A 213cm (7tf) passenger has accused Qantas of discrimination for charging him a fee to sit in a seat with extra legroom.
Adam Menzies has has taken the airline to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal because he had to pay extra for an exit row seat on a flight from New York to Melbourne in November last year.
He said he was unable to sit in a standard economy seat.
“I could try, I have tried but it just starts to get unsafe pretty quickly,” he told radio station 3AW.
The 31-year-old from Geelong said it was unfair that he had been made to pay more than other customers because of his height.
Qantas charges $160 to book an exit row seat on a long-haul flight or about an extra $2000 for a premium economy seat with more leg room than standard economy.
“I said to Qantas that I’m looking to be accommodated with an extra leg room seat, just a regular seat in economy that has a bit more leg room,” he said.
“They said I’d have to pay for that and I said ‘Well I’ve already paid for my seat, should I have to pay extra? and they pretty much said ‘yes’.”
A Qantas spokesman said Mr Menzies had sought preferential treatment.
“All Qantas customers are able to book and pay for seats providing extra leg room however this customer is seeking preferential treatment simply because he is tall,” the spokesman said.
“Qantas’ approach is reasonable and appropriate and consistent with other airlines around the world.”
The parties will meet for mediation in November.
Source: The Age
