SWA- Bags Fly Free But Fat Guys Pay Double

[Bringupthebird]

http://www.thekathrynreport.com/2010/11/southwest-airlines-tells-chicago-teen.html

 

[Whaler]

AMEN! As it should be.

 

[waveflyer]

Someone catch me up- isn't it only policy to have them buy the extra ticket if the plane is full.
Agree it's the way it is- but also think it's the most awkward thing we deal with-

 

[slaquer5]

Someone catch me up- isn't it only policy to have them buy the extra ticket if the plane is full.
Agree it's the way it is- but also think it's the most awkward thing we deal with-

Yes. If the flight is not full they get a refund. Who wants to sit next to someone that is taking half of your seat also.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

These stories always seem to happen (or get reported by the news) to SWA.

 

[Juniority]

I think Kathryn desperately needs attention.

 

[andyd]

we should charge by the pound for the passenger AND bags. if you are the proper weight for your height then you pay the base fair whatever that is. for every pound over your weight group an extra $5 Obese people can start paying for the fuel and space they are using. i'm tired of sitting next to fatasses who's blubber and fat rolls spill over into my seating area. my favorite thing to do already is to lower the armrest and make them squeeze into the space they paid for. and while we're at it they should also pay either higher medical premiums for the disproportionate amount of medical services they use (especially obesity induced diabetes).....or pay an extra tax on unhealthy food if they are already obese. have a friggen set of scales imbedded in the supermarket checkout line and if they are obese then the icecream and cookies cost double.

 

[WNC Flyer]

We dealt with this on two flights I worked last weekend. The two folks were well beyond average size; they almost maxed out the seatbeat extension. FAs were ticked that the two made it past ticketing and the gate agents.

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

We should treat it like an oversell:

Fat Guy is only required to buy one ticket. In the event that there are no extra seats available, fat guy will be required to compensate a willing passenger for his encroachment into the passengers area.

Ops agent stands up in front of plane with Fat Guy: "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, this fat guy is willing to pay one of you the cash value of your seat in exchange for the right to spill over on you for the entire flight. No takers? Seat value + $200... No? + $400... No?? + $800...No???

Sorry Fat Guy, Maybe next flight.

 

[Donald]

My bud at Delta says they make them either buy two seats or first class. Anybody else care to share their carrier policies?

 

[Bringupthebird]

How about a 7 foot guy? Does he have to buy the seat in front of him because that person can't recline?

Of course WN won't put up a notice on their website that details the seat size and encourages someone to fly another airline, do they. They take their money first, then decide if they feel like taking the person.

In this instance the guy was willing to buy the second seat, but WN said they couldn't take a credit card purchase over the phone. And then the guy gave WN more money to fly him home! Doesn't he get it? WN doesn't "his type" flying. They made that clear a number of times in this story alone.

A person over a certain weight can be covered by the American With Disabilities Act. Airlines carry on board wheelchairs. Why not make an accomodation for large passengers with a number of oversize seats?

 

[NavinRJohnson]

Um, the 7 ft guy has no control over his height... It's genetics. The fatso has been stuffing his cakehole with, well, cake. There is a difference.

 

[Abernathy]

How about a 7 foot guy? Does he have to buy the seat in front of him because that person can't recline?

Of course WN won't put up a notice on their website that details the seat size and encourages someone to fly another airline, do they. They take their money first, then decide if they feel like taking the person.

In this instance the guy was willing to buy the second seat, but WN said they couldn't take a credit card purchase over the phone. And then the guy gave WN more money to fly him home! Doesn't he get it? WN doesn't "his type" flying. They made that clear a number of times in this story alone.

A person over a certain weight can be covered by the American With Disabilities Act. Airlines carry on board wheelchairs. Why not make an accomodation for large passengers with a number of oversize seats?

I'm going to go ahead and guess that you're not skinny..

 

[Dornier 335]

I'm going to go ahead and guess that you're not skinny..

And if you are... do you pay half?

 

[oriondriver]

in the words of one of the most famous airline pilots ever, Glenn Quagmire said "Fat chicks need love too, but they gotta pay!"

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

How about a 7 foot guy? Does he have to buy the seat in front of him because that person can't recline?

Of course WN won't put up a notice on their website that details the seat size and encourages someone to fly another airline, do they. They take their money first, then decide if they feel like taking the person.

In this instance the guy was willing to buy the second seat, but WN said they couldn't take a credit card purchase over the phone. And then the guy gave WN more money to fly him home! Doesn't he get it? WN doesn't "his type" flying. They made that clear a number of times in this story alone.

A person over a certain weight can be covered by the American With Disabilities Act. Airlines carry on board wheelchairs. Why not make an accomodation for large passengers with a number of oversize seats?

They DO make accommodations for fat guys. A whole extra seat. But its not free, why would it be?

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Homie needs to lay off the fried chitterlings and all be a-okay!

 

[CA1900]

Of course WN won't put up a notice on their website that details the seat size ...

You mean like this:
http://www.southwest.com/html/generated/help/faqs/extra_seat_policy_faq.html

The armrest is the definitive gauge for a Customer of size. It serves as the boundary between seats and measures 17 inches in width. Customers who are unable to lower both armrests and/or who encroach upon any portion of the adjacent seat should proactively book the number of seats needed prior to travel.

The size of an airline seat is not a big secret, and has not magically shrunk over the years. That 737-300 seated six across when it was delivered in 1981, and it still seats six across now.

 

[scoreboardII]

Why not make an accomodation for large passengers with a number of oversize seats?

Sure, American and United call those seats "first class" and charge $1,500 one way.

Next time you go to a movie theatre, look around, see any "elephants" trying to take a seat? See any "larger seats"? No, you don't. They don't so they stay home.

By the way, being overweight is not an ADA actionable item.

 

[Bringupthebird]

You mean like this:
http://www.southwest.com/html/generated/help/faqs/extra_seat_policy_faq.html


The size of an airline seat is not a big secret, and has not magically shrunk over the years. That 737-300 seated six across when it was delivered in 1981, and it still seats six across now.

No, I meant this

Why isn't this information referenced on reservations pages of your web site, or questioned by Reservations Agents?
We estimate that the Extra Seat policy affects far less than half a percent of our Customers, and ultimately, it is the responsibility of a Customer with a unique and unusual need to communicate with us upfront so that we may best serve him/her and all others onboard. We won't know of an unusual need unless the Customer tells us.

Basically they want your money first and then deny you boarding at the gate. And even if you do play their game, yet show up late (say due to a late connection) your "extra seat" may not be next to you anyhow.

It's best to buy 134 seats, just to make sure!

A "person of size" should be accomodated just as any other passenger would be once they are on the flight. If a minor is found in an exit row, for example, passengers are asked to move.

If a passengers size makes them a hazard to evacuating the aircraft, perhaps they really shouldn't be allowed to fly at all if their BandC seats put passenger in A at risk. That's a valid excuse. But selling somebody a seat without telling them upfront that they may actually need to buy 2 is deceptive.