Woman told she's too big to fly

WOAI ^ | 07/21/2010 | Reported by: Janet Kwak

[Responsibility2nd]

 

Woman told she's too big to fly

 

 

 

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

[Responsibility2nd]

What with body scanners at airports and being treated like cattle and all, I don’t know what is wrong with paying by the pound.

Step on the scale. Your ticket is predicated on your poundage.

Look - if you want to be treated with decency, then you have no business flying. Period.

[FreedomPoster]

GMTA, you beat me to it.

[DollyCali]

there is also a big difference with a woman who is 298 pounds & 5’10” over a 298 pound woman who is 5”2”...

the shorter one will definitely take up more “seat space”

[bboop]

Yes it is right that they should pay more. I’m small, and I have sat next to folks who use my space too, just folding over the armrests. It’s gross. Plus, weight is important to a flight — jet fuel + thrust less drag keeps the plane up, right? So too much weight brings a plane down. (I am NOT a physicist, disclaimer here for the mass/force folks).

She was humiliated because the MENTIONED her weight. She has some choices — one, pay for a second seat. Two, take the train. Three, Weight Watchers.

Why is it always someone else’s fault?

[AlexW]

“Next time she should take the train. “

Yea, and strap her down on a flatcar.

[JimRed]

That said, 300 pounds is probably borderline.

But a 300 pound NFL lineman's butt would probably fit in an airline seat; not that of a typical 300 pound female.

[Eagles6]

Rock of Gibraltar possibly?

[raybbr]

That said, 300 pounds is probably borderline.

Borderline? She's fat - obese - to damn big to fit in a seat.

Borderline what?

[DuncanWaring]

I met someone once who told of sitting next to a guy who was really big and bought two seats.

Unfortunately, the big guy was big enough that he actually required two-and-a-half seats.

[Nea Wood]

Every time I see an article like this, I notice the same thing. The “victim” never, EVER, expresses the slightest sympathy or concern for anyone but herself. (And it’s usually a she, for some reason.) NEVER do they say anything like, “Well, gee, I’m sure it’s uncomfortable for passengers stuck sitting next to me.” Obviously that thought never even occurs to them at all. It’s all about THEIR suffering, THEIR humiliation, THEIR rights. I might feel sorry for them if they ever thought of anyone other than their own fat selves for even one second.

[texas booster]

...told her she was too big to fly.

That is not what they said.

As a short wide-bodied lady she would be spilling over into the seat next to her.

She would have sued SWA if she sat next to someone else spilling over into her seat.

As a Companion Pass I live this all the time.

[alarm rider]

Too many breakfast tacos.

[DollyCali]

I dont think oversized seats are a bad idea BUT there should be a premium for them.. just like the oversize Fries that I bet they eat!!!

:-)

[OB1kNOb]

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.

See? Even she comes to the same conclusion as Southwest...........

[StolarStorm]

“Even though I’m very big, I feel very little,” Lozano adds.

LOL LOL. I'm sure anyone who would have had to sit next to her would have "felt" something different.

[Jeff Chandler]

“I been done seen ‘bout everything . . .”

[matginzac]

Oh, so making seats bigger = fewer seats = more expensive flights = we ALL pay for people who can’t shut their pie hole!
Spreading the wealth??????

[Responsibility2nd]

I never fail to understand how she claims SWA humiliated her.

Yet here she is on TV (and now gone National) pouring out her big fat embarrassing details.

[Mr Rogers]

The poll is currently running “its fair”: 74% / 26%

I’ve had a passenger next to me whose folds of fat kept spilling into my lap. It was disgusting, and I should not have to put up with it.

[bboop]

I have been sandwiched between two large guys, too — on a flight where I had to keep my arms in to fit. I am small. This one got us out of Europe during the ash cloud, so I didn’t complain, but I did find an empty seat in back.

When her rights to be fat impinge on other folks’ rights, that’s when hers stop. She’ll probably sue and be a millionaire.