I am fortunate enough as a physician to do a little traveling by airplane. I mean, it beats moving across the country in a covered wagon. And I must admit that I am a cheapskate when it comes to paying airfares. I buy the cheapest fare available, even if it means traveling on a redeye at midnight.  Maybe I am used to being up on call too often. Maybe I have learned to sleep in multiple contortions anyway. So why not? Â
I do admit that I have a little envy however, when I pass those seats at the front of the plane that seem a little wider than the others. I hear that they serve ice-cream sundaes and champagne behind that little curtain too. At least I saw that on a Seinfield episode once. But what it costs to get that little extra space and the extra treats just never seemed worth it.
Until last week, I hadn’t figured a way to get the rate down either. And I don’t purchase enough crap to earn mileage on any credit card scheme. Enter one of my medical partner’s patient. She decided to use a method of disability we had never heard of in 45 years of combined practice. And that’s saying something.
My partner received a request to write a letter as his patient’s medical doctor stating that the airline needed to provide her first-class seating for the usual price of coach BECAUSE SHE WAS TOO OBESE TO FIT IN THE REGULAR AIRPLANE SEAT!  Â
Well, excuse me. Sorry if we weren’t there to slap your hand every time you reached for a twinkie over the last 30 years of your life. Why don’t you save up all the money you would have spent over the last month on fast food and buy a first-class seat the old fashioned way, by paying for it? I thought that I heard of everything.
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