Too fat to fly? Man forced to buy extra seat on Southwest flight

For many people, the fear of flying sometimes stops them from ever getting on a plane.

[Old Jetbag]

Oh Boo-Hoo-Hoo! I have worked for 3 carriers in 40 years and all of them had a passenger size clause. The only difference is Southwest HAS to enforce it because of their heavy load factor and low no-show factor. It does become a question of safety and comfort when someone of almost 500 pds is blocking an exit path or aisle and squeezing two average size passengers into the sidewall. Is he suing the snackwell company for telling him he could eat all the snackwell cookies he wants and be healthy? Smaller portions America. Smaller portions and more (oh god forbid!) exercise! Stop blaming EVERYONE else!

[Marcia Marcia Marcia]

Old Jetbag wrote:

Oh Boo-Hoo-Hoo! I have worked for 3 carriers in 40 years and all of them had a passenger size clause. The only difference is Southwest HAS to enforce it because of their heavy load factor and low no-show factor. It does become a question of safety and comfort when someone of almost 500 pds is blocking an exit path or aisle and squeezing two average size passengers into the sidewall. Is he suing the snackwell company for telling him he could eat all the snackwell cookies he wants and be healthy? Smaller portions America. Smaller portions and more (oh god forbid!) exercise! Stop blaming EVERYONE else!

OMG! I cannot believe that you are so mean and heartless! We are all people. I think everyone has the right to fly for a small basic fee. It is after all just like ridding a really fast bus. I do also believe that if you upset someone you should loose your job, because it is obvious that you have issues with people. We are all part of the race....the human race. Let's not forget that.

[GIZMO]

Right on OLD JETBAG. Way to many Americans are getting to big for there pants. We can try to put the blame on everyone else but it comes down to self control, and taking resposibility for our own actions. No one wants to sit next to an over weight person on a flight. With fuel cost going up, it's all about weight. No sympathy here.

[Old Jetbag]

Our bean counters took off our extra ice, any supplies we did not need, magazines, pillows, blankets. If it did not produce revenue, it was gone. We are told 2 bag limit for flight crew 3 for pilots (their mannuals) and pack light. There is talk of weighing flight crew bags in the future. Gone is the big china in first replaced by a lighter brand. So with this in mind Ms. Marcia, and the increasing cost of fuel. Do you think this is a charity? As for a "right to fly" you get very limited "permission" to fly in US controlled air space via your ticket. Read it carefully and your Contract of Carriage sometime toots. And get that beach sand out of your ears!

[Rich]

I recently took a pair of Continental flights from Colombia to Houston then on to Seattle - a 737 on both legs. The flight from Colombia was OK, but the flight from Houston was filled with overstuffed Americans, overflowing their seats. It was awful. Time for the airlines to recognize that we have become piggies and expand the seats - or require the 300 pounders to buy extra seats.

[Pilot]

Marcia Marcia Marcia wrote:

<quoted text>
OMG! I cannot believe that you are so mean and heartless! We are all people. I think everyone has the right to fly for a small basic fee. It is after all just like ridding a really fast bus. I do also believe that if you upset someone you should loose your job, because it is obvious that you have issues with people. We are all part of the race....the human race. Let's not forget that.

I hate to tell you but you do not have the right to fly for a small basic fee. The airlines are not funded thru tax dollars. Ticket prices are determined by supply and demand as well as paying the cost of the airline which needs to make a long term profit. In addition, where is the rights of the other two passengers who have to give up their purchased seat space so that those who are oversized can feel comfortable. I have had to squeeze between overweight flyers in the past and ended up on a coast to coast flight having to lean forward the entire flight and had a sore back for two weeks. Get a grip and lose the weight--your heart will thank you!

[SucYourGutIn]

Yeah, too many Americans are getting a little bigger now a days. Not to offend anyone! So because you as one person take up two spots on an airplane gives you the right to have two seats? I don't think so. It's called ...buy another seat or SucYourGutIN! And for Marcia Marcia Marcia....it's not being heartless...it's called being real and what's fair.

[Get real]

Rich wrote:

I recently took a pair of Continental flights from Colombia to Houston then on to Seattle - a 737 on both legs. The flight from Colombia was OK, but the flight from Houston was filled with overstuffed Americans, overflowing their seats. It was awful. Time for the airlines to recognize that we have become piggies and expand the seats - or require the 300 pounders to buy extra seats.

What do we do with a FULL FIGURED Person next to you on a train ? A Broadway show costing 250.00 a seat ? A seat on a bus ? Where do we end this ?

[transconjohn]

THIS IS OLD NEWS! DOES ANYONE WATCH AIRLINE ON A&E? If you take up two seats, pay for the damn things!

[Hon Ex Scabair wife]

I hate to say I agree with the fact that this gentleman had to buy an extra seat, but that was NOT heartless what was said about it either. I must say though that some people do have problems with the weight, but saying it out loud is not heartless.I think GET REAL has a very valid point.

