Passenger of size issues on OOL-MEL flight today

[strtrek]

• I accidentally posted this on Flyertalk rather than AFF.....so I'll try again (im unco on my ipad and i was just so flustered)
  
  So I'm sitting in MEL lounge trying to figure out what went wrong...I told the lovely lounge ladies here what happened...they were shocked and horrified...
  
  So sorry about spelling and grammar....on ipad.
  
  So this Is what I'm sending to VA once I figure out who to send it to..any ideas.
  
  
  Re my flight OOL to MEL , 25 April 2015
  
  flight ### OOL_MEL 25 april 2015
  
  I was in 3C and husband in 3A, POS who needed extender belt was just before boarding placed in 3B .
• 
  we all couldn't fit comfortably and safely, 'the POS unfortunately took up some of our seats as well due to her shoulder width.
• 
  Even after flight attendants helping her with belt, I still had to point out that we couldn't fly like this, they initially said they didn't have any other seats to move us to
• 
  I informed them we had no baggage and could be put on next flight to MEL as we were doing Status run, but needed to get our 6.30 pm flight MEL-SYD.
• 
  Ground staff notified, she informed us we could move flights but at our own expense.Ground staff informed me that because i had asked re loading of row 3 in the lounge then I must be looking to obtain free upgrade.
• 
  I asked if POS could be upgraded to Business as it was half full. Flight attendants/ ground staff said it wasn't in their power to do that.
  I continued to ask re moving seats, finally told 2 seats available in exit row 14.
• 
  I didn't want to take on exit row responsibility's so suggested moving my husband from 3A to 14C, moving POS to 3A and me staying in 3C.
  The whole encounter was stressful, embarrassing not only to me but to POS.

 

[OzEire]

I thought that at some threshold (which is significantly high) that POS would be required to buy another seat.

I might be thinking of a US rule here. Cant recall if it is FAA or airline policy.

 

[strtrek]

I know in the USA they have a need 2 buy 2 seat policy, then reimburse the price of 2nd seat if not a full flight.

Im just really confused as to why jam the poor lady into a seat with fixed arm rests, she didnt need the leg room, she needed the width. The poor chook couldnt even lower her arms as the fat was pushed up thus making her arms stick out like wings...straight into our shoulders....

Im not trying to be insensitive to her plight, but really??? Give her a business seat and make us all happy!

 

[Denali]

I thought row three had fixed seats/arm rests didn't lift up so as someone that is fat and has sat in row 3, I doubt a 200+kg person with hips/butt could fit in 3B.

 

[russ]

It seems to me they offered you a reasonable solution of sitting in the exit row.

 

[strtrek]

they had to squeeze her in, i kid you not, thus the fat going up and over,...she was really tall as well and had a huge shoulder width.

she had to turn side wards to exit the aircraft...

but all im really asking is what is the policy that we know of re POS and relocating seats??

 

[strtrek]

It seems to me they offered you a reasonable solution of sitting in the exit row.

only after 10 mins of back and forth, and i had to push it..they stated at first that we would have to 1.stay where we were or 2. catch the next flight at our expense

if they said that at the beginning all would have been great as DH loves the exit row now rather than row 3

 

[mannej]

Having just read the OP, there are a couple of things;

1: The 737 is a tricky aircraft for couples. The OP took a gamble on selecting A and C here and it backfired on them.

2: you state you didn't want to embarrass the POS, but it seems as you may have done so. If 200kg is the truth or an exaggeration we will never know. You mention her height as well. It would seem that would limit her choice of economy seats as well.

3: A solution was offered, your husband took it. Whilst I understand your thoughts about exit row seating if there are two others in the row, I don't see what the issue is.

Whilst I do believe that the ground agents potentially could have handled this better, there are things from your side that also could have been done better.

Yes I'd write to VA, but keep the rant to a minimum. Clear and concise will get you a better result.

 

[strtrek]

Having just read the OP, there are a couple of things;

1: The 737 is a tricky aircraft for couples. The OP took a gamble on selecting A and C here and it backfired on them.

2: you state you didn't want to embarrass the POS, but it seems as you may have done so. If 200kg is the truth or an exaggeration we will never know.

3: A solution was offered, your husband took it. Whilst I understand your thoughts about exit row seating if there are two others in the row, I don't see what the issue is.

Whilst I do believe that the ground agents potentially could have handled this better, there are things from your side that also could have been done better.

