Morbidly Obese on plane..

itsbob

I bowl overhand
I saw something that disturbed me today.. Maybe you can tell if it was founded concern or not.

I saw him in the terminal.. and did the math in my head.. 180 seats.. there's four of us in my travel party, what's the chance he's going to be sitting next to one of us??

No exaggaration.. At LEAST 400 pounds.. probably closer to 500.. maybe 6 foot .. and where did he sit? Where did he buy two seats, and where did they LET him sit? In the Emergency Exit row.

As we are flying around, he gets up to get something out of one of his two carry ons.. and I try to visualize the math. LARGE Round Peg.. SMAALLL square hole..

Yep, him sitting there, there was NO way he was getting his fat ass out that emergency door, he (and the crew) have just stole an emergency exit from us. If there was an emergancy we would have had one less door to get out of the plane. There was no way he could have stood next to the door and helped people out, and I don't think there was any possible way he could have got out the door and helped from the other side.

That being said, what could you do with him?? He can't stand in the aisle.. he'd block all the passengers in front of him from getting out.

WHY did they allow him to sit there? How COULD they?
 

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
WHY did they allow him to sit there? How COULD they?

If he got through the cockpit door, he can get through the emergency exit. Besides, it's highly unlikely that anyone will need to use the emergency exit anyway. Your plane landed just fine, right?
 

Larry Gude

Strung Out
If he got through the cockpit door, he can get through the emergency exit. Besides, it's highly unlikely that anyone will need to use the emergency exit anyway. Your plane landed just fine, right?

You mean the door he walked through to get on the plane? I don't think the wing emergency doors are even 1/2 that size. I can see this person being in the way in an emergency. And what do you do with him? Hopefully, they could empty a row behind him or in front of him in an emergency and get everyone to calmly let him get out of the way.

Doesn't sound good. Think Big Ron; STUCK!
 
If he got through the cockpit door, he can get through the emergency exit. Besides, it's highly unlikely that anyone will need to use the emergency exit anyway. Your plane landed just fine, right?

It's not a matter of just getting thru the opening. The person there has to be capable of OPENING that portal and that requires that you can move and lift the doorway. I doubt seriously he could do that. Others would have to try and climb over him to get to the door and he would be a huge hindrance. If you really did need to get out quickly, he just cut precious seconds off your exit.

And those doorways are not just used after a crash. There are many instances where all emergency exits were used in non-crash situation. Smoke in the cabin, threats... it doesn't have to be an accident.

Bob, I'd at least write a letter to the airline asking them to review their policy.
 

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
Okay, you all changed my mind. And I just thought of the * the airlines put when you book a flight online and choose your own seat: that anyone sitting in the emergency exit seats must be able to act quickly and open the hatch if something happens. It's pretty clear that a 400-500 lb man wouldn't be able to do that.
 

itsbob

I bowl overhand
If he got through the cockpit door, he can get through the emergency exit.

Not true, the emergency exits are less than 1/2 the size of the normal exit doors.. I'd guesstimate probably closer to 1/4 size. I have to bend in half to get out the emergency exit.. fatboy would have to fold himself lengthwise to fit.
 
Not true, the emergency exits are less than 1/2 the size of the normal exit doors.. I'd guesstimate probably closer to 1/4 size. I have to bend in half to get out the emergency exit.. fatboy would have to fold himself lengthwise to fit.

Let them know your concerns. Sounds valid to me.Also if those exits aren't big enough for large people they need to think about making them bigger or putting a size limit on passengers. "If you can't fit though this opening you may not get on the plane".
 

RoseRed

American Beauty
PREMO Member
Let them know your concerns. Sounds valid to me.Also if those exits aren't big enough for large people they need to think about making them bigger or putting a size limit on passengers. "If you can't fit though this opening you may not get on the plane".

Works for carry on luggage.
 

MADPEBS1

Man, I'm still here !!!
That's interesting, was on an AA flight recently and the Capt. had a person who was in exit Aisle row MOVED, because he had a cane !!!!!!!!!!!!! WTFO, can't see some dude that big being able to move a door and get out on wing fast enough. that's my seat all the time!!!
 
Top