Women Claim They Were Asked To Deboard Air New Zealand Flight For Being “Too Big”; Airlines Responds

Two women accused Air New Zealand of kicking them off the flight due to their size.

by Sanjana Shenoy
Women Claim They Were Asked To Deboard Air New Zealand Flight For Being “Too Big”; Airlines Responds

A woman accused Air New Zealand of kicking off her and her friend from a flight for being “too big”. She claimed she was “hurt’ and “humiliated” for being asked to leave the aircraft due to her size. Later, the airline responded to this issue and apologised. Read on to learn more about what happened on the Air New Zealand flight.

Air New Zealand Asks Women To Get Off Flight Due To Their Size

Air New Zealand
Picture Credits: Wikimedia Commons

Angel Harding stated to The Mirror that she and her friend had booked an Air New Zealand flight from Napier to Auckland. The women were seated on the flight when a flight attendant approached them and “aggressively tried to push the armrest” next to the two women. On being unable to push the armrest, the flight attendant took to the loudspeaker to announce that the flight would head back to the airport due to an “inconvenience.”

On hanging up the loudspeaker, she came to Angel Harding and her friend and said they should have booked four seats. The women should have booked themselves two seats each. Angel and her friend were asked to leave the Air New Zealand flight. “Our size had a lot to do with it,” spoke Angel tearfully to Daily Mail. She said they were kicked off the flight due to their size, their built.

Also Read: Indian Railways Has New Weight Limit For Your Luggage While Travelling In Trains

Women Claim Compensation For Hurt & Humiliation Caused

Air New Zealand
Picture Credits: Canva Pro

A report by The Mirror stated the women demanded compensation for the “humiliation, trauma and hurt” they experienced due to the unpleasant incident. A spokesperson for Air New Zealand told The Mirror that passengers needed extra room are accommodated if there is sufficient space available in the airline.

Also Read: 7 Homemade Drinks To Consume Before Bed For Weight Loss

Moreover, the airline strongly recommends passengers contact the airline about extra space requirements before booking flights. It assured its steady commitment to treating all passengers with dignity and respect. And apologised to the two women for offering an inconsistent experience.

Fliers, do let us know if you’ve faced any untoward incident on a flight regarding extra space requirements.

Cover Image Courtesy: Air New Zealand/ Website

For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE.