The rights of the tall

[MEL_Traveller]

Really? Ok then. When he wins his case I will sue an airline for failing to provide me with an extra low overhead locker. I can't do anything about being short and I deserve to be able to put my own bag up without the risk of back injury or having to ask someone else to do it (I find that demeaning to my existence). I also deserve unrestricted access to my bag during the flight.

and airlines have made provision for this by having underseat storage... or other locker storage (for example the coat closet) if you are travelling in premium classes. If you are in coach then I know many short people like having their bag close to their feet so they can use it as a leg rest during the flight.

If I choose to buy a pair of shoes too small for me and It cuts circulation to my foot and i end up having to cut it off, can I sue the shoe shop for selling me the shoe that was obviously too small for me?

If you choose the shoes specifically, then no. But if you were to walk in to a shop and ask for a pair of shoes and the shop assistant told you 'these ones will fit you', or if you said i want 'that t-shirt' and the shop assistant told you 'oh you are a medium, take this one' and later you found the shoes/t-shirt didnt't fit then you are entitled to a full refund by law as the product is not fit for purpose.

have a look at the promo materials for 'flying with us' under international economy and premium economy... what do you see? the indirect advertising of space and comfort. For economy you see the guy lounging... no one sitting either side, and no row in front (well at least two windows of space). For premium they seem to have at least three windows... and again no row in front!

Yes there is a certain element of marketing... but the whole promotion is designed about you being able to relax, have a good flight and enjoy. At 7 foot that's not going to be possible without getting a seat with extra leg room.

As for the infant... yes they pay 10% of the fare, but then parents are eligible for a bassinet for free. If a parent can get one of those (arguably making their flight more comfortable for free) why can't a tall person?

 

[straitman]

The same stupidity seems to have crept into bassinet/bulkhead seats, with the usual DYKWIAs nabbing those to the detriment of parents with infants.

You are wrong with this as the airlines reserve the right to move people from the bassinet rows so that people with infants can use those seats. That being the case, where is the stupidity :?:

 

[tuapekastar]

I posted in a related thread that while I have a some sympathy for tall people crammed into standard Y seats, I don't believe any of them (including tall guy in linked story) seated or standing in front of me at football/concert etc. is going to stoop or bend down in any way to help me see the action. Reality check required for "tall guy"!

 

[Moody]

You are wrong with this as the airlines reserve the right to move people from the bassinet rows so that people with infants can use those seats. That being the case, where is the stupidity :?:

There have been recent reports that Jetstar was unable to pre-allocate bassinet positions before check-in and then often reluctant to do so at the airport, resulting in cabin-crew having to plead with pax on-board to make way for families with infants. Maybe they have fixed this in the last 6 months, as the website says you can ring to pre-allocate bassinet seats ... but only on International A330 flights.

And what is the cabin crew supposed to do if a basket-baller does not physically fit in his/her allocated seat? Just shrug their shoulders and let the pax and those around them suffer the consequences? I think they would be obliged to move the pax to an exit row as it is a far stronger case than moving a parent and child - which is done for purely comfort not safety reasons.

 

[harvyk]

And what is the cabin crew supposed to do if a basket-baller does not physically fit in his/her allocated seat?

I would guess that if your a basket-baller, you're already very well aware that the world does not really accomodate your size and thus are used to making appropriate arrangements, which is what the guy in the story did try and do knowing he would have trouble sitting in a Y seat.

 

[drewbles]

As someone bordering on 192cm tall, and quite a large person (although working on reducing that substantially at present), I say this guy should cough up cash if he wanted leg room. I always plan to get the best seat I can, but if I can't, and i'm in economy, then well I just deal with what I can get.

It's not like airlines sell a seat without people readily being able to find out seat pitch.

As other taller people in here have said, they have to pay more for tall clothing and other things that 'normal' height people don't have to.

End of the day, airlines are selling something of a relatively fixed configuration, for a hard product. If you're over a certain height, regardless of the a/c you'll be flying on, you're not likely to be comfortable in anyones economy product, unless you can snag an exit row. They should never be expected as a right, as the legroom at an exit row and some bulk heads are the exception to the rule.

