This guy turned to Reddit to voice his frustration after a portion of his seat was occupied by an obese passenger.
He wanted to know if he was being an unreasonable jerk.
He Couldn’t Believe This Airline!
The Original Poster (OP), an 18-year old vented his frustration after he encountered an obese passenger who occupied a significant portion of his seat during a 12-hour long connecting flight.
He took issue with the airline’s response.
A Long Flight Home with Little Room
OP was traveling home and was greeted with an unpleasant sight on his second connecting flight. An obese man was occupying a significant portion of his seat.
Trying to Find Another Option
OP acknowledged that he is not exactly small in size himself, he has broad shoulders and is around 190 cm tall. OP already knew that a full seat would be uncomfortable for them.
He Reports His Uncomfortable Situation
When he realized the obese person next to them was taking up a significant portion of his seat as well, he informed the flight attendant about the issue.
There Are No Options Left!
Unfortunately, the flight attendant told OP that the seat was paid for by the obese person and the flight was fully booked, leaving no other options.
He Argued With Her, in Front of the Other Passenger
OP questioned the availability of his seat, given that it was mostly occupied by the obese person next to them. OP also pointed out that this was not an American airline, so overbooking should not be an issue.
He further added that his experience with the airline had significantly declined in terms of quality.
He Was Almost Kicked off the Plane!
The flight attendant perceived these comments as rude and threatened to kick OP off the plane.
Although, despite the commotion, the flight attendant assured OP that they would be compensated for the trouble caused.
OP made it clear to the flight attendant that they were not traveling for leisure.
A Crowd Began to Listen in and Comment
As the situation escalated, the obese man took the chance to insult OP by calling them names. Some onlookers around them also began to give OP disapproving looks.
Some Sympathize with Him
While OP was aware that others may perceive him as a bad person, he also believed that he was being forced to pay the price for the lack of discipline of the obese person and the airline’s faulty booking system.
OP even mentioned that he would have preferred if they were informed about this earlier, perhaps even the day before.
They Sent Him a Letter of Complaint!
After the incident, the airline staff sent a letter of complaint against OP, accusing him of being rude to other passengers and staff members.
The letter mentioned potential consequences, including a temporary ban. However, the complaint was quickly appealed.
Reddit Community Weighs In
Reddit users were divided on the situation, with some calling OP the problem for being rude and fatphobic, while others thought the airline was at fault for reselling a seat that had already been sold and deemed both parties to be at fault.
Some commenters suggested that OP could have handled the situation differently, such as quietly approaching a flight attendant to explain the problem and ask for a solution.
Others pointed out that underlying issues may contribute to obesity and reminded the OP to be considerate of others.
Criticisms of His Comments and Story
One user wrote “I was taken aback at the “lack of discipline” in your comment. There are a lot of issues that lead to obesity and you have no idea by looking at someone what their underlying issues may be.”
“I am sure this came through to the staff on the plane and clearly the gentleman this was about.”
Additionally, some Reddit users questioned the accuracy of the story and criticized the OP for their defensive and rude responses.
Handling Issues With Diplomacy
One Redditor stated “He would have likely gotten a very different response had he quietly approached a flight attendant to explain the situation and politely ask for a resolution.”
“I’ve been in a situation where someone was taking up part of my seat as well, and it’s not a fun way to fly, BUT I handled it differently and received a refund on my flight.”
What Do You Think?
What do you think? How should OP have handled this situation?
More From Fistful of Dollars
Reddit has got a great story about a young man and his thieving girlfriend. This guy is a college freshman, excited to start his new life on campus. He makes the classic freshman mistake of rushing into a relationship with a girl who lives in the dorm above him. He Found Out His Girlfriend Had Been Stealing From Him, So He Got Her a Valentine’s Present She’ll Never Forget
Irresistible Things Women Wear That Men Love
It’s no secret that men love to look at attractive women. But what are the specific elements of a woman’s outfit that make her irresistible in the eyes of a man? From classic styles to modern trends, certain looks and clothing have proven timelessly appealing. Irresistible Things Women Wear That Men Love
16 Things Men Wear That They Think Are Cool But Most Women Find Hilarious
Gentlemen, we need to talk. You may think you’re looking sharp in your favorite outfit, but let’s face it – sometimes, your fashion choices women just can’t take seriously. 16 Things Men Wear That They Think Are Cool But Most Women Find Hilarious
Men Reveal: The 10 Biggest Dealbreakers in a Girl
Are you a single lady in the dating game? Haven’t been having much luck recently, and wondering why? We’ve taken input from the experts – “real men” – on what puts them off when it comes to potential girlfriends and have compiled a list of their ten biggest dealbreakers. Men Reveal: The 10 Biggest Dealbreakers in a Girl
His Boss Hit His Car, Then Drove Away and Lied to His Face About It! So He Decided to Get Revenge
This guy’s story is a classic example of standing up to a liar! When confronted by a superior who lied to his face at work, he didn’t back down and ended up getting one over on them. This is his story. His Boss Hit His Car, Then Drove Away and Lied to His Face About It! So He Decided to Get Some Revenge.
The post He Made Fatphobic Comments on a Flight and Demanded to Be Moved, the Flight Attendant Said the Flight Was Full! first appeared on Fistful of Dollars.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Parilov. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: Reddit