Saw this one coming....

[Smoove Ride]

just watching the tube and saw the two "weight-sensitive" folks suing southwest on CNN. i guess it was just a matter of time before this happened..... they did get the run-around a bit, they were told they wouldn't need to buy extra tickets when they bought them intially, and then on the return trip were told they had to. that sucks, but i hope they don't win and set a precendent for the industry.

flame away....

 

[TWA Dude]

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) forced compainies to spend billions of dollars to equip their facilities to handle physically impaired people. Obese people have been getting a free extra seat and thus depriving airlines of revenue on full flights. I suspect the question before the courts shall be whether obesity falls under the ADA. We are all enlightened enough to know that in many obesity is hormonal and not just due to overeating. It should be interesting...

(Incidentally I'm an airline pilot due in no small part to the ADA since I don't have 20/20 uncorrected vision.)

 

[jetexas]

...It must be hormonal. It surely can't be related to eating Big Macs like finger snacks or refusing to exercise.

 

[TWA Dude]

Perhaps we aren't all that enlightened.

 

[bigD]

Heh - like anything else the reality of obesity probably lies somewhere in the middle. Which makes it that much harder to figure out whether it's going to fall under the ADA.

 

[AWACoff]

Wisconsin is the "fattest" state in the union. There is a reason for that and it is not because we have the highest percentage of people with hormonal problems. It is due to lack of exercise and a high fat diet. People that are obese strictly due to hormonal problems are the MINORITY. A vast majority can maintain a normal body fat percentage by proper diet and exercise. I've lost 10lbs in the last month due to exercise (training for road bike racing). I am still 12lbs overweight. I can choose to have some pain and hence some gain or I can lead a life of comfort and gluttony. I choose pain...so can others. You have a choice, just ask the thousands that have lost weight on the "Subway" low fat diet/exercise routine. Be like Jared!

 

[FL000]

I know of no one who eats right and exercises even just a little bit who needs to purchase two seats on Southwest. Hormones may make a person predisposed to gain weight rapidly, but ultimately the choice to stay reasonably fit lies within the individual. To claim protection from the ADA for this condition is another link in the chain of personal UNaccountability.

I personally have a little bit of extra weight to take off, and I gain weight very quickly if I don't watch it. So, guess what I do. I watch it. Moderate exercise and keeping your butt out of McD's does wonders for one's waistline.

Also, I know a few people who can put anything they want to in their faces and never gain an ounce. Life ain't fair. Never will be. Some of us have to work harder at things than others, and that doesn't stop at keeping our buns of steel. It applies to almost every aspect of life.

Has anyone else noticed that on full flights, non-revs are often seated next to the "hormonally challenged"?

 

[SpiderMan]

I thought it was the cheese.

 

[Tim47SIP]

Wont fit into the box!

You know, this really seems more like a case of simple math. If an object is to big to fit ito a container, you just cant sue to make it fit. The only thing that can really be done at this point is to force the airlines to have a few large seats. I personnaly think it is a safety hazard when you have a person like that blocking an emergency exit or even worse, stuck in it. Yes, I have seen it happen! Humorous now, but very dramatic then. I have had people on my aircraft actually require two extensions. Maybe the Gov could subsidise the extra seat? I really don't think this will get very far. What happens when someone sues because the very large person next to them has taken over half of his seat? What rights does he have?

 

[TWA Dude]

People that are obese strictly due to hormonal problems are the MINORITY.

Yes, they are the minority. If people want a handicapped license plate they need a note from a doctor. Perhaps such a thing might work here too. My old college roommate is a doctor and he owes me a favor...

BTW I instructed and flew charter in Wisconsin for two years up in Door County, der. I miss the summers.

 

[skydiverdriver]

I know people who are from Europe and Asia, and they tell me they couldn't believe how many obese people they keep seeing in our country. Perhaps it's hormonal, perhaps it's environmental.

 

[DIAMONDDD]

I can just see it now!

They will have templates, like the ones for the carry on luggage that says: "If your bag does not fit in this template, you must check it". The new ones will be a walk-thru template right before the gate with a cut out of a large human with a large "Back yard" and it will say something like: If your butt doesn't fit through this, you must buy two seats there, Tubby".

