Second plane diverts after passenger dispute over reclining seat

[dipsydoodle]

An outburst over a reclined seat led an American Airlines flight to divert to Boston, at least the second such incident in the US this week, authorities said.

A passenger, Edmund Alexandre, became upset after a woman reclined the seat in front of him on the Miami-to-Paris flight on Wednesday night, the Suffolk County district attorney’s office said.

Alexandre, who is from Paris, continued to be disruptive when a flight crew member attempted to calm him, following the crewman down the aisle and grabbing his arm, authorities said. Two undercover federal air marshals on the flight then subdued Alexandre and handcuffed him, the US attorney’s office said.

Massachusetts state police arrested Alexandre when the diverted plane landed about 10pm local time. Alexandre was taken to a hospital for observation and treatment of pre-existing health issues. Federal prosecutors said he told authorities he had high blood pressure and diabetes.An outburst over a reclined seat led an American Airlines flight to divert to Boston, at least the second such incident in the US this week, authorities said.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=post&forum=1002

[Xipe Totec]

1. The sardines are rebelling

Not enough space in those tin cans.

[caraher]

2. Diversions cost money

Maybe there need to be more of these events so the airlines determine it isn't worth it...

[Blue_Tires]

25. Part of the blame also has to lie with the consumer

Since for a generation now, the bulk of American air travelers have universally told the industry that we will gladly trade comfort and service in exchange for saving $10 off a bargain-basement airfare...This only became more the pronounced once the Travelocity/Orbitz/Whatever era allowed us to all the fares from all the airlines on one screen...

[LiberalAndProud]

32. Given the choice, I would gladly pay $10 more for a three more inches in leg room.

There is no reason that a seat reclined two inches should hit the front of my knees except for greed. Sure airlines look to reduce costs. They have simply exceeded the point of reasonableness.

[Gormy Cuss]

33. That's what the airlines claim.

They also claim that the checked baggage fees and cancellation/rescheduling fees are only to recoup costs when the former is in fact a profit center. I suspect that the latter is too.

The kayak/travelocity type sites weren't responsible for the big squeeze. Airlines put in extra rows of seats to make more money per flight.

As to customers wanting the lowest prices, airlines held on to the incredibly complex and highly variable pricing scheme where the person in Seat A paid $1000 and the person in Seat B paid only $200, and they're blaming customers for that?

[malaise]

3. The airlines will soon realize that it's costing them more to divert

and to provide comfortable seating - greedy fuggin' capitalists.

[HERVEPA]

26. Wrong. They make more money with less space.

Not related to greed. Related to giving consumer what they want, which is cheaper price. More people on plane is cheaper price. I'm happy to make the trade. Most people are.
That said, putting the seat back is just incosiderate, even though you have the right.
Air travel is cheap compared with twenty or thirty years ago.

[RandiFan1290]

4. They will fix the reclining problem

[davidpdx]

5. Crap, why don't they just stuff people into an overhead compartment

I just flew from South Korea to the US and back. The 10-11 hour flights are hard.

[BlueJazz]

9. I hear ya'. When I fly to Australia, the trip is part torture and part torture.

Plus...after arriving, I get in a car, sit on the right side and drive on the left side of the road....after having zero sleep.
Yuck!

[ProfessorGAC]

14. Well, At Least You'd Be Laying Down!

And we wouldn't have to worry about someone trying to push a dresser on wheels into that compartment because that's where some of the passengers have to go.

[pinboy3niner]

29. Yeah, but you'd be up there with the carrion luggage

[onecent]

18. ROFL....It is almost like this now. i flew international in May

and the seats on the international plane were smaller than the domestic seats going from KC to Dallas. It's not fun to fly anymore... but this picture is hilarious!

[Generic Brad]

20. They could always strap us in standing up

Who needs a seat when they could get by with a panel of plywood and some harnesses to forcibly hold us upright?

[seveneyes]

6. This is your captain

[pinboy3niner]

17. Ladies and gentlemen this is your Captain, I hope you are finding your flight diverting

--Otto Pilot

[KurtNYC]

7. Do they make one of those Knee Defender things for the Gates of Hell ?

...gotta stop them form opening any further...

[mainer]

8. Miami to Paris? Of course the woman reclined her seat.

It's hard to sleep sitting straight up.

[RKP5637]

10. It's obvious airlines need to strap and lock passengers into their seats to fix this problem!

[Hoppy]

11. Alls the cheap airlines gotta do is just keep the planes ascending.

[RKP5637]

12. A long long time ago flying used to be fun. Now, even a cattle car or sardine can fails to describe

the miserable experience of having to take a plane. I view flying as really the last resort for travel. I used to fly all over the world for business, now, fortunately, that is no longer necessary.

[mnhtnbb]

13. The only way I will fly more than a 3 1/2 hour flight is business class.

So, we obviously don't travel as much as we used to. I can't stand sitting
in coach for any more time than that--and I'm a small person--so I can
understand what it's like for someone much taller.

Flying has become a bus in the air--and I've been on more 'coaches' (buses) that
had better leg room than coach seating on most of the airlines. It's ridiculous.
Add to that the hassle of dealing with the airport--delays/cancellations--I'd rather
drive or take the train.

I agree...a long time ago flying used to be fun. No longer.

[randome]

15. It's like a spreading virus. The reclining-seat-passenger-dispute virus (RSPD).

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[Taitertots]

16. WTF is wrong with the people who design airplane seats?

They make a seat that can recline but only if you don't mind being a complete asshole.

[ManiacJoe]

30. The problem is the airlines.

The individual airlines pick the distance between the seats for each of their planes.

[Octafish]

19. Just give everyone a spike to sit on and be done with it.

Like Lewis Black said.

[Takket]

21. -

pretty soon they will be wheeling us onto the plane with a dolly in a straight jacket like Hannibal lector.

[Eleanors38]

22. You have to recline to let the gas out.

[Xipe Totec]

23. You can always turn the other cheek.

[Eleanors38]

31. I rectum you're right.

[Paladin]

24. In all the dozens and dozens of flights I've taken in my lifetime......

....exactly one person sitting in front of me has had the courtesy to turn around and ask if it's OK to recline his seat (I thanked him for being polite and told him that letting his seat go back was fine with me). All the rest have simply let go and slammed their seatbacks into my knees without any evident thought whatsoever. The lack of good manners on planes is amazing, which is one of many reasons I avoid flying whenever possible.

[conservaphobe]

27. I can't help but side with the person behind the recliner in every one of these stories. nt

[Manifestor_of_Light]

28. Blame it on deregulation.

Chasing the almighty dollar. Passenger service and comfort be damned.

How is that "free market" workin' for ya???