Long-haul passenger sues over broken seat

[Dave Noble]

A SYDNEY man is suing British Airways for up to $600,000 after he was forced to endure a long-haul flight from London to Shanghai in a broken seat, a court has heard.

Richard John Pattison, 64, sustained an injury to his neck after he had to remain upright for the entire 12-hour flight when his seat would not recline past its "take-off" position.

Full article at Suing British Airways | Long-haul flight | British Airways

Dave

 

[Blackadder]

Obviously couldn't get up and move around or do any neck movements.

 

[BlueAU]

$600k is alot of compo! but I guess a neck injury is quite serious IMO.

 

[NYCguy]

I'm sure that nobody on this board has ever had to endure a sore neck after a long-haul in economy...

I just don't see how this complaint can fly. Surely if you have a dodgy neck you'd buy one of those silly little pillows that hold your head up straight, or buy a ticket at the front of the plane so you can lie flat?

Princess should have just gone to a doctor in Shanghai - a couple of Valium and Vicodin would have sorted his poor neck out overnight.

 

[NM]

I am sure the 4 inches of recline would have made a huge difference in preventing his neck injury

 

[Flying Fox]

I am sure the 4 inches of recline would have made a huge difference in preventing his neck injury

Probably not but I'm sure that $600K would ensure J tickets for the rest of his life

And that would make him forget all about his neck pain!

 

[Alanslegal]

The plaintiff clearly had a pre-existing 'dodgy' neck, even his own medico-legal doctor suggests that.

Since this is the fact, the plaintiff should have not flown OR if he really had to, to advise the airline of any special needs / requirements before hand. I would assume that he did not let the airline know. However in any instance, he should have done all that was reasonably possible to ensure that the risk to himself was minimised.

 

[samh004]

While I doubt he's entitled to $600k, if you pay for a seat, and it then doesn't recline, you should get compensation for that. It's absolute BS that airlines can sell seats that are broken, and get away with not fixing them for a while, as passengers are forced to endure them.

He paid for a service, it included ~4 inches of recline, which means practically nothing, but he didn't get it. He should get a discount for that. It's not worth $600k though.

 

[dajop]

I am sure the 4 inches of recline would have made a huge difference in preventing his neck injury

Yeh exactly.

 

[thewinchester]

While I doubt he's entitled to $600k, if you pay for a seat, and it then doesn't recline, you should get compensation for that. It's absolute BS that airlines can sell seats that are broken, and get away with not fixing them for a while, as passengers are forced to endure them.

He paid for a service, it included ~4 inches of recline, which means practically nothing, but he didn't get it. He should get a discount for that. It's not worth $600k though.

I'm with you on this, and to be honest this is should the line of first questions from BA to the pax when on the stand would be....

Here now, is the possible inner monologue of the BA lawyer running this trial......

(insert flashback sequence, graphics and haze effect here)

1) When did you first notice the issue? After acheiving level flight.
2) When did you first report it? The complaint letter which is marked as Exhibit X.
3) Not during the flight? No.
4) Not to any member of cabin crew at any point of you being aboard the plane? No.
5) Not to ground staff upon arrival at your destination? No.
6) Not to Customer Services upon arrival at your destination? No.
7) And is it your claim that you frequently travel by air due to the nature of your employment and occupation? Yes.
8) Sir, do you seriously expect the judge and a jury of your peers to beleive that a man, who claims to fly as often as yourself, has no knowledge of or would not avail himself of all reasonable opportunities to have a customer service resolved which could have seen you attain a more comfortable long haul flight? Yes, that is my claim and the airline should have known the seat was broken and that I had a pre-existing neck injury which could have been affected by the seat in question.
9) And did you at any time inform the airline or agents directly of your seating requirments on account of your pre-existing condition? No.

Your honour, I apply for the case to be struck out on account the plaintiff is a complete and total cough. Oh, and the fact he's an idiot and did nothing to benefit his own situation that would even deserve the most insane of jurists from awarding anywhere near the requested compensation - asked for only because of his own stupidity.

And your honour, can I call the plantiff an idiot again?

(insert flashback sequence, graphics and haze effect here)

Damm, I'm still in Glenrowan - for all the fans of The Late Show.

 

[Dave Noble]

Given that it is proceeding, it suggests to me that they must have some justtification for the suit. As far as juries go, my understanding is that there would be no jury in such a case


Dave

 

[medhead]

I am sure the 4 inches of recline would have made a huge difference in preventing his neck injury

Well yes, of course, any recline would mean not having to use neck muscles to support the weight of the head, as the head would naturally rest on the head rest of the reclined seat.