Employee gets back at manager who refuses extra leg room request: 'Enjoy paying for my business class seat'

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Feb 25, 2025 3:00 PM EST

This person had to snap photos of their unfortunate airplane situation before their company would even consider helping them out! 

Many people do not enjoy flying on airplanes one bit. You often have to wait a long time and deal with delays. Not to mention the other passengers, who are also pretty stressed and not thrilled to be on the plane, either. 

Some people have an even more difficult time during their travels because they have medical conditions that complicate their trip. This person just had a larger frame than many airplanes can accommodate: as they describe, they're 6'1" and on the bigger side, so without extra leg room, any flight feels endless. After one 3-hour-long flight spent cramped up in pain, they knew they couldn't let this happen again. Airlines all have different policies for larger passengers, but this person was caught up in a battle within their own company. Their assisting manager seemed to take their request personally, which was just so unnecessary. If it cost $100 to get them extra legroom, they must've spent hundreds of dollars of company time just trying to figure out a workaround.

After that, read about the employee who was inundated with phone calls, making it impossible to work on their phone: "A company gave out 10,000 flyers that had my phone number on them."

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10472502272
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+
  • 02
    So, as a federal employee, when we fly, we have to book our plane tickets with the locally contracted airline. However...our union agreement AND other federal travel regs/guidelines state an employee can fly ANY airline of their choice as long as the price is equal to or cheaper than the contracted airline.
    via u/Mata187
  • 03
    My first two training trips to the midwest, I flew with Airline Z because I've been a frequent flier with them for 15+ years. They offer plenty of leg room, their planes are newer and bigger, and seats are wide enough to be comfortable. The first two trips, their price was CHEAPER than the contracted airline. I made my orders, booked my tickets with Airline Z and everything was approved. Easy done! Then it wasn't.
    via u/Mata187
  • 04
    July 2017... it was going to be my third trip to the midwest, I did my orders, booked my flight with Airline Z (the price was slightly cheaper than the contracted airline price, so I figured "who doesn't want to save money?") and sent everything for approval. Well...the new approving manager (AM) denied my orders! I called her and asked why were my orders denied? She said "you didn't book your ticket with the contracted airline." I explained that I've flown with two other
    via u/Mata187
  • 05
    times with Airline Z, the price had always been cheaper than the contracted airline and per the union agreement, my orders shouldn't have been denied. She goes on to say "Well...I wouldn't have approved them then and I'm not approving them now. Redo your orders." Okay, so I redid my orders with the contracted airline. Again, The price was slightly higher than Airline Z, but I do what I am told.
    via u/Mata187
  • 06
    When I arrived at the gate, I noticed the plane that the contracted airline was using was SMALLER than Airline Z. I was hoping it was as cramped as it looked, but sure enough, when I got in, it immediately felt cramped! At 6'1" My head was a few inches from hitting the roof of the plane. And being " slightly" bulky, the seat I sat in was narrow and extremely uncomfortable! If I raised the arm rests, My thighs spilled over to the other passenger's comfort zone (thank
    via u/Mata187
  • 07
    God the seat beside me was empty for this trip). My knees were literally hitting the seat of the passenger in front of me! I somehow managed to grabbed my phone out of my pocket and take a picture of my legs and knees and showed how cramped and uncomfortable I was. It was the longest 3 hour flight ever! As for the return flight, it was the same circumstance as the departure flight...except I had someone next to me who was
    via u/Mata187
  • 08
    also "slightly bulky." I pulled out my phone again and painfully took another picture. I discretely added the passenger's size next to me to add to my discomfort flight. October 2017 comes around and I'm heading to training again, and once again, I had to book with the contracted airline! And the same thing happen: cramped seats, hurting knees, bulky passenger next to me. And this time...the passenger in front of me LEANED
    via u/Mata187
  • 09
    BACK ON her seat mid flight!!! With my phone at the ready, I took another picture of my horrible circumstance. My caption would've been "this is how a sardine feels." On the return home, I paid for the emergency row...out of pocket! Booking the emergency exit row was an "extra cost" that wasn't allowed on government credit cards.
    via u/Mata187
  • 10
    It's after Thanksgiving 2017, and I get advised I'm going back to the midwest for more training! This time I'm ready! I had done a little research on the federal travel regs and saw that business class was an option for air travel if the reason to book business class was for safety and health reasons...BINGO! I created my orders and this time...I booked BUSINESS class with the contracted airline and
    via u/Mata187
  • 11
    included my health as an exceptional reason. The total price was almost 3x the normal expense for this type of trip. I submitted my orders for approval and not even a minute passes when AM calls me. I answered the phone, I didn't even get a chance to say hello... AM: "Why in the hell are you booking business class!?"
    via u/Mata187
  • 12
    Me: "because on the contracted airline, I don't fit in the normal seats." AM: "That's NOT a good enough reason, you need to change the class now or I am not approving these at all!" Me: "no, its a health issue. I need business class to sit comfortable. My legs and thighs cramp up and my knees hurt from banging the seat in front of me."
    via u/Mata187
  • 13
    AM: "I am not approving that! I'm coming over there and we're going to meet with your manager right now!" Click! I was ready for this. I got my phone and walked to my manager's office. He's on the phone so I quietly sit down and did not say anything. He gets off the phone, and then looks at and asks "what's up?" I smile and shake my head when in comes AM.
    via u/Mata187
  • 14
    AM: "Glad you're here, he wants to book business class for his training trip!" Manager: "you know you can't do that, why did you?" Me: pulling out my phone "Remember my trip in July? Well, here's my first experience with the contracted airline heading TO training." I give my manager my phone and he raises his eye brows in disbelief. AM didn't look at the photo.
    via u/Mata187
  • 15
    AM: "That is not the government's problem." Me: "okay," manager hands me back my phone, "Well, here's a picture from the RETURN trip and it was more uncomfortable than the Outbound trip. I couldn't get settled the entire trip. my thighs and legs cramped a bit. Showed my manager my phone again and he cringes. AM is still unphased.
    via u/Mata187
  • 16
    AM: "Your comfort is not our concern. We just need to get you there and that's it!" Me: "and finally" got my phone back and showed them the October trip, "this happen on my last trip which left my right thigh in pain for a few days, my lower back ached while sitting in training, which made it uncomfortable to learn or study the material. Not to mention the sore knees I had from bumping into seat in front of me... again."
    via u/Mata187
  • 17
    I Showed my manager the sardine picture and he made the face like he just swallowed a lemon! Me: "I really do cramp up in those seats, I can't sit or stand up comfortably, I'm in the next passenger's personal space, and I cannot really adjust my knees or legs at all during the flight. If I get hurt really bad where I can barely walk, I might have to miss a day or two in training class. Therefore, for health reasons, I need business class on the
    via u/Mata187
  • 18
    contracted airline." AM: "Well, that ain't gonna happen because I am not approving them! You need to change it back to coach. You've done coach before with the contracted airlines, you can do it again." My manager just looks at her for a minute. For Him being a big guy himself, he knew my pain.
    via u/Mata187
  • 19
    Manager: "Well...I think you should approve his orders. But I understand if you don't want to. He's provided me with enough info here to get a health exception. I can't have him miss training due to an injury because of cramped seats. If I have to, I'll have him send his orders to your manager for approval. Of course I'm also gonna send him a quick email with those pictures to back up the health exception. Do you mind sending me those pictures to my email?"
    via u/Mata187
  • 20
    Me: "sure...and sent!" Manager: "Thank you." He's quiet for a minute until he turns back to AM. "What would've been the alternative to flying the contracted airline?" AM: "There is none! We have to fly the contract airline!" I'm staying quiet because its no longer my fight. Manager: "Are you positive on that?"
    via u/Mata187
  • 21
    AM: "Yea! 100%" Manager: "Then I guess we have to book him business class." And he turns to his computer to start typing something. AM though, doesn't want to admit defeat especially to her own boss!
    via u/Mata187

