SouthWest passenger gets booted from flight for being "too fat"

That's what happens when you let any employee make policy.
 
Good! I boot passengers for being too fat also. There's only so much usefull load.

Paying by weight should be the new airline model.
 
SWA's policy is to allow a passenger to do a test-sit. If they can fit in the seat, get a buckle around them, have the arms down, and not "spill" over into an adjacent seat, ok. Otherwise they can either order up the extra seat, or travel another way.

It seems reasonable to me. You don't pay for the extra seat unless you're actually taking it out of service.

And it's quite possible that the guy may have gone out on a -700 and back on a -500 and the seat width might be slightly different.

Now, his story is that the agent didn't let him demonstrate he could fit. It's possible, but I would like to hear SWA's response to this. I've watched a lot of huge people go in and out of BWI and seen the SWA agents treat them in a dignified manner according to the policy.

I'm cynical, but when one guy's problem becomes BREAKING NEWS, people don't have enough to do.
 
Steve Dahl used to buy an extra seat and had to fight to keep them from putting someone in it.
 
I'm throwing-down on this. Don't believe for a moment that it happened this way.
 
SCCutler said:
I'm throwing-down on this. Don't believe for a moment that it happened this way.
Click to expand...

In the interview the "victim" kept dodging question with the statement that the gate agent (and later the supervisor) told him "you're not flying on this airplane". Sounds to me like that probably occurred after he became angry about having to pay for an extra seat if he didn't fit in one. I suppose it's also possible that the plane was full and thus no extra seat was available.
 
I have a solution for this dude, but I have a feeling he's not going to like it.
 
I think the obese need to pay for two seats. My last flight on commercial was in 25E from Boston to Seattle. An incredible obese lady. the last to board, got the aisle passenger up, flipped both handrests up and sat down. I was plastered against the outer skin for 4.2 hours.

NEVER again.
 
bbchien said:
I think the obese need to pay for two seats. My last flight on commercial was in 25E from Boston to Seattle. An incredible obese lady. the last to board, got the aisle passenger up, flipped both handrests up and sat down. I was plastered against the outer skin for 4.2 hours.

NEVER again.
Click to expand...

Damn...:frown2:
 
I noticed you had a bit of "a pressed ham" look at dinner, but attributed it to being out in the sun all day.

bbchien said:
I think the obese need to pay for two seats. My last flight on commercial was in 25E from Boston to Seattle. An incredible obese lady. the last to board, got the aisle passenger up, flipped both handrests up and sat down. I was plastered against the outer skin for 4.2 hours.

NEVER again.
Click to expand...
 
Anthony said:
Good! I boot passengers for being too fat also. There's only so much usefull load.

Paying by weight should be the new airline model.
Click to expand...

My plane tickets would be really cheap then. I like it! :yes:
 
I always wished my FBO would've done something like this when selling rides at fly-ins and doing discovery rides.

2959376756_0d330e4444.jpg
 
tonycondon said:
I always wished my FBO would've done something like this when selling rides at fly-ins and doing discovery rides.

2959376756_0d330e4444.jpg
Click to expand...

I wish the airlines would do something like that for Steerage passengers.
 
bbchien said:
I think the obese need to pay for two seats. My last flight on commercial was in 25E from Boston to Seattle. An incredible obese lady. the last to board, got the aisle passenger up, flipped both handrests up and sat down. I was plastered against the outer skin for 4.2 hours.

NEVER again.
Click to expand...

That happened to me once as well. Now I get in my seat and the armrest becomes part of my body. Nobody is lifting that thing up.

Life is about choices. If you choose morbid obesity, then you must accept the consequences of that lifestyle.
 
I've sat next to wide bodies more than once. The seats are pretty narrow (and I'm not a widebody), but folks that spill over into the next seat should pay for that space.

Of course SWA has become aerial Greyhond, so those of us who fly SWA shouldn't be surprised to see former Greyhound customers lining up to board.
 
