Woman told she was 'too fat to fly' sues Southwest Airlines

[Francis]

OK this is in the news again because the same lady is now suing SouthWest for asking her to buy two tickets.. The policy was clear on their site and this is the second time it happened.. Trying to look at this from an objective way, what are your opinions on this ?

http://todaytravel.today.msnbc.msn....s-too-fat-to-fly-sues-southwest-airlines?lite


Airline Policy on Size that I could find..

American Airline
http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/specialAssistance/extraSpace.jsp

Delta Airline
http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/special_travel_needs/passengers_of_size/index.jsp

SouthWest
http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/extra-seat/index-pol.html

United Airline
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/specialneeds/customersize/default.aspx

 

[Jezzebelle]

I feel like if this has already happened to her, and she knew the their policy... why on earth would she be shocked that it happened again??

 

[Kyle B]

She seems annoyed that they were 'inconsistent'. Right okay whatever.

 

[Francis]

I feel like if this has already happened to her, and she knew the their policy... why on earth would she be shocked that it happened again??

Exactly.. But while I understand the irritation for obese people who have issues and must pay more it seems she went out of her way to single out SouthWest..

I read her blog and she admits to have taken not only one but two flights prior to this happening again and being stupid for letting this occur again.. But what amazes me is she knew the rule from the start..

Seems she like the attention to her blog and herself.. She says she has paid often for two seats on other airlines but never mentions she did on SouthWest.. Very odd..

 

[AnitaBeer]

Customers who encroach upon any part of the neighboring seat(s) should proactively book the needed number of seats prior to travel. The armrest is considered to be the definitive boundary between seats and measures 17 inches in width. The purchase of additional seats serves as a notification to Southwest of a special seating need. Most importantly, it ensures that all Customers onboard have access to safe and comfortable seating. You may contact us for a refund of the cost of additional seating after travel, provided the flight does not oversell (which means having more confirmed Customers than seats on the aircraft).
This is not clear cut. How do the gate attendants know if the person will cross over those arm rests? If she's flown single seat after the initial issue, then this does lead one to believe there isn't a definitive way to make the decision without seeing the person in that seat.
The attendant should have gone and saw her seated before denying her the flight. If the company thinks that takes up too much of their time, well I'm sure it's not saving them any time by pulling people aside to tell them they can't fly without getting a second seat and dealing with the drama associated with it.

​

 

[Francis]

She seems annoyed that they were 'inconsistent'. Right okay whatever.

Every airline is inconsistent due to the "people factor".. I have had some airlines ask me to check my "carry on" luggage even if it was regulation size and it had my life requiring medication in it.. I calmly asked them if I could take the medication out and they said yes.. When you do things calmly you get anything done 99.9% of the time..

 

[Dana]

Lose the weight or pay the price... Money grubber

 

[AnitaBeer]

She's not even asking for damages. Wow.
How exactly is she money grubbing?

 

[Alien Allen]

one easy way to settle this in the future is to use the govt. standard for obese.

oops not so simple

because I would take up way less space then most men due to me being so short

while that woman is overweight I would not think of her as being one to have to pay for a 2nd seat. Now if you have a row with people her size and you are in the middle it would have an impact. But the same can be said if I was stuck between two football players in prime condition that are well over 6' tall and well over 200 lbs

 

[Dana]

one easy way to settle this in the future is to use the govt. standard for obese.

oops not so simple

because I would take up way less space then most men due to me being so short

while that woman is overweight I would not think of her as being one to have to pay for a 2nd seat. Now if you have a row with people her size and you are in the middle it would have an impact. But the same can be said if I was stuck between two football players in prime condition that are well over 6' tall and well over 200 lbs

You are right obesity has no standard... If your 50 pounds over weight you are technically obese. That being said, I have to wonder how small these seats are... Also why she waited so long to sue?

 

[Natasha]

Lose the weight or pay the price... Money grubber

I have to admit, this made me LOL I remember your position being quite different the last time this discussion came around...pre-weight loss.

You are right obesity has no standard... If your 50 pounds over weight you are technically obese. That being said, I have to wonder how small these seats are... Also why she waited so long to sue?

You've never flown??? Trust me, the seats aren't overly generous for anybody. They're not uncomfortable, IMO, but you're not kicking back in a Barcalounger or anything by anymeans.

I realize that seems like I singled out Dana's responses...that was NOT intentional.

As for my opinion on the original issue, it is not clear cut by the policy what they deem to be "too fat." And the fact that she has had inconsistencies in her dealings w/ them is a problem, IMO. But on the flip side, if she had been told she needed to purchase 2 seats before she should've expected to have to pay for 2 seats each time after. If she's not looking for money and she's just looking to have the policy clarified, I say more power to her.

 

[Francis]

one easy way to settle this in the future is to use the govt. standard for obese.

oops not so simple

because I would take up way less space then most men due to me being so short

while that woman is overweight I would not think of her as being one to have to pay for a 2nd seat. Now if you have a row with people her size and you are in the middle it would have an impact. But the same can be said if I was stuck between two football players in prime condition that are well over 6' tall and well over 200 lbs

Short men can be big as well.. Take this guy and would you want him on your flight..

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/04/obese-man-on-american-air_n_379979.html

 

[Dana]

I have to admit, this made me LOL I remember your position being quite different the last time this discussion came around...pre-weight loss.



You've never flown??? Trust me, the seats aren't overly generous for anybody. They're not uncomfortable, IMO, but you're not kicking back in a Barcalounger or anything by anymeans.

I realize that seems like I singled out Dana's responses...that was NOT intentional.

As for my opinion on the original issue, it is not clear cut by the policy what they deem to be "too fat." And the fact that she has had inconsistencies in her dealings w/ them is a problem, IMO. But on the flip side, if she had been told she needed to purchase 2 seats before she should've expected to have to pay for 2 seats each time after. If she's not looking for money and she's just looking to have the policy clarified, I say more power to her.

I don't recall what I said last time. Anywho one is inclined to change one's opinion. Oh and no, I've never flown. Not against, just the only time I went anywhere of a distance we drove there. I still think it's a tad odd she's just now suing... Why take so long?

 

[Jezzebelle]

I don't know if you can create a cookie cutter, totally clear policy. People are all different heights, weights, and sizes... and are going to fit differently in seats. I think that's way the broadness of it is "this is the width of the seat, if you need more room than you'll need more than one seat." That seems to me like the fairest way to put it, and I don't have a problem with their policy. I do agree with Anita that they should see people in the seat to see if they are in fact "too big" before they force them to buy a second seat... maybe they could have like they do with roller coasters and a mock seat at the baggage claim so when you check-in, you can see the size of the seats and if you will need a second one.

 

[AnitaBeer]

The mock seat is a freaking awesome idea!

 

[Francis]

While I understand the unfairness for those who are obese I think safety for all passengers is number priority including those obese passenger..

I think the airlines make seats way to narrow in an effort to squeeze in one more row of passengers..

It would not matter how wide the airplane is they would still make that row as narrow as thin as possible to fit that one extra row.. While this may sound fiscally correct one has to wonder about the safety of the passengers as a airline cart can barely make it down the isle without hitting people 95% of the way down..

It's come down to a lot more..

 

[Francis]

If most people think seating is too narrow now, see this newly proposed seating.. This is ridiculous..

 

[Jezzebelle]

Makes me never, ever want to fly with children even more than I don't now!

 

[Kakapo Dundee]

Your hand luggage has to fit into a standard frame or alternative arrangements be made, why shouldn't your ass?


Simple solution, charge passengers by the kilo.

 

[Mercury]

Simple solution, charge passengers by the kilo.

That thought has crossed my mind as well.