Posted on 09/08/2009 6:33:52 PM PDT by Atlas Sneezed
PARK FOREST, Ill. (CBS) ―
They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. But one south suburban couple found themselves forced to stay in Vegas a lot longer they wanted.
CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli reports that their trip out West went South when a man claimed he was picked on because of his size.
The man flew from Midway Airport to Las Vegas without incident. But when he tried to fly home to Midway several days later, he says he was prevented from doing so because of his girth.
Emery Orto has a canceled ticket from Southwest Airlines, which says, "OK to refund, did not travel." What it doesn't say is why the Park Forest man didn't fly last week.
"They gave us the impression I was too big or too fat to fly," Orto said.
For that reason, this 6-foot, 350-pound man says he was barred from flying home with his wife. Orto says he was 20 feet from getting on the plane when he was stopped.
"She hustled after me and grabbed me and she said 'Can you sit in an airplane seat with the arms down?' I told her yes, I could sit in the seat with the arms down, I've flown many times and never had a problem. And she said, 'Well, you're not flying today.'"
Clara Orto is still enraged about what happened to her husband of 43 years.
"I just can't believe how heartless they are," she said. "They had no reason to pick on him."
Orto says Southwest's decision cost them more than $800 and turned what should have been a four-hour trip home into a more than 19-hour odyssey.
"I would love a written apology, and I would love the money we were put out and something for our pain and suffering," Clara Orto said.
Emery Orto says what's most bothersome to him is that Southwest never tested whether he could actually fit in a seat with the arms down.
"That is absolutely my problem. They didn't test me in any way," he said.
Orto further wonders why Southwest allowed him to fly to Vegas only to prevent him from flying home.
"It was just absolutely humiliating and embarrassing," he said. "I hope that it never happens to anyone again."
Southwest says its policy has been in place for years and that Orto was arguing with an elevated voice in a belligerent tone. The airline also says that at least four passengers said they weren't comfortable flying after watching Orto lose his temper.
Southwest says in the end it was the anger issue that ultimately eclipsed the weight issue that led to Orto being barred from the plane.
So why was he allowed to fly to Vegas in the first place? Southwest says the Chicago crew simply made a mistake.
I'll be loyal to SWA forever!
I'm grateful I don;t need to worry about this fattie sitting next to me, and filling half my seat, and seating onto my clothing.
BUY TWO SEATS!
(That said, if SWA flew him there, they are contractually bound to fly him home under the same terms, unless he really bulked up at the Chuck Wagon Buffet).
Don’t be a fatass, get to fly. I don’t see discrimination against behavior.
Well, then, Michael Moore is just going to have to stick with C-17s.
These big blob fat people are a total drain. Shut you damned mouth and buy bypass surgery with your money, not mine. This is simply decadence and gluttony and he has no right to blob down in two seats. He needs to go train for the marathon.
If they flew him there they should have flown him back.
If the Wright Bros matched today’s chubby bubbies, that damn plane would have never taken off!
"That is absolutely my problem. They didn't test me in any way,"
Well, not exactly sir. When a person of relatively normal size such as myself sits next to you after you've "staked your claim" to whatever territory you "need," the already unpleasant flying experience just gets worse.
This “other passengers were uncomfortable” is airline shorthand for “our flight attendants started an altercation incorrectly - so you get kicked off the flight; we’ll comp you some [but not enough]”
Been there; done that (about $400 on Delta in my case). Seen it happen to others. For random reasons; not weight.
I bet more than a few of your fellow Freepers are this guy’s size. And your comments, should they read them, will probably bring needless pain and hurt—if just for a quick moment. A little consideration and compassion might be in order.
your comments, should they read them, will probably bring needless pain and hurt
(On rare occasions, I have sat next to fat people who were very thoughtful, holding their arms up so I could use my half of the armrest, and not letting their legs spread into my area. They’re the rarity.)
It drives me nuts when my wife and I, at 270 pounds *combined* weight, buy TWO tickets, and are charged $50 ADDITIONAL for each having a single 50-pound suitcase, and some 300 lb fatty with too many carry-ons flies without paying an extra penny.
Are you a “girther”? :-)
Actually, no, I’m not. No one in my close family is either, and I do understand the unfairness and discomfort of being strapped in an airline seat for hours with your neighbor’s body spilling over into your meager space. I think something should be done about that, but I think Freepers shouldn’t post so harshly about overweight people generally.
I agree, it can be very unfair to be squished by someone oversized sitting next to you on a flight. But I think people who are overweight usually battle their size year after year and tend to be sensitive about it, perhaps feeling shame for it as well.
We are all imperfect—it’s just that some people wear more of their imperfections on the outside, some more on the inside.
Wimps. As for the big guy: He either fits in the seat or he doesn't. If yes, fly on. If not, buy two seats.
LARDBUCKET, I’d hate to sit next to you!
Lose the weight or accept the abuse!!!
Freepers have thicker skin than that. Fat libs might whine about hurt feelings, but it’s not our style.
Anyone with a problem about this should immediately submit a sympathy chit and reserve a key for the crybaby locker.
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