Question:
Is ANYONE ?? as MAD as I am about Southwest Airlines new policy??????
Southwest Airlines has now instigated a new policy for"larger people" and making them pay for 2 tickets to fly on their airlines if they are deemed "oversize" by the ticket agents....IS ANYONE AS MAD ABOUT THIS **** AS I AM????HOW HORRIBLE!!! And what a position for those people that work at SWA to have to make that decision....I SAY WE ALL FIRE OFF E-MAILS TO THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE..... I already have expressed my opinion to them and think that everyone else here on this site should contact them either on the phone or e-mail....WE HAVE ALL BEEN THERE!!! How horrible of this company!!!!...I would be SO OFFENDED if i were that person attempting to fly on their airlines for a "NORMAL" rate.....I am 10 mos post op and down #136....I would have raised **** at Southwest Airlines ticket counter if they would have tried that on me.....ANY COMMENTS??? — Joi G. (posted on June 20, 2002)
June 20, 2002
Wow! I agree that this is a crummy policy, but I'd like to know more about
what the industry standard is. Is SWA unique in this policy, or have other
companies followed suit? Basically,I think for those flights that are
consistently crowded, this is a reasonable policy in that if a person is
large enough to take up two seats (and whether we want to admit it or not,
it happens) the airline should not have to suffer lost revenue, especially
in light of the fallout from 9/11. BUT on less crowded flights, it
shouldn't matter. How do they enforce this anyway? With most tix being
purchased online or by phone, how could they make this determination? Or
will it be that they start asking your weight before you fly? I dunno,
this is a tough issue...
— rebeccamayhew
June 20, 2002
I've been hearing this rumor over & over again on the posting board and
then the news people post as that spreads like wild fire. Where did
someone read this new policy? I'd like to see it in writing before I go
writing a complaint to SWA. They've always been extremely fair with me,
even at my heaviest weight. I've purchased an extra seat for half price
before just for my own comfort - not with SWA but with Continental. I
think I would have felt squashed even at 200 lbs. but I was 356 at the
time. Where did you read this? I'd like the webaddress for news or
whatever and then I'd be glad to cast my opinion.
— Lisa J.
June 20, 2002
No. It's only fair. If we take up two seats, they lose money. Why should
they have to lose another ticket holders fee? I think they are more than
justified! I know when I weighed 250 I could just barely get into a seat.
(I never flew when I was 319). Anywho, I really don't think it's a matter
of discrimation, it's just econnomicis.
— Danmark
June 20, 2002
Lisa, where have you been? lol It's been all over the news (tv). ;)
— Danmark
June 20, 2002
Had they confronted me in line, it would have been the last time the
airline would confronted ANYONE. Because when I became owner (and believe
after I hired an attorney and sued them for discrimination, MO is disease)
I would be sure to stop the BIAS POLICY against people with this
unfortunate medical problem.
Imgine the nerve! If they try to charge people with cancer,MS, or
wheelchairs more money...anything other MO, the general public would be up
in arms.
— Marlene N.
June 20, 2002
Actually, I'm not terribly enraged since I think it's a business decision
motivated by MONEY as usual, rather than a discriminatory thing. The
article I read said that 9 out of 10 customer service complaints are about
this problem (probably made worse by the fact that their seats are only 18
and some inches wide!! They should have bigger seats!). If the flight is
not full, then I think they should accomodate the larger person FOR FREE.
However, if they have a full flight, and a paying passenger wants that seat
next to the MO person, but can't have it since it's already half taken,
then I don't think the airline should have to take the loss for that
ticket. If it were my plane, I don't know that I'd want to say "Oh,
don't worry, I'll eat the extra $400.00 I would have made from that seat...
you go ahead and take two" Hmmmmm. So I can understand it from a
business point of view, HOWEVER, that said, I can't imagine how they're
going to enforce this policy. There will be so many embarrased passengers
and ticket agents. I would be mortified, and would not even consider
flying that airline as an MO person. I guess that's what they want anyway.
— mom2jtx3
June 20, 2002
I can understand charging for two seats if the overweight person REQUESTS
two seats for their own comfort or whatever...but to be REQUIRED to buy two
seats is totally unfair. Besides, we heavyweights might overflow into the
next seat a little bit, but most of the time it isn't so much that someone
can't SIT there!
