So I'm going to blog this here and now so that everyone can know of the HELL that I just went through. I really should sue United Airlines for their blatant rudeness and disregard for my health.

So firstly, I'm flying to Oregon to visit my amazing friend April. April bought me the ticket, it was the CHEAPEST we could find, which was still 850 dollars. At this point in time, I had already flown from Virginia to Chicago and was on my way from Chicago to Portland Oregon.

This is what ensured on my United Airlines flight to Portland Oregon from Chicago


So Senario 1:
My 1st piece of luggage, a small rolling suitcase, is stored in the overhead compartment. My 2nd piece is stored under the seat and there is no more space under the seat. I have a SMALL purse with me that is in my lap. The Stewardess comes by and insists that I put my bag up in the overhead compartment. I try SEVERAL times to politely tell her that I NEED my purse because it has my inhaler, and heart meds, which I need during take off.

At this point the stewardess gets even more rude and more insistent no matter how much I explain to her that having these items is VITAL to my health and that if I have an asthma attack I WON’T BE ABLE TO REACH THEM in the overhead compartment.. Let me specify that she was NEVER even SLIGHTLY nice from the beginning.

The man beside me, bless him, FINALLY suggests that I can put my purse under his seat after almost 3-4 minutes of this. She didn’t even suggest that. She just kept pushing me to put my purse, my livelihood up in the top compartment where I can’t reach it.

Now, I understand the need for her to have to secure other baggage… but instead of suggesting something else like the man beside me did, she kept trying to jeopardize my health by repetitively insisting I do it HER way.

To show you that I was NOT being unreasonable or overreacting, BOTH men beside me said that she was being incredibly rude to me, with her attitude, mannerisms and how she handled the situation as soon as she walked away.

Scenario 2:
United Airlines seats are even smaller than OTHER airlines seats…. Literally… Why is this? Well United airlines as 3 levels of seats (instead of the normal 2 types). The 1st is the economy seats, which is what I was in, the Economy PLUS seats (which is the same size as a NORMAL SEAT ON OTHER AIRLINES and only has 6 extra inches to begin with. 6 extra inches!!! OMG!!! That’s sooooooo much space!!11!11!) and a First Class section. So to give you an idea, United basically gives you smaller—smaller than ANY other airlines, hoping that you will upgrade to the Economy Plus for 50 extra dollars.

To explain that I am not joking or exaggerating about the smallness of the seats, either, I am only 5’7 and my legs are hitting the seat in front of me uncomfortably. The man beside me is about 6’3. His legs are SO LONG that one leg is draped off to one side into the other mans leg room, and one leg is draped into my leg room because he simply can’t fit his legs in front of him. I don’t blame him.

So due to the tiny seats, and lack of leg room….. after about 45 minutes after take off my legs start to cramp up badly. My circulation goes bad in my legs. I have a heart problem. This is NOT good.

(To briefly explain my heart problem, I have P.O.T.S which is a condition in which something in the brain does not send the right signal to the legs in the veins and they don’t pump blood right. Because of this it affects the WHOLE body—my lugs, circulation and particularly by raising my heartbeat whenever I go from sitting to standing—or any kind of posture change.)

So already I am having leg problems that are affecting my heart. I attempt to explain this to the stewardess who suggests that I walk around. I explain that it will be worse, my heart beat is already up to 115bpm (I timed it) and that doing that will make it go up even more if I stand up. The stewardess is again RUDE no matter how many times I explain to her that I’m in distress and feel like I’m going to passout. I finally ask to speak to someone higher up than her about getting a larger seat where I can stretch out my legs so that I WILL NOT have to stand up and she tells me to go speak to the head stewardess…. After another 3-4 minute exchange and going back and forth.

(Again to prove I’m not exaggerating at all on my claim, the two men beside me encouraged me to go up and say something)


Scenario 3:
I go to speak to the head stewardess about this problem. I am in noticeable distress. It is a struggle to breathe. I have my fingers on my THROAT to check my pulse as I talk to her and explain the situation. At this point, I am very irritated at how I was treated.

I explain to her the situation. She also suggests I stand and walk around (are these people STUPID?!) I explain that I cannot do this because of my heart problem, and that even right now my heartbeat is up to almost 130bpm at this point. If I don’t sit down somewhere where I can correct my circulation ASAP I am GOING to passout, and then there might seriously be a medical emergency happening.

