Whats your take on this story ?
By mobius
@mobius (24)
Canada
January 3, 2007 4:21pm CST
PARIS (Reuters) - An overweight passenger has sued Air France after being told he was too fat and had to pay for a second seat to accommodate his bulk.
Jean-Jacques Jauffret, a French scriptwriter, told Reuters on Wednesday he had felt humiliated by Air France staff who had measured his waist in public at New Dehli airport in 2005 and decided he was too big for a single seat.
A lawyer representing Air France told a court on Tuesday the company had a clear policy of asking obese passengers to pay for two seats.
"Let's be objective. This man is fat," lawyer Fernand Gamault told the court in Bobigny, according to Le Parisien newspaper. "He barely fits on the courtroom chair. How could he sit in an airplane?"
Gamault was not available for comment but Jauffret confirmed the lawyer's comments and said he was denounced as "fat" and "enormous" on countless occasions during the hearing.
"I felt shocked and humiliated by what he said," Jauffret added.
Jauffret said he weighed more than 160 kilos (352.7 lb) and said he had flown numerous times, including on other Air France flights, without ever being asked to pay more.
Air France's website urges overweight passengers to reserve a second seat, adding that failure to do so might mean they are refused access to an aircraft if it is fully booked.
Jauffret has asked for 8,000 euros in damages and 500 euros reimbursement for the cost of the additional ticket. A verdict in the case is due on February 20.
i have posted this story on another forum and ppl have various points of view, i like to hear yours !!!
My first discussion, YAY!
2 responses
@SK401001 (934)
• United States
3 Jan 07
I don't blame him for being upset, that would be an embarrasing situation to be, however I don't think he should be able to sue. I am not skinny by any means but if he weights this much i would not want to sit next to him if he only had one seat.
1 person likes this
@ksstormhunter (792)
• United States
3 Jan 07
That is a touchie subject, my take is if you can fit into your seat comfortably then you pay for only that seat, but if you weight challenged and you need two seats, then well you should have to pay for both seats,
@mobius (24)
• Canada
3 Jan 07
my point exactly, ppl from other forum was saying the following :
"Gives the new meaning to one size doesn't fit all especially when a person is large in size. I think people shouldn't give others a hard time when they are heavy because you don't know what they are going through to be that heavy. I think those who have been through weight loss diet programs are probably much more understanding then those who have never been fat in their life."
i understand from an individual stand point, yes maybe we shouldnt give ppl with mdeical problem hard time. BUT what they dont understand is, the airline is a BUSINESS !!!
thank you for your input
