There is not a Constitutional right to riding on an airplane. Therefore, the carriers get to decide how wide their seats are. So, someone like me who buys a ticket fully expects that the person next to me is going to stay in their space. If that space is not big enough for that person, they have two choices. Buy 2 seats or don't fly. Its really that simple.

 

The real issue here is how to make this happen BEFORE the person has to be told to get off of the plane.

 

I wanted to come back to this.

 

I work in the service industry. The airline industry is a service industry. To me, their handling of this incident (which wouldn't have been an incident if they'd applied their own mission statement in handling it) flies in the face of "service".

 

Maybe it's not a constitutional right. However as a consumer, the fact that you pay money for something most assuredly does assure that you have the right to expect to receive what you paid for...in this case at least one seat on a Southwest flight. This especially applies in the case of services/products you pay for in ADVANCE of receiving. This isn't a case of being denied admittance before you get into the bar or restaurant. This is a case of taking a customer's money, then deciding to NOT provide the service paid for. I'm sure they refunded him, but that doesn't make it any better. If they can't clearly state restrictions on ticket purchases in every channel a customer can purchase them, then they need to honor the purchase. It's not just the "product" at stake. It's customer service. It's about NOT embarrassing your customer, even if that customer isn't Kevin Smith.

If you can get into the seat, get the armrest down and buckle the belt (as Smith was able to do) then there shouldn't be an issue. If you are bothered sitting next to a person like that then you should leave.

 

n.

 

If you add "and don't have your fat arms hanging over the armrest on my side" then I'm with you. Otherwise, fat folks need to drive or buy 2 seats.

I am not an expert, so I am not speaking from any pulpit that is claiming I am.

 

But I do know that a plane has weight and balance concerns and wonder to be imbalance can lead to safety concerns.

 

Did not the airlines that had a plane crash in NJ, I think, last year had falsified weight/balance forms?

 

While I do not know how much Kevin Smith weighs, I doubt that he would singlehandly be able to affect the balance of a large commercial aircraft typical of what would be used by Southwest.

 

 

Reminds me of the comedian talking about flying on puddle-jumpers in the Caribbean. Someone asked him how much he weighed. When he asked why, the person said they needed the passengers' weights so they would know how much fuel to take on.

 

As he thought about how many vain women might not be entirely forthcoming, his response was...

 

"Fill it up. Just fill it up."

 

I'm pretty sure that was Ron "Tater Salad" White

 

I always figured the XXL and bigger were more for a few of reasons.

1. the obvious, they had more material

2. probably the bigger reason, they didn't make as many.

3. stores almost always have them left over and end up putting them on clearance.

I could be wrong on all accounts but was always my best guess.

 

As someone who wears the XXL size, I find just the opposite. The XL and XXL's are almost never found on clearance racks which are occupied mostly by Small and Medium sizes. I guess it's true when the say that Americans as a whole are getting pretty fat. As far as 3XL and up, your theory might be correct.

 

 

I guess Southwest needs to tweak their slogan to "Your now free to fly across the country, that is unless your overweight, than it's get off the plane fatty!"

Reminds me of the comedian talking about flying on puddle-jumpers in the Caribbean. Someone asked him how much he weighed. When he asked why, the person said they needed the passengers' weights so they would know how much fuel to take on.

 

As he thought about how many vain women might not be entirely forthcoming, his response was...

 

"Fill it up. Just fill it up."

 

The version I heard was "Fill it up. I'll buy."

While I do not know how much Kevin Smith weighs, I doubt that he would singlehandly be able to affect the balance of a large commercial aircraft typical of what would be used by Southwest.

 

 

 

 

I'm pretty sure that was Ron "Tater Salad" White

 

 

 

As someone who wears the XXL size, I find just the opposite. The XL and XXL's are almost never found on clearance racks which are occupied mostly by Small and Medium sizes. I guess it's true when the say that Americans as a whole are getting pretty fat. As far as 3XL and up, your theory might be correct.

 

 

I guess Southwest needs to tweak their slogan to "Your now free to fly across the country, that is unless your overweight, than it's get off the plane fatty!"