— fropunka
June 20, 2002
I am not too upset, but I think that it is in a way discriminatory. The
only way that I would totally agree with this policy is if they charged
everyone "by the pound". (i.e. - a 3 year old child doesn't take
up as much room as a 200# adult male, so why should they have to pay the
same price for a ticket?) ........just my opinion
— Jeff B.
June 20, 2002
Has any of those who are so outraged ever tried to sit next to a MO person
on an airplane? I have. I wish she had bought two seats as I could hardly
draw breath. I was no waif myself and between the three of us in that row,
there wasn't enough room for the tray tables to come down. The stewardess
kept apologizing, but the plane was full. Of course the MO woman should've
paid for a second seat. She needed one.
— Bobbi G.
June 20, 2002
Here is my take on it. If they want to charge large people double, then
they need to accomodate for the large person. Such as, make the bathrooms
larger, the ailes wider etc. Also, do they charge extra for those who are
disabled/handicapped? Its a catch 22....I understand the business part, but
since when has America been so greedy that we forget that we are all humans
and not revenue?
— Dawn E.
June 20, 2002
I too feel it should be by the pound, not by the appearance. For safety
reasons, we are only allowed certain amount of weight and baggage etc. on a
plane, and there are people who's only job is to make sure the plane is
packed evenly for flight (my friend Cheryl!). Any how, consider this: A
6'5" Man weighing 300lbs, may look "normal" and not MO, but
if you are 5'2" at 300lbs. and MO it should NOT MATTER your
appearance- you and the man should pay the same ticket price! By
appearance is discriminatory, but by the pound is not- I think it is
totally LEGIT. They can accomodate a certain weight, and there is no way
around that- except by changing the planes to accomodate more size options,
and the end result would be higher ticket prices, which is what everyone is
upset about in the first place!
— Karen R.
June 20, 2002
Actually they have had this policy since the 80's but(from some articles I
read today) they have updated the way they assign seats and sent out a
reminder to employees about this policy. Yeah it's a stupid practice but
it's a business out to make money. It would be great if they had larger
seats especially since so many Americans are overweight but I'm sure it is
much cheaper for them to deal with losing customers than to outfit all
their planes in larger seats. There are other airlines that have similar
policies. Delta is one that does not. I just don't think flooding them
with emails and calls is really going to accomplish much since they have
had this policy in effect for so long but you never know. I suppose if
enough people are involved it could happen.
— Rachel M.
June 20, 2002
I definetly do not agree with this policy...however there are some
compromises I think that can be made. I definetly agree with Dawn...If
they want to charge us extra...make it worth our while!! Don't require us
to invent new ways to pee in those teeny-tiny bathrooms or new ways to walk
down the aisles...ect... I feel this is a very discriminatory move on
SWA's part..but airlines are all about the money! Especially since 9/11.
It's definetly a catch 22...we're damned if we do, damned if we don't!
— Christie N.
June 20, 2002
well, wouldnt everyone be mad if they were seated next to someone in a
wheelchair and their wheelchair took up some of your seat and you then
didnt have enough room? i would be. but accomodations are made for
disabled persons. and obesity is a disability. my mother is 500lbs and is
ON disability. i dont fly, i have never been on an airplane but my brother
has and he had a hard time with the seat. im sure there is a seating area
accomodating disabled people(like more room for a wheelchair)and im sure
they are not charged extra, that would be against the law. i think they
should have to recognize that obesity is a disability(after all, the
government says it IS a disease) and have preferred seating for large
people such as ourselves. i think it all comes down to money. we took a
train trip last summer and my then 3 year old daughter had to pay for a
seat, yet my 2 yr old neice got a free seat because the train wasnt full.
same thing, not fair. i hope no one is offended because i am comparing the
obese to disabled. if you are large enough that you are having a problem
with the airplane seat, then you ARE disabled.
— christina K.
June 20, 2002
Rebecca has a good point. With so many tickets being purchased on line or
over the phone, how do they know how much you weigh? If they charge you
after they see you, which is usually when you check in to get your boarding
pass, and it's a full flight and all the tickets are sold, how will they
charge you for 2 tickets?
The seats on airplanes are incredibly small. I understand the airlines are
in business to make $, so I assume they make the seats very small to cram
in more people/$. If they designed the seats differently to accomodate the
more average body type, perhaps they would have less complaints, happier
customers, and more people willing to fly.
