Jetstar forces 160kg woman to buy 2 seats

[NickN]

A WOMAN who weighs 160kg is outraged that she was forced to pay for a second seat on a Jetstar flight "for other people's comfort".

Samantha Scafe, who was taking a Jetstar flight from Cairns to Coolangatta today, claims that when she made her booking on January 15 was told not to worry about paying for a second seat because Jetstar staff said "we can get around the policy of charging a big person for two seats".

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"I was told by Jetstar to phone the night before my flight to book excess luggage and not to worry about paying for the second seat," Ms Scafe told The Cairns Post yesterday.

"Then on Saturday, they advised me to book and pay for a second seat for other people’s comfort because of my size … and, would you believe, they then made a further mistake which I later noticed on the web by splitting up my seats so they weren’t next to each other."

Jetstar late yesterday apologised to Ms Scafe but said it was not policy to provide overweight customers with a two-for-the-price-of-one deal.

Ms Scafe said she had cited in discussions with Jetstar a Canadian court ruling last November that overweight people could have two seats for the price of one.

She said she had filed a complaint with Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...013605,00.html

[Greg F]

For starters, this is Australia NOT Canada
Secondly, I weigh half her weight, can I get half price flights? NO.

Imagine the poor people/person stuck sitting next to her!

I know it sounds mean but its a fact, she is Huge and occupies a lot of space.

[Robert Zweck]

She is double the standard pax weight.

[Andrew P]

Originally Posted by Greg F

For starters, this is Australia NOT Canada
Secondly, I weigh half her weight, can I get half price flights? NO.

Imagine the poor people/person stuck sitting next to her!

I know it sounds mean but its a fact, she is Huge and occupies a lot of space.

so what? the airline shoud have bigger seats

hope she sues the butt of JetStar

[Michael Morrison]

Originally Posted by Andrew P

so what? the airline shoud have bigger seats

Why should they? I certainly don't want to have to pay higher fares, simply because she cant be bothered to live a healthy lifestyle.

[Greg F]

Originally Posted by Andrew P

so what? the airline shoud have bigger seats

hope she sues the butt of JetStar

Why, Should they have a 'fat' section?
You pay more for space in Business class or First class

Completely 100% disagree with you!

[Craig Murray]

My sister is crewing this flight today and told me the flight was met by a massive media contingent at Cooly on arrival. Perhaps they're all wanting to speak with the aforementioned bulky passenger?

Have to agree though, I don't think it unreasonable that she should have to pork up for an extra seat and agree with Greg F that if the larger folk get a two for the price of one seat deal then that is discriminating against those of us who have to pay the same price but only receive on seat.

If you can't fit in the seat you need to seriously consider your options:

a) find alternate transport
b) buy two seats
c) spend the money you would spend on the second seat on a gym membership

Good on Jetstar, or any other airline, prepared to stand their ground on this one.

[Rhys Xanthis]

I dont see why she shouldn't expect to pay for 2 seats, but the fact that Jetstar told her it would be ok to buy 1 seat only makes me think...

[NickN]

I dont see why she shouldn't expect to pay for 2 seats, but the fact that Jetstar told her it would be ok to buy 1 seat only makes me think...

......... that Jetstar really need to train their customer service staff better so they understand their own companies policies?

[Matt R]

Then on Saturday, they advised me to book and pay for a second seat for other people’s comfort because of my size … and, would you believe, they then made a further mistake which I later noticed on the web by splitting up my seats so they weren’t next to each other."

Jetstar screwed up, but I think he should have to pay for two seats.