film director Kevin Smith
Posted on 02/21/2010 10:30:20 AM PST by JoeProBono
When film director Kevin Smith was recently kicked off a flight because of his size, he focused his anger on Southwest, but the incident put the spotlight on all airlines and their heavy passenger policies. Smith said that he had no trouble buckling his seat belt and lowering his armrests on the flight Saturday and that his neighbors didn't complain about him invading their space.
He said he suspected he may have been bumped by an airline employee who did not like his films.
Southwest has apologized to Smith -- twice -- but said he was not singled out to be removed. "Our employees made the decision to remove Kevin after a quick judgment call that he might have needed more than one seat for his comfort and those seated next to him," wrote Linda Rutherford, Southwest's vice president of communications and strategic outreach, on the airline's blog.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
film director Kevin Smith
If any good is to come out of the Keving Smith flap it would be the industry-wide standardization of the rules.
I think a few rows of “fat seats”, priced accordingly, would be a good idea. Have a regular seat right there at the ticket counter and if the customer can’t fit they either pay for the fat seat or two seats with seatbelt extender or they don’t fly.
Eat Less, Do More and you will not get your fat a$$ booted from a flight.
And you’ll live a lot longer and enjoy life a lot more...
There may be an opportunity here for retired U.S. Army Chinook pilots.
Put them in the cargo hold
Sounds reasonable. I believe this is commonly referred to as first class.
The problem is that, except on wide-bodies, they can't make the seats "a bit roomier." The airline can put two seats in a row, which we know as first class, or cram people into three as a row, which we call sardine class.
I just love his idea that an airline employee discriminated against him because she doesn't like his films. I never heard of the guy, but he thinks everyone in the world is plotting against him because of his edgy films.
I’m tired of paying full fare when forced to sit between two fellow passengers each taking up a seat and a half. If you’re too fat to fly buy two seats, take the bus or better yet, walk.
I think going back to the older seats, which were roomy for normal sized passengers (rather than the current cramped for even the most healthy) would be an even better idea.
After that, if they want to charge by weight, fine. At no point will I allow anyone to continue to suggest that the problem is simply fat people without them incuring the ridicule they deserve.
Even on this board. The airline manufactured this problem. there are not more fat people now than there were before the late 70s fitness movement. In fact, there are considerably less.
The argument that “America has gotten bigger” and the airlines should adjust their seats accordingly is baloney. I recently lost some weight (and I’m not arrogant about it - it was difficult and I still have to prove I can keep it off) but for most of my adult life I’ve been 30 pounds overweight and I never had the slightest problem fitting into a coach class seat with room to spare. The only people who can’t fit in an airplane seat are the seriously obese (plus, granted, a small number who are just built unusually big). Hearing the obese complain about the size of the seats is like hearing a old deaf guy whine about how the TV newscasters all mumble these days. It’s not them, it’s YOU.
“I think going back to the older seats, which were roomy for normal sized passengers (rather than the current cramped for even the most healthy) would be an even better idea.”
Seats haven’t changed sizes, our fat asses have.
This isn't rocket science.
There should be a row of airplane seats in a discreet area of the boarding area where the suspected FAT person can sit to "test out" their capacity to fit or not to fit.
It's simple.
sw
I can't blame the employee...he should've been bumped by the airline simply for releasing "Jersey Girl".
Fat Seats...that’s what I was thinking. And serve only Fat Tire beer to them!
This photo says it all. Imagine having to evacuate a plane in an emergency with this guy blocking the aisle.
The photo would make for a great ‘caption this’ contest.
They do that at some amusement parks. There are certain seats on the roller coasters for larger passengers, they have the seats at the entrance for you to check. I had to sit in the “big boy seats” more because of my shoulders than overall girth.
The seats need to be a little wider and they need more legroom anyway. I'm 6'3" and 240 pounds. Not fat (well, just a little), but it is very uncomfortable in the cramped quarters of the planes. They need 2 or 3 more inches of width and 5 inches of legroom for all passengers.
As for overweight/oversized passingers, they ought to sell tickets by the pound, passenger and luggage together. After all, the more weight on a plane, the more fuel it takes to fly. Perhaps a base fee plus $1 per pound over 150 total.
they ought to sell tickets by the pound, passenger and luggage together. After all, the more weight on a plane, the more fuel it takes to fly. Perhaps a base fee plus $1 per pound over 150 total
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Very interesting!
I’m the same size as you and am uncomfortable as well. At 6’2 240 I’m not fat at all.
Your proposal would add a lot of money to my ticket.
Yes, good idea. They have fat customers so they should make accomodations for this reality. Also, what constitutes “fat” should be clear. My husband is not fat by any means, but he is tall and has broad sholders. I am tall and there really is not a comfortable way to my legs in the space given my legs on long trips.
I think the seats have gotten too small even for non-fat people. They have crammed in too many seats and have now made the flights comfortable for Chinese people only.
I’m 6’3” and 320 lbs. I haven’t been on a plane since October of 2001. I felt crowded when I weighed 220lbs and flew 10 or 12 times a year on business.
I’m expecting to have to fly at some point this year. It’s one of the things that has motivated me to start losing weight. My goal is 200lbs. This will probably be the fourth or fifth time I have lost at least 80 lbs.
They actually already sell seats that fat people fit into. They are in business class. I can’t see that it costs more to pay for one seat in business class than 2 seats in coach. I’d rather be comfortable anyway. I can’t see torturing yourself for four hours or more. Hell, you might develop a blood clot and die.
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