Mother and daughters told 'too big' for business class

[spinner2020]

5 hours ago, Just Weird said:

Reported directly from the BBC!

Indeed, this was a BBC piece NOT Thai. But why the *** is it reported six months late (even the Daily Mail had it two weeks ago) and only put out now because the women are still whining for a refund?

Note too that they were on a kind of weight-reduction package tour “which specialises in sending clients to Thailand for weight-loss and plastic surgery”. Watch out on TG to/from AKL........

 

And what about the other passengers? Don't they have rights too?

Edited February 9, 2020 by spinner2020

[euroflash]

Maybe they should try Thai Airwhales next time.

[sjaak327]

On 2/8/2020 at 2:55 AM, steven100 said:

I would hardly think traumatised ,  embarrassed maybe but that's about all.

If there is a stated maximum measurement allowed on occupying the seats and if they were over that parameter then the Thai airways staff have to act accordingly and refuse them permission, then find them a location that is acceptable to the airline.

Sure, they were well within their rights to treat paying customers like dirt. No wonder the name is Thai Airways, the first word says it all. In Thailand the customer is never right, one of the reasons why this country remains a banana republic. 

 

Good on them to go public, so that other people simply will give this airline a pass. How the hell were they too big for their business class seats in the first place. You cannot possibly make this nonsense up. 

[Salerno]

1 minute ago, sjaak327 said:

How the hell were they too big for their business class seats in the first place. You cannot possibly make this nonsense up. 

Because they're too "wide" for the seatbelt and because of the design of the seatbelts up the pointy end they can't use an extension.

[starky]

On 2/8/2020 at 10:04 AM, scorecard said:

So what other seat options could that be?

 

Typically business class seats are quite a bit bigger than Economy seats.

 

First class pretty much same as business in terms of size and Thai not likely to upgrade to First, so what other options are there?

 

I wonder if the Thai conditions of carriage mention anything about limits on body size?

 

Read the full story. The flight they were on the business class seats have an airbag inserted in the seatbelt as such there is no extension availble. There was no problem with the seat size but the integrated technology of the seat restraint. They would of been fine in economy. Well not fine they are 3 fat <deleted>.

[starky]

On 2/8/2020 at 10:47 AM, crazygreg44 said:

unfortunately I yet have to see any business class seats which are such closely fitted together, that one fat person could occupy both seats

 

many BC seats are actually small single cabins nowadays, in many airplane types

 

If I was any of them, I would sue them in IATA terms for violating my right to be seated in my booked class. Also, for not being able to produce seat belt extensions for Business Class seats, which was apparently the true reason they were refused by the Thai staff. Just another "We cannot loose face" story . . . .

 

I use to fly Qatar business class, and they GOT seat belt extensions in BC . . . 

 

This incident should cost Thai Airways a few points in ranking among World's airlines, for them just to remember to treat their passengers respectfully

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good luck suing. They were denied purely on a safety basis as the business class seating on that particular aircraft has an integrated air bag that can not be extended. Thai Airways had every right to deny them that seat. This is a sensational reporting of a story that has also not fully been told. Typical rooster.

[starky]

On 2/8/2020 at 8:40 PM, Tropposurfer said:

It's interesting isn't it that somehow it is now wrong to refuse to cater to people's obesity by refusing them a seat (I assume a change was touted by Thai airways staff from single to two seats each, seeing when every one of these three peoples probable weight and dimensions are that of two whole adults.

How dare anyone challenge and confront them about their obesity and expect them to be responsible and pay accordingly e.g. two Business or 1 First Class (first class area for each person is larger and more private than Business not a huge amount in the seat size but they are bigger than Business seats which would preclude these folks interfering with other passengers.

It's not not allowed anymore to call out folks with weight issues! Dare I use the phrase 'eating disordered'!!!! ... when looking at this family?  

The eating of feelings, the mechanism of soothing pain and anxiety in our world is at plague proportions, and in some ethnic groups is very widespread (epidemic proportions).

Often, if not an organic issue like malfunctioning thyroid, or genetic predisposition to gain weight ... even from moderate food intake, large sized people eat because of trauma. In some cultures eating and feeding = love and so to accept, to eat, and be grateful for food presented to one by those that 'love us' is an expression of and acceptance of love. To not eat when fed is a rejection of being loved and threatens the systems attempt to cover up and soothe the pains of abuse. Obesity (anorexia and bulimia and compulsive exercising and other forms of 'body obsessing' is very prevalent in people who have been sexually traumatised or lived in families where others have been sexually abused. Painful and exposing as it was (yes the shame and exposure they spoke of feeling at the counter probably points directly to the issues surrounding their obesity, and yes that is very painful). Pay for 2 seats in economy or similar in business class so you don't make others paid for travel an unpleasant uncomfortable experience and get some counselling for what is obviously so impacting of the lives of these women that they travelled about a third way round the globe to have surgery to stem it!

Oh read the full story <deleted>. 

[canuckamuck]

 airlines should give discounts to people with normal or lower BMI's

[Just Weird]

7 hours ago, sjaak327 said:

How the hell were they too big for their business class seats in the first place. You cannot possibly make this nonsense up. 

You could try reading and comprehending what THAI said about the incident, that explained why, very clearly. 

[kensawadee]

On 2/8/2020 at 8:49 AM, rooster59 said:

Enjoying the luxury of business class seats on an 11-hour flight back to Auckland was meant to be a treat for Renell and Tere after undergoing weight-loss surgery in the city of Bangkok.

They were on their way back to Aukland. That means that they already flew one-way to Bangkok. Most likely had a round-trip ticket so most likely flew with THAI. HOW CAN THAI BRING THEM HERE BUT CAN'T TAKE THEM BACK??? 

One possibility is they flew to BKK buying 2 seats in Economy each and once here decided that one 'Business' seat was about same price as 2 'Coach' seats. So maybe they paid to upgrade their tickrts for the return flight.

[thedemon]

It is specific to the type of seats that are fitted to that particular aircraft type. If the seat belts are not rated by the FAA and in turn the CAAT to be used with extensions then they can't legally be used. It's not up to THAI Airways. They either don't allow extensions or they break the regulations. That's the regulatory environment in aviation nowadays.

 

The whole thing is a stupid story written by an ignorant journalist.  

[UbonThani]

Couldnt fit into toilets anyway. So they would be a hygiene risk.