Forced Off The Flight

I think the important part of the above article is that Smith claims that he WAS able to fit in the seat. He was NOT so large that he needed an extra seat, according to Southwest's own policy. When you leave something like this up to the discretion of a couple of flight attendants you will end up with situations like this, in which policies are not applied fairly to all customers. And, just in case you aren't familiar with Smith's work, there is not a whole lot that he won't say. Southwest definitely messed with the wrong Jersey boy.

I do not think it is the fact that larger people can not fit in the seats, it is the way the airlines decides to handle the situations. If it were a person who had any other disability I think we would be a little more diplomatic in the way we approach the subject. To say someone is just lazy or decides that is the way they want to live there life is like saying well they decided to get old or bald or whatever.. I hope I am just a nice person who cares about other peoples feelings. I guess for some It is easy to say your fat and lazy. It takes more effort apparently to be nice. Let's try something new think about how your words will make someone else feel. You never know if you will be in that situation. And I do not mean just weight I mean whatever life hands you.

Airlines have always had a weight limit on baggage, and if you wanted to bring more you paid more. As weight =fuel I have to pay more for clothing as I am tall, so they use extra material No difference,.......and there is always greyhound or Amtrak

Rules are rules. It is what it is.

i dont think there is a polite way around the word "fat" or "obese" or "over the weight limit". it is what it is.

I understand and agree with the policy. I just wish there was a more diplomatic/delicate way to handle the situation so as not to humiliate people.

I fully agree with the policy. I feel they should pay for taking two seats in order to fit. If I fly I wouldn't want to be stuck next to someone who is so overweight that they have to share mine, too! I paid my highly priced seat as it is so I expect to be comfortable. Overweight people need to realize it's not discrimination but something that they should be aware and be more considerate for others as well!

I applaud the policy, as a person who has had to sit beside an overweight person who took up half of my seat, on a cross county flight, I understand the need for one. All airlines should have this policy, and I do not feel it necessary that the airline apologize for it. And they should not have done so. Especially since the individual paid for 2 seats on the prior flight, so he was aware of the policy. It is unfortunate that obesity is such a problem now, but it is. And no, airlines should not have to pay for the extra seat, come on people, take some responsibility for yourself ? the airline or anyone else for that matter did not make you obese. I paid for my seat I should not have to share it. If you need two seats you should have to pay for them like the rest of us.

Grossly over weight should purchase 2 seats, not just for my comfort and safety, but their own. Seat dimensions have changed over the years. Not to mention the backs of the seats. I was at a conference recently and most all were complaining of backaches from the plane ride. I also have a concern about the distance between seats, while seated all the way back in my seat, arms down, buckle on, nothing under the seat in front of me, all magazines removed from the pouch, and all seats in upright postition, my knee caps were touching the seat in front of me the entire trip. Rather dangerous if turbulence or I needed to take the emergency position.

Ya gotta pay extra if yer bag is overweight, so the same should apply for people. The airlines base everything on weight and balance. If you get a couple obese people on one plane, and each one does not buy a second seat, that sure does change the weight of a full plane. Im not talking about someone who is 100 pounds overweight, Im talking about grossly obese people. It might not make much of a difference on a jumbo jet, but for a smaller plane it definately makes a difference. And a smaller plane can mean an express jet, a biplane, whatever.

I agree with you. We flew to LA our youngest whom I held except for the landing/ take off could not have sat in her seat if she had to do to the really LARGE Rude person in the next seat. Now I am not saying this because she is my child But she did great, 2 times she got fussy Even other mom's on the flight said how well is did. But this Huge mean man was taking up MORE than two seats, I would have been really MAD if I was sitting next to him for 6 hours with him in hanging over into my space it was really gross for me. He was clean but sweating bad. if he would have touched me I would have lost it I'm not a traveler because of the tight spaces and sitting next to someone I don't know.

I would like to say that If a person is obese that person does not change the weight of the plane, that is bullpuckey. Second, I think that Kevin Smith is not that big and if he can sit in a seat safely and comfortable and not crowding the person next to you I don't think that he should have to pay. Now if you can't be safe and comfortable than should pay. But I think the second seat that you buy should be not that much money.

sorry to be harsh but then i agree with this policy and i wish a lot of other airlines will adopt it. seriously i remember when i was on vacation to Hawaii, i had an obese person sit right next to me. he was practically SPILLING over to my lap/seat. i was least to say very sick the entire flight and upset. obese passengers don't feel uncomfortable because they fill up the seat and probably the seat next to them! think for the little and the skinny people for once! i also agree to stop crying discrimination. its not our fault they can't fit! if i paid the same amount as the other person, why is it they are more comfortable then me?

I say kudos to the airlines for taking a stand. If you are an extremely obese person and you cannot fit into your " space" then yeah, I think you should have to have 2 seats and you should have to pay for them. I know this is a touchy subject for some, but the reality is, if I am next to you and you are crowding over into my space that I paid for, it makes ME uncomfortable. I should not have to suffer the whole flight because of your size, regardless if it self inflicted obesity or because of a medical problem. It also puts all of the people on that plane at risk because it changes the weight of the plane. The airlines allow x amount of weight per passenger, per seat... My life and safety are more important . Quit crying discrimination and just pay for the extra seat. If you dont agree, then dont fly and use another mode of transportation