Woman claims Southwest Airlines worker discriminated against her

Boston.com ^ | john K.

[jsk10]

An African-American woman claims Southwest Airlines unfairly subjected her to its policy requiring large passengers to buy two seats because of her race, her lawyer said at the start of her federal trial against the airline.

[moehoward]

LOL!!

[wbill]

Bush's fault

Minorities, women most affected.

Perhaps the thought that she needed two seats because she's a humongous fatass never occurred to her.

[radiohead]

Ok, I'm going to let my lapsed lawyer come out.

If she had flown SW several times w/o being charged for an extra seat, then she had reason to believe they would not charge her this time. Further, since there was no one sitting next to her, and part of the announced purpose of the policy is to let all customers be comfortable, included the customer who might be sitting next to a big person squished into one seat, then, seeing that there was no one next to her, SW should not have charged her for a seat.

She's silly to play the race card here. There's plenty to complain about re inconsistent application of policies, humilation (tho it looked like she did a lot of humiliating herself by cussing and screaming), etc. I could make the argument that letting someone walk down the ramp, sit down and buckle up, and then calling them back to the desk to make them pay for an extra seat is not exactly being discreet.

Yeah, yeah, I know arguments like this are why FReepers hate lawyers, I'm just saying, either you apply a policy consistently or you don't apply it at all 'cause you bring crap like this onto yourself.

[MEGoody]

Frankly, the airlines need to accept some responsibility for continually trying to shove more passengers into a smaller space. Any guy 6' or taller is going to have to fold up like a telescope to fit into most planes.

Granted, it is a bit uncomfortable to fly next to an overweight person, but if the woman fastened her seat belt, she shouldn't have had to purchase two seats, regardless of her color.

Having said all that, she's probably trying to make this an issue of race because she knows she won't get any attention to her complaint otherwise.

[frithguild]

I don't get where racism enters here.

Anywhere from a couple of inches to a couple of feet ahead and about two feet above the real issue

[TommyDale]

Maybe Joel Osteen's wife could sue American Airlines for racial discrimination?

[PETEPARSLEY]

Why did the chicken cross the road ?


Because Col Sanders was chasing him (in full KKK gear)

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

It will be worth it if she can get the money...

[Triggerhippie]

Is there a "Badonkadonk" ping?

[mortal19440]

Race trumps fat in the handout game.

[ravingnutter]

Is the policy unique or new to Southwest Airlines?
No, other carriers have similar policies, but to the best of our knowledge, no other carrier offers a refund after travel. We’ve followed this policy for 24 years of our 33 years of operation, but only became more vigilant regarding the additional purchase over the last two years when we began seeing an increase in the number of valid complaints from passengers who traveled without full access to the seat purchased because a large Customer infringed upon the adjacent seating space.

How do I qualify for and request a refund of the additional seat purchase?
As long as the flight does not oversell (having more confirmed Customers waiting to board an aircraft than seats on the aircraft), we will refund the additional seat purchase after travel. A Refund Advice Slip, a guide for conveniently requesting refunds (via telephone or letter), is provided to the Customer of size at checkin. And, if it appears a flight will oversell, the option to purchase a second seat and travel on a less full flight is available.

Won't this be embarrassing to the large Customer and the Employee?
It’s tough to speak privately in an airport setting, and because a discussion about size is sensitive, we’ve cautioned our Employees to use discretion. Yes, it’s difficult to deliver or receive a sensitive message, and to alleviate confusion, we encourage Customers with unique seating needs to proactively purchase additional seating (again, this is to notify us of the unique need). We ask this to accommodate our Customers in comfort and avoid embarrassing conversation. Ultimately, it is the Customer’s responsibility to communicate with us upfront (at the time of booking) about his/her seating needs so that we may best serve him/her and all others onboard.

Are all overweight people subject to the policy?
Many Americans are "overweight" or "clinically obese." A number of overweight or obese people occupy only one seat. In fact, many Customers may use a seatbelt extension but occupy only one seat, and these Customers would not be asked to reserve a second seat. If a Customer cannot lower the armrest (and is unable to comfortably travel with it in the down position), he/she is required to pay for the additional seat occupied. Again, we will offer a refund if the flight does not oversell.

SW Airlines: Customer of Size Q&A

Case dismissed!

[Kenton]

"Did you ask me to purchase another ticket because I'm too fat to sit in the seat? Did you ask me to purchase another ticket because I'm a black woman?" Thompson said, according to court records.

Easy explanation, lard ass. It had nothing to do with you being a black woman, and everything to do with the fact that you only paid for one seat and tried to get a second seat for free.

The only place race came into it was when you presumed that it was OK to do that, because you are black. Or something. You just pulled that idea to inject race into it because you knew you were wrong.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Frankly, the airlines need to accept some responsibility for continually trying to shove more passengers into a smaller space. Any guy 6' or taller is going to have to fold up like a telescope to fit into most planes.

No kidding. Even for those of us who aren't - um, plus-sized - the seats seem to be shrinking. Southwest is especially bad because every time the jerk in front of me puts his seat back, he's got it resting on my knees. My only choice is extend my legs under the seat in front of me and keep them that way for the duration. Meanwhile I get to be involved in a subtle, all-smiles power play for the 2 inch armrest with the person next to me and periodically get my shoulder rammed by the beverage carts. The KGB probably broke dissidents with less effort.

[Itzlzha]

She was playing the fat card and then changed suits to the race card.

[ApplegateRanch]

I don't get where racism enters here.

she boarded her flight at Manchester International Airport. Not long after she took a seat in the back of the plane,

Now do you get it? < /sarc>

[Criminal Number 18F]

the boarding policy would have put me in the middle seat with this woman, I swear!

Southwest is the only line I know that makes these non-self-respecting heffalumps buy a second seat. Many other lines either provide a second seat for free (policy preferred by the suet-sized) or squeeze them into one seat to the detriment of all others.

Give me that good old priority boarding for frequent fliers!

If you get an e-ticket from Southwest you can get your boarding pass online anytime after midnight the day you travel. Worth doing, and the earlier you do it the more you are guaranteed an A pass. (Southwest boards by pass group: Preboards, A, B, C).

If more of these human blowfish had to pay the consequences of their poor self-discipline, rather than slough it off on all of us (as they do with their obesity-induced health problems which are beggaring us all), then perhaps they'd take some action to trim down.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F