topic Re: Would You Have Spoken Up? in Community Chat

Would You Have Spoken Up?

Suhse — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:06:59 GMT

Just talking to my Boss, she recently got home from a long flight. On the 2nd half of the trip, they were on a smaller plane, a Bombadier;2 seats on each side of the aisle, and it seats hundred people. Boss's seat mate was a woman, that she said was plump, but not seriously overweight, in appearance. However, my boss couldn't help but notice that the woman, couldn't get her seat belt fastened. She was obviously struggling with it and when she couldn't get it to Fasten, she just pulled it across her lap and held it was not secure. My boss said she was tempted to mention to her that she could get a seatbelt extension and thought maybe she was going to do that on her own. When she did not ask for a seatbelt extension, she wondered if she should mention to the flight attendant because of the safety issue of the woman not being secure. What if they hit turbulence she could be badly injured? In the end,and, my boss did not say anything, she did not want to embarrass the woman, and she wasn't sure what the airlines policy was, what if she mentioned it to the attendant and, their policy was that they required the woman to buy another seat since she couldn't fasten her seatbelt? My boss said she did worry about it though and wondered if she shouldn't have said something because of the safety issues. What would you have done?

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

hckynut — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:14:51 GMT

Would You Have Spoken Up?

Yes and before takeoff if I noticed this right away.

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

NoelSeven — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:15:38 GMT

Flight attendants go down the aisle right before take-off to assure everyone is safely buckled in.

What was the end of your boss' story? Did a flight attendant notice or did your boss say something?

Plump doesn't usually require an extension that I've seen, it's for a larger size than that.

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

Another new name Sue — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:20:57 GMT

It's hard to say what I would have done, but I probably would have suggested to the woman that she ask for a seatbelt extension. Or discretely mentioned it to the flight attendant who should have caught the trouble in the first place. Not only could she be hurt, but if she's "loose" during turbulence, she could smash into someone else.

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

ROMARY — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:23:47 GMT

Speak up! You would have felt awful if there was turbulence and the woman (and possibly you and/or others) was injured, or worse. Safety first.

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

Snowpuppy — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:25:24 GMT

Flights that I've been on and a seatbelt isn't fastened the overhead light stayed on to alert the flight attendant.

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

september — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:28:32 GMT

The flight attendants should have noticed this....surely they must know that some bigger people will need an extension piece, and how could they not notice that a bigger person was on this flight?

I think I would first mention to my seatmate that these extensions are available, and hope that she would be the one to ring for an attendant to give her one.

If she refused? I don't know....I might just be tempted to drop it, knowing I had to sit next to her for the rest of the flight. Some people on planes, have been rather hostile lately.

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

Suhse — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:33:04 GMT

The Flight Attendant didn't notice and the flight was smooth, my Boss didn't say anything, she said she wished she had. When they were getting off the plane, the woman definitely didn't look like she should have had a problem. She was probably embarrassed, but, quite possibly there was something wrong with the seat belt that the Attendant could have helped with.

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

Deb1010again — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:41:48 GMT

There's now tactful way to suggest a seatbelt extension. I think if this really happened to me I wouldn't have the cohones to do the right thing and say something to the woman and if that didn't do the trick, then go to the flight attendant. IMO saying it here is easy but if you're really presented with the situation it's another story.

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

raven-blackbird — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:46:25 GMT

the lady was a grown woman.......she knew the risk she took and she knew what could happen if they hit turbulence.........so it was on her..........I would have been right with your boss but for different reasons..................................raven

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

sophiamarie — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:52:48 GMT

On 4/19/2014 blackbirdraven said:
the lady was a grown woman.......she knew the risk she took and she knew what could happen if they hit turbulence.........so it was on her..........I would have been right with your boss but for different reasons..................................raven

Exactly!!!!

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

sunshine45 — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:56:54 GMT

a young child yes......an adult?.....no i would not have said anything.

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

wildcat fan — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 05:02:18 GMT

On 4/19/2014 Snowpuppy said:
Flights that I've been on and a seatbelt isn't fastened the overhead light stayed on to alert the flight attendant.

This is exactly what I was thinking. I'm surprised the attendant didn't notice.

To answer the OP, I don't think I would have said anything to an adult. If we suddenly hit some turbulence, I probably would have asked the woman if she needs help with her seatbelt. I can recall my first flight. Even though the attendant demonstrated how to fasten the seatbelt, I still needed help with it.

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

Deb1010again — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 05:08:15 GMT

On 4/19/2014 wildcat fan said:
On 4/19/2014 Snowpuppy said:
Flights that I've been on and a seatbelt isn't fastened the overhead light stayed on to alert the flight attendant.

This is exactly what I was thinking. I'm surprised the attendant didn't notice.

To answer the OP, I don't think I would have said anything to an adult. If we suddenly hit some turbulence, I probably would have asked the woman if she needs help with her seatbelt. I can recall my first flight. Even though the attendant demonstrated how to fasten the seatbelt, I still needed help with it.

There are NO individual seatbelt notification lights. The flight attendant can only tell if the seatbelts are fastened via a visual check. The pilots control the overhead lights and it flashes for the entire plane.

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

evelomaddict — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 05:47:14 GMT

i would have told the flight attendant that the passenger next to me was having trouble with their seatbelt.

i certainty would NOT have said 'the passenger next to me needs a seatbelt extender.' that would be embarrassing for them and rude of me.

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

voyager1980 — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 05:50:41 GMT

On 4/19/2014 evelomaddict said:
i would have told the flight attendant that the passenger next to me was having trouble with their seatbelt.

i certainty would NOT have said 'the passenger next to me needs a seatbelt extender.' that would be embarrassing for them and rude of me.

I was thinking I'd hope I'd do the same thing as you said.Seatbelts are for safety of the one wearing it & everybody else too if you think about it

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

sunala — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 06:15:42 GMT

She could have had arthritis in her hands and was unable to fasten the seat belt. Knowing me, I probably would have asked if I could help her.

I'm not sure if that's right or wrong, but it's me.

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

AngelPuppy1 — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 12:12:24 GMT

That's a really touchy situation! I'm not sure what I would have done, to tell you the truth. I would like for everyone to be as safe as possible, but I would never want to call undue attention to someone and embarrass them. It's true that she was an adult and should have said to the attendant that she needed an extension. I would not have alerted the attendant myself. I think first though I would say to the woman, do you need help with your belt because the first time I flew, I felt really silly because I could no get mine fastened! Then, perhaps, the line of communication would be open and she could see that you were trying to help and she could feel free to say - Yes, I need help - or -- it's not long enough to close. Then, you could proceed to tell her --- ask the attendant to come over and she will fix it for you.

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

MaggieToo — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 13:07:53 GMT

I'm sorry. My comment was unkind. I apologize.

Re: Would You Have Spoken Up?

FrostyBabe — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 14:12:56 GMT

Yes, I would have said something. If there were an incident of some sort and she wasn't buckled in, she could have injured herself and others.