Aboard Flights, Conflicts Over Seat Assignments and Religion

[cbayer]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/10/us/aboard-flights-conflicts-over-seat-assignments-and-religion.html?_r=0

By MICHAEL PAULSON
APRIL 9, 2015


Several flights from New York to Israel over the last year have been delayed when ultra-Orthodox Jewish men have refused to sit next to women. Credit Bryan Thomas for The New York Times

Francesca Hogi, 40, had settled into her aisle seat for the flight from New York to London when the man assigned to the adjoining window seat arrived and refused to sit down. He said his religion prevented him from sitting beside a woman who was not his wife. Irritated but eager to get underway, she eventually agreed to move.

Laura Heywood, 42, had a similar experience while traveling from San Diego to London via New York. She was in a middle seat — her husband had the aisle — when the man with the window seat in the same row asked if the couple would switch positions. Ms. Heywood, offended by the notion that her sex made her an unacceptable seatmate, refused.

“I wasn’t rude, but I found the reason to be sexist, so I was direct,” she said.

A growing number of airline passengers, particularly on trips between the United States and Israel, are now sharing stories of conflicts between ultra-Orthodox Jewish men trying to follow their faith and women just hoping to sit down. Several flights from New York to Israel over the last year have been delayed or disrupted over the issue, and with social media spreading outrage and debate, the disputes have spawned a protest initiative, an online petition and a spoof safety video from a Jewish magazine suggesting a full-body safety vest (“Yes, it’s kosher!”) to protect ultra-Orthodox men from women seated next to them on airplanes.

more at link

[orwell]

1. I remember this from 1st grade...

...when I found out that girls have "cooties."

[cbayer]

2. It's about men doing whatever they can to avoid getting sexually aroused by women, so

I guess those "cooties" are pheromones, lol.

[nil desperandum]

3. Hmm

if they won't sit down next to a woman they should be removed from the plane and have to wait for a flight where the seat assignments work out so they won't be seated next to a woman...

one of the sillier things I've read recently...these are the same fools who photoshop women in leadership roles out of political photographs.

[cbayer]

4. I am at a loss as to why there seems to be an assumption that the woman would be the

one to move.

If you get to your assigned seat and it doesn't suit you for whatever reason, the onus is on you to find a new place to sit, right?

I'm glad that the airlines are making some effort to accommodate when they can. It seems like that would be pretty easy.

These ultra orthodox are gaining power in Israel and that's pretty disturbing.

[TM99]

5. Really it is the airline that has dropped the ball on all of these

reported incidents.

These are trips between US and Israel. Isn't there a way for the ticket agents to ascertain easily if these men are Ultra-Orthodox and then not sell adjacent seats to women? That seems like the simplest solution. No worries for the Orthodox males. No need to be 'moved' or have an issue for the women.

Why can't solutions that respect both parties be found in situations like these?

[cbayer]

6. From the article, I think some carriers are trying to do just that.

The solution would be in having it an option under special requests. The sex of travelers is known, so this should be a computerized no brainer.

I suspect they are going to solve this.

[pinto]

7. Makes sense to me. Airlines know age, gender, itinerary, etc. etc.

"Special seating requests" with a clear disclaimer that not all requests may be possible to meet on every flight - with follow up customer service contact info.

[cbayer]

8. They go through all this stuff if you want to sit in an exit row.

This seems like it would be much easier than that.

[pinto]

11. I can't sit in an exit row for clear personal ability reasons. Understandable to me.

But I can get an aisle seat, if I want, which I usually decline. Window seat if possible.

[cbayer]

12. I'm a window seat person myself.

I really like the view.

[TM99]

9. Exactly.

But if the airlines bow to the social pressure only on social media no viable solution will be found for both parties involved.

[cbayer]

10. I'm with you. When there are easy accommodations that can be made

and those accommodations don't negatively impact on anyone, they should be done to the extent possible.

I don't care if it's religious or not.