 

[rumpletumbler]

I will stuff my mouth with all manner of sweets and pastries while watching smutty television all the day long. I will stuff my mouth with fried foods and deserts all the evening long. My exercise will consist of walking to the mailbox to see if my disability check has come in so I can buy more beer, cigarettes, sweets, deserts, and pastries. You the regular consumer will accomodate me by altering every mode of public transportation, building, etc. etc. etc. so that I can maintain my ponderous bulk and still pretend to be a normal member of society.

Could this be the start of the loyal order of the fatass creed?

I say let them and not us pay for the gross neglect of their bodies.

To the ones who can't help it (they are few) let mercy be plentifull.

RT

 

[RightBettor]

Yet another reason we need a "loser pays" tort system.

 

[MetroSheriff]

Hormanal.....RIIIIIIIIGGGGGHT.

I guess the blivets are referring to the "hormone" that kicks in when you hit 350 lbs.

You know, the one that tells your brain to get your fat a$$ off the couch and quit shovelling Double Whoppers and buckets of KFC down your gullet before your heart explodes.

I know it was only a matter of time before this ended up in court, but it is still unbeleivable.

 

[Broke in CVG]

Airlines are selling a commodity.... a seat. If you take up two of them, then you have to pay for two of them.

 

[bart]

Here it is: LAA Lard-Ass Airlines to cater to people of size (or whatever politically correct term we must use this week).

We will use freight aircraft, palletize the lardasses, load them on with a forklift, feed them leftover meals from a bucket (first class only) with a trough in coach and charge them a per pound rate...

Anyone got a better idea?

 

[surplus1]

Pun Intended

This lawsuit should be the mainline pilot's dream come true.

The court will rule that every airliner must carry at least 25 double-sized seats in case the gravitationally challenged should wish to be accomodated.

Since the RJ can't (ok pretend it can't) make money like that, all the RJ airlines will go out of business. Then the fat cats in the cockpit will be able to carry the fat cats in the cabin.

It wont be a problem for the major airlines, since half the seats are empty anyway. They can just block 13 rows of 3 across and everybody will be happy.

All the mainline pilots will be recalled to carry the influx of former RJ passengers. It's the poifect solution.

They did file the suit in the 9th Circuit right?

PS. In case the gravitationally challenge don't show, non-reving will be a breeze.

 

[av8raaron]

Ah, the MTV-ization of American culture. Why should anybody take responsibility for their own actions anymore? Honestly, if you wanna down 4,000 calories a day and sit on your duff, be my guest. But don't blame Southwest or anybody else for "discriminating" against people with your "disability"! I think if I were truly disabled and somebody tried to blame their own sloth on a "disability", I'd smack the crap outta them!

I'm gonna go hit something, listen to Denis Leary, and rant about why people are morons.

 

[bigD]

lol...Dennis Leary is awesome.

Heh, and leave it to Surplus to try and turn a thread about obesity into an argument about scope!

 

[NEDude]

There have been several cases in which obese people have sued companies over unfair practices. In the cases which reached the supreme court, it was ruled that obesity is not considered a disability which is covered under the ADA.

 

[Lindy]

FYI

Southwest did refund the entire amount of the trip (for the family of four). The family travelled back to NM via Greyhound.

The family thought that it wasn't necessary to purchase the other seats, as they were travelling w/ two "normal" size individuals.

I'm waiting to see how this shakes out w/ the ADA.


Additionally, the family was travelling to the funeral of the mother of the brother/sister who are overweight and SWA believes that the first gate agent "let it slide" because of the reason for the travel -- just trying to be nice. The gate agent on the other end didn't have a choice, because it is my understanding, that the a/c was full.

 

[flint4xx]

If there is one empty seat on the flight, the cost of the second seat will be refunded. If the airplane is full, then they must pay for a second seat or take a later flight that isn't full. That is fair and reasonable. There are 136 other folks on the plane that have rights too.

 

[troy]

We should look at it this way. An airline sells space on it's aircraft called "seats" One seat costs $xxx.xx. If you use 60% of the seat next to you, you pay for 60% of the next seat.

Or they could just sell the space by the pound........

