Cathay Pacific has banned a Hong Kong couple from its flights after their row with a mainland Chinese language traveller over her reclining seat.
The Chinese language lady had complained on social media that she was harassed by the couple seated behind her on a Cathay flight after reclining her seat.
The Hong Kong flag provider stated on Sunday that it had added the couple to its no-fly record, saying it has “a strict zero-tolerance coverage” in direction of behaviours that disrespect fellow passengers.
The Chinese language lady’s submit on social media platform Xiaohongshu, which captured a part of the confrontation, had garnered 194,000 likes as of Monday morning and drawn blended reactions on-line.
The incident befell on a flight from Hong Kong to London on 17 September.
In her submit, the Chinese language lady recalled how the middle-aged couple – a husband and spouse – had accused her of obstructing their view of the in-flight tv and requested her to straighten her seat.
When she refused, the spouse stretched her legs and put them on the armrests of her seat, then began scolding her in Cantonese and slapping her arm, the girl stated.
“When she realised I could not converse Cantonese, she began calling me ‘mainland woman’ in a derogatory tone,” she stated.
The husband, who was seated straight behind her, “frantically pushed” the again of her seat, the girl stated. Her video confirmed the seat vibrating.
One other scene confirmed the spouse elevating her center finger on the lady.
The lady then sought assist from a flight attendant, who prompt that she straighten her seat.
“I used to be shocked as a result of it was not time for supper, but the flight attendant wished me to compromise,” the girl stated. “I rejected the suggestion.”
A number of passengers who witnessed the incident criticised the Hong Kong couple’s behaviour.
“Do not name your self a Hong Konger, you bully,” one passenger stated.
One other stated, “That is an excessive amount of. How previous are you? Why are you bullying a younger woman?”
The lady’s submit on Xiaohongshu sparked comparable outrage.
“If they need extra space, they need to have paid for first-class seats,” one individual wrote.
A number of commenters have been fast to defend Hong Kong’s repute, with one saying “Most individuals in Hong Kong are type, this couple is an exception.”
It has additionally triggered a debate on whether or not reclining one’s airplane seat is an appropriate apply.
A number of customers stated that it must be acceptable, provided that the flexibility to recline is a built-in perform of the seats.
Others stated it might get uncomfortable when passengers in entrance recline their seats too far again.
