Passenger forced to stand for seven hours on U.S. Airways

My heart goes out to them that want to fly but the airlines are not meeting their needs. We are so quick to judge others but that is what we are good at me included . I weight 160 and I am 5'10" tall ,the seats are a bit small for me.The comment from someone that is weight challenged idicates it is uncomfortable for them as well in regards to entering into someone's space. Most airlines are in trouble financially. they should have a policy for this occurance.I will google airlines policy in regards to flight instructions and seating requirements ,there must be something in writing. To the travel agent that flies no more ,I am sorry that this is the case .
In conclusion has there been confirmation that this event really occured? If so there was a breach of FAA rules.

Interesting how the story is from July and just in the news now.

Also, it looks like it's just a seasonal route for US Airways: http://flightaware.com/live/flight/AWE901

how do you even get down the aisle if you are this large?

Obese man should NOT be allowed to fly he is a risk to other people, ie: blocking exit in an emergency, not moving fast enough etc., I make no apologies obese people should NOT be allowed to fly.

Obese people should not fly as they are a risk to others ie: block emergency exit, slow moving, and making others uncomfortable because of their own self inflicted size. No apologies. If they must fly, charge them for two seats and accommodate the oversized on their own do not inflict them on anyone else.
The airline must take responsibility for accepting the booking of a grossly obese person in the first place.

There's something wrong with the story. The plane couldn't have taken off or landed with a standing passenger.

This will be the cause of the next "weight issuse" crash. Obviously the flight attendants don't communicate that well with the pilots. It is their job to tell us if we need to kick people off. Your average American in over weight. That 195 winter average is not going to cut it anymore. I was once fat up untill I realized that it too 5 people to lift me up out of a mangled car. The problem is the communication and unfortunately in aviation the problem won't get fixed until something bad happens.

Who cares about this specific story. The fact of the matter is the seats are small and there are some people who re too big for the seats. Here is an idea. Make the last 2 rows on the aircraft for larger people. You know on most flights there is going to be 2 or 3 solo travelers who are of the "larger" size. I feel thay have a right to fly but no right to take up a seat and a half. Do like they do at amusment park. Put a seat on display at check-in for them to try out. If they don't fit they pay for the second seat.

Airlines should require such large people to buy two seats. Ask weight when making a reservation.

I retired as a Flight Attendant. One of the things I did in cases like this is insist that the arm rest be down, for safety reasons. Don't know if it would hold the big guy in his assigned space but it is a safety hazzard if his total weight affects the passenger next to him.......

Why are people complaining about how small the seats are? It is very expensive to operate an airliner these days so the more seats that are on the plane, the cheaper the flight is for YOU the customer. If the seat is too small for you, there is first and business class.

I will assume this flight uses a 757 so there should at least be three flight attendants. One of the FA should have given there jumpseat to the guy while the displaced FA shares with the other two.

The obese man should have paid for two seats or buy a first or business class seat. It is not fair to his seat mate to be so uncomfortable/ crowded or intruded upon by his neighbor.

I wonder if the flight attendants informed the Captain. Standing, not being seat belted, not being seated for takeoff and landing is a safety of flight issue. If the captain had known O don't think he would have departed ANC. If informed after departing he could have returned to ANC or landed at an alternate to have the issue taken care of. I'm surprised that this issue is now out in the open that the FAA has not weighed in with a fine.

If I was the manger handling this complaint I would not only refund his full ticket price I would see to it that when ever he next flies with U S Air he was up graded to Envoy class where this problem should never happen again.

Airlines should leave at least one seat open for contingencies such as this. There are a number of things that could happen were an extra seat is needed such as; a passenger is sick and messes his aeat area, or soaks his seat with a spilled beverage.

Morbidly obese folks should have to purchase two tickets so as not to interfere with other passengers who have to sit close to them.

I'm a large person (6'2", 460 lbs.), and I purchase two coach seats when I fly. My seat width is about 25 inches, so even a domestic business or first-class seat is too narrow for me. I have no problems with purchasing an extra seat, and if the airline tried to "force" me into a single seat I'd refuse and ask for a different flight. (Oh, and I walk sideways down the aisle.)

Having said that, there's no way I would have stood for seven hours because an obese person lapped over into my seat. He should have complained loudly before the door was closed, and he should have made use of social networking like Twitter to "enhance" his case against US Airways.

And the obese man? He has a responsibility, too. He should have asked for an empty seat as a "reasonable accommodation", if he couldn't afford it, or he should have paid for the second seat himself. It's rude to assume that you won't infringe on someone else's space during a long flight.

