Airline won’t move Mountain
Tall passenger forced to pay extra to get unused seat with room for his legs
AHong Kong Airlines passenger says he is furious and will complain to the airline after he was charged $100 to “upgrade” from one economy seat to another with more leg room.
At 1.98m tall [6ft 6in], Richard Mountain needs plenty of leg space so when he checked into the flight in Hong Kong yesterday he requested extra room.
Mountain said he was assured he would be seated in a row with extra space but instead he was given an ordinary aisle seat and his legs were stuck across the aisle.
“They put us at the back of a section so that I couldn’t put the seat back easily and I couldn’t fit in,” Mountain said.
“My legs were in the aisle which is actually an aviation hazard because the aisle was completely blocked.”
Mountain, who had been holidaying in Thailand with his girlfriend, said the hostess tripped over his legs three times before takeoff.
“She banged my knee quite hard and I complained and asked if I could move.”
In the section immediately behind Mountain was a front row of four empty seats where there was more leg room because there were no seats immediately in front.
“They said ‘We’re not upgrading you for free. You’ve got to pay’.
“I ended up having to pay $100 to sit in a seat which would otherwise be unoccupied.”
The 34-year-old from Dunedin complained to no avail so he paid.
“I always get extended leg room for free,” Mountain said.
“I’ve been to 35 countries, over 200 flights in my life and I’ve never been asked for money for sitting somewhere I can fit in.
“But to charge me extra money for being tall. It was an absolute disgrace.”
Mountain said he would write to the airline and make a formal complaint.
“I’d like my $100 back.”
The Herald on Sunday contacted Hong Kong Airlines, but did not get a response by press time.
I ended up having to pay $100 to sit in a seat which would otherwise be unoccupied. Richard Mountain