Northwest Airlines

I flew Northwest from Singapore - Tokyo - Minneapolis and requested an aisle seat. The counter lady nodded in silent acknowledgement. I got an aisle seat from Singapore to Tokyo, it wasn't a full flight, everything was okay up till that point.

Then the horror began....

When I re-boarded in Tokyo, not only was I not assigned an aisle seat, but I was seated next to a man who was 3 times as large as I was -- and I am overweight too. His entire left side was already protruding into my seat. Think about this -- an 11 hour flight -- a full flight, me and him seated next to each other -- one of us would have probably gotten DVT on arrival in the US. No laughing matter.

But get this -- the Northwest flight attendants were obnoxious. They were rude, condescending and very hostile. They treated me like I had no brain. I went to 4 flight attendants begging for help, not one was interested. By this time, I was in tears. No one was bothered. They stood there, decorating the aisles. Even a old lady with a heavy bag had to get it up to the overheard compartment by herself while an attendant just watched. They said they were not allowed to help passengers -- I think something's gone ridiculous here.

And get this -- -- I was standing there, and the aircraft started to taxi toward the runway. Yes, blatant disregard -- they had a schedule or whatever, my seat situation had not been resolved -- the aircraft had been instructed to take off regardless of whether I could sit....and I couldn't.

A male attendant then issued me an ultimatum -- to scare me -- ma'm, you have to sit down or get off the plane. He did not realise I would choose the second option. They had to turn the plane around and go back to the terminal. I was made to pay US$85 as a penalty.

When I returned to Singapore, I made a complaint to Northwest Airlines. They were completely unsympathetic. not bothered. No explanations or apologies were given. I was sent a US$200 voucher for my next flight with Nothwest.

As far as I'm concerned, this matter is far from over. I am still waiting for an apology, an explanation and for compensation for distress, hostitlity and inconvenience that was all uncalled for and unprovoked

Malti Lalwani