US Airways passenger stands 7 hours

TEMPE, Ariz., Nov. 26 (UPI) -- A US Airways passenger on a flight from Anchorage, Alaska, to Philadelphia said he stood the entire flight due to the size of the passenger next to him.

Arthur Berkowitz said he stood for 7 hours on the flight and was only able to fasten his seat belt for take-off and landing, CNN reported Saturday.

On the entire flight, he said, he walked around the cabin, failing to comply with several requests that he sit down and buckle up, but was unable to do so as a late passenger sat down beside him and took up about half of his seat.

"His size required both armrests to be raised up and allowed for his body to cover half of my seat," Berkowitz said.

Berkowitz said the airline offered him $200 to compensate him for his troubles, but he refused the compensation.

He then went to the Federal Aviation Administration to register a complaint. But the agency said the airline had considered the matter closed.

Berkowitz now says, "My reason for bringing this up is strictly and solely for the airline to look at their safety procedures," CNN reported.

The airline said there was nothing it could do for a passenger who insisted on raising the compensation they offered.

"We have attempted to address this customer's service concerns, but offering increasing amounts of compensation based on a threat of a safety violation isn't really fair -- especially when the passenger himself said he didn't follow the crew members' instructions and fasten his seat belt," US Airways said in a statement.

"We have already provided feedback on the service issues with the team involved, and thank Mr. Berkowitz for making his concerns known," the statement said.

FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said regulations forbid a passenger from standing for an entire flight.