    Kudos to this manager who stood up for his employee despite all the red tape surrounding the whole situation! 

  • 22
    AM: "Wait!" She says with one arm stretched out trying to get my manager to stop typing, which he does. "You know... He could fly coach with Airline Z! That's an alternative!" AM is now trying to save face now, but my manager isn't buying it. Manager: "Are the tickets the same price as the contracted airline?"
    via u/Mata187
  • 23
    I did a quick internet search on my phone (which btw, is NOT the way you research official travel prices. You must use the gov't search engine and AM should've caught this...she does not.) "No sir, all prices are up really high now!" AM is ped off knowing that she has lost completely.
    via u/Mata187
  • 24
    Manager: "So...before I finish my email and send it off to your manager, will you approve his orders?" AM nods like a spoiled child and she walks out of the office. I thank my manager and left to resend my orders to AM with business class for my November training! BTW...it wasn't much difference except for wider seats, more leg room (my knees didn't touch the seat in front of me), and free drinks!
    via u/Mata187
  • 25
    January 2018 comes around and I get another training class. Except this time, I got approved to fly with Airline Z from AM!
    via u/Mata187
  • 26
    EXIT EXIT ABCD SORTIE SORTIE DEF EXIT SORIE enRoute AIR CANADA En Fr GILET DE SAUVETAGE SOUS VOTRE SIEGE LIFE VEST UNDER YOUR SEAT 2001-45 AIR CANADA Touch anywhere to begin, or press Toucher cran pour concrappy Enter enRoute
    via Timothee Pineau on Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 27
    [deleted] Lol great revenge and compliance. Sorry you had to put up with the bad stuff for a while though
    via u/[deleted]
  • 28

    At least the employee's boss stuck up for them, the other employee seemed like she was out to get them

    AgreeablePie Why wouldn't you just file a grievance with the union the minute she completely ignored the contract instead of going through all that effort and three flights like that?
    via u/AgreeablePie

    Some employees really act like the company's finances personally effect them. It's really not that serious! Just approve the expense!

  • 29
    lat... Always read the rule book when dealing with petty tyrants. You have to follow rules and sometimes the rules will be "because I said so" for further-reaching things that you may not understand today. However, when you find an allowable compromise where neither side loses and the rules are followed, that should be permitted.
    via u/latents
  • 30
    [deleted] I'm a federal contractor. The Fly America act requires us to use US-based airlines when possible for international travel. I had a trip to Australia last year and found an amazing price on Qantas. Nope. I was told I had to book United. It cost an additional $700 bucks to the American taxpayer. USA! USA!
    via u/[deleted]
  • 31
    carlbandit Surely after the first time you flew seats, you should have emailed AM with pictures of the union agreement, the price of the contracted and price of Z. If the request after that was declined, you get your union rep involved, along with pictures of you being cramped. Possibly also bring
    via u/carlbandit
  • 32
    your boss in at that time as well so he can make AMS boss aware of the situation and the fact the union is now involved
    via u/carlbandit
  • 33
    Diegobyte Used to work for an airline. Businesses get huge kickbacks from the airline for using them as their contracted airline. A certain amount of free tickets is usually included. And they just pay off their balance later so what you see may not be accurate.
    via u/Diegobyte

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