats... safety issue etc..

The way you approached it looks like a complaining pax that pulled one straight out of "101 poor excuses to get an upgrade" book, self offloads then wants to be accommodated at no cost after creating unnecessary drama, delayed the flight and breached their own ticket terms and conditions. Staff see people making BS excuses all the time...

I think you got lucky to be on a later flight without having to pay a fee.

 

[gefsmith]

I am totally fine having a person beside me, it's more when the person beside me encroches into my seat space... This was the first time I've ever encountered this problem.

 

[JohnK]

That is sad and does not make the flying experience a good one.

I would have thought someone of that size would struggle to fit into middle seat. I have noticed recently more and more larger size people sitting in middle seats next to me. Happened again last week. And I am quite big myself.

Aircraft seats have not changed for a while but people are getting bigger and bigger.

 

[blackcat20]

Book 2 seats next time, especially with you back issues, then you won't have this issue at all. Not meaning to be nasty. (That's the only guaranteed way of not having anyone next to you!)

Sorry, but when a pax buys one seat, they are entitled to use all of it. The pax next to them was encroaching from 9b into 9a (ie a POS), leaving 9a uncomfortable (more so due to a back issue). No one should have to buy a second seat just in case a large person sits next to them. Sounds like the onboard staff should have handled that better.

 

[Milefest]

I think it's a fair complaint. If someone is so huge that they are entering your personal space (and the seat you paid for), the onus shouldn't be on you to book a different flight, it should on the person who knew in advance the seat dimensions.

 

[eastwest101]

Quick question. Did these conversations happen in Row 9 or at the galley/aircraft door/aerobridge area? Just interested if the Qantas Airport Manager (whom probably made the correct call) actually saw the person in 9B or not.....

 

[Dr Ralph]

I'd have litigated if I suffered an injury.

 

[get me outta here]

I wonder how the other person on here about 2 months or so ago went with the almost exactly the same complaint.

I agree, you pay for a seat, they sell one, and so you are entitled to all of it. But, not sure what the answer is to this growing problem. I feel squashed if even there's a man spread into my space and have to twist to get away from it.

 

[gefsmith]

Conversation happened at the galley and then airbridge.

 

[gefsmith]

Someone is about to take your shadow and your medical issues mysteriously flare up...?

I wouldn't be impressed either, but why make the issue about YOU instead of an oversized passenger who might have required 2 seats?

...

I think you got lucky to be on a later flight without having to pay a fee.

I didn't make the issue about the chap in 9B, other than noting his size was actually causing me issues, as I didn't want to embarrassment.

I can understand how there are probably many people who demand upgrades in situations like this. I didn't want to be upgraded. I wanted to arrive in a state where I was not worse than when I boarded. I would have been happy to be moved to any other seat in the plane but the staff member said that she was not going to move anyone when I asked.

 

[eastwest101]

Conversation happened at the galley and then airbridge.

Fair enough - thanks for clarifying. I'd just be guessing, that as you kept the conversation reasonably polite and offered a solution to the problem, that you got rebooked on the next flight without penalty at the Qantas managers discretion. What can you say about the amount of information that the airport manager sought from the flight attendants? Was the passenger in 9B consulted, or offered to be re-seated in business class or on a later service or was this simply between yourself, the flight crew and the QF airport manager?

 

[gefsmith]

From what I could determine there was no conversation with the chap in 9B. I gather then flag of "the plane is full" was the issue.
When I spoke to the airport manager I discussed the elements, in particular my spine and being pressed against the wall. He was very kind and responded almost instantly, yes, rebook for next available seat.

I suppose the reason I made this post was to see how others would deal with situations like this.
There was a case in the USA where a lady successfully litigated after sustaining nerve damage after a similar situation.

 

[Deleted member]

If your quote is verbatim "this is 9a and he doesn't like his seat".
I would have pointed out that I in fact had no problem with my seat, i did however have a problem with not being able to get what I had paid for, a seat that allowed me the comfort and safety I am entitled to. Kudos to the airport manager. was it full in J as well?

 

[russ]

... I got up and requested FA for a potential reseat.

I would have framed the problem differently: I would not have asked for a potential reseat - I would have stayed in my seat and called the attendant over and showed them the problem. Reasons:
1. They might come up with a solution which had not occurred to you (e.g. reseating your neighbour)
2. The issue won't get lost in communication (e.g. the FA summarising the situation as "9A doesn't like his seat")

As for not wanting to embarrass your neighbour, I don't want to embarrass anyone either, but if they encroach on my space, I'm not going to dance around the issue.

 

[russ]

I'd have litigated if I suffered an injury.

err... Wouldn't it be better to avoid the injury in the first place?

 

[eastwest101]

I would have framed the problem differently: I would not have asked for a potential reseat - I would have stayed in my seat and called the attendant over and showed them the problem. Reasons:
1. They might come up with a solution which had not occurred to you (e.g. reseating your neighbour)
2. The issue won't get lost in communication (e.g. the FA summarising the situation as "9A doesn't like his seat")

As for not wanting to embarrass your neighbour, I don't want to embarrass anyone either, but if they encroach on my space, I'm not going to dance around the issue.

Possibly the most direct approach to take, but with maybe one addition that after you press the call button and provided that the flight attendant appears and sees the problem you could then ask to politely retire to the galley to discuss various options? Embarrasing yes, but also direct and unable to be mis-interpreted and almost impossible for the crew to deny there is an issue. Just have to be careful you don't get ignored or "fobbed off" before the final door closes, as when that happens your fate is almost sealed.