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Woman told she's too big to fly
WOAI ^ | 07/21/2010 | Reported by: Janet Kwak

Posted on 07/22/2010 6:58:39 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd

 

Woman told she's too big to fly

 
Mary Louise Lozano says she was humiliated after Southwest Airlines told her she was too big to fly. (WOAI.com)
 
 
SAN ANTONIO -- Mary Louise Lozano says she was humiliated after Southwest Airlines told her she was too big to fly.

"I felt like there wasn't a big enough rock for me to crawl under," says Lozano. On July 8th, she was supposed to fly to Baltimore - a gift from her brother she hasn't seen in four years. However, when she got to the gate, she was told she'd have to purchase an extra ticket because she wouldn't fit into a seat.

"It was judgmental," adds Lozano, who weights 298 pounds. "It was based on their judgment. People were hearing everything that was going on, parading me around. I wouldn't call that discreet.

Southwest Airlines wouldn’t comment specifically on Mary’s case, but say that all their passenger size-related guidelines are found online. Representatives with the airline say passengers must fit into a 17-inch seat with the armrests down, or buy another ticket for extra space. If the plane isn’t full, you can get that extra money back. However, when News 4 WOAI asked how staff members determine who can fit to fly, they said it’s based on visual assessments – what their employees see.

Southwest refunded Mary’s ticket, and her brother is now flying to San Antonio instead.

“Even though I’m very big, I feel very little,” Lozano adds. “I feel damaged or something. I don’t want to take a bus or a plane, I wont’ take a train, I don’t feel like I can travel in any vehicle except my car.”

Here’s a list of passenger size guidelines for airlines at San Antonio International Airport:

Aeromexico CLICK HERE

Airtran: CLICK HERE

American: CLICK HERE

Continental: CLICK HERE

Delta: CLICK HERE

Frontier: CLICK HERE

Skywest: CLICK HERE

Southwest: CLICK HERE

United: CLICK HERE

US Airways: CLICK HERE




TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: tofly; toobig; toofat; toofly
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To: Pearls Before Swine

Hey I have an idea for the airlines:

Narrow all seats to allow only those that weigh no more than 110 lbs. to fit, increase seating X 2 and then you can charge almost everyone for the extra seat.


21 posted on 07/22/2010 7:06:52 AM PDT by chiefqc
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To: Responsibility2nd

If you can’t fit in one seat, you should pay for the two seats that you occupy.


22 posted on 07/22/2010 7:06:59 AM PDT by VRWCmember
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To: Responsibility2nd
"I felt like there wasn't a big enough rock for me to crawl under," says Lozano

She's got that right.

23 posted on 07/22/2010 7:07:02 AM PDT by thethirddegree
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts

I’d love a 17 inch wide armrest. In reality they are about 3” and there is only one between the seats. I think the seat is actually 17inches.


24 posted on 07/22/2010 7:07:17 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: San Jacinto
I'm a big guy myself, 240# and 6'2". Airline seats are a tight fit for me, but I can get the armrests down.

I've had the displeasure of sitting behind or beside much smaller people who do stupid things like leaving their seat back the full trip and spilling their boides or belongings over into the adjoining seat-- mine!

The courtesy of the passenger should be considered at least as much as their size.

25 posted on 07/22/2010 7:07:17 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: Responsibility2nd
However, when News 4 WOAI asked how staff members determine who can fit to fly, they said it’s based on visual assessments – what their employees see.

Next time this happens, the staff members should take a tape measure across the ass and waist of the person in question and see how well that is received.

26 posted on 07/22/2010 7:07:34 AM PDT by capydick (''Life's tough.......it's even tougher if you're stupid.'')
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To: Responsibility2nd
If they are going to take the space of two seats, then yes, they should pay for two. What normal sized person wants to be scrunched up sitting next to one?

I have nothing against fat people, it's their choice whether or not they decide to be that way, but when it affects other people, it can be a problem.

What bugs me about this person in particular is how she was “humiliated”. The airlines didn't humiliate her, she did that all by herself.

27 posted on 07/22/2010 7:08:42 AM PDT by Frenchtown Dan
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To: Pearls Before Swine
"That said, 300 pounds is probably borderline."

