Embarrassed and upset. Was I wrong?

[fatandembarrassed]

Nc for this

I recently had to take an 11 hour flight. I'm quite pregnant at the moment - not close to my due date, but it's very obvious and I am pretty big now. I was cleared to fly but warned that I must walk about as much as possible.

I didn't have much notice of this flight and so didn't have spare money, so I booked an economy seat next to the toilet, for obvious reasons, and with extra legroom. It was fine, but about 4 hours into the flight, I realised my ankles were swelling, so I got up and started to walk about a bit.

I felt a bit embarrassed, but I was in a fair bit of pain with my ankles and Braxton Hicks contractions, so I persevered very slowly and in complete silence, making my way along the aisles which wasn't easy in Economy as it was very tight. I then walked up and down the Business Class aisle. Nobody looked up or seemed disturbed by me, and it was easier to walk, so I walked up and down that section twice which took me about five minutes.

Next thing I knew, a male flight attendant marched up to me, put his hand on my arm and told me that I was disturbing passengers who had paid more than me, and that I might be pregnant but it was 'not an excuse' to 'make a disturbance'. I was quite shocked to be told I was disturbing anyone - I was very quiet and slow, and there for less than 5 min.

I was really upset to have him talk to me like that, both touching me and implying that I was just being a 'nuisance' to people who were clearly 'better' than me. I ended up crying because I was so humiliated (hate having to walk anyway and draw attention to myself), in horrible pain and having contractions.

Was I being unreasonable here? DH is very upset that I was treated like this and I really didn't think I was doing anything terribly wrong.

How likely is it really that 20 passengers are all in severe pain and need help at the same time though Walter? In real life, in every day society we manage to prioritise those with different/additional needs over those with a higher disposable income - I can't really understand why aeroplanes are any different. Imagine when you went to the supermarket and instead of a row of disabled spaces next to the entrance, there were a row of very large spaces only available to those who had booked and paid for them. There were still spaces for disabled people but they weren't quite as big or quite as close.

She can't use the services and facilities that she hasn't paid for.

The only service or facility she was expecting to use was the floor.

I think 9/11 changed things. I used to sit in the flight deck sometimes when I was young and thin and pretty. The crew used to come and say the pilot has asked if I would like to see the deck.

I think 9/11 changed things. I used to sit in the flight deck sometimes when I was young and thin and pretty. The crew used to come and say the pilot has asked if I would like to see the deck.

betsyderek

How would the pilot know you were young and thin and pretty?? Did he do a wee walk through to see if any of the passengers caught his eye??? Creeeeepppy!!

Imagine when you went to the supermarket and instead of a row of disabled spaces next to the entrance, there were a row of very large spaces only available to those who had booked and paid for them. There were still spaces for disabled people but they weren't quite as big or quite as close.

This doesn't work as a comparison. The OP was not inconvenienced by the existence of BC area. Rather she chose to use it in addition to the EC aisles.

I would have asked for the OP to be removed, as I do at least 5 times on every flight I am on

I didn't realize this happens so often, so I've just called a pal who worked as crew (Gulf Air if it matters)

She said she was surprised it was only five

You could argue that people would not be inconvenienced by the existence of pay-for parking spaces. After all not all disabled or parent and child parking spaces are currently right next to the supermarket entrance so having a few paid-for spaces wouldn't make much of a difference?

Yeah, I got to see the flight deck when I was young and thin and pretty too. Can't see it happening now, even if 9/11 had net happened.

That's a whole other thread never !

Imagine when you went to the supermarket and instead of a row of disabled spaces next to the entrance, there were a row of very large spaces only available to those who had booked and paid for them. There were still spaces for disabled people but they weren't quite as big or quite as close.

It's not comparable. OP was able to walk around EC. She chose to go into BC all the while knowing that she shouldn't be in there.

She's not owed anything. She chose what seat to buy. End of story.