Yes I'd write to VA, but keep the rant to a minimum. Clear and concise will get you a better result.

we didnt get 3a and 3c to get a shadow, we just like aisle and window....and everyone hates the middle..she was already embarrassed as they had to literally squeeze her in and attach the seat belt extender for her as she couldnt reach the clasp. And this was even before I got up to see them. They saw the situation of us all jamed in and said nothing.

the reason I'm so angry is the lounge ladies going on and on about me asking re loading...and that we would have to purchase a seat if we wanted to catch the next flight.

now if they had said originally when i first pointed out to them the situation..."hey, we'll send DH up to exit row 14, move POS to window and you have the aisle"then I would have smiled, thanked them and enjoyed the flight. No biggy.

but why did i have to battle for 10 mins for it to occur to them that the exit row was free??? and then for me to suggest what eventually happened......not rocket science.

but as always YMMV.
I just would like to know the policy for future ref. oh and yep, ive toned down the virgin letter..dot points and matter of fact....

 

[Foreigner]

I know in the USA they have a need 2 buy 2 seat policy, then reimburse the price of 2nd seat if not a full flight.

Im just really confused as to why jam the poor lady into a seat with fixed arm rests, she didnt need the leg room, she needed the width. The poor chook couldnt even lower her arms as the fat was pushed up thus making her arms stick out like wings...straight into our shoulders....

Im not trying to be insensitive to her plight, but really??? Give her a business seat and make us all happy!

OP: "poor lady" and "poor chook" but I don't think there's real empathy here. There's a lot wanting.

 

[strtrek]

POS policy??? anyone???

 

[Mattg]

I know in the USA they have a need 2 buy 2 seat policy, then reimburse the price of 2nd seat if not a full flight.

Im just really confused as to why jam the poor lady into a seat with fixed arm rests, she didnt need the leg room, she needed the width. The poor chook couldnt even lower her arms as the fat was pushed up thus making her arms stick out like wings...straight into our shoulders....

Im not trying to be insensitive to her plight, but really??? Give her a business seat and make us all happy!

I believe this is the policy on Southwest Airlines, but I'm not sure it extends to any other US airlines?

 

[TomVexille]

That does sound like VA could have handled it far better than they eventually did.

 

[strtrek]

ok guys, ignore the emotion in the post and look at the facts....I just want to know what the policy is for these types of situations.

 

[straitman]

I would certainly send my complaint to VA by email and give them all the details in a factual though un-emotive manner.

I recently had a less than wonderful experience on a flight from NAN-MEL and sent in all the details and they were very keen to know. (My experience pales into insignificance when compared to this.)

As a VA Gold I got a phone call after a few days and had quite a discussion re training etc. As a sideline we were given 5000 points each as a token of appreciation.

 

[samh004]

I don't know what the VA policy is, but I do know that it can be a struggle to book 'comfort seats' on QF sometimes, so probably isn't any easier on VA.

When I used to book them, the shortest time it took me was half an hour, on the phone.

Having just read the OP, there are a couple of things;

1: The 737 is a tricky aircraft for couples. The OP took a gamble on selecting A and C here and it backfired on them.

2: you state you didn't want to embarrass the POS, but it seems as you may have done so. If 200kg is the truth or an exaggeration we will never know. You mention her height as well. It would seem that would limit her choice of economy seats as well.

3: A solution was offered, your husband took it. Whilst I understand your thoughts about exit row seating if there are two others in the row, I don't see what the issue is.

Whilst I do believe that the ground agents potentially could have handled this better, there are things from your side that also could have been done better.

Yes I'd write to VA, but keep the rant to a minimum. Clear and concise will get you a better result.

I'd like to point out...

1: it could have been a gamble, but then seating someone in the middle seat who is clearly too big for the seat isn't a gamble? Seems like airlines should see these situations coming.

2: if the POS was really as big as described, she should have been made to purchase a comfort seat. For everyone's comfort.

3: the responsibility of the exit row has come up here before. Some people simply don't want that responsibility. It's a big thing. That's why we're all not doctors and police officers.

 

[smit0847]

I thought row three had fixed seats/arm rests didn't lift up so as someone that is fat and has sat in row 3, I doubt a 200+kg person with hips/butt could fit in 3B.

I thought this exact same thing

 

[strtrek]

I thought this exact same thing

ok, Im 70 kg and have no idea what weight she was, but she was really big......but back to topic.....interesting what VA says the policy is when asked...
Grandmother stands for entire flight as fellow passenger 'too fat for seat' - AOL Travel UK

A spokesperson for Virgin Australia told the Daily Mail "Virgin Australia is committed to doing our best to accommodate all guests comfortably.

"In a situation where a guest appears unable to travel comfortably in one seat, we do our best to seat them next to an empty seat. If the flight is full, we offer to move the relevant guest to another flight at no cost to them.

then why did they keep telling us we had to pay for the next flight???

also VA dosnt have comfort+ type seating

 

[TomVexille]

Comfort seat means buying a second seat (minus the taxes) for one's own comfort.

 

[strtrek]

Comfort seat means buying a second seat (minus the taxes) for one's own comfort.

ahhh, didnt know they called it that....that would save everyone these horrible experiences....if the system is in place to be used, why not use it???