 

[UP4014]

End of the day, airlines are selling something of a relatively fixed configuration, for a hard product. If you're over a certain height, regardless of the a/c you'll be flying on, you're not likely to be comfortable in anyones economy product, unless you can snag an exit row. They should never be expected as a right, as the legroom at an exit row and some bulk heads are the exception to the rule.

Exactly, would he still have complained if he had an exit row window seat.......with the emergency slide sticking out in your leg room. Personally I'd prefer a normal aisle seat to one of those.

 

[notzac]

As someone who is tallish (6'1") .. little to no sympathy at all. Economy isn't meant to be comfortable. If you want comfortable, buy a seat with extra leg room. This is certainly one of the reasons I won't fly long haul whY if I can avoid it..!

If his TA genuinely promised him exit rows for nada - given how long QF have been selling them for now - he might have a case against them, but definitely not against QF.

Rubbish no-news beat up story..

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm a little puzzled by some of the comments on this thread... especially from some other tall people. Why would we not want him to succeed? If he succeeds then we all get free emergency exit seats.. OR... free bulkhead seats... i can't really see how that is a problem?

If it then means that Plat FFers are unhappy, then let competition win the day. Airlines in the US have introduced the first 4-5 rows with 5 or so inches of extra leg room. This is free to many elites.

Let QF and DJ do the same!!

If plats and golds don't complain about losing their rights to exits then no problem. But realistically, how many people 6.5 foot and over are there going to be on any flight?

I just dont understand why other tall people are not in favour of this?

 

[TonyHancock]

I'm a little puzzled by some of the comments on this thread... especially from some other tall people. Why would we not want him to succeed? If he succeeds then we all get free emergency exit seats.. OR... free bulkhead seats... i can't really see how that is a problem?

I'm with you all of the way. If he succeeds QF will have to give me a J or F seat when I book Y....on the grounds that I am a self delusional DYKWIA. I could be scarred for life if I have to sit in Y.

 

[mannej]

I'm a little puzzled by some of the comments on this thread... especially from some other tall people. Why would we not want him to succeed? If he succeeds then we all get free emergency exit seats.. OR... free bulkhead seats... i can't really see how that is a problem?

If it then means that Plat FFers are unhappy, then let competition win the day. Airlines in the US have introduced the first 4-5 rows with 5 or so inches of extra leg room. This is free to many elites.

Let QF and DJ do the same!!

If plats and golds don't complain about losing their rights to exits then no problem. But realistically, how many people 6.5 foot and over are there going to be on any flight?

I just dont understand why other tall people are not in favour of this?

The problems that I can see with your arguments is that you state that there are no provisions for taller people on planes. Unless you are flying on a JQ 320, or a similar single class plane, I don't see your argument as valid. However, the information is readily available that QF charge for exit rows (as do other airlines), there is also the especially on the AU-US routes 3 other classes on the 747 and 380's that provide atleast 7 more inches of seat pitch compared to any economy seat.

Where do you start. Does someone with IBS automatically get an aisle seat because its discrimination if they do not? Would the gentleman in question here sue QF because the exit rows on a 763 (OG* Domestic) are smaller then the 330 exit rows? Can of worms that shouldn't be entertained.

The issue here is not the airline, more so the incompetence of the Travel Agent. Yes the poor bloke may have been uncomfortable flying in the tube, but realistically who else isn't? It is too easy to shift the responsibility for poor service isn't it?

 

[drron]

There have been recent reports that Jetstar was unable to pre-allocate bassinet positions before check-in and then often reluctant to do so at the airport, resulting in cabin-crew having to plead with pax on-board to make way for families with infants. Maybe they have fixed this in the last 6 months, as the website says you can ring to pre-allocate bassinet seats ... but only on International A330 flights.