It's a bit like the fast track tickets at Disneyland. Should people get to go to the front of the queue for free because they are pregnant or have little children? I have never been there so don't know how they work to be fair.

She wasn't able to walk comfortably around EC - she said the aisles were too narrow and there were lots of obstacles - feet sticking out etc, but that BC had wider aisles and allowed her a straight run. But your comment that those in pain and discomfort are "not owed anything" and should pay for the privilege of walking through an exclusive space is quite sad.

Goingthedistance you're right - didn't mean to turn it into a parking thread

By the way I would definitely pay for a nice parking space!!! You could charge a quid for people who have big cats and are shit at parking or lazy narrated who can't be arsed to walk. I would so pay for that

Betsy Of course not, because pregnant women and children are often perfectly capable of standing for a decent amount of time without discomfort. Of course those with disabilities that make it difficult for them stand for any length of time (whether hidden or seen) should absolutely go straight to the front of the queue. Tbh any heavily pregnant women who chooses to go to Disneyland is clearly not in her right mind!

I would never want any of my flippant comments to suggest that people with disabilities should not get absolute priority.

No I defo don't think they did! If my comment made it seem that way I apologise because I didn't get that from your comment at all.

I suppose that, if you're not a BC flyer, then you may not understand how significant it is to spend so much money and expect a certain amount of - difference I suppose. You pay £400 and I pay £5000 for the same flight. It really does make a difference and I really do think that you can't fuck about when there is such a difference in cost. Pregnancy wouldn't make me feel that I had that same amount of significance unless I'd paid for it. Being pregnant wouldn't make think I'd earned the right to ride roughshod over everyone else's feelings and walk up and down the aisle of someone else's journey, simply because they hadn't paid for it. And if they had then I would still be pissed off at having my £5000 buggered and fucked because someone is ... Pregnant ... Pregnancy is not a reason to piss other people off.

She had enough room in EC to get to her seat in the first place.

Aisles always have to be kept clear.

FAs manage to get up and down with trollies.

Do you really think she couldn't have walked the EC aisle? Really??

And I also think that anyone paying such a significant difference in costs would feel the same. I have never kown anyone give up their BC or FC seats for someone that 'needed them more'. Pfft. Bollocks!

I wasn't there but I don't find it particularly difficult to imagine that the aisle in EC is more difficult to negotiate for a pregnant (and presumably therefore larger) person. I know that on my last flight the aisle was a hive of activity. Between people getting up to use the toilet, the food and drink and earphone and duty free service, and yes, people stretching their legs, there wasn't actually much of the time when the aisle was completely clear. So yes she probably could have walked up and down the EC aisle and she did according to her post - but given that she was distressed and in pain, it was easier and more beneficial to walk in a clearer and wider space. I don't find that hard to imagine.

Well, I'm sure it was easier but the crux of it is; she wasn't entitled to be there!

It's like me paying £20 for a theatre ticket and then deciding that actually, there's more room in the £80 section so just popping up there for the second half.

Just because it would be more comfortable for me, doesn't mean I can or should do it. Because I didn't pay to be there.

And whether that heightens the divide between wealth or classes or whatever doesn't really come in to it because the choice was there for OP to buy a BC ticket. She didn't chose to, for whatever reason. And therefore, she had less room.

JeanandTonic No one has said (to the best of knowledge) that pregnancy alone should entitle anyone to preferential treatment. But that perhaps being distressed and in pain might mean that common sense is applied. It is also worth noting - again- that the OP did not ask for a seat, or for any service or facility within the BC area. The Op was asking merely to be given the right to walk along the floor to ease her pain.

The thing is, you can stretch your legs in accordance to DVT advice on the spot. You don't actually have to walk up and down a corridor.
Also the idea of EC aisles not "big enough" for a pregnant woman to walk down is a bit

Well it's not really Walter because the OP didn't want to sit down or use any of the services in BC. And it wasn't about being more comfortable - it was about not being in so much pain.