I as a "morbidly obese" person refuse to fly anymore. I love to fly, its one of my great test past times. I have many medical problems that have brought me to my current weight and I have tried everything that I can to lose the weight but it simply does not come off.
I have flown and been totally embarrassed by very immature people's attitudes when they see me, to the point that they swear at me, under their breath. I DONT have bad body odor like I have seen with some other obese people... Thats disgusting...
Part of my work (as a travel agent) requires me to travel, but I have to refuse for fear of being harassed at the airport. Airline people have no clue how to handle an over weight person.
So for all the people complaining about fat people flying, Im here to tell you all that you arent the only ones that are aware of this problem...The very last thing I ever want to do is to interfere with someone's personal space. I dont like someone in my personal space either..I am more considerate than that....Thats why I refuse to fly.
Lastly, yes, airline seats are getting smaller, whilst the general population seems to be getting larger....Imagine that....So what can we do????

The guy who stood was on the aircraft first. They should have made the fat guy wait for the next flight. $200 voucher is an insult though. I like flying US Airways, but I'd have at least wanted a free first class ticket on my next journey.

Can you read the red against blue in the photo of the seat? Not good photography. Should be white on blue, maybe.

Hard to believe that a responsible gate and flight crew would permit this. Some grains of salt missing from the truth here

Planes are crowded enough. If you can't fit into one seat, buy another. Now if they make people bathe before boarding. I'll sure the TSA "Sniffer" can detect BO as well as explosives.

What if three of those "passengers of size" got assigned right next to each other on the same side and in the same row?

Maybe it is time for a separate "passenger of size" seating section. Put 'em all together, let them enjoy each other's company.

Why don't they make the fat guy stand?

I am not surprised at this and we should expect more of it, as the airlines constantly cut down on the space available. Remember when bus passengers had to stand until a seat was available?

Ever heard of "The Onion?" Well, the DailyMail is pretty much the same thing.

Happened to me on American. I waited until the door was closed and Jetway pulled walked to front and said if I could not be reseated I wanted off. They then moved a woman and young daughter to my seat and reseated me and other pass in row in their seats. Open the door works wonders(delay).

Actually I saw this happen on a BA flight from Munich to London in 2000! As I got in line to check in, I saw that I was right behind 4 American family members (parents, teenage daughter and her aunt) who were all HUGE. I started to panic as I knew that if I got put next to any of them, it was going to squeeze all the air out of my lungs - whereas I had a rehearsal that same evening in London for a voice recital the next day! Lo and behold, as we moved up to the counter, three of them were assigned in a row together. I started to pray that I'd be spared being next to the aunt, only to hear the husband ask the check-in agent to seat ALL of them separately. Whereby I was suddenly drenched in cold sweat. But guess what? The agent replied, I'm sorry but your seats are... pre-assigned and can't be changed!!!!! From there I breezed through check-in and boarding, not looking once to see how that family dealt with the ordeal that they had been intent on imposing on at least four other passengers.

It's not about paying for two seats for the room. That is one side of the coin. The other side of the coin reads, what happens in an emergency with this seat. Considering the new seats are tested to 19G with standard passenger weights, try to do the math for the 400lbs person....

I hope US Airways gets hit by a huge fine by the FAA as it was a safety issue making him stand for seven hours because he was wrongly kicked out of the seat he paid for by a 400lb-plus guy from Philadelphia. I also hope Arthur Berkowitz sues US Airways and the Philadelphia Fatso for what happened to him.

When you buy a ticket for a flight on a commercial airline, you are paying for "a seat". So the big guy gets 2 seats, and the other guy gets none, even though they both paid for one seat. Has law suit written all over it.

Fight attended could have tried to talk the smallest person on the flight to sit next to the biggest one......

I see nothing wrong with establishing parameters publishing them and charging accordingly. If your ass wont fit in a 16 or 17 inch seat and the arm rests won't come all the way down you might have to pay for the seat next to you. But that should be determined before boarding, unlike the Southwest policy where it's up to the FA.

By the way, a cellist traveling with his/her cello must buy a separate ticket for the instrument, if it is to remain next to him/her instead of being shipped as checked luggage (where the cold temperatures in cargo will ruin it instantly). Since a cello with a fiberglass case weighs less than 35 kg / 77 lb, I fail to see why an 'overflowing' passenger shouldn't pay for the neighboring seat, too!

i've flown us air several times...never again! they are never on time and treat there passengers like they pay THEM for flying their planes

USAIR never cares about the well being of their passengers. I've flown with them several times. had to sit on taarmac in plane for 3 1/2 hours while they worked on the pane. made me miss the conntion in philly then didn't want to comp anything to make up for it except $4.00 meal voucher!....NEVER AGAIN

We all have good and bad stories about an airline, a fast food restaurant - whatever. My own personal experience of US Airways is nothing short of excellent. Sure, I've had baggage delayed on two flights - but that was because of connections. Can't blame the airline for baggage handlers' inefficiencies. And diverted twice too - both times because of passenger medical conditions, so again, not the airlines' fault. Other than that, the service has been what I'd expect of any airline.