[Dummy]

Get real wrote:

<quoted text>What do we do with a FULL FIGURED Person next to you on a train ? A Broadway show costing 250.00 a seat ? A seat on a bus ? Where do we end this ?

If you are a Porker you DON'T have the Right to Infirnge on my Space....BUY two Tickets...Period...You get NO Sympathy here if your to Lazy to Pull the Donut outta your Mouth...

[ualguy]

I guess that means we do not have the right to complain if we are being crushed by someone next to us? Your just going to be uncomfortable. I bet you have never made a rude remark about someone being either fat or skinny. I would have to call you a liar. If you were faced with giving 8 of your 22 inches up you would complain. Again you would be a liar if you said no.

Marcia Marcia Marcia wrote:

<quoted text>
OMG! I cannot believe that you are so mean and heartless! We are all people. I think everyone has the right to fly for a small basic fee. It is after all just like ridding a really fast bus. I do also believe that if you upset someone you should loose your job, because it is obvious that you have issues with people. We are all part of the race....the human race. Let's not forget that.

[Attorney Guy]

We have been here before people. Southwest has been sued three times or more for this very thing. The judge has always found in favor of the airline. If you buy a pair of pants in size XXL it will cost you more than if you buy then in M. This is the same issue. Airlines sell seats. If you use two seats then you must pay for two seats. Is there anyone volunteering to sit in the half of a seat left over when this person overtakes the other seat?

As for the comment as this being the same as riding a bus...the bus is a service provided by the taxpayers of the city. An airline is a business. Airlines have enough trouble with the bottom line with oil at $80 a barrel. Now you want a seat for free too!?

BTW. Any suggestions on how to tell someone they are overwight without hurting their feelings? Should we have a sizing box like the ones for carry- on luggage? Your backside must fit this box...

[JAKE]

Americans are just plain fat due to their lazy lifestyle. That is just plain and simple. I commute alot and everywhere I go and fly, more than 1/2 of them are overweight.
For weight and balance purpose, 180 during summer and 190 during winter. That also includes carry-ons on the overhead bins. If you fly a turboprop aircraft like Beech 1900, they better be accurate or else you end dead like Charlotte USAir Express flight that crashed due to overweight. The airlines only charge from point A to B not fat people. Men usually weight 250 and women more like 200 here in America compare with Asia men of 170 and women 110.

[JAKE]

Americans are just too fat due to their lazy lifestlye. Thats a fact. The airlines only charges point A to B travel. FAA uses 180 during summer and 190 during winter. That is way too low. American men weigh more like 250 and women 200.
I commute alot on the airlines and more than 1/2 of the passengers are overweight.

[ualguy]

The commuter in charlotte was caused by faulty maintenance by a contract worker hired to work on the little commuter plane to save costs.

JAKE wrote:

Americans are just plain fat due to their lazy lifestyle. That is just plain and simple. I commute alot and everywhere I go and fly, more than 1/2 of them are overweight.
For weight and balance purpose, 180 during summer and 190 during winter. That also includes carry-ons on the overhead bins. If you fly a turboprop aircraft like Beech 1900, they better be accurate or else you end dead like Charlotte USAir Express flight that crashed due to overweight. The airlines only charge from point A to B not fat people. Men usually weight 250 and women more like 200 here in America compare with Asia men of 170 and women 110.

[H S is an idiot]

ualguy wrote:

The commuter in charlotte was caused by faulty maintenance by a contract worker hired to work on the little commuter plane to save costs.<quoted text>

Actually it was both, an overweight aircraft that experienced an engine failure on take off. Had one happened without the other it would have flown.

H.S. is still an idiot

[transconjohn]

When your situation, be it addiction or whatever, infinges on another, you should be held accountable. If your at a play, on a bus, aircraft, sports event or whatever and you can not fit into the seat alloted to you, you should have to pay for another seat. Taking seats out of an aircraft only raises fares for ALL passengers. Is this fair? I do not mind paying extra for wider or electronic door systems for those of us in wheelchairs, I do not mind paying for the extra costs associated with persons with disabilities, however until a DR. writes a note explaining that a passenger is "Of Size" due to a medical condition, I am sorry, pay the cost of a second seat and be comfortable.

[Hon Ex Scabair wife]

I agree Transconjohn. You said that very well. Thank you.

[TILII]

Marcia Marcia Marcia wrote:

<quoted text>
OMG! I cannot believe that you are so mean and heartless! We are all people. I think everyone has the right to fly for a small basic fee. It is after all just like ridding a really fast bus. I do also believe that if you upset someone you should loose your job, because it is obvious that you have issues with people. We are all part of the race....the human race. Let's not forget that.

I think your entire argument is stupid. Everybody does not have a right to ride for a small basic fee if u feel that way start your own damn airline, and if you can’t do that cry me a river. Airlines are private companies that are trying to make a profit. It’s extremely selfish of anyone to pay a price for a space on the plane and expect people to sacrifice some of there space as well because you maybe unable to afford to pay for the damn space u may require. If u have an issue with paying for the space lose some weight, because it seems like your trying to save money.
i apologize if i offend any one i tell it like it is