Way beyond the line if she is less than 5 feet tall. ;-)

28 posted on 07/22/2010 7:09:04 AM PDT by verity (Obama, the BS and rhetoric President)
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To: Grunthor

This woman is the same weight as I am, except I am 6’5” tall. I fit, snugly, but fit into a single seat. Whether any likes it or not, airlines live by selling seats to individual people. People who require TWO seats, must (pardon me) pay the freight.
I understand the expression “I’m LITTLE inside”, but we all live in the real world.


29 posted on 07/22/2010 7:09:18 AM PDT by CaptainAmiigaf ( NY Times: We print the news as it fits our views.)
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To: Responsibility2nd
I had to sit next to a large guy at a baseball game a couple of weeks ago. I was sandwiched between him and my husband. I was not comfortable and had no room. When I got up to get food, his leg had encroached over 1/2 my seat and he didn't seem to noticed when I came back to try to sit down.

Yeah, she can pay for 2 seats so all of us can be more comfortable. It's not just about the feelings of the larger person. I'm sick of worrying about others feelings and them not worrying about mine!

30 posted on 07/22/2010 7:09:31 AM PDT by CAluvdubya (WASS!)
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To: Responsibility2nd

At 298 pounds, if she was 6’6” that 17” seat would probably not be a problem (legroom would be a different matter). Economy seats are strictly for the median population. Too tall or too wide and comfort/safety goes out the window.

Hope she doesn’t sue \sarcasm


31 posted on 07/22/2010 7:09:51 AM PDT by petro45acp (Hey Doc! Don't tell me how to live my life. CURE what ails me so I can live how I choose.)
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To: Pearls Before Swine

She’s probably 5’2” and is so wide she won’t fit in a seat.


32 posted on 07/22/2010 7:09:55 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (No Representation without Taxation!)
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To: RexBeach

“But how do one place a 300 pound body in a 17-inch wide seat?”

Just roll it in lard and then push.


33 posted on 07/22/2010 7:10:02 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Wombat Ark
Depends on how that 300 pounds is distributed. Maybe the airlines need a testing seat...

I clicked on a couple of the airline reference links. One of them had a 3 part test: - Need no more than one seat belt extender
- Must be able to put down the seat arms when seated
- (I forget the 3rd one, but it was United Airlines).

That seems pretty objective to me, but you can only apply the test once the person is on the plane (or with a test seat, like the rack they have for carry-on bags).

34 posted on 07/22/2010 7:10:07 AM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
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To: Oberon

Coming soon to an airline near you - plus-sized seating as mandated by the federal guv’ment. Two rows of seats near the front of coach (not the rear as that would be humiliating) for the people who just can’t say no to Ding Dong’s and an evening with the remote.


35 posted on 07/22/2010 7:10:17 AM PDT by crusty old prospector
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To: dead
Woman told she's too big to fly
That's what they told Dumbo too.

We have our winner.

36 posted on 07/22/2010 7:10:55 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Responsibility2nd

So, lose a hundred pounds, already!


37 posted on 07/22/2010 7:11:02 AM PDT by JimRed (To water the Tree of Liberty is to excise a cancer before it kills us. TERM LIMITS, NOW AND FOREVER!)
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To: Responsibility2nd

No way is she too big. I saw a video of a burro flying the other day.


38 posted on 07/22/2010 7:11:36 AM PDT by MarkeyD (Obama is a victim of Affirmative Action)
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To: Responsibility2nd

I remember on a flight many years ago prior to these guidelines being in a middle seat with over-sized folks on either side. I was there last & truly there was no room for me ..

I remember going to flight attendant & pointing out the situation. Fortunately there were other seats available & they assigned me one of them

Until recently my mom has been big in girth, butt etc and had she flown I would have gone with two seats or a first class seat.

The brother should have done the same to save her embarrassment. The first class seat would probably be less than 2 coach & she would have had a nice trip, ample room & felt like a queen.


39 posted on 07/22/2010 7:12:01 AM PDT by DollyCali (Don't tell God how big your storm is...Tell the storm how big your God is!)
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To: Constitution Day
I don’t want to take a bus or a plane, I won't take a train,

Kansas City, Here I Come... (they got some pretty little women there...)

40 posted on 07/22/2010 7:12:01 AM PDT by Migraine (Diversity is great... ...until it happens to YOU.)
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