— Cindy R.
June 20, 2002
Here are the facts. Actually it's not enforced - it's suggested. It's also
a reduced price and if the flight is not full the person would be refunded
the total amount of the extra money spent. They've had this policy for
years but they just changed from plastic card plane tickets to paper ones.
This way they can charge the extra amount if the large person agrees.
Their policy is not to keep you from taking the flight but, it's just to
recoup the money they would lose on a full flight for the empty seat. The
reason seats cannot simply be made larger is there are FAA regulations
requiring all aisles be a certain width. Unless they just make the plane
wider overall, it would be impossible to make the seats larger without
using up the required aisle width. I personally can see their logic
although any rules or rates that are based on a person's girth seem to be
of a discriminatory nature. If charging a large person more for taking up
more room is warrented then I feel that they should charge an extremely
thin person less money. Maybe using bench seats instead of armed seats and
charging by the inches used during the flight would be more fair. I don't
know. I do know there is no way to please everyone. In every situation in
life someone is going to get upset or anxious. I'm not defending any
entity that uses a person's size against them in any way just as I wouldn't
accept it when using a person's race, religion, or sexual orientation
against them. My remedy for myself personally is I don't fly. Not because
of the size of the seats - only because I had a horrible experience the
last time I flew and I swore, then and there, that I'd NEVER get on another
airplane as long as I live. Just my opinion.
— Vicki H.
June 20, 2002
Strangely, Southwest Airlines does not accept email. Mighty convenient for
such a time as this-when they would no doubt be flooded with emails.
Go to southwestairlines.com and the policy is explained.
I'm going to let my money speak for me: I will never fly southwest again.
This is the only way to make any difference. By the way, we should send
snail mail telling them we won't fly them and why. Their address is on
their website.
I agree about the lack of bathroom space. How horrible it is to be on a 5
(or more) hour flight and not be able to use the restroom!!! What do
disabled people do about using the restrooms, for God's sake?!?!??!
— M. B.
June 20, 2002
Too bad there's not a specific airline that will treat people like us like
REAL human beings instead of "oversize" people or misfits. It is
horrible and too bad we can't let them know somehow!!!!
— yourdivaness
June 20, 2002
The last time I flew I purchased two seats. I was 279 (and 5'8"). I
personally did not want to infringe on the space of someone next to me, as
I knew I would. Also I have severe problems with anxiety and didn't want
someone that close to me. I think it's unfair to flab over into the next
person's space. If you pay $800.00 (or more) for a ticket on a 6 hour
flight, you have the right to use ALL of the space you paid for, and not
have an a person infringing on your space. Just my 2 cents. It may not be
a popular opinion, but I don't think the world owes us a living, MO or not.
Hugs, Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
June 20, 2002
Can you say Discrimination? I knew you could. Too bad they can't charge
people with bad breath and foul body odors more for their seats. Then
maybe I wouldn't be as offended.
— Jennifer A.
June 20, 2002
I can understand both sides of the situation,but how can any overweight
person feel comfortable buying a ticket and not fearing the embarrassment
they may face when they are told they are going to be required to purchase
two seats.I have to say that I have never flown before,and I leave this
saturday for my first trip to Alaska from Illinois.I am petrified of
hieghths,but my biggest fear is the embarrassement I might face trying to
squeeze into my seat or going down the aisle,and with an 8 hour flight,i'll
eventually have to try to use the restroom.I am so freaked out about the
whole thing that I almost have a panic attack and want to cancel my
vacation.BTW,i'm 295 lbs.Is there any chance of me fitting in the seats or
being able to walk the aisles??Any reassurance would be appreciated!!Sorry
to Ramble on !!!
— kim M.
