Giorgio Destro seeks compensation of $4043 from airlines.
An Italian lawyer is suing Emirates airline alleging that a nine-hour journey in a flight of the company caused him discomfort as he was seated next to an obese passenger.
Giorgio Destro from Padua in northern Italy, claimed that his journey from Cape Town to Dubai on July 2 was ruined by the obese passenger seated next to him, reported Daily Mail.
Destro said he had to stand for major part of the journey as he felt deeply uncomfortable sitting beside the passenger.
“For nine hours, I had to stand in the aisle, sit on seats reserved for the cabin crew when they were free, and in the final phase of flight resign myself to suffer the “spillover” of the passenger at my side,†Destro told Italian Daily Mattino Padova.
Despite being a gold member of the airline, the crew couldn’t allot him another seat on his request as all seats were occupied. He claimed that the crew had acknowledged his discomfort and were friendly.
He has moved a civil lawsuit seeking a compensation of $4043 from the airlines. A court in Padua will consider the suit on October 20.
Former legal trustee of the Italian Consulate, Destro has taken a selfie showing the co passenger’s arm encroaching onto his seat to use as evidence.
Emirates refused to respond to the issue as the case was under a court’s consideration. “Emirates is unable to comment on this particular case as it is an ongoing legal matter,†an Emirate spokesperson told Mail Online.
Experts are of the opinion that airlines must extent reasonable care to the passengers.
“I would argue it is not reasonable to lose a large portion of your seat, leaving you in discomfort. The airline must meet any description of the flight that a consumer has relied upon,†Andrew Leakey, Head of Dispute Resolution at Stephensons Solicitors, told Mail Online.
“Interestingly the Emirates website says “Sit back in comfortable seats and enjoy the attention to detail that makes our flights unique. If a consumer can show they’ve relied on this, then I would argue the standard has not been met where they are left in discomfort or indeed unable to sit for most of the flight,†he added.