 

[Anaconda]

Re: Wont fit into the box!

I personnaly think it is a safety hazard when you have a person like that blocking an emergency exit or even worse, stuck in it. Yes, I have seen it happen! Humorous now, but very dramatic then. I have had people on my aircraft actually require two extensions.

yeah, tim, i've actually seen this happen. i was sitting in an exit row seat on NWA when a "person of size" sat down next to me. i was thinking what a safety hazard it was. later, when i asked my girlfriend (NWA FA) how that can happen, she said they had been sued a few years ago and were no longer able to restrict fat people from sitting in an exit row, even for safety reasons. thank god i was sitting between the person and the emergency exit.

there have been several instances at my airline where we run out of seatbelt extenders on the aircraft.

the policy of having large people buy two seats has actually been in place at several airlines for a number of years, including southwest. according to a recent article in usa today, the airlines have never lost a lawsuit brought against them for this practice.

 

[alimaui]

What about when a training flight is grounded to to an instructor that is "hormonally challenged" and the airplane wont get off the ground....


Ali
has seen it happen

 

[V-1]

"If there is one empty seat on the flight, the cost of the second seat will be refunded. If the airplane is full, then they must pay for a second seat or take a later flight that isn't full."

Just curious...what do they do when there's one empty seat on the flight, but two corpulent customers booked on the flight?

Anyone else think it might be a good idea for the airlines to promote sumo wrestling matches between amplitudinous passengers to decide which one gets to occupy the empty seat? Airlines could designate a special area of the terminal for such matches and charge other passengers to view while waiting for their flight. Much more entertaining than "airport CNN" and perhaps a valuable tool to return the airlines to profitability.

How about seating voluminous passengers next to each other? That could solve everyone's problems.

 

[waka]

Anaconda mentioned that airlines (or at least NWA) could no longer restrict large folks from sitting in the exit row. What a crock! Does anyone have more details on this matter?

What about the first time that an aircraft has to be evacuated and someone is too large to fit through the over-wing exit? I see many different sizes of over-wing exits. Does anyone have the scoop on the minimum dimensions?

 

[Timebuilder]

Although we have disagreed in the past, I'm with you on this one.

Back on the first page, I saw: We are all enlightened enough to know that in many obesity is hormonal and not just due to overeating. It should be interesting...

Actually, the vast majority of obesity is not hormone related. When I asked my AME about this, he said that for all but a small handful of people, the problem is "strictly alimentary".

 

[con-pilot]

I know exactly what you folks are talking about.

A few years ago I had to catch an airline flight to replace a captain on one of our 72s because he had gotten sick. As I was then working for the government we had to travel in cattle class.

I was assigned an isle seat and there was a man sitting in the window seat, leaving the middle seat open. Just before push back we both were feeling lucky because no one had shown up for the middle seat; I had been told that the flight was full.

Sure enough I hear a commotion and looked up, and guess what? You got it; here come this woman that had to have weighed 400lbs. Yup, she had the middle seat. I get up and stand in the isle has she lifts up both armrest and plops down. The poor guy in the window seat is squashed against the window and I now only have half of a seat left.

This fat b!tch stares at me daring me to say or do anything. Well no way in he!! am I going to try to sit back down. I go to the head FA and tell him I have a problem. He is getting upset because it is push back time and I refuse to sit down. However when he come back to coach and sees the problem he calms down. As we stand there trying to figure out what to do this fatso starts to bellow that she should be moved up to first class because the seats are bigger and if they don’t upgrade her she will sue the airline for discrimination. (Which make one wonder how often this fatty had pulled this trick and had gotten a free upgrade?)

There was only one first class seat left. So to make matters easier we went up to the cockpit and I showed the Captain my ID (United States Marshal) and pilot licenses. And to make a long story short I rode the jump seat and he poor guy in the window seat got the first class seat. Fatso stayed in coach.

I did find out later that the fat bimbo did sue the airline because she had to have a seat belt extension and that she was embarrassed when a FA made a PA announcement that the flight would be delayed because there was no extension onboard. I don’t know what happened, she probably settled out of court for a couple of $100,000.00.

So in closing; GO SOUTHWEST!

One other point, no way could this fatso gotten through the window exit.