June 20, 2002
My opinion - I am entitled to it. If you take up way more then the one
seat you purchased, you should buy another. They are specific about
refunding you your extra seat if the flight is not full, which is possible
on Southwest, since it is come-as-you-can seating. At about 250lbs., I
flew to Iceland wedged in between 2 guys bigger than me, by a lot. The
flight was FULL. I had a hard time breathing, and the was miserable for
over 4 hours. I didn't drink or go to the bathroom, because I knew it was
impossible. I got a UTI right afterward. We 3 shared my tray, as it was
the only one to go down. We laughed about it, but it sucked. About taking
up half a seat an paying half - well, that isn't really possible, they
can't book someone else on your lap with you. They do however allow babes
in arms (not taking up a seat, see) to fly for free. They don't take up a
seat they are not useing - the MO, do...not to mention how uncomfortable it
is for the MO person and their seatmates. Yes, it would be nice to charge
smelly people, obnoxious people etc with more space, but see, really that
cannot happen. They are not physically inmpinging on the safety and
comfort of others. At least Southwest has cheap enough fares that it is
feasible, and they have the "family" seating area where seats
face each other for the longlegged or travellin gin groups. It sucks if
you want to fly when you are MO - you either pay up to be comfortable,
cross your fingers or be in misery. Take your pick. I am not MO anymore -
but I am sympathetic still, I just think they are _Not_ being
discriminatory - It is their right, and their obligation to other
passangers. I vowed to fly first class after my iceland trip. Eck. Don't
fly them if you don't like it. Just as you wouldn't eat at a restaurant
that only had booths, or buy drinks froma place that only served surgared
soda.
— M. A. B.
June 20, 2002
I posted this on the message board too. I would rather be a little squeezed
in by a larger person than sit next to a letch or a woman with 2, yes 2,
babies on her lap! That happened to me. The father didn't want to
"handle" either of them, so the mother held both of them. They
screamed, burped and assorted other things. But, she only paid for one
seat! I was uncomfortable, but I had no recourse. <p> I agree as far
as the seat size. How about 2 seats instead of 3 across. I would pay a
little extra for comfort and it seems that it would be safer too. If they
want to charge us more(I am lucky, I do fit in the seat-barely), then those
wih other space-consuming disabilities need to pay up too. Enough of my
rant.
— Helenjean P.
June 20, 2002
Me again! I had to post again because I'm reading the responses to this
question. No doubts, that it is a HIGHLY controversial topic! The
airlines are in a bind since 9/11 but at the same time...a majority of the
public feel that they are being discriminatory against MO people. One
thing that I've noticed in reading responses...(please don't take
offense..just an observation)is that the Post-Ops seem to be more
sympathetic towards SWA. Yes, it sucks to have to sit next to someone that
either A. Smells bad. or B. Is spilling over to the next seat. BUT! I
have flown Many Many times all over the country and have yet to be on a
plane that is 100% sold out. I must first say, Congrats to the Posties
that have lost all the weight!! I'm hoping to one day be just like you,
but I would never think that they should've bought another seat someone
because they were spilling over into the my seat. I'm currently batting
that everyday on the busses & trains. Listening to conductors/drivers
almost forcing people to sit next to me because they have to sit down and
listening to them bitch and moan about being next to a fat person. There
are so many sides to this debate it's almost limitless and will be probably
endless.
— Christie N.
June 20, 2002
What I don't like about this policy is that there are no specifics as to
who they're going to charge. It apparently will be up to the staff to
"eyeball" passengers, and charge those who they "think"
will take up more than one seat. The current policy is based on appearance
only. One staff member might be more tolerant than another, and that's
going to lead to all kinds of problems. We're planning a trip to Hawaii
this year, and there's an option to take a helicopter flight over a
volcano. It clearly states that ALL passengers over 250 pounds will be
charged for two seats, due to the small size of the seats and the weight
limitation. Now, we all know that a 5' 1" person weighing 250 pounds
is probably much wider than a 6' 4" person weighing 250 pounds, but at
least the policy is FAIR! BTW - when I flew when I was MO, I always sat
with my thin daughters and kept the arm rest up, so we would have more
space. You can't ask that of a total stranger. One time, I sat with one of
my daughters, and another MO person sat on the other side of my daughter.
The three of us were extremely uncomfortable. The policy, while it seems
to smack of discrimination, is trying to be fair to all passengers. They
just need a way to impliment it better.
— Cyndie K.
June 20, 2002
I also wanted to add that the standard airplane seat is 17" in width.
