The rights of the tall

[harvyk]

Saw an interesting article this morning...

Tall passenger Adam Menzies sues Qantas over extra charge for leg room | News.com.au

At 187cm (at last measure) I can certainly understand a person at 213cm's lack of comfort in a Y seat. But should that automatically entitle them to better seats? Should airlines be forced to provide seats with better legroom than normal to larger \ taller people?

Or should it be a case of you get what you pay for, if a product doesn't suit and you need a more expensive product then that's unfortunate.

Should QF be the target or should the TA who didn't book the seat correctly \ provided incorrect advice?

 

[mr_osborne]

well, you then have the issue of weight. If someone cannot fit in a seat, do you provide them a spare free of charge? not likely.

I wonder how he flew before (ie. has he been treated in a way previously which gave him the sense of entitlement?)...

"Despite assurances from his travel agent he would be in the exit rows, he was later told by Qantas the seats cost extra and were already booked by frequent flyers."

I would've thought that this would mean that his issue was with his TA...?

 

[BAM1748]

Being tall, I think he has a good point, although I do investigate what I'm booking beforehand. But, having said that does that mean airlines can have pokey seats down the back for short people, I think not.

So I say bad luck to tall people just the same as it's bad luck for wide people. Although I'm tall, on long flights I book different class of ticket to suit.

Matt

 

[TonyHancock]

I fully support this chap. As a tall man QF should clearly give him an exit row seat. I hope he is successful in his case.



In a similar vein as a genuine DYKWIA QF should clearly provide at the cost of discount Y, a J seat for me domestically and obviously an F seat on international trips.




Attempt at irony alert!

 

[simongr]

Being tall, I think he has a good point, although I do investigate what I'm booking beforehand. But, having said that does that mean airlines can have pokey seats down the back for short people, I think not.

So I say bad luck to tall people just the same as it's bad luck for wide people. Although I'm tall, on long flights I book different class of ticket to suit.

Matt

I don't think he has a point at all. One reason I have no interest in int'l whY travel is because I am 185 cms and would be highly uncomfortable. It is no different to wide people - your size and shape preclude certain activities in certain scenarios or require you to take a different option.

I fully support this chap. As a tall man QF should clearly give him an exit row seat. I hope he is successful in his case.

In a similar vein as a genuine DYKWIA QF should clearly provide at the cost of discount Y, a J seat for me domestically and obviously an F seat on international trips.

Attempt at irony alert!

I thought you were serious at first...

 

[mr_osborne]

I don't think he has a point at all. One reason I have no interest in int'l whY travel is because I am 185 cms and would be highly uncomfortable. It is no different to wide people - your size and shape preclude certain activities in certain scenarios or require you to take a different option.

Are you reffering to longhaul, shorthaul, or both?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I'm all for supporting unfair rules and policy but this seems like a money grab.
I'm 2m and struggle with economy seats at times, but you know what - it's the card life gave me and there's nothing that can change it. I tend to book business class where possible and look at it as a tall tax.

Just the same as I exepct a fat person to purchase a 2nd seat, this guy should have too. Infact he had more options than an overweight pax in that he could go for an exit row. If his case gets any traction, it opens the door to any other passenger who wants preferential treatment. Furthermore it would dilute the benefits of being Gold/Platinum FF.

What I would find interesting is if he had booked a business seat. Domestic business class legroom is marginally greater than economy and he would certainly struggle to be comfortable.

 

[simongr]

Are you reffering to longhaul, shorthaul, or both?

I was referring to long haul for my reluctance to fly unless in J.

I'm all for supporting unfair rules and policy but this seems like a money grab.
I'm 2m and struggle with economy seats at times, but you know what - it's the card life gave me and there's nothing that can change it. I tend to book business class where possible and look at it as a tall tax.

There are benefits to being tall (reaching the overhead bins) so should QF provide steps for short people, spare seats for people with young children?

 

[anat0l]

Agreed that this is all a beat up.

I'm sorry that I can't feel for our taller brethren here (I'm only 175cm in height), but I still think that this case has no merit.

I can't think of too many airlines (except all of them when you complain and throw a tantrum hard enough) that auto-give tall pax the best seats in their class of travel to accommodate their height, especially by displacing other pax who may have paid or had the right to sit in those seats.

If he wins, all I could imagine is all airlines around the world would probably need to institute a seat pitch of at least 34". Whilst that'd be awfully nice...... (then the fat people will say that we need seats that are at least 50% wider).

 

[Stephen65]

I'm 190cm tall and I have no sympathy for him just as I have no sympathy for people too fat to fit into one seat.

Airlines sell a variety of seats with differing space allowances and it's up to you to buy a seat you can comfortably fit in. If that means shelling out a little extra for the exit rows or a lot extra for business then that's what you have to do.

 

[BAM1748]

I'm 190cm tall and I have no sympathy for him just as I have no sympathy for people too fat to fit into one seat.

Airlines sell a variety of seats with differing space allowances and it's up to you to buy a seat you can comfortably fit in. If that means shelling out a little extra for the exit rows or a lot extra for business then that's what you have to do.

While you may have no sympathy for fat people, one would hope you have empathy.

 

[OverrideServlet]

What a joke.

On one hand the standard seats "pose a risk to his safety", on the other hand "it was discriminatory for Qantas to make him pay extra for exit row seats".

Isn't it only discrimination if tall people were the only passengers required to pay for exit row seats? Last time I checked shorter people had to pay too.

I hope this guy wastes a LOT of money on this law suit.

The travel agent is the person responsible for his situation.

"Other people may choose to pay extra for leg room, but for a person of my height, it's a requirement not a choice," Mr Menzies said.

I wonder if he's going to use the same argument at his next visit to a car dealership?

 

[oz_mark]

The travel agent is the person responsible for his situation.

Indeed. Give this part of the story, I would have thought it was the travel agent that misrepresented the situation:

Despite assurances from his travel agent he would be in the exit rows, he was later told by Qantas the seats cost extra and were already booked by frequent flyers

 

[BAM1748]

I guess his travel agent said what was needed at the time to get the money out of his wallet and another booking completed.

 

[OverrideServlet]

I guess his travel agent said what was needed at the time to get the money out of his wallet and another booking completed.

Exactly. My main problem with the airline industry is that there are many points in the chain where you end up dealing with someone who isn't paid anywhere near enough to be motivated or care that all your travel arrangements are in order.

My last experience with a travel agent (a couple of months ago) was horrible. Should have done the whole thing myself.

 

[Undercover Brother]

I wouldn't have thought that the exit row cost is such a massive burden for the mentioned fella. It's not like he is being forced to fly business class.

 

[Canny man]

I am dead against the presumed right that (some) tall people have to stick their knees into the back of the seat in front.

 

[casanovawa]

Pity he couldn't have translated that 213cm frame into a decent basketball career... With what they tend to earn he could fly in his own private jet...

 

[Major]

I wouldn't have thought that the exit row cost is such a massive burden for the mentioned fella. It's not like he is being forced to fly business class.

It won't be anywhere near the cost of his legal fees.

 

[leemin]

I hope this guy wastes a LOT of money on this law suit.

Unfortunately that's unlikely. It's being heard in VCAT, which costs about $38 to bring a case to and all parties represent themselves, unless by prior agreement between each other, one or both have legal representation.