Obese Man Forces U.S. Airways Passenger to Stand for 7-Hour Flight

[Knight Rider]

https://www.ibtimes.com/articles/255698/20111124/obese-man-forces-u-s-airways-passenger.htm

Arthur Berkowitz, 57, was forced to stand during the entire U.S. Airways flight from Anchorage to Philadelphia, one of the longest domestic flights offered by the airline, because of the size of an obese fellow passenger.

"I didn't fly from Alaska to Philadelphia on Flight 901," Berkowitz told consumer advocate Christopher Elliot on his blog. "I stood."

The incident happened back in July 2011, but Berkowitz has only recently decided to speak out, upset after receiving only a $200 voucher from U.S. Airways. Some bloggers are picking up the story to push for weight restrictions on airplanes.

Berkowitz however, says the problem lies not with his obese passenger, but in the airplane's preparedness, which poses a serious safety hazard.

Berkowitz was already seated on the aircraft when his fellow passenger, a late arrival, sat down next to him. The man was over 400 pounds, and Berkowitz says he spilled over into the adjacent seat, filling half of it. "His size required both armrests to be raised up and allowed for his body to cover half of my seat," he said.

Calling the issue to the flight attendant's attention, Berkowitz explained that it was impossible for him to sit there. Unfortunately for him, it soon became apparent that there was nowhere else for him to stay.

All the seats on the airplane were full, and he was barred from the flight attendants' jump seats, which were vacant, because of U.S. Airways regulations.

Berkowitz was forced to stand in the aisle and galley area for the duration of the seven hour flight. He didn't have a seat belt on from the moment the U.S. Airways plane took off in Anchorage, Alas. to when it landed in Philadelphia, Penn.

News sources covering Berkowitz's story, like The Post, have already begun giving the incident nicknames like "Fat's in the Flier," and many news sites and bloggers have framed the story as a cautionary tale for Thanksgiving travelers: you may lose your seat to an obese passenger.

Commenters on Elliot's initial blog post have been particularly nasty, calling passengers like the obese man "sweaty hambeasts" stealing seats from deserving costumers.

But Berkowitz, who has been flying U.S. Airways for 50 years, places almost no blame with the passenger, who he says behaved like a gentleman and was very sorry for inconveniencing him.

"The first thing he said to me was: 'I want to apologize. I'm your worst nightmare,'" Berkowitz said.

 

[tboy]

Again, if you take up two seats, you should pay for two seats.....why didn't the obese guy stand for the flight or at least take turns?

Apologize my ass.....gimme my fucking seat back!

 

[a 1 player]

I agree with Berkowitz here, (who by the way seems to be a very nice and tolerant gentleman). The problem lies with the airline and not being able to accommodate the passengers, especially if the flight attendant seats were available and not being used.

 

[peace]

https://www.ibtimes.com/articles/255698/20111124/obese-man-forces-u-s-airways-passenger.htm

Been there before....It was a truly difficult flight and the passenger didnt even apologize to me. WHen the plane was about to land, the flight attendant forced me to sit beside this obese passenger. I was like...howwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww????

 

[Bubba]

Come on guys. Once you hit 210 lb being 6' tall is dangerous unless you are a sports player. Hit 250 at the same height you are playing with fire.

Go on shareholders, hit 400 then you have no one but yourself to blame.

My 4 cents.

 

[Cycleguy007]

This reminds me of a recent flight I took back from Minneapolis... Can't remember what the airline was, and not sure if it was planned or not, but it made perfect sense to me... Putt all the OVERLY fat people in the same group of seats!

I was sitting near the back of the plane... and directly in front of me were 3 of the largest guys I'd seen in a LONG time... (easily 300 lbs plus) and they were all in the same trio of seats. That way... their lack of self control was not encroaching on people that did exercise better eating habits!

Worked for me! :great: (Unless of course the seat back gave out under pressure!) :gasp:

 

[Duracell]

Once the obese person is going through customs. Don't they know what awaits them or can they not warn the customer then?.