....but if your luggage is already loaded, you'll have to claim it when you get to your destination.

I wanted to come back to this.

 

I work in the service industry. The airline industry is a service industry. To me, their handling of this incident (which wouldn't have been an incident if they'd applied their own mission statement in handling it) flies in the face of "service".

 

Maybe it's not a constitutional right. However as a consumer, the fact that you pay money for something most assuredly does assure that you have the right to expect to receive what you paid for...in this case at least one seat on a Southwest flight. This especially applies in the case of services/products you pay for in ADVANCE of receiving. This isn't a case of being denied admittance before you get into the bar or restaurant. This is a case of taking a customer's money, then deciding to NOT provide the service paid for. I'm sure they refunded him, but that doesn't make it any better. If they can't clearly state restrictions on ticket purchases in every channel a customer can purchase them, then they need to honor the purchase. It's not just the "product" at stake. It's customer service. It's about NOT embarrassing your customer, even if that customer isn't Kevin Smith.

 

 

I'm hearing/reading conflicting stories. He bought 2 but ended up going standby and getting one seat. You can argue that SWA should have known that a guy who bought 2 for himself can't go standby in one seat. Their fault.

 

Regardless of where you tell the person (once they're on the plane or when they're in the waiting area) its going to be uncomfortable.

 

I feel bad for a minute that they will be embarrassed but that only lasts for a minute. I've sat by that person whose fat hangs over to my seat. I have no real sympathy for them. Two seats or off the plane.

I'm pretty sure that was Ron "Tater Salad" White

 

 

 

A!"

 

It wasn't him. He did have a funny piece about flying on a small plane. "How far will this plane go with only one engine? All the way to the ground."

 

It was a comedian with a heavy southern accent.

I'm hearing/reading conflicting stories. He bought 2 but ended up going standby and getting one seat. You can argue that SWA should have known that a guy who bought 2 for himself can't go standby in one seat. Their fault.

 

Regardless of where you tell the person (once they're on the plane or when they're in the waiting area) its going to be uncomfortable.

 

I feel bad for a minute that they will be embarrassed but that only lasts for a minute. I've sat by that person whose fat hangs over to my seat. I have no real sympathy for them. Two seats or off the plane.

 

 

He did buy 2 tickets. Maybe he missed his flight or it was cancelled and he was put on standby. Once they cleared him on the standby list, it's on them. If he had 2 tickets, I would think they'd make sure there were 2 standby seats available before clearing him.

 

Question...exactly how is this weight thing determined? I mean, there's a difference between a buff 6.2 man weighing 250 and an out of shame middleaged house-husband weighing 250. Exactly how do you draw the line? And what about tall people? If they can't scrunch their legs up in that tiny space between seats...get off the flight. I'm tired of stepping over you in the aisle or having you take my space because I use less. And what about the annoying guy who sat next to me on my flight to Utah? That thin little man whipped out a NYT and proceeded to read it fully unfolded with his bony fist right in my face for hours.

 

If you choose to use a public mode of transportation, then you give up certain "rights", such as personal space. A thin person has no more right to space than an thin one. And heavy people aren't the only annoyances on a flight...and they're probably the least.

He did buy 2 tickets. Maybe he missed his flight or it was cancelled and he was put on standby. Once they cleared him on the standby list, it's on them. If he had 2 tickets, I would think they'd make sure there were 2 standby seats available before clearing him.

 

.

 

I agree that its "on them" but it doesn't mean it should be in my lap. Late to take the right action is still better than not taking the right action.

I agree that its "on them" but it doesn't mean it should be in my lap. Late to take the right action is still better than not taking the right action.

 

 

I'm going to complain about every person I feel intrudes upon my personal comfort on my flights then. Especially the people who lean their seats all the way back, and the ones that have obnoxiously loud conversations, oh....and the big tall people, and the tall fit people....I don't want to hear what you say, or have your seat in my lap while I try to eat those 7 tiny pretzels in my bag that Southwest so generously gave me to tide me over till my next meal

 

Question...exactly how is this weight thing determined? I mean, there's a difference between a buff 6.2 man weighing 250 and an out of shame middleaged house-husband weighing 250. Exactly how do you draw the line? And what about tall people? If they can't scrunch their legs up in that tiny space between seats...get off the flight. I'm tired of stepping over you in the aisle or having you take my space because I use less. And what about the annoying guy who sat next to me on my flight to Utah? That thin little man whipped out a NYT and proceeded to read it fully unfolded with his bony fist right in my face for hours.

