Southwest airlines policy - Page 2

Eirene_DGP · #16 06-24-2002, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
Please don't anyone take this the wrong way, but do they get two snacks also if they have to pay for an extra seat?

I'm not being a smarta$$, it's a valid question!

Killarney Rose, you trip me out!!! ROTFLMAO!!!!

AXPAlum · #17 06-24-2002, 01:46 PM

Ah Southwest Airlines, always at the center of a controversy... To all the legal savvy folks out there, remember Wilson v. Southwest Airlines Co?

Heh, for anyone who cares, Southwest used ban male flight attendants on the airline, wanted a sexy image, so they only had females dress up in hot pants and well you can probably imagine how they made themselves look like the "Love" airline

Anyways, it was title VII lawsuit, they lossed, but I thought it was a funny case, how's that for sex discrimination? "At last there is somebody else up there that loves you!"

My thoughts, i think this might be a bad precedent, the airlines might follow along and give people "weight restrictions" on flights. Like, you may only bring aboard X lbs. of baggage unless you pay more. But seriously, if someone is THAT big and really can't fit into a single seat, I'm amazed they make it through those tiny doorways on a plane, but they in all honesty taking up two paying seats. I guess I have no side for this one, sorry...

AXPAlum

Tom Earp · #18 06-24-2002, 05:18 PM

Da, I used to fly everyother week! Red eye special! Had more air time than most of the crew!

Coming back with my ex-wife fro Cal. I am sitting next to a very large man Greek, not our kind of Greek and my ex as wanted her to see outside the plane!

Hell, I could not move he was so big. Cal. to KC No wway!

Champge Flite! Well in my well smiley face

I got them to open up the bar again for me and got a bottle of Bubbly!

When the Greek in the seat next asked " How did you do that/" I just told him a winning personality and a great smile! I was Happy but snug!

Have many flight storys to tell but, if it is uncomfortable to th other Passengers, I cannot fault them!

Hell, I had kids in my lap to Cal. for a court case, ended up with a sack full fo peanuts! Plan full! Coming back empty and got drunk as lost the kids and it was on on SW air! I love them for what they did!

Pay for what you get, it aint no free ride!

It cost money to put those birds in the air and pay the people who work there! It is a tuff job!

How would you like a pilot to turn the plan down so you can get a pix of the Grand Canyon?

ZTAngel · #19 06-24-2002, 06:51 PM

As much as I feel bad that some people are so obese that they have to pay for two seats. And, I understand that some people cannot control how much they weigh no matter how much dieting and exercise they may do but you can never understand pain, irritation, frustration, and uncomfortableness (is that a word?) unless you have sat next to a man who is over 400 pounds on a flight from San Francisco to Orlando. Lord, Lord, Lord....it had to be some of the worst couple of hours of my whole life. I couldn't move. I had homework I need to do and couldn't cause the tray in front of me would not go down! I couldn't put my left arm on the armrest because he had to lift it up to provide more room for himself. I was scrunched up against the corner of my seat and either time one of us would move we'd elbow each other in the face. He kept apologizing but no amount of apologizing would make me feel better. I was miserable. And, this would have been different had he explained to the airlines that he would need more than one seat. I can see both sides as to why it would be wrong or right to charge someone who is obese for two seats. It's wrong cause its dsicriminatory. The American public is getting bigger and airline companies should make their seats accordingly. But, at the same time, the airline is losing money when they give away the second seat for free.
Something needs to be done though. My father, who travels frequently, usually gets put in business class. Those seats are much larger. He told me a story about how a few months ago this woman who had to be over 500 pounds ended up next to him. Even in business class seats she was still pouring over onto his seat. It just makes other passengers so uncomfortable.

Kevin · #20 06-24-2002, 07:18 PM

If it's caused by a medical disability (if obesity would be declared one in certain cases) perhaps health insurance or medicaid would cover this expense?

It buys handicapped folks those little scooters so why the hell not?

AOX81 · #21 06-25-2002, 09:08 AM

I think that they should have to pay for two seats! I had to sit next to a rather large woman in a two seat row and she just about had me pinned to the window!!! To make matters worse they let her hold her child on her lap while we were in the air. I am very claustrophobic and I thought that I was going to have an anxiety attack or something!! It was a very awful experience and if it ever happens again I will be bitching up a storm!

SigmaChiCard · #22 06-25-2002, 09:33 AM

while they're at it, can they get masks to go over kids faces so they won't scream the whole flight, and straps to belt there legs in from kicking the back of my seat? Wait, that might be somewhat of a safety hazard....but I think it's one I'm willing to take.

rswall · #23 06-25-2002, 11:39 AM

While on two separate flights- both coast to coast- I've been stuck sitting between/beside two other very obese people. One one flight while sitting between the people- their upper bodies/arms "spilled" over into my seat- squishing me and every time I moved- I "disrupted" them and they got agitated with me. I was supposed to have the aisle seat, but they both couldn't fit next to each other in the middle and window seats, so the flight attendant asked if I would sit in between them- so rather than being uncomfortable on just one side- I was uncomfortable on both.
Yes, I think it's fair to charge overly obese people for two seats if their size causes them to infringe on another person's ability for a comfortable flight. I'm 5'5" and weigh 115lbs. and fit very comfortably in a coach seat- why should I have to pay more to upgrade to business or first class- let the "larger" person do that- the price would be the same as paying for two seats and they would be more comfortable.
This isn't a new concept- airlines have had this policy for years- and it was the job of the travel agents to enforce it, however, now that people are able to book flights on their own- there is no way to "police" whether someone would need two seats.
I don't think the practice is discriminatory- as I said- why should I be uncomfortable because I have to sit next to an overweight person who takes up part of my "designated" space?