 

[a 1 player]

Come on guys. Once you hit 210 lb being 6' tall is dangerous unless you are a sports player. Hit 250 at the same height you are playing with fire.

Go on shareholders, hit 400 then you have no one but yourself to blame.

My 4 cents.

Not so sure about that, but I somewhat agree with what you are saying. The problem is not necessarily obese people, rather larger people in general. There are tons of large men, 6'4 or so that have a solid build. The same body type might easily allow a 5'8 man to fit in a seat, but not the larger statured person. One could debate that if an NFL team got on a flight, there would be many 'squished' passengers, yet they are all athletes of which many rely on their size to preform their jobs. At about 5'10 and 240 lbs. I am not a small man, but can still fit easily in an airplane seat, but I was fucked in Maple Leaf Gardens. It is all relative.

 

[papasmerf]

Not so sure about that, but I somewhat agree with what you are saying. The problem is not necessarily obese people, rather larger people in general. There are tons of large men, 6'4 or so that have a solid build. The same body type might easily allow a 5'8 man to fit in a seat, but not the larger statured person. One could debate that if an NFL team got on a flight, there would be many 'squished' passengers, yet they are all athletes of which many rely on their size to preform their jobs. At about 5'10 and 240 lbs. I am not a small man, but can still fit easily in an airplane seat, but I was fucked in Maple Leaf Gardens. It is all relative.

I can not agree with you one the NFL comparison.

During the early 90's I had the occasion to be out and about with several of the Buffalo Bills. For the most part they were is darn good shape and not men with 60 inch waists.

 

[a 1 player]

I can not agree with you one the NFL comparison.

During the early 90's I had the occasion to be out and about with several of the Buffalo Bills. For the most part they were is darn good shape and not men with 60 inch waists.

Really? How so? I agree that they are all fit and athletes, but there are many 300 lb. line men on most teams, just their stature (whether muscle or fat) would make another passenger uncomfortable.

 

[UncleBob]

I can not agree with you one the NFL comparison.

During the early 90's I had the occasion to be out and about with several of the Buffalo Bills. For the most part they were is darn good shape and not men with 60 inch waists.

Did you meet Kelly or was he a decade later?. My memory is shot.

 

[papasmerf]

Did you meet Kelly or was he a decade later?. My memory is shot.

Same era.

Did meet him back then.

 

[Jesus Quintana]

Same era.
Did meet him back then.

Obviously you frequented the "DWNR" - My one disappointment about the Bills never winning the Superbowl was not being able to hear:
"Jim Kelly - You just won the SUPER BOWL! What are you going to do next??"
"I'm going to the SUNDOWNER!!!!"

 

[tboy]

I agree with Berkowitz here, (who by the way seems to be a very nice and tolerant gentleman). The problem lies with the airline and not being able to accommodate the passengers, especially if the flight attendant seats were available and not being used.

I (sort of) agree with you on this, with the obesity rates climbing in the US, more and more people are going to be unable to fit into a standard airline seat. Therefore the airlines will eventually have to make coach seats larger so they can accommodate the larger passengers. However, that means less passengers per flight and with the fuel consumption being the same, the seat prices will have to increase. Then you'll get regular size passengers screaming blue murder.

Sorry, on this issue I feel that a) a larger passenger takes up more space b) a larger passenger consumes more fuel they should pay more. Just like when shipping a package via a courier, larger packages cost more to ship than smaller ones. If a passenger voluntarily increases his or her size to the point where it costs a carrier more to move them, they should cover the additional costs. I have yet to hear of ANY obese person telling stories of McDonald's kidnapping them and force feeding them burgers......

I mean think about it for a second: all airlines have a load limit on baggage. They all have a size limit on what you can bring as carry on. Why NOT have a size limit on the size of the person too?

Seriously, if you take up one seat? You pay for one seat. You take up two seats? You pay for two seats....It's not rocket science and for that matter, no one is FORCING the larger passenger to fly...there are alternatives......