And Delta Airlines' is 16". Get a ruler out and see exactly what
17" is...not much. If you don't see yourself fitting into 17"
across, then save yourself embarassment and purchase the 2 seats...if
you're flying on SouthWest or just want to be comfortable and respectful of
others' space. Again, flame away if you want. I think we need to stop
being so self-centered and thinking "oh, I'm going to be embarassed to
buy a 2nd seat", and think about others around us and their comfort
and safety, too. I'm surprised to see so many responses where people think
it's their <b>right</b> to take up more than one seat. The law
says that if the plane is not full you get a refund of the second seat
purchased. So I really don't see what all the bruhaha is about. Hugs, Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
June 20, 2002
I think it is stupid. I do not think that SW has the RIGHT to charge for
another seat. My sister is 5'11 and pregnant with triplets ~ maybe they
should charge her for four seats, which by the way she is almost up to.
It seems to me that airlines have been handling this problem for years and
years without charging for a second seat and they should continue to do so.
Should we charge everyone with a disability EXTRA for the accomidations
they need? I say this seriously since I became overweight only when I
became disabled. The two went hand in hand.
I have to sit next to tons of people that interrupt my so called space.
People with unruly children....People who clearly have drank too much...
People who smell like smoke the whole trip...People who snore.....
Rediculous. SouthWest should be ashamed.
— Red T.
June 20, 2002
I had to address this issue as someone compared it to being handicapped. I
have traveled by air with handicapped people. My father was in a
wheelchair and the only "extra accomodation" he received was
being let on first. His wheelchair was than taken down and loaded with the
bagage and brought back up at the end of the flight. No extra space was
taken up by his chair and no other passengers were inconvienienced. I am
involved with Canine Support Teams, an organization that places assistance
dogs with disabled people. SWA and smaller airlines ask that an extra seat
is purchased for the dog, even though the dog is trained to lay quietly at
the feet of or under the seat of their partner. Larger/Major airlines do
not always require this, but sometimes do. I wanted to clear the matter
up, because I know some legitimate handicapped people, and even when I
weighed 418 pounds and could barely move, I would never have considered
myself handicapped because I could move. Some of the people I know wish
they could move as well as I could. I was able to have surgery to change
myself. They cannot. It is not the same, in my OPINION. And no, the
handicapped are not treated any better than the obese by airlines, or
general public for that matter.
— Danielle M.
June 20, 2002
You are not alone. When I heard about it I was in disbelief. I can't
believe that the government would allow this to happen. I do fly from time
to time and happen to know that "regular" size people aren't
comfortable in those seat either. They are made very narrow and close to
the seat in front of it. If they would actually make seats to fit every
body type, they wouldn't have to stoop to such low levels. And if I had
enough money to buy 2 ticket, I'd fly first class where the seat are
comfortable! I will never fly with that company again!
— Sarah K.
June 20, 2002
I could not agree more! I am pre-op and could very well be one of those
people required to buy two seats. I really think that in light of the
current decline in air travel after 9/11, they should have put this
decision off indefinitely! They may find themselves belly up real soon! I
will make every effort never to use their services again.
— DONNA J.
June 20, 2002
Well I can understand both sides to this issue. However I would recommend
flying on Delta instead of SW because they are much more MO friendly,
especially in my state of Michigan. Last summer (before I had WLS) I
weighed around 430 and was flying out west. When we went to check in at the
Delta counter, they offered to bump us to a different flight and give us
vouchers for a free future flight for our inconvenience. I later found out
that the reason they asked us to bump to a different flight is because the
flight was full and they normally will make room for a MO person by making
sure that the seat beside them is empty. They couldn't do that on the full
flight so they politely, without even telling us why, moved me and my wife
to a flight where they could give us an extra empty seat and offered us a
voucher for a free flight for our inconvenience. I don't know if this is
their nationwide policy or just in Michigan (since Michigan has some of the
best anti-morbid obesity discrimination laws in the US). But I will always
recommend Delta. We are using our free vouchers in July, but I will be 3
1/2 months post op and hopefully down another 20 lbs to a totol of 100 by
then.
— Dell H.
June 20, 2002
i agree that southwest has the right to ask that their larger customers pay
for a second ticket.
that doesnt bother me in the least..
but what constitutes large and who decides? someone working the ticket
counter? a person who thinks large is someone 20lbs overweight?
and chances are slim that Southwest will put these people through
sensitivity training. i see lawsuits in the making.
as to the refund issue.. i find that laughable.
why refund at all?
that only seems to contradict their position.
smells like discrimination to me :D
— qkarinb
June 20, 2002
I haven't read all of the other comments so if I repeated this I'm sorry.
