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

[Kakapo Dundee]

Would cost me extra, but hey.

Perhaps airlines that regularly encounter this problem should put a couple of rows of wider seats in coach, and charge a premium for them. If you know that you're going to have problems with a regular seat, you book one. If you don't book one, and the airline decides that you're too large for a regular seat,you'd better hope the plus size seats aren't all booked.

 

[Francis]

Perhaps airlines that regularly encounter this problem should put a couple of rows of wider seats in coach, and charge a premium for them.

I agree and that was the point I was making in an earlier post. but most companies are more worried about squeezing in as many customers in the few flights that are full than making it comfortable for all on most flights that are at 85% capacity, which many airlines run at..

 

[Mercury]

I agree and that was the point I was making in an earlier post. but most companies are more worried about squeezing in as many customers in the few flights that are full than making it comfortable for all on most flights that are at 85% capacity, which many airlines run at..

Yes, that is a HUGE issue with these airlines in attempting to pack these flights full.

 

[Joe the meek]

I say more power to her.

Plus one.

The woman is going to court over a matter of principle, not money. I admire and respect her for that.

 

[Leananshee]

Well, it's been said in not so many words, but if the airline can charge for luggage by the pound, and have those frames to put your bag in to see if it meets requirements, I don't really see it as unfair to have a mock seat with a scale at the counter.

 

[HK]

The mock seat, sure, I can get behind that.


The scale though, I think that would go down badly. I don't think many people would take kindly to having their actual weight displayed in a public place, even if they were already big enough to be having to work out whether they needed two seats in the first place.

 

[Alien Allen]

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

my point although I did make it clear was that I am considered by the govt to be obese.

I would argue I am overweight but not obese

I mentioned a govt standard as one possible guidline just to throw out the idea but then tried to make it known that won't always work.

And that picture you showed is no short guy. Looks like he is well over 6' tall.

 

[acctnt shan]

The issue I see with a "mock seat" is that it makes the decision at the time of flight... if you have already planned your vacation around your ticketed flight, and then you show up on the day of and you don't fit in the mock seat, how do you fix that problem if the flight is already over-booked?

 

[Dana]

Plus one.

The woman is going to court over a matter of principle, not money. I admire and respect her for that.

You guys give humanity too much credit...

 

[AUFred]

I have one comment and then I will leave the thread. I will apologise for my comment as well but it is what came to my feeble mind.


"When pigs fly!"

 

[Tim]

For all of you that are talking about clear cut rules... I don't think it gets any clearer than what they have on their website.

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).

Hell, they even offer a refund for the additional seat if the plane wasn't booked.

If your fat ass can't fit within the space provided, buy another seat or find another airline with larger seats. If I paid for my seat, you ARE NOT entitled to a portion of it.

Forget about this woman suing, what about the passengers that had to share their seat with her in the past? Where is their justice and compensation???

 

[acctnt shan]

Oh, and all I'm saying is this shouldn't just apply to obese passengers... I've had monstrous beasts of men jammed in next to me that took up way more than their share of space... they might have had small enough waists, but their shoulders and legs were so wide that they just expanded over... they always seem to assume that both armrests are for them, too.

 

[satinbutterfly]

For all of you that are talking about clear cut rules... I don't think it gets any clearer than what they have on their website.

Hell, they even offer a refund for the additional seat if the plane wasn't booked.

If your fat ass can't fit within the space provided, buy another seat or find another airline with larger seats. If I paid for my seat, you ARE NOT entitled to a portion of it.

Forget about this woman suing, what about the passengers that had to share their seat with her in the past? Where is their justice and compensation???

:homo:

I've had to share my seat on a few occasions and it is not pleasant. :mad

 

[Francis]

For all of you that are talking about clear cut rules... I don't think it gets any clearer than what they have on their website.

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).

Hell, they even offer a refund for the additional seat if the plane wasn't booked.

If your fat ass can't fit within the space provided, buy another seat or find another airline with larger seats. If I paid for my seat, you ARE NOT entitled to a portion of it.

Forget about this woman suing, what about the passengers that had to share their seat with her in the past? Where is their justice and compensation???

Actually Tim, if you review most travel sites, you will find the 17" width is not a true measure.. Companies keep finding ways to encroach into your space while holding onto that 17" space. It's gotten to the point where one can no longer open a laptop on a flight, and even barely a Netbook.. Soon enough a Tablet will be too much to ask for..