I am sorry but I would say "I want out"
I would not put up with that rubbish airline.
A free ticket would have been more reasonable.

Protect the rights of people. The overweight person should be able to have a seat, Ah Ha,, but so should the person who was forced to stand. If he/she had to stand it is my understanding that FAA requires seatbelts to be on for all pass. prior to take off. Standing won't do that. Standing for the entire flight is unacceptable. Airlines, movie theaters, sporting events size seats for "small" people to max. profits by getting more backsides into a seat with little reguard for comfort. I hold the airline responsible for buying small sardine "sardine in a can seat". Both people had their human rights violated by the airlines search for profits. IF profits wont' allow a person to fit and their ARE some people who won't fit and the world can't afford special planes, the overweight person should consider rail or other modes of travel. IMO "most but not all " cases a person can control weight within reasonable limits. This is also a case of people "not being responsible for their own size. When buying the ticket THE OVER weight person KNEW this would be a problem and did not notify the airline in advance, therefore the plane should NOT have left the ground and the person creating the problem should have been asked to leave the flight if a seat that is in compliance for take off isn't available. But since this is must my opinion yours may vary and you have the right to disagree.

Did US check to see if there were any company employees occupying a seat? If thats the case this man should have been given that seat. Second he should be at minimum refunded for his entire trip. As an industry employee of 30+ years I find these kind of corporate decisions ill advised and very damaging to what is a great industry.
Hire the right people, trained them to prevent these type of issues and if mistakes are made, which there will be, recover in an equitable and satisfying manner.

Since the overall sentiment here is the reality that people are getting larger and airline seats are getting smaller all U.S. airlines should be required to create wider seats in the last one or two rows of a plane for passengers that cannot fit in a standard seat as occurred on this flight.

Secondly, the airline should be fined for allowing takeoff and landing with a passenger not in a seatbelt. The plane should have NEVER took off and the oversized gentleman should have been removed from the flight and given a voucher for the next flight. This would have been the proper way to handle this situation but now I am confident a lawsuit is being considered over this $200 token voucher that was given to forgive US Air for this incident.

On one occasion I had a moderately heavy person next to me ask to have the armrest up, and I said no "due to FAA regulation for safety requirements". That worked and while I was limited to the width of my seat minus armrest (overhang) I did not need to stand. I think that armrest down should be an FAA regulation, if the pax cannot fit into the seat with the armrest down, then buy two seats.

I can definitely empathize. I sat in a widow seat on a nonstop from Portland OR to Newark. Next to me were not only one but TWO humongous people. Their stomachs reached to the back of the seat in from of them. It took them more than five minutes to finally squeeze into their seats at the beginning of the flight. They could not get out to let me go to the restroom and finally had to relieve myself in my seat. It was a nightmare. The airline should have let me know about this situation but told me there was nothing they could to about it.

El Fatso should have been the one standing.....he couldn't move so it wouldn't have mattered take off or landing...maybe he should have flown on a cargo plane..there's lots of them i alaska to washington. Somebody please tell me that the standee sued...if he didn't he's mistaken.....

Well, looks like most agree the simple solution is for large people to buy 2seats. But we sure have run the gambit including " violation of human rights" and requiring airlines to make larger seats. Lol.

I agree with the majority...USAir should have found him a seat on another airline.

The gate agent should have done something about it before boarding. The gate agent knows the size of the seats and saw the obese passenger boarding and should have acted professionally.

I'd thought that obese passengers (> 300lbs) were required to buy 2 adjacent seats just to prevent this kind of thing. I also find that coach seating isn't what it used to be - I'm 5'9" and 220 Lbs (a little overweight for sure, but not too fat to fit in a normal seat, but the seats are so close together that if the one ahead reclines, the one in back is trapped. Side-by-side, its a tight fit for someone my size.

Thought #1: Should have made the fat guy stand for the duration of the flight.

Thought #2: If you cannot fit in the set with BOTH armrests down, you have to buy two seats unless, by chance, there is an unused seat on the flight.