And what is the cabin crew supposed to do if a basket-baller does not physically fit in his/her allocated seat? Just shrug their shoulders and let the pax and those around them suffer the consequences? I think they would be obliged to move the pax to an exit row as it is a far stronger case than moving a parent and child - which is done for purely comfort not safety reasons.

I'm a little puzzled by some of the comments on this thread... especially from some other tall people. Why would we not want him to succeed? If he succeeds then we all get free emergency exit seats.. OR... free bulkhead seats... i can't really see how that is a problem?

If it then means that Plat FFers are unhappy, then let competition win the day. Airlines in the US have introduced the first 4-5 rows with 5 or so inches of extra leg room. This is free to many elites.

Let QF and DJ do the same!!

If plats and golds don't complain about losing their rights to exits then no problem. But realistically, how many people 6.5 foot and over are there going to be on any flight?

I just dont understand why other tall people are not in favour of this?

Well a few years ago we were on a CX flight HKG-SYD and the Chinese basketball team were onboard and in Y.There were I think 14 of them over 190cm and I remember looking up the height of their star and it was ~ 225cm.None were in exit rows.I did walk down the back and it was obviously very uncomfortable for that fellow.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The problems that I can see with your arguments is that you state that there are no provisions for taller people on planes. Unless you are flying on a JQ 320, or a similar single class plane, I don't see your argument as valid. However, the information is readily available that QF charge for exit rows (as do other airlines), there is also the especially on the AU-US routes 3 other classes on the 747 and 380's that provide atleast 7 more inches of seat pitch compared to any economy seat.

Where do you start. Does someone with IBS automatically get an aisle seat because its discrimination if they do not? Would the gentleman in question here sue QF because the exit rows on a 763 (OG* Domestic) are smaller then the 330 exit rows? Can of worms that shouldn't be entertained.

The issue here is not the airline, more so the incompetence of the Travel Agent. Yes the poor bloke may have been uncomfortable flying in the tube, but realistically who else isn't? It is too easy to shift the responsibility for poor service isn't it?

Why is there a need to go down the 'can of worms' route? There is no need.

A policy can be put in place that says anyone over 6'5 (or whatever they determine) requesting an extra legroom seat can have their booking annotated as such.

There could be intelligent people working at the airlines who put this in place sensibly.

As for IBS... I think that is entirely reasonable too. If you have a medical certificate, then why can't the airline give you an aisle seat? you'd only have to fax in the certificate once, it doesn't he to be specific in nature (for privacy reasons)... just the the doctor states that the patient meets one of the criteria under the 'medical certificate policy' which QF could publish on its site.

Its the same as the airline providing special dietary meals. I haven't seen an argument that we should charge $160 to provide those each way to Europe or the USA...

 

[docjames]

.

Its the same as the airline providing special dietary meals. I haven't seen an argument that we should charge $160 to provide those each way to Europe or the USA...

You'll give them ideas!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You'll give them ideas!

well it is very unfair that vegetarians and people with allergies get special meals...

and unfair that certain people in wheelchairs get assistance... why should they get free assistance?

at some airports parents with children are given priority in queues such as immigration, or are offered priority boarding... surely they should pay too? (fast track and priority boarding can be purchased at many airports/airlines)

NOT accommodating a very tall person seems almost the exception not the rule now that I think about it!

 

[notzac]

Why is there a need to go down the 'can of worms' route? There is no need.

A policy can be put in place that says anyone over 6'5 (or whatever they determine) requesting an extra legroom seat can have their booking annotated as such.

Sorry, disagree entirely. If anyone gets the good seats, it should be someone whose rear end is parked in said seats v. frequently - not a once-a-year holiday maker. Why didn't the subject of the NoNews article save his pennies and cough up for whY+? It's not really that much moar expensive if you choose the right flights..

Its the same as the airline providing special dietary meals. I haven't seen an argument that we should charge $160 to provide those each way to Europe or the USA...

Before charging extra for them, they'd need to actually make them edible. I'm an ovo-lacto vegetarian and I've chosen starving over SPMLs several times due to the "meals" (and I use that description loosely) being somewhat less tasty / nutritious than cardboard. I now make a point of booking on airlines that cater for my dietary needs without needing to resort to SPMLs.