As for the refund, what do you do when they are the only airline going into that city from yours ?

A good review on this subject is found here..
http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/askanswer/advice.php?id=269952

As well one of the best site to see the best seas on an aircraft is this one (as long as the company you fly is listed )..
http://www.seatguru.com/

 

[Tim]

Actually Tim, if you review most travel sites, you will find the 17" width is not a true measure.. Companies keep finding ways to encroach into your space while holding onto that 17" space. It's gotten to the point where one can no longer open a laptop on a flight, and even barely a Netbook.. Soon enough a Tablet will be too much to ask for..

If you want luxury while traveling and roomy accommodations, then buy a first class ticket. But if you only need to get from point A to point B and you don't want to spend the extra money, then suck it up and deal with the space you were allotted.
The cost of flights is based on the number of passengers. I would be pissed if they crammed me in and I was paying top dollar while they were making money hand over fist. But they aren't. Like I said, you have a choice of more room... buy first class or buy the seat next to you if you want

As for the refund, what do you do when they are the only airline going into that city from yours ?

A good review on this subject is found here..
http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/askanswer/advice.php?id=269952

As well one of the best site to see the best seas on an aircraft is this one (as long as the company you fly is listed )..
http://www.seatguru.com/

The lady is suing SouthWest airlines. That's why I posted their terms of service...

If you are in an area where only one airline flies into... well then you are out of luck. I guess your still in better shape than those areas without any airports.

 

[Panacea]

I've noticed an anti fat shaming movement on the internet, and it's a bit radical sometimes...down to even an obsession with not making a point of pushing active/healthy lifestyles on children because it can be considered fat shaming and discrimination.

She seems to be pushing this for media's sake, clearly she knows this would be an issue.
Certainly it's not in the spirit of fairness to consumers to take up more seat that you paid for, while someone else gets less than they paid for.

 

[Francis]

If you want luxury while traveling and roomy accommodations, then buy a first class ticket. But if you only need to get from point A to point B and you don't want to spend the extra money, then suck it up and deal with the space you were allotted.
The cost of flights is based on the number of passengers. I would be pissed if they crammed me in and I was paying top dollar while they were making money hand over fist. But they aren't. Like I said, you have a choice of more room... buy first class or buy the seat next to you if you want

That's not what I'm saying. Why not just put people in dog cages in the undercarriage of the plane?

I'm asking that my space not keep changing from month to month and my cost of flying not keep going UP. Note as well that First Class seats have had a dramatic change in size and space.

The problem with many companies is that they don't have First Class. So how can you fly it, if they don't have it ?

The lady is suing SouthWest airlines. That's why I posted their terms of service...

If you are in an area where only one airline flies into... well then you are out of luck. I guess your still in better shape than those areas without any airports.

Yes I know, if you look at the OP I posted 4 Airlines companies TOS for seats for obese people..

I personally think she has it in for SouthWest in this case.. Nobody that gets humiliated as bad as she claims on her blog, goes back for seconds unless they have a motive.. Just my opinion..

 

[Francis]

She seems to be pushing this for media's sake, clearly she knows this would be an issue.

Like I said, she sure does seem to like the attention.. Go to her Blog..

 

[Tim]

I've noticed an anti fat shaming movement on the internet, and it's a bit radical sometimes...down to even an obsession with not making a point of pushing active/healthy lifestyles on children because it can be considered fat shaming and discrimination.

She seems to be pushing this for media's sake, clearly she knows this would be an issue.
Certainly it's not in the spirit of fairness to consumers to take up more seat that you paid for, while someone else gets less than they paid for.

Maybe they should start making commercials for morbidly obese people like they do for smokers... Hell, obesity deaths per year has surpassed smoking deaths. Obesity is one of the leading preventable causes of death... but hell, don't say anything, you might offend

 

[Panacea]

Like I said, she sure does seem to like the attention.. Go to her Blog..

I agree, will do!

Maybe they should start making commercials for morbidly obese people like they do for smokers... Hell, obesity deaths per year has surpassed smoking deaths. Obesity is one of the leading preventable causes of death... but hell, don't say anything, you might offend

Ya it's true, certainly. Interesting double standard there. It's ok to blast smokers, drinkers, and drug users for their unhealthy behavior (leaving out the socially damaging stuff they can cause) but it wouldn't be ok to run an ad like that for obesity and health.