Air France compensates 170kg passenger

Big chap forced to cough for extra seat

By Lester Haines • Get more from this author

Posted in Bootnotes, 23rd November 2007 07:02 GMT

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Air France has been ordered to compensate a 170kg* citizen of the land of liberté, égalité, fraternité after forcing him to stump up for an extra seat on a flight from New Delhi to Paris, AFP reports.

Jean-Jacques Jauffret, 43, described himself as "deeply humiliated" when airline staff intercepted him at New Delhi airport as he was returning from holiday in August 2005, and deployed "wrapping tape" to measure his circumference in front of other passengers.

He was then told that since the flight was full, he'd have to pay for the seat next to him to ensure some breathing space.

A court decided this was a pretty poor show, and last Friday ordered Air France to pay €8000 ($13,600) in damages and reimburse the cost of the additional seat. Jauffret declared: “The court recognised the humiliation I suffered. Now Air France is going to have to say clearly what is its commercial policy. Does it carry people or kilos?” ®