 

[Moody]

Sorry, disagree entirely. If anyone gets the good seats, it should be someone whose rear end is parked in said seats v. frequently - not a once-a-year holiday maker.

And why exactly are these "good seats"?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

A policy can be put in place that says anyone over 6'5 (or whatever they determine) requesting an extra legroom seat can have their booking annotated as such. There could be intelligent people working at the airlines who put this in place sensibly.

If you have a medical certificate, then why can't the airline give you an aisle seat? you'd only have to fax in the certificate once, it doesn't he to be specific in nature (for privacy reasons)... just the the doctor states that the patient meets one of the criteria under the 'medical certificate policy' which QF could publish on its site.

Trouble is, the Doctor's perception of whether a person meets certain criteria will always differ from the perception of the airline.

So the letter signed by the family doctor says "John Smith would benefit from a seat with more legroom" - well wouldn't we all. The only problem is that generally the seats with extra leg room will be in the exit row & as John Smith has a walking stick, hearing aid etc, he's not eligible to sit there anyway. Then there's the letter that says "John Smith would benefit from a seat in Business Class"!!!

How do you know just because there's a comment in a booking saying someone is 6'5" that they are that tall? I've see plenty of people allegedly that height then when they turn up an the airport they're about 5'6"

Sorry, disagree entirely. If anyone gets the good seats, it should be someone whose rear end is parked in said seats v. frequently - not a once-a-year holiday maker. Why didn't the subject of the NoNews article save his pennies and cough up for whY+? It's not really that much moar expensive if you choose the right flights.

Hell hath no fury like a NB Mr & Mrs Kettle on their once-a-year holiday when they can't get 4AB/23AB at T-24 when they OLCI, scary stuff let me tell you. :shock:

I still want to know if Adam Menzies the person at the centre of this article, travelled to the US with his wife and child? Because if he did, that would really explain a lot of things & yes, plenty of people with infants ask for the exit row.

 

[notzac]

And why exactly are these "good seats"?

Because they have more than the regulation 30/31/32 inches of seat pitch..?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Trouble is, the Doctor's perception of whether a person meets certain criteria will always differ from the perception of the airline.

So the letter signed by the family doctor says "John Smith would benefit from a seat with more legroom" - well wouldn't we all. The only problem is that generally the seats with extra leg room will be in the exit row & as John Smith has a walking stick, hearing aid etc, he's not eligible to sit there anyway. Then there's the letter that says "John Smith would benefit from a seat in Business Class"!!!

How do you know just because there's a comment in a booking saying someone is 6'5" that they are that tall? I've see plenty of people allegedly that height then when they turn up an the airport they're about 5'6"


I still want to know if Adam Menzies the person at the centre of this article, travelled to the US with his wife and child? Because if he did, that would really explain a lot of things & yes, plenty of people with infants ask for the exit row.

you are making this way too complicated. I clearly outlined in my post one option of how it might be done, but that doesn't seem to have been read....

qantas could easily publish, on its website, a list of conditions and the seats applicable to those. for example, IBS - requires aisle seat, colostomy bag - aisle seat. severe motion sickness - window seat etc etc. Doctor's note says 'patient meets requirement under published list'. This could be completed on an accepted form and faxed from the doctor's office. It really is not that hard.

of course the doctor would not say something as stupid as the patient would benefit from extra legroom if they are tall... that would be obvious when the passenger turns up at the airport.

Yes of course there will be a rouge doctor out there that will send in a form for their patient even if they don't have that condition... but most doctors take their responsibilities seriously. just as a doctor now has to certify fitness to fly in certain circumstances.

just in the same way that qantas can now sell an exit row seat but deny it if you turn up and are not suitable.... if you had a note in your booking saying 'tall pax' and they turned up being 5'6 then you deny them the seat.

There really is nothing complicated about this... just drawing up the list of eligible conditions... and that list can be added to... it doesn't need to be perfect to start with...