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Obese passenger forces neighbor on US Airways flight to stand for 7 hours
Arthur Berkowitz, a passenger on US Airways Flight 901 from Anchorage to Philadelphia, had no other choice but to stand up during his seven hour flight. It seems the next seat over was occupied by a passenger so overweight that it was impossible for Berkowitz to stay in his seat. Now, Berkowitz is speaking out about the ordeal."I didn't fly from Alaska to Philadelphia on Flight 901," Berkowitz told consumer advocate Chris Elliott, "I stood."
The neighboring 400-pound man's body spilled over into Berkowitz's personal space so much that he was forced to stand for most of the 7 hour flight, and he couldn't use his seat belt during takeoff and landing.
"His size required both armrests to be raised up and allowed for his body to cover half of my seat." said Berkowitz.
US Airways apologized for the incident and said in a statement "Our intention is to offer the best travel experience possible. The details you have provided indicate that we have failed to meet our intentions." US Air offered Berkowitz a $200 voucher in compensation.
In a poll on Elliott's consumer watchdog site, 96% (over 17,000 votes) thought that US Airways did not offer Berkowitz enough compensation. We agree.
[Image credit: AP]
Filed under: North America, United States, Airlines, Airline Reviews, Travel Security
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 61)
vaughan Nov 23rd 2011 4:27PM
ONE QUESTION....WHY WASN'T THIS PASSENGER OFFERED ONE OF THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS SEATS. THEY SAW THE SITUATION FROM THE GET GO.
Brian Nov 23rd 2011 5:05PM
I was on a KLM flight from Chicago to Amsterdam in June... same situation and the flight attendant gave their seats to the woman forced to stand. Three weeks ago from LAX to MSP there was a 400 lb'er in the middle seat in front of me, the man directly in front of me had to stand for almost three hours, the guy was HUGE and less than 1/3 of the seat on that Delta flight was left for the paying passenger. He was quite bothered but the flight was 100% full and he got no help from the ancient flight attendants. They had flown their share of hours, had tons of senority, and they ignored the plight of the passenger. They went so far as to tell him to sit down because he was blocking their drink cart. I hope he complained, Delta really was unsympathetic to him on the flight.
charles warrington Nov 23rd 2011 6:31PM
Does US air workers care. ?
Betty Stevens Nov 23rd 2011 5:31PM
The real question is why wasn't the 400 pounder required to pay for the space he/she used? A statement is that US Airways should give the person who had to stand a refund and a free ticket anywhere for future use.
Barb Nov 24th 2011 1:33AM
I know that sometimes overweight passengers may get into our personal space. I am 200 lbs and I had a man refuse to sit next to me. I was not in his space. Sometimes people just want to complain. Someone smells bad, a baby cries, you block someones view, We have to start caring about each other. If it had been a elderly women and needed extra room because of health reason they would still complain. We all only care about ourselves and start caring about each other. We want the goverment to stop fighting each other and fix this country and we are bitter and refuse to be uncomfortable for 7 hours so we be a baby and stand up and make a someone overweight fell like crap. Suck it up. How long was your Mom in labor?
Raquelsmom Nov 23rd 2011 10:48PM
It seems as if several parties were at fault here in addition to the woefully inadequate reponse on the part of US Airways. How could the airline be operating in full compliance of FAA regs with a standing passenger? Also, why didn't the obese passenger take some initiative and let the ticket agent know he needed one of the seats that allowed more room or pay for another seat or take a flight less full? Also, why doesn't the obese person come forward since he/she has caused such a commotion and clearly raised an issue that will now be looked at more closely? We, as a society, are all paying the price, one way or another for obesity, and it is only getting worse. We need to come up with solutions and answers not blame others since it ultimately affects everyone.
meddjay Nov 23rd 2011 5:52PM
That is what I was thinking. Why wasn't he put in one of the jump seats? Isn't it federal law or aviation safety standards or something that a commercial passenger has to be seated during take off and landing? And it was mentioned that the overweight man could not use his seatbelts during take off and landing because he was too big, but isn't that another regulation that seat belts must be worn during those times? Yes, the airlines should compensate him a heck of a lot more than $200 AND I would suspend the flight attendants for not following and adhering to the safety regulations. This sounds kinda mean, but if I can't smoke on the plane then why should a person THAT overweight be allowed to fly? They both affect other people on the plane...right? I thought the rule was you can fly if you can fit in the seat comfortably. Apparently, this was not the case if he couldn't even wear the seatbelts.
Darlene Nov 23rd 2011 6:14PM
I'm a flight attendant, and I see it all the time. I always tell the squished person that they can move to another seat if they wanted. I feel so sorry for the people who are squished. The agents are the ones who are supposed to charge obese people for an extra seat, if they can't fit in one seat.
I almost had a man removed because we were a full flight, but the person beside him said they were fine, then found out it was his wife. We just don't know if the person is with that other person or not, and we are taught that we can really only do something if someone complains. It's not in our regulations that they can't take up another seat, but it is in our regulation that the arm rest on the outside have to be down for take off and landing, and the flight attendants should have had them removed because of that reason. But most of the time, we are rushed so badly to get an on time departure that it gets over looked and by the time it does we would have to go back, and most of the time no one wants to.
