Brothers denied flight due to size

WGN TV ^ | November 29, 2010 | Lourdes Duarte

[KeyLargo]

WGN

Brothers denied flight due to size Southwest Airlines kicks Chicago teens off flight because one was too big

Lourdes Duarte

WGN News

9:41 PM CST, November 29, 2010

Two Chicago brothers say Southwest Airlines made things too difficult for them when it required one of them to buy a second ticket.

The twin brothers were headed to Minnesota to visit their aunt on Thanksgiving night when one of them was told he was too big to fit in a seat and needed a second ticket.

The 18-year-old brothers had no cash or credit cards on them so they called their aunt in Minnesota.

She tried to purchase the second ticket over the phone but with no luck. She was told because they couldn't verify that she was the person on the credit card they couldn't sell them the second ticket and would have to miss the flight.

[KeyLargo]

[LukeL]

Reminds me of the story of the woman who had to be cut out of her house when she died, because she couldn’t fit through any door.

[samtheman]

1. He didn’t really need a big thanksgiving dinner.

2. What he really needed to do was WALK to his aunt’s house... lose a few pounds that way.

[oh8eleven]

She was told because they couldn't verify that she was the person on the credit card they couldn't sell them the second ticket
That makes no sense at all. WTH does the airline care whose card it is as long as it's valid?

[WestwardHo]

Thanks Key Large-O. LOL!!!

[bolobaby]

I once had to sit next to this fat guy with really sweaty pits. He was so big that every time he relaxed, his sweaty pit pushed up against my shoulder. I had to keep telling him to stay off me. Disgusting.

A second seat would have been appropriate there.

[Bringbackthedraft]

Have no fear, the ACLU will bring suit and the Airlines will have to install XXL wide seats in all their planes.

[TSgt]

Be thankful for the picture, I had to watch a Rahm for Mayor political video to get it.

[napscoordinator]

Seems like nice kids but you can’t go on amusement rides if you don’t meet the requirements. The one thing I believe the airlines needs to do is have seats available in the main area BEFORE check in to see if you need to purchase an additional seat. Mrs. Obama is no where near the weight of the guy in question.

[blondee123]

I looked at the article, I’ve see WAY bigger people than him get on an airplane! Granted, there are some who need to buy 2 seats, but I’ve also seen much bigger people try to squeeze their fat rears into a small airplane seat!

[Hacklehead]

Why did Southwest end up apologizing, reimbursing them and giving them free tickets? Sounds like a company unwilling to support their own policy.

[napscoordinator]

I wish that pictures had been posted too....I had to suffer with the Emmauel video too.....that was the worst part of the entire story. lol.

[hoyt-clagwell]

That makes no sense at all. WTH does the airline care whose card it is as long as it's valid?

Has to do with Homeland security rules. A muslim terrorist could use another persons card to help hide his identity.

[TSgt]

I once had to sit on a CRJ next to an obese teen girl. She was nice but was so big we couldn’t put up the armrest between us and her fat rolls landed in my lap.

Fortunately one seat was available when everyone finished boarding and I jumped on it complaining that I needed to stretch my legs. I guess I’m nice like that but I’m sure she knew why.

[pillut48]

Oh, please—Southwest is a MEAN BULLY because this man is TOO BIG for a seat and their policy (which has been around for how long? YEARS??) is that he would need to purchase another seat so he would fit! Oh, the HUGH MANATEE!!!! :-O

Yeah, whoever checked them in screwed up, but the drama the news team is projecting?? None there, because they got where they wanted to go.

I’m wondering if the bus company made him pay for an extra seat...

[Christian Engineer Mass]

Pity the poor minorities of America. They are starving in the streets because of Bush & Cheney & etc.

[fml]

Because the airline denied their aunts purchase of an additional ticket, which was plane stoopid.

[La Lydia]

So Southwest apologizes to them! What a load. Southwest saved at least one poor soul from HAVING TO SIT NEXT TO THAT for an entire flight. The brothers should be turned over to Michelle Obama for re-education.

The only thing worse than sitting next to a fat, perspiring, smelly Goodyear blimp on a airplane is sitting next to someone with a crying, pooping baby. My idea of hell has change over the years. And I long ago started complaining. If I can't get an upgrade, I demand that they seat me next to a normal person.

[KeyLargo]

If you watch the video, one of the brother’s says that the airlines said something about “fraud.”

Travel agent takes hit for fraudulent credit card booking

http://www.prlog.org/11003416-review-of-cell-phone-verification-by-telesign.html

[TSgt]