Too heavy to fly, Frenchman sails home
A 230kg (35-stone) Frenchman deemed too heavy to fly by British Airways has arrived in New York to head home by ship, AFP reports.
Kevin Chenais, 22, will sail for the UK from New York on the Queen Mary 2.
Chenais has a hormone imbalance and came to the US from France in 2012 for obesity treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Chicago.
He had planned to fly home in late October, but British Airways refused to let him board the plane on the grounds he was too fat.
He has mobility problems and gets around in an electric-powered wheelchair.
The man’s family spent almost two weeks at a hotel near Chicago airport as they tried to resolve the situation.
On Monday, the family took a train from Chicago to New York, from where they will sail for England on November 19.
The man’s father, Rene, criticised British Airways for paying for just five nights in a hotel, where in the end they spent 13 days.
An airline spokesman said the carrier tried to find a solution but in the end it was not possible to tend to Mr Chenais safely.
He needs oxygen constantly and medical oversight.
Rene Chenais said he was considering legal action against British Airways.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025