British Airways First Class Passenger Was So Large It Took 3 Hours And A Hoist To Deplane Him [Roundup] - View from the Wing

by Gary Leff on July 31, 2023

News and notes from around the interweb: So this happened: A very large British Airways first class passenger traveling from Lagos, Nigeria couldn’t remove himself from his seat on arrival at London Heathrow on Saturday morning. It took three hours, and a response from emergency workers, to lift him out of the Boeing 777. And “a door in the cabin had to be removed” as part of the process “so that the traveller could be freed — using a hoist.” An engineering note seen by The Sun said: “A volumetric passenger is stuck in seat 1A. “The plan is to remove the suite door and use a hoist to eject [him] from the seat.”

It took three hours, and a response from emergency workers, to lift him out of the Boeing 777. And “a door in the cabin had to be removed” as part of the process “so that the traveller could be freed — using a hoist.”

An engineering note seen by The Sun said: “A volumetric passenger is stuck in seat 1A.

“The plan is to remove the suite door and use a hoist to eject [him] from the seat.”

It’s common for people to suggest that a passenger who needs a larger seat should buy one, or three. Here the passenger bought the largest seat on the plane – first class – though of course BA’s first cabin is somewhat inferior and offers less room than comparable first class products of other airlines.

MGM resorts guests with their Hyatt account linked can no longer use mobile check-in this is a real pain given the 3-4 hours some guests wait to check into Las Vegas hotels. Perhaps with the Hyatt-MGM partnership ending September 30 MGM no longer sees downside in combating people who book cheap midweek stays and no show (but check in!) for the Hyatt elite credit.

Five years ago I asked whether Centurion lounges were so busy that nobody goes there anymore? In the spring I suggested that the latest restriction – this time, guest access – weren’t reducing crowding enough to matter. They keep adding cardmembers, and people show up at the airport earlier. Denver is a post child:

This is the line… to get in line…to get on the wait list at DIA by u/M0ney0nMyMind in amex

Hey @AmericanAir ExPlat speaking here. Flt 4138. DFW-XNA. July 30. Both Lavs out of service. This hatch “inoperative”. Doesn’t inspire confidence in the rest of this aircraft. pic.twitter.com/C6kXLxRgJw

— Dry Heaves (@ScottLetts1) July 31, 2023

Only the best for @AmericanAir . pic.twitter.com/OWAhan1CrS

— Tyler Elliott (@mr_telliott) July 30, 2023

You're always leaving me gifts when I board @AmericanAir sigh… pic.twitter.com/y4QoM534PN

— Kerwin McKenzie (@loyaltytravels) July 30, 2023

Delta passenger says she was told to tape a safety booklet to her window for shade on an 8-hour flight that cost her $2,000

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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you wrote the following: British Airways First Class Passenger Was So Large It 3 Hours And A Hoist To Deplane Him

“it” what??? Why do you have to be so lazy? You seriously left out the main word in this title. Do you just never proofread? Are you satisfied with being mediocre?

There have to be pictures of it. Dig around, we need to see this!

@Jason: he is a Texan. They are too stupid to speak/write correctly.

Is it illegal for airlines to tell a passenger he/she is too heavy to fly?

dont need pictures. don’t need shame anyone. this pax attempted to do the right thing by buying the biggest seat on the aircraft and short of buying private flights, not much else can be done. struggling to see why this is news, especially when you think how bad LHR services are for pax with mobility issues..there is your real story.

@Ray. Mistakes happen. I knew what Gary meant. Every now and then, as hard as I try, a blooper will get out from me too. I try to proofread but it happens. It can be a little embarrassing but no federal offense so I get over it. I suggest you and Jason do the same. As for the Texan insults I don’t appreciate them. The only thing stupid here are your remarks. Stupid and prejudice. I attended school in Texas and they followed up on what I had already learned at home. I can read, write (including cursive), count and spell. As far as speaking correctly I can do it. But why put on airs? I’m Texan (southern) so I talk that way y’all. And ding danged if I ain’t proud to be a native born and bred Texan. God bless Texas.

How long did it take to board this individual? Why doesn’t BA have a system to monitor the size and weight of a passenger before they even buy a ticket? With the issue of people getting larger, you would think that all of the airlines would start paying attention to this issue, and start requiring the height and weight off all passengers at the time they are buying a ticket. You weigh the baggage going onto to your planes and charge for bags over weight and if you have extra bags, but nothing for passengers who need 2 economy seats because they are oversize.

Delta plane maintenance has been horrible for the last six months. I’ve had several first-class domestic flights with broken tray tables that couldn’t be fully extended.

Obvious GOP/Dump supporter requiring Socialism to bail him out.

Zoiks, Jason, is the heat getting to ya ? I’m with Carol, for sure Gary missed a word, although Google that and you’ll find dozens of medical journal articles on how the human brain can easily breeze through missing and jumbled words. Good thing, too, given that spell check will often take a correctly spelled word and misspell it. In any event, it’s tough to criticize the author of a entirely free travel blog, who puts in a huge amount of effort on behalf of folks like you and me, just so we can enjoy and learn from it.

As for Marv, get a life: This is a travel blog and your comments are radically inappropriate and not welcome here.

I think the new policies for Centurion access have reduced crowding. I’m at IAH right now and it is half empty. I do know some military families that used to use it that no longer do because no way they hit the spend for guests.

Told that clownster who questioned me on why Hyatt dumped Mgm. They wouldn’t share backend data.

I just flew LAX-WAW (with LOT in an empty business cabin – quite nice) and stopped by the Centurion lounge on my way to the Star Alliance lounge, just to see if the crowding had gotten any better. It had not. The Centurion was a total mess – VERY hot and humid, super crowded and lackluster food. As usual.

Hope he was the last. Geez

The Fat boy should have sent himself on a cargo plane.

@Alan I went all through this issue on another post. I didn’t think everything through before I spoke. But now I’m ready. I can see where having another person spilling over in your seat and/or having body odor would be annoying. I wouldn’t like it. But I still feel empathy for overweight people and I agree that if the airlines had not kept shrinking the seats maybe this wouldn’t be a problem. Your mouth alone would need to go on a cargo plane.

Jeez, Ray and Jason — who pissed in your soup?

Serious question — how did he get on the plane if he can’t get off without removing the door?

At some point, a regulation will have to be introduced for people who cannot fit in a seat. Don’t anyone get on me about airline seats. We all agree that they’re not the biggest in the world but… Not trying to shame anyone but in case of an accident which requires emergency egress, this guy is gonna die! There is only so much that others can do before having to save themselves at the expense of this one (or more) passenger(s) “largesse” (no pun intended!)

“Volumetric” (from British Airways statement or was it PYOK?) is my new favorite word! “No more volumetric shaming!”

Ray and Jason: trying to figure out the context from Garys typos is half the fun! He is typo legend! I suggest you request a refund…..

“Volumetric”. Euphemisms have their place.

The passenger was able to get onto the plane. He also bought the largest seat available. Because of all the fancy stuff you can’t buy TWO first class seats and sit in both. He then got stuck because the seat was too small. Door taken off to allow access for hoist. NOT for actual passenger. If you must comment, READ the info first.

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Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.

Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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