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Jury: Airline not racist
seacoastonline ^

Posted on 02/13/2006 11:51:51 AM PST by SmoothTalker

"A jury on Friday said Southwest Airlines did not racially discriminate against an overweight passenger when she was asked to buy a second seat on her flight."

"The jury deliberated for a little over an hour before finding against Nadine Thompson, who sued Southwest in federal court. She claimed that she was singled out because she is black and that the airline’s "customer of size" policy was unfairly applied to her after she boarded a flight at Manchester Airport in June 2003."

" Southwest’s policy states that a "customer of size" is someone who can’t sit in a seat without having the armrest raised and is sitting on part of the adjacent seat. Thompson, who said she doesn’t consider herself a customer of size, didn’t challenge the policy; rather, she claimed, it allows any random employee to operate "in a discriminatory way about that policy." "

"Joel Drake, a Southwest employee, testified earlier Friday that Thompson accused him of being a "motherf--- racist pig" and wished that his family would die from cancer when he tried to explain the company’s policy to her."


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: airlines; bigfatmama; choosesalad; fat; food; fork; hollottawoman; lawsuit; obesity; passengerofsize; racistfatpig; ruling; southwest; southwestairlines; xxl
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To: EagleUSA
Ever heard of "weight and balance"? It is something every pilot does for every flight as part of the preflight preparation.

Given that the average passenger is 170 pounds (includes carry-on) and some of the "passengers of size" exceed 400 pounds, the additional weight of say a dozen such passengers would add some 2,760 pounds at the very worst place.

Consider the nose up attitude such a tail heavy moment arm could produce in a critical situation like a stall.

Spread 'em out or else. Betcha that will elicit howls of rage from First class, up front.
141 posted on 02/13/2006 4:37:28 PM PST by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon Liberty, it is essential to examine principle)
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To: SmoothTalker
I was on a flight once where I was the small person in the row of 3. Thank goodness I had an aisle seat and could sit hanging out in the aisle for the cart to smack me, and my back to get wrenched out.

By the way, I'm 6'-0", 240#, with a 46" chest. I usually am uncomfortable in an airplane unless the seat next to me is empty.

The person next to me on the plane, a woman, was every bit my size, and maybe a few lbs more. Her husband, I think, who had the window, had at least 100 lbs. on me. Oh yeah, they were people of race also. Obviously no one paid for an extra seat.

142 posted on 02/13/2006 7:12:14 PM PST by mountn man (Everyone brings joy into a room. Some when they enter. Others when they leave)
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To: zerosix
I infirmed her that it was against airline regulation for the thing to be up during take off and landing.

Infirming her should have been done.

143 posted on 02/13/2006 7:18:39 PM PST by mountn man (Everyone brings joy into a room. Some when they enter. Others when they leave)
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To: SmoothTalker
"Get that fatty up to the front! Please!"

144 posted on 02/13/2006 7:25:13 PM PST by Sen Jack S. Fogbound
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To: Paleo Conservative

That's a cute piggy-backer. What is it?


145 posted on 02/13/2006 9:59:17 PM PST by phantomworker ("Ah Dam Bubba now what ya gonna do with all them hoods?" [reprinted with permission from the author])
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To: phantomworker
That's a cute piggy-backer. What is it?

The Russian shuttle Buran which only flew once in space. Can you believe how inefficient the Russian engines are? The AN-225 requires six engines. I bet it would only need four if they put some GE-90's on it.

146 posted on 02/13/2006 11:17:24 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
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To: HEY4QDEMS
That's a no-brainer two-seater.


147 posted on 02/13/2006 11:23:39 PM PST by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government "job" attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: babydoll22

Thanks for the advice - I hope I won't have to try it, but if I do I'll at least have an idea of what to say.


148 posted on 02/14/2006 4:01:13 AM PST by from occupied ga (Peace through superior firepower)
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To: EagleUSA
"Now, all you fat hogs to the BACK OF THE AIRPLANE!!!! "

That'd move the CG too far aft.
149 posted on 02/14/2006 4:05:35 AM PST by LIConFem (A fronte praecipitium, a tergo lupi.)
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To: ThinkDifferent

It sounds as though the second seat has to be empty. The airline can't double sell the seat.


150 posted on 02/14/2006 4:09:00 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck
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To: Paleo Conservative

That's interesting. thanks for all the great aviation pictures. HVD, btw. ;)


151 posted on 02/14/2006 4:51:40 AM PST by phantomworker ("Ah Dam Bubba now what ya gonna do with all them hoods?" [reprinted with permission from the author])
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To: 2banana

A civil defamation/deliberate infliction of emotional distress lawsuit would be both instructive and appropriate....


152 posted on 02/14/2006 9:45:33 PM PST by tracer
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To: zerosix

What airline were you on?


153 posted on 02/14/2006 10:29:26 PM PST by peggybac
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To: pbrown
Being fat and ridiculed for it seems like the sport of the day.

Yeah, but at least we smokers are getting a brief respite. Just wait until the taxes start...

154 posted on 02/14/2006 10:42:24 PM PST by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly.)
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To: rvoitier

Just make the plaintiff pay for court costs.


155 posted on 02/14/2006 10:46:11 PM PST by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
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To: Smokin' Joe

I smoke too. :-(


156 posted on 02/15/2006 10:53:16 AM PST by processing please hold (Be careful of charity and kindness, lest you do more harm with open hands than with a clinched fist)
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To: peggybac

It was United Airlines. I try to make it a point to never take that airline again.


157 posted on 02/15/2006 7:17:28 PM PST by zerosix (Native Sunflower)
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