 

[a 1 player]

However, bias based on a persons size is discrimination. Ships, trains, taxi's and buses do not charge more for a larger size passenger, yet they all consume fuel as well. Th discriminate based on size is no different than discriminating about skin color, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender or age. What about a person who is genetically large? Shaquille O'Neil for example. Should he be discriminated against because of his genetics? One cannot compare a package to a living, breathing person. Two completely different things.

 

[tboy]

However, bias based on a persons size is discrimination. Ships, trains, taxi's and buses do not charge more for a larger size passenger, yet they all consume fuel as well. Th discriminate based on size is no different than discriminating about skin color, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender or age. What about a person who is genetically large? Shaquille O'Neil for example. Should he be discriminated against because of his genetics? One cannot compare a package to a living, breathing person. Two completely different things.

As with airlines, I wouldn't doubt that at some point in the future, you WILL see an increase in ticket prices due to the larger load the various vehicles will have to carry.....

Calling it discrimination is a stretch. It is simply charging based on criteria. I bet the airlines calculate costs, fuel weight, passenger weight when determining how much to charge per seat. You may not agree, but passengers on any form of transportation are simply "freight". I mean hell, even stewardesses call em "cattle" (dated two of them, stewardesses not cattle!!!).

So, it you say it is discriminatory to charge more for a product or service based on someone's size.....so why do companies charge more for XXXL clothing???? or why does it cost more for size 13 shoes? Why does an overweight person have to pay for the extra gas it takes to get him to work? Shouldn't the gas station only charge him the same amount that a regular sized person pays?

For that matter, shouldn't McDonald's only charge an overeater who consumes 4 big macs the same amount as a regular person who only consumes one?

Sorry, but there are all sorts of examples where those with specific needs end up paying a different rate than others. Sooner or later, you'll see it in adjusted prices for various modes of transportation. But then, ALL of us will end up paying more due to the issues of a few. That isn't fair either.

 

[SillyGirl]

If I pay for a seat and only get to use half of it because the person next to me is overflowing, is that some sort of discrimination against me because I make the effort every single day to not be fat?

My sympathy to the fat person, but they should pay for the two seats they are using.

 

[tboy]

^^^ exactly...and they do, it's called business class......and in some cases, first class......

It used to be that only the wealthy could afford to be portly but with the advent of junk food, even the poor can be overweight.....

I mean hell, if you can afford to put 10,000 calories into your body every day, you can afford a business class seat!!!

 

[a 1 player]

If I pay for a seat and only get to use half of it because the person next to me is overflowing, is that some sort of discrimination against me because I make the effort every single day to not be fat?

My sympathy to the fat person, but they should pay for the two seats they are using.

I'm glad you brought this up, and it is a large part of my point that I have not stated yet, (silly me). As we can not discriminate against the large people, so we cannot discriminate against the average either. As Prim0 said, it is the space that is being sold. When a large person takes up part of your room, that is a violation against the space that you paid for, and that is rightly yours. In the case mo Mr. Berkowitz, it was the obese passenger who should have been standing, not Berkowitz, as he did nothing wrong. Again, this is why I say it is an Airline issue... The whole situation was addressed in the wrong manner and unfairly.

Now that being said, the obese passenger should have (at the time of booking), notified the airline that he was in the need of special accommodations, to which they probably would have been able to accommodate. This is not uncommon at all for many disabled people to do, as it makes the 'flow' from security, to seating run better for all involved, both airline and passengers. My guess though, is that the passenger wanted to be treated 'normal', when clearly he was not in the 'six sigma'. This may well be where the fault lies. I still say the issue though is the airlines as they did not address the situation correctly and made the wrong person stand.

 

[tboy]

^^^ the problem if the airline addressed the issue correctly we'd probably be discussing the dastardly airline for making an obese person buy two seats, or stand by the prep station etc.

I know when they did that to Kevin Smith the world shook.......