Thought #3: If I have paid for a seat, then I expect to sit in my seat. All of my seat, not just the half that is leftover from the big guy.

Thought #4: This flight should be reported to the FAA. A hefty fine for USAir for performing the takeoff/landing with a passenger not wearing a seatbelt is likely the only method which will accelerate creation of a policy to handle this.Despite the advertising about how special we all are, in a cash-strapped business like an airline, money gets attention.

Burger Kings are allowed to occupy 2 seats!

Same thing happened to a friend of mine from ORD to DEN. United gave him a voucher for travel and first class seat on future flight.

Why should pregnancy be excludet ???

All airliners should make these fat obese freaks pay double price and make a rule like if you are over 300lbs you pay double price. And you get in the airplane last and you still cant fit SORRY next flight and more like triple price. Just think about all that weight we pay for at $25,$35 per 55 pound bag and we have no choice and this guy ???

There is no reason normal people should suffer from somebody's unhealthy lifestyle.
Imagine how many unnecessary casualty's such person would cause in case of emergency like being stuck in the isle and not being able to crawl on his own or sink a life raft due to uneven weight distribution or even worse completely blocking an emergency exit.

Have to agree with one of the comments on the website. How did the guy get into the seat in the first place? And why did US Airways allow the guy to stand at all? Was he seated for takeoff? That's a violation of the FARs if he was standing during takeoff or landing. I'm thinking the FAA needs to take a hard look at this. Someone from the local FSDO needs to have a few conversations.

200 HUNDRED DOLLARS, ATE YOU FRICKING KIDDING ME!
Come on, how about a complete credit and a free round trip.

I weigh a 150 pounds should I get a discount when I fly, packages pay by the pound, every pound extra over the average height to weight ratio should be charged extra with one exception pregnancy ONLY ! Never should have been allowed to board...PERIOD!

Yes Sir!!! Wow unreal, HAHAHA.

Must be a fatty t-tail

And people bitch at Southwest for kicking people off or forcing them to buy the seat next to them...

What the HELL? Making one passenger stand for an entire flight because an overweight person takes up both seats? That's not right! There should have been a different way for the US Airways crew could have handled that situation! I swear...US Air has had a lot of bad press lately....I bet SULLY would make both passengers more comfortable, if he was still Captain for the airline! What a shame!

Couldn't the flight attendents share there seat for a while each ?

Would he be able to get though the emergency exit or would he block egress and trap passengers?

if i was us airways i would give the guy free flights for the rest of his life in first class and with the ticket agent i would have made the morbidly obese guy wait until a flight that was half full

Tubby should have been with the cargo, not with the passengers.

Drop that turkey leg and run to get your refund sir!

he could have sat on the other guy's lap

Then again the airlines are mainly to blame since they have squeezed every last millimeter out of the seat width and pitch. This has been done even though statistics show the population is getting bigger.

I'm 6'2" and had to contend with an ignorant and arrogant passenger in front of me who had to recline his seat all the way down, even before takeoff. That caused me to spread eagle my legs and have is head less than 18" away from my face. The stewardess could not even get him to place the seat in an upright position for takeoff. Finally, I had no alternative but to leave my family who occupied the balance of the row and take another seat further back in the aircraft. Give us back the seat spacing we had in the 60's and 70's, then occurrences like this will not happen, even with overweight people.

What were they thinking of ?, this is a first class violation of FAR's, letting a passenger stand during the duration of the flight, unbelievable..

If I had to stand for an entire 7 (or more) hours on a flight JUST because of anther person, I would have just have waited for the next flight. I mean, you have to be the nicest person in the world to let this problem slip past you.

There are so many things wrong with this picture.

I know my day is coming when someone extra large or foul sits next to me. I promise I will get up and deplane before takeoff.

This has been posted already, with 27 comments and counting;)

The fat guy obviously lifted the arm rest between the two seats and sat in both.
The fat guy should have stood.

Don't understand why he wasn't offered one of the attendant's seats while the flight was in the air. This is ridiculous. The heavy person should have been made to pay for two seats.

Nice story for the media....But did not happen, the pax was seated for take off and complained for the situation during the flight and refused to seat during the flight next to that passenger. The 400lbs was also an exageration...But sounds good. How nice it would be if the media could report all the nice stories happening everyday and stop the bickering...

I had a similar experience on British Air. I walked 3500 miles that day from Heathrow to Dulles. Couldn't sit anywhere except in the labs so I wondered around the cabin for 8 hours.
As far as I'm concerned, there should be a scale next to every airline check-in position.
These people know exactly what they are doing-saving a fare.