How do you feel the airline industry will stay in business if their customers feel they cannot be sure they'll actually be able to fly if they purchase a ticket?

 

Airlines have lots of issues.

 

Fat people getting booted is not one that will decide whether they stay in business or not. In other words, its not really an issue.

Airlines have lots of issues.

 

Fat people getting booted is not one that will decide whether they stay in business or not. In other words, its not really an issue.

 

 

In other words, you haven't answered my specific question, which you promised to expound upon until I could read no more. I'm crused, and terribly disappointed.

In other words, you haven't answered my specific question, which you promised to expound upon until I could read no more. I'm crused, and terribly disappointed.

 

I answered it. They will not be impacted at all because 99% of the people know they're getting on the plane. Businesses have policies. The airlines have chosen to forbid people that are too big from flying and IMO its had zero impact on their revenue. Their bet as well as mine would be is that this is the lesser of two evils. They will bet that they will lose less money from this policy than if it was the opposite way. In other words, people like me will continue to fly if I know that their policy is the way it is today. If they choose to be nice like you want them to be then I will have to make a decision. Do I continue to do business with them or do I find another option?

 

That's where the really big people are today. They have to make a decision even if it based on a policy that seems arbitrary.

 

Surely, that makes sense even if you disagree, correct?

I answered it. They will not be impacted at all because 99% of the people know they're getting on the plane. Businesses have policies. The airlines have chosen to forbid people that are too big from flying and IMO its had zero impact on their revenue. Their bet as well as mine would be is that this is the lesser of two evils. They will bet that they will lose less money from this policy than if it was the opposite way. In other words, people like me will continue to fly if I know that their policy is the way it is today. If they choose to be nice like you want them to be then I will have to make a decision. Do I continue to do business with them or do I find another option?

 

That's where the really big people are today. They have to make a decision even if it based on a policy that seems arbitrary.

 

Surely, that makes sense even if you disagree, correct?

 

 

No, it doesn't make sense. If you booked a hotel room, and you got to the hotel and they told you that you couldn't stay because you didn't meet their dress code, or hygine standard, and they didn't tell you when you made your reservation that they even had such policies, would you go back?

How do you feel the airline industry will stay in business if their customers feel they cannot be sure they'll actually be able to fly if they purchase a ticket?

 

For one, it may be a benefit to society. I mean if fat people are fearful they won't be able to travel as much, it may give them the incentive to eat less, eat healthier, or exercise. Now it's not likely, but as Clyde has said, maybe 1 out of every 500 people that fly would be impacted by this.

I have witnessed fat people at amusement parks be denied the opportunity to ride a particular attraction due to their size. Based on the lines that I had to wait in, this policy does not seem to be hurting the amusement park industry.

Irrelevant to the discussion. I can be guilty of generalizing but it doesn't change the argument.

No, it's not irrelevant. What about those people?

No, it's not irrelevant. What about those people?

 

Maybe they should purchase 2 tickets or think about purchasing an RV?

Southwest seems to have a pretty clear explaination of their poilcy available to potential customers prior to boarding. I agree that in regards to Kevin Smith, he probably should not have been allowed to board the plane in the first place, but it appears that he was treated in accordance to their polices for customer's of size.

 

Customer of Size Q&A

 

It looks like Clyde is spot on as to the reasoning for the policy.

 

Is the policy unique or new to Southwest Airlines?

 

No, other carriers have similar policies, but to the best of our knowledge, no other carrier offers a refund after travel. We’ve followed this policy for 29 of our 38 years of operation, but only became more vigilant regarding the additional purchase when we began seeing an increase in the number of valid complaints from passengers who traveled without full access to the seat purchased because a large Customer infringed upon the adjacent seating space.

 

Why ask large Customers to purchase additional seating?

 

We could no longer ignore complaints from Customers who traveled without full access to the seat purchased due to encroachment by a large seatmate whose body extended into the neighboring seat. These Customers had uncomfortable (and sometimes painful) travel experiences, and it is our responsibility to seek resolution to prevent this problem.

No, it's not irrelevant. What about those people?

 

They have to buy to seats.

 

Doesn’t your policy violate the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Air Carrier Access Act?

 

Interstate airline travel is specifically excluded from Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by Section 12141(2). Airline travel is instead covered by the Air Carrier Access Act, 49 U.S.C. 1374© and the regulations implementing the Act issued by the Department of Transportation as 14 CFR Part 382, et seq. The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) preceded the ADA, and Congress excluded air carriers and other air transportation services from the scope of ADA. As regulated under 14 CFR §382.38 Seating accommodations (i) "Carriers are not required to furnish more than one seat per ticket or to provide a seat in a class of service other than the one the passenger has purchased."

For one, it may be a benefit to society. I mean if fat people are fearful they won't be able to travel as much, it may give them the incentive to eat less, eat healthier, or exercise. Now it's not likely, but as Clyde has said, maybe 1 out of every 500 people that fly would be impacted by this.

 

So, it's ok for thin people to fly, even if they're unhealthy, but not for overweight people, even if they're healthy.

 

Yeah....I see the logic there. We'll inspire people to get more fit if they can't fly, but only the ones who's body type don't fit our idea of healthy. :ohbrother:

No, it doesn't make sense. If you booked a hotel room, and you got to the hotel and they told you that you couldn't stay because you didn't meet their dress code, or hygine standard, and they didn't tell you when you made your reservation that they even had such policies, would you go back?

 

Are you ignoring the part where he knows the rule and bought two seats b/c of his size?

So, it's ok for thin people to fly, even if they're unhealthy, but not for overweight people, even if they're healthy.

 

Yeah....I see the logic there. We'll inspire people to get more fit if they can't fly, but only the ones who's body type don't fit our idea of healthy. :ohbrother:

 

Overweight people are not healthy. There is nothing healthy about being fat.

No, it doesn't make sense. If you booked a hotel room, and you got to the hotel and they told you that you couldn't stay because you didn't meet their dress code, or hygine standard, and they didn't tell you when you made your reservation that they even had such policies, would you go back?

 

No.

 

However, that doesn't answer the question you posed.

 

In order to determine if its a wise business practice I'd have to know how many times it happens and the marketplace in general. If said hotel was the only one doing this I've got lots of other options. That would be different than this issue because all of the airlines have this rule. So between it not happening very often and all of the competitors having the same rule its not going to hurt my business.

No, it's not irrelevant. What about those people?

 

Its irrelevant because the WHY behind the fat isn't a factor. You're either too fat or you're not. For those that can't help it, they lose.