John Nov 23rd 2011 6:39PM
It's not SAFE or ALLOWED!!!!!!!!
What's wrong with these MORON's!!!!!!!!!!!! Why doesn't the FAA take action against the airline?
You have to be seated in your seat with the seat belt fastened! This 400 lb person most likely couldn't get his seat belt on and he would have prevent the passenger next to him from putting his on.
The stuipid flight should just be fired!!!!!!!!!!
Lee Walther Nov 23rd 2011 6:54PM
Because USAir still stands for: Unfortunately Still Allegheny In Reality
ncgram Nov 23rd 2011 7:09PM
NOT THAT I'M AGAINST OBESE PEOPLE, BUT WHY WASN'T THE PERSON THAT WAS OBESE CHARGED FOR "2 SEATS" INSTEAD OF TAKING UP THE GENTLEMAN'S ALREADY PAID FOR SEAT?
Gary King Nov 23rd 2011 7:18PM
I have seen how the airlines have been treating their customers for the past couple of years. It is very plain they are really in this for profits and I don't blame them for that as it is why we're all in business.
There is however a human point of view here and could they ever think about the old golden rule of treat others as you would want to be treated.
All airlines need to open their eyes to this and it is very sad they won't.
I've been flying for business for about 35 years and it is worst now than ever and when I think back...............it's sad how things have changed.
I would love to see all industries think about caring for their customers again.
Judy Nov 23rd 2011 7:27PM
Well, the 400 pounder should have paid for two seats. I thought this was in effect already. I would have been outraged if I were the standing passenger!!!!
Sammy Nov 23rd 2011 7:53PM
So, Brian, are you saying that the huge passenger was NOT a paying passenger?
Neil Nov 23rd 2011 7:43PM
Why was the passenger not seated in first class seating. Something could have been done for this person. But normal USAir they do not care. The least the Corp. USAir could do was to fly him anyplace in the US first class for letting this happen in the first place. What none of the flight crew did not see this was going to be a problem before the flight took off.
Jimbo Nov 23rd 2011 7:37PM
The oversized passenger should have been required to buy 2 seats.
politicallyincorrect1160 Nov 23rd 2011 7:41PM
How about -- WHY WASN'T HE FORCED TO PURCHASE 2 SEATS???? AND, why didn't the airline ask at the time of Mr. Big's booking if there are any passengers over 300 pounds (?), who would be flying, or who could possibly impinge on the space of someone sitting next to him?
Trust me - I would NOT HAVE STOOD for 7 hours.
Marlene Nov 23rd 2011 7:45PM
The flight attendents obviously were aware of the problem before take-off. The person requiring two seats should AT LEAST have been asked to take a later flight with double seat availablilty. I have had to lean to the side on flights before because the people next to me were in my space. That is miserable enough, but to have to stand is outrageous.
A $200 voucher is not nearly enough compensation for the person who's safety was in jeopardy for the whole flight. Perhaps free flights for 5 years might help!!!
joyce Nov 23rd 2011 7:49PM
Why wasn't that obese passenger required to purchase 2 seats. He obviously took up the space. HE should have stoodfor the duration of the flight and not the person of normal size who only needed the one seat he purchased. Smokers (an addiction) are not allowed to invade others' personal space so obese people (over eating is an addiction too) should not be allowed to do that either.
Dani Nov 23rd 2011 8:20PM
What is common are overweight people. So, to me, this is the usual fat-discrimination story. It's one of the few aggregious forms of discrimination still found to be politically correct, even though more than half of U.S. is overweight. If all the fat people got together against all the regular or underweight ones, they would finally have their day. What is UNCOMMON with airlines are a sufficient number of seat belt extenders on these flights for those with some added girth (or even bodily injuries that the seat belt needs to be worked around). Another UNCOMMON thing are seats that fit people other than the most common or tiny body forms. My close friend is a semi-pro football player, so he still uses coach seating. It practically cripples him each time he flies. For me, the amount of times I've flown and had the backs of people's heads almost laying on my crotch during the flight, or tiny children able to literally continue kicking the back of my seat throughout much of a cross-country flight, while my seat is upright, speaks to a much different situation. The airlines needs to put in realistic seating sizes, along with realistic leg room, and return to it being even remotely fun for people to fly. Presently, it is torturous for many to travel by airline, in so many ways, including the excessive security at the airports. Body size is the least of the issues in my opinion. Personally, I found it offensive to even see this article (which I read with great reluctance), as it just confirms for me yet again how much negative, fear-based and malicious reporting the media gets away with. It just keeps the fires of hatred, oppression & discrimination burning. And over what? Body fat? Really people. Is there nothing better you can find to be outraged over? Personally, I don't think this is the whole & true story. You're telling me that on a large flight such as this man (who stood up) was on, not one human being on there was willing to just switch seats with him? I'm betting there was a bit of grandstanding and some righteous indignation involved here that isn't showing up in this tidbit of a story. And AOL should be ashamed for even high-lighting this article as newsworthy. Is there no true news on this planet anymore? Common sense went out the window long ago. I'm hoping to see a return of it someday. Now that WOULD be a true pleasure!