 

If you choose to use a public mode of transportation, then you give up certain "rights", such as personal space. A thin person has no more right to space than an thin one. And heavy people aren't the only annoyances on a flight...and they're probably the least.

 

Let me answer your examples.

 

You can't determine ahead of time if they're too big. So you have to catch it at the airport which is not good but its the best they can do. Its not like fat people don't have an idea as to how big a seat is. Its on them if they show up and find out they don't fit.

 

Tall guy: I've never seen a tall guy whose legs interfere with the people next to them. It sucks for them but they scrunch up.

 

The bony guy who is in your space is a simple one. Unlike the fat person who can't get skinny the guy whose paper is in your space can fix the problem.

 

You're 100% wrong in me giving up the right to have you NOT be in my space.

 

Businesses have to make decisions. They can either kick fat people off the plane and deal with potential loss of revenue or they can add fat seats for those people. However, the fat people do not have rights to cross over to my seat and space.

Let me answer your examples.

 

You can't determine ahead of time if they're too big. So you have to catch it at the airport which is not good but its the best they can do. Its not like fat people don't have an idea as to how big a seat is. Its on them if they show up and find out they don't fit.

 

Tall guy: I've never seen a tall guy whose legs interfere with the people next to them. It sucks for them but they scrunch up.

 

The bony guy who is in your space is a simple one. Unlike the fat person who can't get skinny the guy whose paper is in your space can fix the problem.

 

You're 100% wrong in me giving up the right to have you NOT be in my space.

 

Businesses have to make decisions. They can either kick fat people off the plane and deal with potential loss of revenue or they can add fat seats for those people. However, the fat people do not have rights to cross over to my seat and space.

 

I am not 100% wrong. :lol: EVER! :lol:

 

So you're fine with a subjective application of standards?

 

You DO give up certain guaranteed rights when you choose to use public modes of transportation. The airline sells you a seat....not a choice in your neighbor unless you choose to purchase the seats next to you for someone specific, or to ensure no one sits next to you. Hey! That's an idea! You skinny people who want to make sure no one is in your lap should have to purchase an extra seat to ensure that your "rights" are not intruded upon. :clap:

I'm going to complain about every person I feel intrudes upon my personal comfort on my flights then. Especially the people who lean their seats all the way back, and the ones that have obnoxiously loud conversations, oh....and the big tall people, and the tall fit people....I don't want to hear what you say, or have your seat in my lap while I try to eat those 7 tiny pretzels in my bag that Southwest so generously gave me to tide me over till my next meal

 

The beautiful thing is that you have that right. Businesses have to make decisions all of the time about how to handle customer complaints. If they feel that enough people are going to stop flying their airlines if they do not forbid people from leaning their seats back then they'll make the decision to not allow it. However, you may find that you are in the minority and you will either have to deal with it or find another airline.

 

You don't have to like their rules. You and I can either abide by them or choose another place to spend our travel money.

I am not 100% wrong. :lol: EVER! :lol:

 

So you're fine with a subjective application of standards?

 

You DO give up certain guaranteed rights when you choose to use public modes of transportation. The airline sells you a seat....not a choice in your neighbor unless you choose to purchase the seats next to you for someone specific, or to ensure no one sits next to you. Hey! That's an idea! You skinny people who want to make sure no one is in your lap should have to purchase an extra seat to ensure that your "rights" are not intruded upon. :clap:

 

They sell me a space including the portion that includes a seat. By your logic, a person could completely lean over and rest their head on my shoulder as long as they weren't touching the cushion I'm sitting on.

It wasn't him. He did have a funny piece about flying on a small plane. "How far will this plane go with only one engine? All the way to the ground."

 

It was a comedian with a heavy southern accent.

 

It was James Gregory.