Please write to them or call: The address is: SOUTHWEST AIRLINES; CUSTOMER
RELATIONS; PO BOX 36647-1CR
DALLAS, TX 75235-1647. I plan on telling them that I am normal weight and
will not use Southwest because of this discriminating policy. We ALL need
to voice our disaproval because don't think that the other airlines aren't
watching and if this works, they will do the same. We are large in numbers
and we have to have a voice!!!
— ZZ S.
June 20, 2002
I weigh around 158 and am 5 foot 5 inches. I am not a really a overweight
person but I do have a backside that is more than 17 inches. Who is going
to judge who has to pay for two tickets and who doesnt. Could they decide
by the way we are dressed, color of our hair, or the fear on our faces that
we may be chosen to be embarassed and humiliated infront of 100 other
passengers. My 2 daughters are obese, and I am angry. Why not take all of
these posts, print them and mail the to Southwest Airlines. You know what
really makes me angry. I just paid my credit card bill that had my
(3)Southwest airline tickets to Vegas last month. It will be the last
tickets that I buy from them.
— edy Z.
June 20, 2002
Any airline is in the business to make money the best way they can. While
I'm mad that most airplanes have seats uncomfortable for people of normal
weight, I understand the need to make money. It's nothing personal. They
are in the business to sell space. If you take up more space, you should
pay for more space. Most airlines will accommodate you if you are
overweight and the plane is not full. You just have to plan your trip.
But as far as Southwest Airlines, they have a reputation known as
"cattle airlines" which tell you something. They are in the
business to herd as many paying customers into the spaces they have, making
the most profit. So my response to that is "I don't have to fly
Southwest." If I want to be comfortable, I'll buy two seats. If I
don't want to buy two seats, I'll drive to my destination or stay home.
That's my choices unfortunately. Life's too short to be upset by something
like this.
— Cathy S.
June 21, 2002
I have never been on an airplane and have no intentions of ever flying.
Everyone has opinions but solutions are much harder to come by. But
according to recent reports the population of this world is getting larger
and larger, for whatever reasons. The society we now live in is much
different than it was say 20 years ago. I think the airlines should get
wise and realize there are LARGE people who fly everyday and there are
those who would fly if they could comfortably fit in these seats, asiles
etc. It a new world and adjustments need to be made. Why not equip these
planes with sections of seating spaces made for the larger person. It seems
to me that this would be good for business. I mean what happened to the
customer is always right ? And someone who weigh 500 pounds is a customer
just the same as someone who weighs 125 pounds. So the airlines need to
update and get with it.
— janicediana
June 21, 2002
I don't necessarily disagree with the policy. Yes, MO people are people too
and desrerve respect. However, we can not expect to have our rights take
precedence over the rights of others. If we are too large for the seat and
are going to cause someone else to be uncomfortable or unsafe, we need to
realize that they have rights too. My concern is for the way they are
implimenting the policy. Pulling someone out of line and causing them
extreme embarrassment is cruel. I don't necessarily disagree with the
policy, but there must be a better way of implimenting it. I make the
travel arrangements for a large church, about 8-10 flights a month. I do it
all on line and there is never any questions asked about size. What do they
do when a MO person shows up with an e-ticket? When we bring in a guest
speaker I book the arrangements on line and pre-pay. What are these people
supposed to do if they are deemed to be too large at the last minute? If
they are going to have this policy they need to be very clear about who
qualifies. It should be clearly posted at every venue where their tickets
are sold.
— Bobbie B.
June 22, 2002
I know it is kinda off of the intent of the topic....but when I flew from
Detroit to Amsterdam last year. I was seated next to a hottie that didn't
mind that I "spilled" over into his space =) We talked and
flirted all the way across the atlantic, thighs pressed together the whole
time (oh, get your mind out of the gutter!) hehehe So its not always a
bad thing...lol
I have had my share of bad plane trips due to the seats being too
tight...even after paying a higher price for first class, thinking the
seats would be bigger, they werent. And to make things worse, the arms
would not move. And at that point I knew I would have been in less pain
from the squeezing if I was in coach seats.
