Passenger Karen Ayers reports being in a window seat – selected free with her MileagePlus elite status – on board United Airlines flight 149 from Newark to São Paulo. She wound up with the worst seat choice possible: the man in the middle seat next to her reportedly appeared inebriated. Ayers says he “kept putting his arm over the arm rest on MY side and EVERY time he would do that, he would touch my legs.”
This was reported to a flight attendant, who told her she couldn’t be moved because the flight was full. However, the crewmember told the man “to keep his hands to himself.”
This escalated matters: “That’s when he started hitting me. He would pretend he “was asleep and would spread his arms big and hit me in the face. I was shocked.” She reports her “lip is hurting and so is my finger from another time he hit me.”
United Airlines Boeing 777 Economy
With several hours left in the trip, another passenger offered to switch seats with her so that she’s now in the middle seat of a middle row on the Boeing 777-200 but safer though still “scared.”
I’m being physically assaulted on a flight and United won’t move me or the guy next to me. I’ve shown them the video and they haven’t done anything. I’m shaking I am so upset.there’s still 6 1/2 hours on this flight. @united @united #united #unitedairlines #unitedairlines #unite pic.twitter.com/TfAAgeIO4Y
— Karen Ayars (@kkmiguel) December 27, 2024
It seems clear to me that the crew should have moved him – and possibly detained him – but at a minimum asked for volunteers (like the man who ultimately agreed to switch) instead of throwing up their hands. Ayers says “That’s what should’ve happened the first time I told the flight attendant he was touching my legs.”
United Airlines Boeing 777 Economy
Thursday night’s departure from Newark was delayed an hour and 25 minutes, into the early hours of Friday morning. With a likely rush to get the flight out, gate agents may have been less likely to spot a passenger that wasn’t sober. That’s a shame, because it would have been far better to catch someone likely to cause problems on a long haul flight prior to sticking everyone together inside of a metal tube.
I reached out to United Airlines for comment and will update if they respond.
Of course her name is Karen – how appropriate!
Why are excuses being given for the gate crew and the cabin crew when dealing with this passenger’s safety? Was the pilot informed?
She’s not bad looking so she’s more credible than some fat uggo claiming that. That dude should’ve been beaten down. What’s a fair compensation from United? Also, she should’ve gotten some footage of the dude.
Karen should have stowed away on premium Delta.
If I were hit, I might sit in somebody’s seat who got up to use the lavatory.
@Hal: She may have footage of him and be wise enough to not post it on the internet where she could open herself up to a defamation suit.
i was with an airline in Canada. We had a similar with a single teenage girl travelling. The captain (6’2″ and 220lb) went back and moved him back to last row. Told him not to leave the seat for any reason until we were at the gate. Also had the police meet the flight and the captain took him back for the arrest.
I’m not sure i believe these stories. I’ve been on many flights, not witnessed any of behaviors.
@AC I don’t think you know what that word means. Karen is not a woman complaining to a business that they are forcing her to sustain a sexual assault. Not even close. Look to your elders for an example of a Karen, because you were undoubtedly raised by one.
I’m really shocked that United wasn’t more proactive after the event, maybe putting her in first class or putting him in the back, or better yet possibly putting him in zip restraints if he doesn’t comply with instructions to leave her alone. Maybe he needs to wake his ass up and pay attention before he gets escorted off the airplane with police. And people just because her name is Karen shouldn’t have any effect on rather another passenger is getting too friendly with her. How would you like that if that was your mother or your sister? Smdh!
I was on a flight with a guy who kept going over the armrests and touching me. I was enraged. But I couldn’t prove it and didn’t have the nerve to say anything. I should have because his wife was on the other side of him. He was also watching porn on his phone and it freaked me out.
Too often FAs do the minimum because it is easier for them. They did not want to deal with an ugly scene with a big drunk guy.
If y’all read the article fully you’d see that the flight was as FULL, so there were no seats available to move him or her to. I think she was lucky that another pax offered to swap seats.