Too Fat? Southwest Airlines Forces Hefty Frequent Flier to Buy Two Seats

Breitbart.tv ^ | 09/16/07

[MotleyGirl70]

“And the lady stops and says, ‘Sir, you need to have another ticket.’ And I said what for and she said, ‘because of your size.' I hate to admit it but I was in tears.”

VIDEO

[Texas Eagle]

Southwest Airlines should've done more to accomodate this poor woman.

Like call in a C-130 maybe.

[SamAdams76]

I have to hand it to Southwest for caring enough about their customers by adopting this policy that is sure to bring them a lot of bad press.

While I feel bad for people who are so obese they cannot sit in an airline seat without spilling over into the seats around them, it is very uncomfortable for the other passengers. Most people are too polite to say anything and they suffer through the flight.

Now if only they could adopt the same tactics for those with out-of-control children and those who abuse the carry-on luggage policy.

[Ditter]

I have had to sit by this guy more than once, and yes, he or she should have to buy 2 seats. As far as the plane having an unsold seat that he should have been given, the plane has weight limits and they are selling weight and space. At 400+ pounds he was as big as 2 big people. If this guy took up the space of 2 people he should have had to pay for 2 people.

[pfflier]

What should be the tipping point?

Behind the center of gravity.

[Kozak]

Sounds like he should have bought the whole row....

[hole_n_one]

The good ol' days...........

[Tanniker Smith]

For that kind of money, your company should’ve gotten you a non-smoking flight.

[expatguy]

I got sandwiched between 2 massive ladies on a flight between LAX and IAH - I thought I was going to suffocate. I asked to change seats and the stewardess said "I'm sorry but we're full."

I never had my seatbelt on the whole flight - I think it got stuck in one of the 'fat folds' of the lady next to me. Makes no difference, they both had me pinned in to where I couldn't move - One of them sat on my magazine and that was the last I saw off it.

On the flight they gave a snack which included a muffin - Having just come off an international flight I wasn't hungry and the lady on my left asked if I was going to eat my muffin - I said 'no' and then passed it to her and the other lady seemed to give me a weird look - kinda like I should have asked her as well -- to which I replied "Did you want me to cut it in half?" -- I felt really weirded out and wondered if I should ask the stewardess for another muffin to feed the other one - It was horrible - they both slept afterwards and made weird sounds.

I'll never forget that flight for the rest of my life.

[Disambiguator]

Maybe the airlines need a standard, like the one used for carry-on luggage.

“If your body won’t fit in this space, you need to buy another seat”. Have two sheets of melamine placed 25” apart at the gate, and anyone who can’t board without having to turn sideways to slither through has to pay for two seats.

[wrench]

"Mr. Hill weighed 435 pounds That's as big as 2 big people - how would you like to be the person assigned to the seat next to him - and the plane was full?"

How would like to be behind this fatty trying to squeeze out an emergency exit as the blane burned? Is his convienience worth your life?

[DCBryan1]

Dude...thats just plain wrong. I would have forced the flight attendant to sit there.

[wrench]

that is “plane burned”

[Riley]

“If your body won’t fit in this space, you need to buy another seat”. Have two sheets of melamine placed 25” apart at the gate, and anyone who can’t board without having to turn sideways to slither through has to pay for two seats.

Not a bad idea, actually.

[SouthTexas]

The correct aircraft for the job:

[386wt]

"...the plain must be full ..."

And the plain must be HUGH!

[RS]

“If they have empty seats, why make him pay for two?”

Should they be obligated to fly my extra/overweight luggage for free if they have room in baggage ?

[cmsgop]

Yeah Buddy! LOL!!!!

[mysterio]

Yes, I need to get off of the darn things, but until I do- that is my solution to the misery of being a smoker in a strict no smoking environment like that for an extended period of time.

I am trying to quit. Well, I did quit for several months, and then got hit with a stressful situation and went right back. It certainly isn't easy.

[CindyDawg]

It's not just fannies. I have had "small" people bump me with all their luggage. We are talking about really obese people here. My husband and I are both over weight but we have flown SW, seated next to each other comfortably. I do get into his space though but it's intentional. I get anxious going up and don't like to sit by the window. Coming down...I want to see:')

Maybe SW should have a few larger seats and have arm rests you have to step into at the counter. If you touch them you have to upgrade.

[mysterio]

If I'm wrong, please explain why.

You're not wrong. I am simply pointing out that now that there are fewer smokers to persecute, the overweight are going to be increasingly in the crosshairs.