Jury: Airline not racist

seacoastonline ^

[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."

[GladesGuru]

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.

[mountn man]

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.

[mountn man]

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.

[Sen Jack S. Fogbound]

"Get that fatty up to the front! Please!"

[phantomworker]

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

[Paleo Conservative]

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.

[Hank Rearden]

That's a no-brainer two-seater.

[from occupied ga]

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.

[LIConFem]

"Now, all you fat hogs to the BACK OF THE AIRPLANE!!!! "

That'd move the CG too far aft.

[HiTech RedNeck]

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

[phantomworker]

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

[tracer]

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

[peggybac]

What airline were you on?

[Smokin' Joe]

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...

[RobbyS]

Just make the plaintiff pay for court costs.

[processing please hold]

I smoke too. :-(

[zerosix]

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