In general though I do not have a bad opinion of the airlines because of
weight issues, but more to do with their approach to customer service. I
have never been asked as a 450+ person to pay for an extra seat. I have
always had the option of moving to a place with an extra seat next to me or
the person who was supposed to be "squeezed" in with me chose to
sit in another place. Most of the time the Flight Attendant will be
discreet about asking me if I need a seatbelt extender. But there is
always an overtly rude one that will make my size an issue.
— ImANewDee
June 23, 2002
I think SWA has every right to charge more for the MO. I am 1 week out
from surgery. To answer how they will determine who to charge, I say put a
row of seats and have anyone who looks close or MO to sit in it, if they
spill over, can't put the arm rest down or need a belt extension then they
should definitely be charged extra. I have always flown SWA and have
always had full planes and yes I have been very uncomroftable in these
seats but that's my doing. As far as the embarrassment of having to sit in
a chair at the ticket counter so be it. When you book your ticket you know
your MO so you should tell them and purchase the extra ticket to avoid the
embarrassment. I do not feel this is descrimation. I for one am tired of
everyone using the "victim" mentality and wanting the world to
pander to them. No one else put the extra food into my mouth, I did it and
yes I do have a family history of MO but we get no guarantees in life.
— Brenda Kay U.
June 24, 2002
Southwest is one of the few (if not the only one) showing a profit. Profit
is not a bad word -- it means they will be there for air travel over time.
Other airlines are trying to emulate them. For some of us, the possible
folding of air travel after 9/11, followed by some of the competition
heading towards bankruptsy -- we have to say DO WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP YOUR
BUSINESS ALIVE! A lot of us depend on air travel to make a living and take
vacations. Regarding those who said "make bigger seats and charge a
little more" -- check out first class. I think it's great to have the
option to buy 2 seats -- especially with a discount! I never knew I had
that option before, geeze the anxiety that will save me. Finally, are all
of you guys upset about this policy ticked off that the roller coasters
can't fit us in? Would you pick that battle as well? That we are entitled
to ride ALL of the rides comfortably? Would you want Southwest to go into
the red just to accomodate our unwillingness to pay for the space we take?
Dollars and cents, and consistency. I can't ride every ride at the
amusement parks (yet); hate those turnstyles in Disney World and take a
seat belt extension with me when I fly. These are the accomodations I make
for my size. Because that is my responsibility. No one owes me any
special accomodation just because I am MO. Just a thought...
— Karen F.
June 24, 2002
Disney world has a gate to go through for us handicapped people that can't
use a turnstile. They have bench seats for all rides that can accomodate
us handicapped people. They have electric carts. The rides where we
cannot fit are not safe for our weight or they would have a few seats to
accomodate handicapped people.
As far as profit goes, smart entrepeneurs make profits without sacraficing
human decency. Profit was an argument for polution. Profit was an
argument for slavery. We humans are smart enough to come up with a way to
accomodate all people on airplanes and still make a profit. We just need
more innovative people running the airlines (maybe some women)
— faybay
June 24, 2002
I understand both sides of this argument, but I still think it's unfair. I
would be extremely offended to have some skinny stewardess tell me I'm too
fat to fly with one seat. If you have to fly, I highly recommend Midwest
Express... 2 across instead of 3 and very roomie seats, costs a little
more, but if you're going to be charged double somewhere else, it is
probably cheaper.
— Toni C.
June 24, 2002
Okay... is there ANYONE out there that doesn't know for sure whether or not
they would impose on the person next to them in coach? This is not about
ticket agents eyeballing you, it is about someone who does not fit in to
one seat being considerate enough of the stranger next to them to handle
the situation on their own. Now that we know the rules and the options --
isn't it just common sense and common courtesy that a 300 pound person
would show up for boarding with the suggested two tickets, as opposed to
being evaluated at check in? And then, if the flight isn't full, get a
refund for the extra one? Maybe it's me, but I just think that this is not
about persecution -- it is about protecting the comfort and safety of
everyone on the plane by making these options available to accomodate
larger people.
— Karen F.
June 24, 2002
Toni: I think I will explore all of the airlines and use those that
consider the comfort of all their customers. The MO and the thinner ones
being imposed upon. If anyone has already done this or anyone knows of a
fat friendly airline list please let me know. I no longer have this
problem, but would like to do my best to promote these airlines.
— faybay
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