Woman explains that she could give me a bigger seat but would have to charge me 50 dollars. I am aghast because here I am HAVING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY and she wants to argue over pricing… and to top it all off, my heart problem is classified as a mild disability so she’s basically telling me that even though I could be dying and am mildly disabled, she cannot give me this seat unless I pay 50 dollars right now.

WHAT THE IS WRONG WITH THIS SITUATION?? Can anyone else tell me?!

(Now, I want to state here and now that I NEVER had an issue with paying the money. The money is nothing, it’s only 50 dollars…. I have an ISSUE with how I’ve been treated up to this point!)

I tell the woman that I will pay the money AFTER talking to customer service when I get off the plane. This seems to settle it and she tells me that I can go sit in one of the larger seats.

At this point, I am even more angry because the head stewardess LAUGHED AT ME while I was explaining how upset I am by this whole situation. This angers me because while I was visibly upset (wouldn't you be too??) I was NOT rude. Whatever. I go to find my seat...

Now, being a reasonable person I choose the seat closest to my luggage I stored in the above compartment. The closest seat is diagonal to that and is an Emergency Exit seat. Thinking nothing of it, I sit down, am able to stretch my legs while sitting down, and start feeling better almost immediately.

Scenario 4:
20-30 minutes or so later, when I’m feeling better and talking to the guy next to me, the Stewardess pulls me aside to talk to me.

In her almost exact words she tells me that where I’m sitting is illegal due to my disability and that the cops “authorities” are waiting to intercept me at landing.

………………………What the heck?!

Let me clarify: She does NOT politely tell me that where I’m sitting is illegal due to my disability and ask me to move.

She DOES tell me its illegal and say that she’s sending the authorities after me because of it. What the heck?!!!!!

So I move, and I tell her so, to avoid that problem. She says if I want to do that to “avoid” that problem that is fine. I move my seat from the Emergency Exit to another seat by some nice older ladies. They were awesome.



Scenario 5:
4 cops greet me off the plane. FOUR COPS for a girl who is 5’7 and weighs 115lbs. If they wanted to intimidate me, THEY WIN, because I’m almost in tears at this point out of anger and the unjust situation.

The cops are actually NICER AND MORE UNDERSTANDING THAN THE STEWARDESSES. They even explain to one person from customer service that I had a heart problem and couldn’t help moving my seats…. At this point in the time stewardess had reported that I “changed seats several times without authority.” WITHOUT THE AUTHORITY… hmm… doesn’t that sound A LITTLE funny considering the head stewardess TOLD me I could get another seat after I told her I would pay the money but wanted to talk to the Customer Service first??

They finally get me to talk to a woman named Pam. I am in many many tears at this point. I am extremely upset and very angry. Pam is nice and very understanding. Pam agrees to give me extra miles for my troubles, but STILL MAKES ME PAY the 50 dollars.

Let me explain why I am ANGRY about this, at this point!

Firstly, they are making me pay for a seat when I had a medical emergency.
SECOND, I only sat in this seat for half of the flight and had to move.
THIRD, they are making me pay for a seat I was HARASSED and THREATENED over.


Let me be clear. I don’t want the extra miles. In fact, considering United could have KILLED ME (worse case scenario) by refusing to let me move in an emergency and jeopardizing my health, I DON’T EVER WANT TO FLY UNITED AGAIN. All I want is my 50 dollars back for my unjust treatment on their flight.

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Now, if you agree that what they put me through is unbelievable and wrong… Repost this for me. Blog it on Deviant Art, on Myspace, Twitter—and anywhere else possible. You can link it back to my deviant art website. (the more places it can turn up in a search engine, THE BETTER!)

Why would I want you to repost this? The reason is simple. It was suggested by someone and the wife of a pilot that flew for United Air that airlines actually do check around for persons unhappy with their experience on their flight. By reposting it, you will guarantee this message reaches more people—and the airline that could have seriously caused harm to me by ignoring my plea for help.


Yes, I do plan to talk to Customer Service, the national line, today… and get my money back. They can keep their miles as far as I’m concerned.