Been there done that. Of course, I do whatever I can to make them as uncomfortable as possible. Mention my maggot-farming business, and of course the many Pagan rituals I sponsor. Talk about how my pet python prefers his rats disemboweled. I did once announce it was prayer time and started davening and chanting in Hebrew. I usually get a little extra space this way.
 
dmccormack said:
Of course airline travel has become aerial Greyhond, so those of us who fly airlines shouldn't be surprised to see former Greyhound customers lining up to board.
Click to expand...

There. Fixed it for you.

My experiences on SWA have been no worse - and sometimes better - than my experiences on Delta or American in terms of passenger behavior. It was NOT SWA where the family chose to eat ripe kimchee across the aisle from me, stuffing the empty containers in the seatback pocket. :eek:
 
bbchien said:
I think the obese need to pay for two seats. My last flight on commercial was in 25E from Boston to Seattle. An incredible obese lady. the last to board, got the aisle passenger up, flipped both handrests up and sat down. I was plastered against the outer skin for 4.2 hours.

NEVER again.
Click to expand...

Bruce, Bruce, Bruce! Never, ever let them move the armrests!

I am a fattie, but I hate sitting next to the really big fatties too, and I'll be a jerk about it if they ask to move the armrests.
 
wsuffa said:
There. Fixed it for you.

My experiences on SWA have been no worse - and sometimes better - than my experiences on Delta or American in terms of passenger behavior. It was NOT SWA where the family chose to eat ripe kimchee across the aisle from me, stuffing the empty containers in the seatback pocket. :eek:
Click to expand...

True...I've been on AirTran and NWA lately -- similar boorish behavior.
 
A bit off topic, but oh well...

Years ago I was scheduled to fly home from training in the Bay area. I went to an A's game Saturday afternoon and ate something that made me violently sick.

I caleld the airline to reschedule my 0800 AM departure, but only standby and a $400 fee was available on a later flight.

I decided to down a botle of Pepto-Bismol, get the the gate, and board the airplane.

When I got to my row there was an older lady sitting in my window seat. A middle-aged woman was next to her. When I checked my ticket and motioned to the window seat, the woman said, "This is my mother's first flight -- is it ok if she sits by the window?"

I didn't feel like explaining, so simply shook my head and said, "No -- you're in my seat."

They moved over and it was one cold, tense flight back across the country. I figured them thinking I was rude was better than them knowing I would hurl if I couldn't look out the window.

:rolleyes2:
 
Ted DuPuis said:
Mari, you and I could champion the campaign for plane tickets based on weight. ;)
Click to expand...

No fair. I could go on a hunger strike and still weigh 175. I'm at 190 now with 9% body fat. Unless people are responsible for their life decisions to be tall.

Can I buy an extra seat in front of me and then remove it and stow it in the lavatory?
 
bbchien said:
I think the obese need to pay for two seats. My last flight on commercial was in 25E from Boston to Seattle. An incredible obese lady. the last to board, got the aisle passenger up, flipped both handrests up and sat down. I was plastered against the outer skin for 4.2 hours.
Click to expand...
You didn't have to put up with that. If the passenger can't fit in the seat purchased, the passenger must purchase two adjoining seats or pay for the upgrade to a class with wider seats. 14 CFR 382.87(f)
 
dmccormack said:
I've sat next to wide bodies more than once. The seats are pretty narrow (and I'm not a widebody), but folks that spill over into the next seat should pay for that space.
Click to expand...

Seems to me that the airlines could change out a row or two with one less seat, charge something like a 25% upgrade, and make it mandatory for folks too wide to fit a "regular" seat. If any of those seats were left they could sell them to "normal" sized pax after boarding for another $20 or so. With the existing upcharge for two seats (+100%) or first class it's no wonder the obese try to squeeze into the narrow seats.
 
steingar said:
Been there done that. Of course, I do whatever I can to make them as uncomfortable as possible. Mention my maggot-farming business, and of course the many Pagan rituals I sponsor. Talk about how my pet python prefers his rats disemboweled. I did once announce it was prayer time and started davening and chanting in Hebrew. I usually get a little extra space this way.
Click to expand...

