Posted on 06/19/2002 7:17:02 AM PDT by white trash redneck
Edited on 07/12/2004 3:54:49 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Southwest Airlines will start charging larger passengers for two seats on its 2,800 daily flights starting June 26.
The airline, which operates out of 58 U.S. cities and is the largest carrier at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, will begin charging "persons of size" for two seats if they think they may not fit comfortably in one.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
I just got back from a quick trip to Germany to see a long-lost friend. Atlanta to Stuttgart is 9 hours (make it 10 from the time you board till the time you leave the plane.) I'm no taller or heavier than average but the lack of leg-room in coach was really uncomfortable after the first five hours.
My German friend understood, calling it "rache der Zwerge." Literally, "revenge of the runts."
That's the advantage of first-class; not the width of the seats but the distance to the one in front of you. No way to upgrade at any price, though, as every seat each way was filled.
Airlines are trying to maximize revenue by packing as many paying bodies into each flight as it will hold. If they're at fault, they share it at least partly with a flying public that demands jet travel at a fraction (in adjusted dollars) of what used to be charged 30 years ago.
Having said all that, if the passenger takes up two seats, he/she should pay for two seats.
Of course, tort lawyers will have a field day trying to extend the Americans with Disabilities Act to 39,000 feet. Then the airlines will make covert attempts to find out the body mass of ticket-purchasers, and for some the flight will be "all booked up."
Then begins the real fun! ;-)
It's hard for me to believe that your suggestion has not gotten more play. It's the only sensible way to charge passengers since weight equals more fuel burned. There should be some form of basic rate and then a sliding scale for every pound a person weighs. It would even encourage a weight reduction incentive for many of us.
It should be true for baggage as well. Pay by the pound with a premium paid if you want to make those pounds of baggage carry-on. We'd be spending a lot less time waiting for people while they try to stuff their entire wardrobe into the overhead compartments.
1) The best "on time" records in the industry.
2) The best luggage handling record in the industry (your bags actually follow you where you are going).
3) The ABSOLUTE best safety record in the industry.
4) Voted the most friendly service in the industry 5 years running. (Business Travelers Association, 1997 through 2001).
SWA also have a custom design to all of their aircraft in the area of cabin seating. There is NO first class on SWA flights, never has been, never will be. In the cabin, usually in the very front and the very back, there are 6 seats on each side of the isle that face each other. The leg room on these seats are usually much better than the standard seats (besides, they are more fun, you can meet lots of nice folks). I'm 5'11 and about 210, I have never found SWA's seats to be confining, especially in the afore mentioned areas. SWA has a general seating policy--first come, first serve. Put all these factors together with the fact that flight crews are sooo friendly and accomidating and you get easy ways around this.
I will be willing to bet that SWA will make this fun, and profitable. I don't know how they will do it, but I'm sure that they will do it. As I said, I am a stockholder, and I have a lot of stock that I've had for a long time (my retirement). Have faith, and take SWA, you'll laugh and have fun.
I was thinking along the lines of leasing a small apartment and trying to fill it with furniture from a four bedroom house. Instead of renting storage facilities for the excess furniture, I would tear down the wall into the neighbor's apartment and put some furniture in there.
If they don't like it, they can move. :o)
I have family members and friends who will be charged for two seats if this insulting rule is allowed to stand. I'll bet that in pleasently plump America today, few there are who have no family members or friends who will be subjected to this abuse. I resent money hungry creeps being allowed to sh*t on people for being over weight
It seems that discrimination and bias of one kind or the other will always be with us.Instutionalized Racial, ethnic and many other prejudices are no longer condoned, but bashing smokers has become a popular pass time with the Federal Government and everyone else, looks like portly people are becoming fair game too.
I won't fly on any airline that treats any of it's customers so shabbily-they can have my seat.
So your agenda is clear. You want your friends and family to not have to pay for what they use. Because they're fat, they want special considerations and protections, lest anyone "discriminate" against them. Gee, where have we heard this before? The gay rights movement, the feminazi movement, etc.. etc.. You and your kind just want their "free ride" like those other "special interest" groups.
Well, I for one am sick and tired of having to pay for OTHERS "lifestyle" choices. Get over it. Either pay for what you use, or don't fly. It's that simple. If you require two seats, then pay for two seats.
Next thing you know, you're gonna start blaming the car manufacturers because the suspensions on the cars of obese people give out under the strain faster than other people's cars.
Everyone wants their "special rights" ... I'm so sick and damn' tired of it.
Being far from perfect myself, I can only imagine the agony experienced by such a perfect individual living in an imperfect world, among imperfect people and worse yet being expected to compromise comfort, both physically and financially to accomodate other's disgusting flaws.
"Free ride" can be defined in many ways-I don't believe charging equal fares to all human beings is one of them.
Sorry to hear you are so sick and damned tired. Try a big dose of empathy and maybe you will feel better in the morning.
Early in the thread I mentioned there are people with thyroid problems...sheesh.
I would suggest you read each of my posts before bashing me further. Thank you.
So, then, you are saying you want them to purchase the seat you are occupying because they are in your "space"?
You mention logic, but I have yet to see you put it to use.
First off, that is NOT what I said. I merely pointed out there are various reasons why a person could be overweight, food addiction being one of them.
Second, I must again stress NOBODY is forcing you to stay there. If you do not like sitting next to a fat person, you can get up and move.
You quite simply cannot get more logical than that.
When we flew to Anchorage from Sacramento last year we witnessed the same thing. :o)
You do not want me to take it personally, but then you have to insult me personally. Are you schizophrenic or do you just have a knack for talking out of both sides of your mouth?
And for the record, pal, since you seem so keen on the use of logic: If you do not like sitting next to a fat person, you can move. If you do not want to move, you can keep your mouth shut. As far as overweight people are concerned, it is neither their fault nor their problem if you do not like sitting next to them. That is what it all comes down to: YOU, not them.
You must fly an awful lot of flights with empty seats. The last time I flew and there were ANY empties was on a 6am flight from Sac to L.A. on a Wednesday. I have even tried redeyes. Every longer flight I have taken (I fly to New York a lot because my family is there) has been packed. So you suggest I see if anyone else doesn't mind sitting in half a seat?
From what I can tell, SWA is the first major airline to publicly announce the creation of this policy.
But if I also remember correctly, earlier this year a woman sued an airline in Canada for charging her for two seats, and she won. And she did not even have the Americans with Disabilities Act to rely on.
What do you think is going to happen if and when someone down here sues?
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