7 hour flight spent standing

[Cliff Cook]

As seen on yesterday's Sydney Daily telegraph on page 43, it says that a passenger had to stand for seven hours during a flight because the man sitting next to him was so morbidly obese.
Arthur Berkowitz, 56, said that his 181kg neighbour on US Airways Flight 901 from Anchorage to Philadeiphia made it impossible for him to get into his seat.
The obese man spilled over into Mr Berkowitz's personal space and he could not move seats as the plane was full, so he was forced to stand up.
He said the obese man was very apologetic: "The first thing, he said to me was, I want to apologise-I'm your worst nightmare".
Mr Berkowitz added that his ordeal in July presented a safety risk because he could not use his seatbelt for take off and landing.
Ï didn't fly from Alaska to Philadeiphia on Flight 901" Mr Berkowitz stood.
"His size required both arm-rests to be raised up and allowed for his body to cover half of my seat"
Mr Berkowitz said he thought had spare seat at first but before the door closed the airline asked the late-boarding overweight passenger to sit down next to him on last empty seat.
Mr Berkowitz said a young exchange student in the same row was "pinned up against the window" because there was so little space.
Flight Attendents said they could not help Mr Berkowitz as he was not allowed to sit in jump seats.
"They were sympathetic but couldn't do anything" he said "No other seats existed on the plane"
Mr Berkowitz claims they admitted their gate agent had made an error in allowing the obese passenger to board without having purchased two seats together.
US Airways had apologised for the "regrettable" incident in a letter to Mr Berkowitz.
Öur intention is to offer the best travel experience possible. The details you have provided indicate that we have failed to meet our intentions" the airline said.
It offered Mr Berkowtz a $200 voucher in compensation-rejected as "inappropriate" after he had paid more than $800 for the ticket.
Mr Berkowitz also complained that the airline had not yet fixed the safety issue.
Mr Berkowitz, who has been flying with US Airways for 50 years, said he raised the issue in public becuse he wanted the airline and authorites "to develop a policy on safety".

Hope, it,s interest you all.

Regards,

Cliff Cook