You could ask them if they know a good cure for lice!
 
gismo said:
Seems to me that the airlines could change out a row or two with one less seat, charge something like a 25% upgrade, and make it mandatory for folks too wide to fit a "regular" seat. If any of those seats were left they could sell them to "normal" sized pax after boarding for another $20 or so. With the existing upcharge for two seats (+100%) or first class it's no wonder the obese try to squeeze into the narrow seats.
Click to expand...

They could, but why would they want to sell two seats for 125% of the price of one seat when they can sell two seats for 200% of the price of one seat?
 
kkoran said:
They could, but why would they want to sell two seats for 125% of the price of one seat when they can sell two seats for 200% of the price of one seat?
Click to expand...

Because they want to provide the best service for their customers? Oh wait, I forgot who we're dealing with here.:cornut:
 
bbchien said:
I think the obese need to pay for two seats. My last flight on commercial was in 25E from Boston to Seattle. An incredible obese lady. the last to board, got the aisle passenger up, flipped both handrests up and sat down. I was plastered against the outer skin for 4.2 hours.

NEVER again.
Click to expand...

Wow. Not good.

I think that would make me get off the airplane and catch the next flight. She can have my seat.
 
By the way, SWA's "politically correct term" is "Customer of Size":

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/cos_qa.html

Oh, and Bruce, here's your defense on keeping the armrest down:

What is the definitive gauge for a Customer of size?

The armrest is the definitive gauge, as it serves as the boundary between seats. Customers who are unable to lower the armrests (the definitive boundary between seats) and/or who compromise any portion of adjacent seating should proactively book the number of seats needed during initial reservations.
Click to expand...

Ron, Part 382 is interesting. I've tried to find a "definition" of "Disability" as it applies to this Section of the CFR's, and can't. Does it apply to obesity? It seems to be more targeted to "traditional" disabilities, like blindness, confined to a wheelchair, amputee or artificial limbs, etc.
 
Ron Levy said:
You didn't have to put up with that. If the passenger can't fit in the seat purchased, the passenger must purchase two adjoining seats or pay for the upgrade to a class with wider seats. 14 CFR 382.87(f)
Click to expand...

Ron, IIRC, Bruce has posted about this before, and the incident occurred a number of years ago. He hasn't flown commercially since, preferring Air Chien for its service, schedule and reliability (not to mention freedom from having share his seat).
 
I had the same kind of thing happen to me several years ago. I pressed the flight attendant button and was moved. Luckily for me, there were other empty seats.

The worse thing I ever had happen was when I was in a window seat; lady with a young child walked up, put the kid in the middle next to me and she took the aisle. As soon as we began the takeoff roll, the kid started screaming. Moma gave him some peanut butter crackers. I soon had peanut butter all over my business suit. While I had a change of other things, I did not have another suit as it was out and back in one day. The airline offered to pay the cleaning bill; I just fumed. Pushed the attendant button: flight was full. Mom apologized but I had to go straight to a meeting when I arrived. I love kids, but this was ridiculous.

Best,

Dave
 
Ron Levy said:
You didn't have to put up with that. If the passenger can't fit in the seat purchased, the passenger must purchase two adjoining seats or pay for the upgrade to a class with wider seats. 14 CFR 382.87(f)
Click to expand...

14CFR382.87(f) said:
You are not required to furnish more than one seat per ticket or
to provide a seat in a class of service other than the one the passenger
has purchased in order to provide an accommodation required by this
part.
Click to expand...

I don't understand how that applies, and I think it'd be a slamdunk case against the airline if the person argued that they were only sitting (using a seat) in one seat, but their fat was leaking over the armrests but not touching a second seat.

Also - it mentions specifically "to provide an accommodation required by this part" which means that being fat would have to be listed as a disability in this part, and I don't see that it is.
 
No slam-dunk at all; the airline is selling passage in a seat; if a passenger cannot fit, and there is no additional room to accommodate, he or she is SOL. The seat includes no just the surface, but the space above and in front of it required to accommodate a passenger.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top