Too fat to fit
Kevin Smith was ejected from an aeroplane because he was too fat:
Southwest said customers must be able to fit safely and comfortably in one seat or make other arrangements. After a storm of angry online comments, the airline issued a “heartfelt apology” to Smith in a statement on its website and offered the director a US$100 voucher.
Now, if he was on an empty row or if, as he claims, he paid for two seats – not a problem. They needed to apologize to him, reimburse him and give him a bonus. If, however, the load of blubber paid for a single seat on a crowded flight, then good on the airline for ejecting him.
I shall never forget going from LA to Vancouver on Greyhound and a fat Mexican plonking down beside me, almost asphyxiating me and smelling so bad I had to get out from where I was trapped against the window.
Filed under: Leisure, travel & sport
The seats are cramped enough with average-sized people in them. He must have been pretty bad for the airline to act.
Apparently the real story is that he missed his booked flight (with 2 seats) and elected to go standby on a later flight. Being standby, that left him last to board and there were no 2 seats together available. The airline compensated him – a non story really.
The idle and greedy increase flight costs for the rest of us and Mr and Mrs 40 stone are sure to burden the return flight with extra duty free.
Considerate passengers deserve credit and the greedy deserve a proportionate surcharge.
Its a bit like having an overly large lady sitting next to you in a theatre. The seats just aren’t big enough.
The seats are awfully narrow. Before the last time we flew my wife and I worried about space – I am a fatty. But fat wasn’t the problem – we’re both broad-shouldered and were tight at shoulder level, not at stomach or backside level. I do think it’s a bit bloody much to size the seats for squirts. Never mind the fatties – the seats won’t do for the well-made.
Airlines are notorious for not supplying adequate sized seating to pack in the numbers[especially on charter flights]. In business or first class the seats are roomier for less people pay for them,but one should not have to pay a further inflated price to be comfortable when they are paying enough for their seat. Customer comfort should be standard and as the nation grows the airlines should accommmodate without additional expense.
The bed/seats on long haul flights are between 26-28 inches wide,for example. What grown adult could be comfortable in kid sized dimensions?
Airlines are not keeping up with customer demand and they need to.
It is hell being stuck next to someone who takes up more than their fare share of space. Everyone else paid for theirs too. They are often not even big enough for two guys with broad shoulders to sit side by side.
If you are too big to fit in a single seat then.. well you can’t physically fit in just one can you? Maybe the airline should apologise to everyone for the room they allow..