Kenlie Tiggeman 'Too Fat To Fly' On Southwest

AOL Travel ^ | May 12th 2011 | Kate Auletta

[kcvl]

Alvin, Siemny and me just after the interview

Siemny Chhuon joined WDSU as a general assignment reporter in Ocober 2010. Prior to moving to New Orleans, she worked at KBAK/KBFX in Bakersfield, California where she anchored a four hour morning show, and produced and anchored the noon show.

A local New Orleans news station caught up with me at Mom's neighbor's house yesterday to discuss my experience with Southwest last week which will air this evening. When I was approached a few nights ago about sharing the story, my mother and I agreed that we should just move on. We also agreed that Southwest had compensated us reasonably, but I spoke to the reporter anyway making it clear that I'd like to send a message to those who struggle with similar issues.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Those girls would shift the CG out of limits. Plus, they probably stink a bit and first class isn’t going to put up with that.

[dljordan]

“Those girls would shift the CG out of limits. Plus, they probably stink a bit and first class isn’t going to put up with that.”

Come on Jack, she probably don’t stink and you just have to move some skinnys around to balance the load. Now a Cessna 172 would be another thing entirely.

[OldPossum]

So, she was humiliated and embarrassed. Well, she should be. I cannot understand how anyone could be as fat as she apparently is and show their face (and body) in public. If I were mobidly obese—and I am somewhat svelt and pride myself on keeping my weight well under control—I could not do that.

[Publius6961]

If you can’t fit in a single seat, you are too fat. However, I would allow her to fly for standard fare if the flight was not filled to capacity.

I would add AND, she is assigned two seats and no other customer is forced to sit next to her.

Been there on a 12 hour flight, not doing it again.

[Kirkwood]

I was kidding. It is still cheaper to just buy two coach seats.

I was on a flight recently with a man who was close to 600lbs. He was talking about his weight to other passengers before the flight. They had him to sit in 3 seats in the last row of the plane. I overheard the pilots discussing CG issues before the flight.

[sjmjax]

Maybe airline ticket counters should have a metal rack, similar to what they use to check your carry-on bags, to measure your ass.

If you don't fit, you don't sit. Call Greyhound or Roadway.

[Grams A]

Good idea about having a seat they could “try on” for size. One of the issues which no one ever seems to bring up is exactly how these people are going to be able to get through the over-the-wing evac door and down the chute in case of an emergency. Haven’t been a flight attendant for years but lemme tell you when I was, these folks would not have been able to accomplish this task and would pose a potential danger to the passengers behind them who are trying to get out.

[nascarnation]

They need a standard, whatever they decide it is,

I'm guessing with the addition of a few more lines of computer code, the TSA body scanners can make the go/no go decision without human intervention.

[nascarnation]

Miss Tiggeman, pictured two years ago when she weighed 400lbs

Definitely a "run stopper"

[NoGrayZone]

My story has nothing to do with flying, but at a Barry Manilow concert.

The large woman sitting next to me had her rolls hanging over my seat....touching me (ewww)! I didn’t want to be rude so I started with some “physical objections”...like grabbing my right arm forcefully away from her rolls. She obviously didn’t notice or didn’t care.

I hate ANY strangers touching me. I spent the entire concert wedged into the other side of my seat.

Of course my gf’s were laughing (it was a bd present) and the gf sitting next to me didn’t mind that I was pressed against her, trying to get away from the strangers fat rolls slumping over MY seat!!

And to top it off, I have all 4 wisdom teeth removed 2 days prior to this concert (yes, I DO love Barry).

We still laugh about it.

[Chode]

Body by SaraLee

[Secret Agent Man]

They could create a whole new class of seats. “Ample Class Seating” for the ginormous flyer.

Now even Mikey Moore can fly again.

[Blood of Tyrants]

The two seat thing was implied.

[dbalaska]

They should just charge all passengers by the pound, keep it simple. And a certain poundage paid for entitles the user to two seats.