The airlines in Britain are off the hook. A suit was filed against them seeking damages for deaths by deep vein thrombosis – DVT. Not their fault, the airlines say, that the plane was cramped and passengers developed DVT. The judges agreed.
Airline travel has progressively worsened since I was a young lass off to Sweden on foreign exchange. Used to be you could count on the seat next to you being empty. Used to be you could find a whole row to sleep in once the plane was at “cruising altitude.” No more. Now the plane is full and, thanks to Homeland Security, you’re not supposed to stand at the back. You’re supposed to stay in your cramped seat developing clots.
There are other risk factors involved in developing DVT. I don’t know that I’m likely to develop DVT. I do know that in a week, I’m shoehorning myself into a coach seat and flying to Europe. I always book the aisle and I’m a scofflaw about the “no loitering” rules, but others get their seats too late or just don’t know to get up and stretch.
I don’t know that I wanted the airlines to get nailed on this. While I’m thinking it through, I’m trying to project the conditions that cause DVT on to other scenarios. What if a workplace had these conditions? A prison? Is that silly? For the money you pay for an airline seat, it seems like the least you could expect are conditions that are not potentially life threatening. Ultimately, I’m being very selfish about this case. I worry that the airlines, now that the case has been thrown out, will shave another three inches off leg room in coach.
I can’t reach the stuff that’s up high in my kitchen, but at least there are some advantages to being short.
Administrivia note: Cross posted to Nonfamous.
The share price of BA, Lufthansa, Air France and SAS all jumped when the news came out. I mean like a big freaking jump, as though to indicate that investors are really relieved that the airlines are not responsible for the people who die in cattle class seats.