'Person Of Size' Angry About Need For Spill-Over Ticket

Sacramento Bee via Scripps Howard ^ | June 18, 2002 | Bob Shallit

[Reaganwuzthebest]

As a professional services executive for a software company, Steve McAllister travels a lot. The resident of the California foothills figures he's accumulated a couple million frequent flier miles and flown on Southwest Airlines at least 100 times.

But he never before experienced what happened a week ago. And he was hopping mad.

While buying a ticket for a Southwest flight from Sacramento to Burbank, Calif., he was told he'd need to buy an extra ticket.

The reason? He's what the airline calls "a person of size" - the PC term, evidently, for someone so large he may need more than one seat.

McAllister is, in fact, a big man - 6 feet 2 inches, 350 pounds. But the former college football player says he's never been accused of taking up more than a single seat on a flight.

"To be honest, I was really outraged," McAllister says of the request for double payment. Eventually, after some heated words, he was allowed to get a single ticket but only because the Southwest people were a little premature in enforcing a new policy.

As of June 26, large customers will have to pay the extra fare - but can seek reimbursement if it turns out the flight has unoccupied seats. In the past, ticket agents had the option of charging big people for an extra seat when a flight was fully booked. But they apparently didn't do it very often.

So how do the agents determine if a customer is likely to exceed his allotted space? It's a judgment call, says airlines spokeswoman Whitney Eichinger.

It is, she acknowledges, "a very delicate situation."

[Corin Stormhands]

I don't mind paying a little extra for comfort.

I don't either, most of the time. I started a whole 'nother post on this thread and deleted it.

My whole point is, it's easy for people without weight problems to say "just stop eating" or "stay off the airlines." It's just not that simple.

Middle-class WASP males and overweight people are the two classes of people for whom it is still acceptable to discriminate against. I happen to be both.

My job no longer requires me to fly (I used to fly 3-4 times a month). And I avoid certain things because of my size (like rides at amusement parks with my sons, etc.).

I'm not whining. I've dealt with this all my life. I just get po'd when people make fat jokes. (you didn't, I'm just ranting)

[technochick99]

Take who to court? I am not talking about a lawsuit. All I am saying is that I think the airlines are acting within their rights to request that very large people pay for 2 seats if they cannot fit in the standard one.

[Tony in Hawaii]

My biggest problem with losing weight is that I'm not sure I even want to be a skinny person. They're so damn irritating.

[El Sordo]

Hey! That's a serious matter!!

Someday...someday.. I will find a long sleeved shirt that fits....

Sigh...

[LetsRok]

It's not THAT funny. Have you ever been seated next to a double-wide on a flight? Makes me claustrophobic - not to mention that I'm then paying for less than a full seat since the out-sized one takes up some of my space.

I know what you mean. I was seated next to a "whopper" while flying from DC to Tampa. I was ticked that I paid for a ticket and was unable to move my arms or sit comfortably. I never thought about demanding a refund or a free ticket on a future trip.

[SCalGal]

"Worse yet is when that double-wide removes, or persuades you to remove, the chair arm that separates your seats - then that behemoth really spills over into your space. It's not a matter of claustrophobia, I'm getting crushed by their spill-over. "

The arm rest is your friend!! I'm just under 5 ft, and weigh 100 lbs. Some of these people act like they have a right to the space that I paid for! I'm sorry they're squished- but that doesn't mean I should be too.

[Paul Atreides]

That's why I shop online. Not only do I find unique clothes (I get so tired of seeing that Hilfiger crest on every stitch of clothing), I don't have to deal with the snotty, nose-ring trolls they have working in stores today.

[Paul Atreides]

What I'm about to say is not making fun, it is just an honest life observation; Why do enormously overweight people buy tiny cars? I cannot count the number of times I have seen some 400-500 pound person driving something the size of a Yugo, with the steering wheel digging into his/her gut. On the same note, why do tiny blue-hairs buy cars the size of an ocean liner. I get behind them and it looks as if the car is driving itself.

[savedbygrace]

The only way to find out if they are within their "rights" is for the courts to decide. That's where this is headed, you know that.

Likely, some large person who is forced to pay for two seats will file suit. Then we'll see. If they get an enterprising lawyer, it may become a class action.

[mhking]

You must have never had to sit beside one of these oversized folks or.............. you ARE one. This is an idea whos time has come.

Yet another reason not to fly in the US. I'm 6'4 and 290; Have you ever tried to fold your legs into a space that's too small for them? I've learned to live with it and how to handle it over the years, but I'll be damned if someone arbitrarily decides because I'm (to use Rodney Dangerfield's phrase) "tall and fat" that I'll have to pay double the airfare!

I'll stick to driving my Urban Assault Vehicle -- I can put the seat back as far as I want, I can listen to whatever I want (or at least what She-who-must-be-obeyed allows me to listen to), and I don't have to fart around with the security Nazis trying to shove a wand up my butt!

And if the airlines don't like it, they can kiss my wide black behind!

[mhking]

That's why I shop online. Not only do I find unique clothes (I get so tired of seeing that Hilfiger crest on every stitch of clothing),

K&G is my best friend when it comes to clothes. Best size selection I've ever seen, best suit prices in the country, plenty of unique stuff in larger sizes, and none of the "nose & eyebrow ring" crowd.

Only downside is that they are only open Thursday-Sunday.

[El Sordo]

Something that I've never understood. With two seats, there are three armrests. With three seats, there are four armrests (the law of fenceposts applies..).

So it appears that the arilines expect some sort of ritual combat to decide which seat will control the center armrest.

[SCalGal]

I've always felt that the armrests are meant as a barrier, to keep my neighbor OUT of my seat. You still have to deal with elbows, but that's better than having to fight for the whole seat.

[SCalGal]

You are welcome to my extra leg room.

[RWG]

About time fat people carry their weight.

[Ditter]

I am 5'3" & couldn't agree more about flying. Its more trouble than its worth. I too have an Urban Assault Vehicle & if I never flew again I'd be happy. I have sat beside tall men, like yourself & I can see the discomfort you have with having no place to put your legs, but your weight is not a problem for your seatmates. Your pounds are stretched over a long frame. The problem people are the 5'3" ones who weight 300 lbs, they are the ones who hang over the armrest into my seat & THEY should have to buy an extra seat.

[MEGoody]

You are so right about the issue for tall people. In addition, what is to stop the airlines from continuing to downsize their seats so they can add more and more people to the list of those who have to pay for two seats? That is what has caused this problem in the first place.

[THEUPMAN]

thats what happens when

[tracer]

btt

[MEGoody]

"So that I dislike someone coming over the armrest and touching me is not so outrageous after all."

Some of the biggest space hogs around are skinny women who think they are God's gift to the world. Whenever one of these hags starts playing her role, I give her the what for with my elbow. She always acts shocked. Give me a large sized person who is considerate and at least tries to share the space over some bimbo who thinks she owns the place.