A woman has gone viral for a telephone conversation with an airline in which she demands two extra seats for free due to her disability…claustrophobia. Is this some sort of sick joke or could it actually be real?
Woman Demands Two Extra Airline Seats For Free, Claims She Suffers From Claustrophobia
A viral conversation purports to re-create a genuine interaction between a woman and an airline, during which she:
- demands two extra seats for free so she can have a full row to herself
- likens her disability to a peanut allergy
- claims that because she has a “genuine medical note” from her doctor, she must be accommodated
- remarks, “I shouldn’t have to pay for something if it’s a medical condition.”
The airline agent ultimately says, “It’s a very unreasonable request,” and I would agree.
To the woman: the gravest medical condition you have is a sense of entitlement. If you want extra space, pay for it or stay home.
Contrary to what some of my readers may think, I’m not stupid…and I’m also not posting this knowing it is fake. We live in a world of confusion and it would not surprise me if such a request was genuinely made. After all, Southwest Airlines gives up to two free extra seats to the morbidly obese, so why not try it for claustrophobia as well?
Claustrophobia is a real condition…but the premise of accommodation is that is reasonable and not an undue burden and a viable solution exists for those who want a little more space: purchase extra seats or upgrade to business class.
This is not a lack of compassion or a “parade of horribles” fallacy but a simple observation that accommodation laws were not envisioned to help people game the system for extra space onboard. It is people like this who will ruin accommodation for everyone…we see that with dogs and now we see it requesting extra space onboard.
Mental conditions have no limits. For example, one could genuinely have a fear of strangers that is calmed if they have an entire business class or section of it to themselves. Not reasonable for the airline.
How about someone with a broken leg that pays for a business class seat. Should they get it free? No.
Accommodation should be required for genuine conditions that do not place too much a burden on the airline or other passengers.
I expect someone to someday demand free food due to a medical condition. I am surprised that hasn’t been reported.
Oh my! So if claustrophobia is a disability anyone can simply become disable any time. You just have to say you suffer from claustrophobia. She might need a service animal for that.
Can she bring an elephant and a hippo as service animals?
It’s interesting, if real, that a person with claustrophobia would want to travel in an inclosed metal tube at 30,ooo+ feet in the air with no way to get out. Maybe she should take a “Fear of Flying” class which is designed for persons just like her .
In Canada, under the one-person-one fare policy, I wonder if the airline would actually have to adjudicate her request? From my understanding, the CTA requires people with disabilities to only pay for 1 seat, including if they require an attendant in flight for personal care or safety, or if they require additional seating for themselves, including if they’re disabled due to obesity.
https://otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/highlights-one-person-one-fare-policy-decision
I was wondering about that as well…
I suffer from serious anxiety and the only way I can fly is if I have an unlimited supply of Krug or Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle. TATL I always book BA First, so I’m fine but next week I need to fly from Miami to Topeka. Do you think if I contact AA they’ll make sure to stock it for me? Honestly, I’d even be OK with Bollinger if that’s all they’re able to get. I’m willing to accept a reasonable accomodation.