A weighty issue: Mother and daughter told they're 'too fat to fly' on Southwest airlines flight

Daily Mail UK ^ | May 12, 2011

[Baladas]

She works in NYC and flies JetBlue and could be trying to provoke a lawsuit settlement. Sounds like a liberal to me.

[cableguymn]

I’d just like to thank everyone for sharing their stories of air flight.

I have not been on a plane post 9/11 nor do I plan on it. Your stories just reinforce this.

If I can’t load myself in my comfortable full size car and drive there. I am NOT going.

[org.whodat]

Ups will strap her to a pallet.

[Farmer Dean]

I'd be more concerned about the 6 egg omelet she ate with the sausage links.

[Mr.Unique]

JetBlue? Where did you get that?

[montag813]

I'd be more concerned about the 6 egg omelet she ate with the sausage links.

Yep. Sulfur surprise.

[Baladas]

From an article I just posted:

http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/05/12/kenlie-tiggeman-too-fat-to-fly-on-southwest/?icid=main%7Chp-desktop%7Cdl5%7Csec1_lnk1%7C212995

“I know that I have a lot of weight to lose but I am definitely not too fat to fly. I do it all the time, domestically and internationally, and I have never had anyone approach me and particularly in the way that they did. I was embarrassed, humiliated.” Tiggeman wrote on her blog that she usually likes to fly JetBlue because “the jets feel more spacious and the customer service is consistently extraordinary”

If that’s not a plug for it, I don’t know what is.

[La Enchiladita]

She’s not fat, she’s “fluffy.”

And Fluffy should get an RV for travel instead of making other people uncomfortable.

Next!

[bjorn14]

It really is a safety issue, if the plane crashes and the exit windows are the only way out do you want this person stuck in the exit window.

I’ve sometime jokingly suggested that they shpuld put an aircraft seat (behind a screen) in the boarding area to find out if they’re too large to fly or need to buy an extra seat.

FWIW, she could be attractive if she did lose more weight.

[zerosix]

I did not, unfortunately. I felt that the airline could care less about a "complaining passenger," compared to the millions of flyers. To lose my business, would be no loss to them.

I should have told the FAs in the future, should this happen that I would report their behavior and their disregard to FAA regulations.

[TalonDJ]

You played hookey during third grade biology, didn't you?

Someone here did. You can get ZERO exercise and not be over weight. Overweight means your body is getting more calories than it burns. Period. If you get less exercise you need to eat less food or you get fat. IF you get fat it is because you ate too much. Period. Unless you have a serious metabolic disorder your body only stores EXTRA calories as fat. It is a self discipline issue for the person in chair just the same as anyone else. The only difference is their food 'limit' before getting fat is smaller. It is more math, calories in versus calories burned. Even struggling to breath burns some. Eat more than that amount and you get fat. Period.

[Atlas Sneezed]

the tweerp in the reclined seat in front of me with his seat jammed into my knees

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That recline space would be space he paid for. If you have special needs, address them with the airline, and don’t expect to steal from our fellow passenger.

That “twerp” paid for that recline capability, and frankly, I don’t believe that it crushed your knees, with your feet on the floor.

[CodeToad]

Touche! lol.

[Emperor Palpatine]

These two blimps have nobody to blame but themselves.

People are fat for one reason and one reason only...they eat too damn much. PERIOD.

No one holds a gun to some fatso’s head and tells them to eat.

[Atlas Sneezed]

I’m sick and tired of FAs who refuse to follow federal safety mandates, rather than do her/his job. I know that they are protected by their unions so I don’t expect anything will take care of their rude, obnoxious behavior but it’s a real shame, especially those with “an attitude.”

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Like the male FA who was too impressed with the steroidal meat man I was forced to sit next to, and who must have thought that the only purpose in life for his rippling triceps was to remain rock-stationary in my seating space for the whole flight.

[Hot Tabasco]

Lol, you’ve sat next to one of those too?

I was waiting outside the terminal in Detroit in preparation for my flight when I saw a humongously obese kid being let out of a car. I said to myself, God, I pity anyone who has to sit next to this boy.

Guess what.........This kid was not only obese but was mentally disabled and all he did on the flight while sitting and squashing me was eat potato chips and apply skin moisturizer to his hands and arms. Talk about being grossed out!

Finally, after about an hour and a half the stewardess came over to him and removed him from his seat and took him into first class!!! Give me a F'n break, I earned that first class seat but the kid got it instead..........

[Atlas Sneezed]

Overweight people already pay more when they ride in their own cars, so why not expect them to pay more when they ride on an airplane? Perhaps not twice as much, but, 1/3 or 1/4 more for that second seat?

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If I could guarantee an empty next to me for 25% more, I’d buy it. Open the deal to all. No discrimination. (I think you’d need a real 100% premium, or 50% if shared by a couple).

[nascarnation]

They’re both morbidly obese.

I always wonder what kind of caloric intake is necessary to maintain that kind of body mass. I'm a guy who weighs 160 lbs and can't envision eating 2x or more my daily ration.

[ArrogantBustard]

I actually know a family of folks who look like that. I weigh about 210 (which I think is about 30 too much) ... These folks weigh around 300-350, and eat three times as much as I do ...

Then they whine about being fat.

DUH!!!

[altura]

Hey, don’t let it get you down. Being seated next to someone who slops over into your space does seem to bring out the hate in people.

I’ve read these threads before and it’s interesting.

I have absolutely no disagreement with the policy but the ticket agents should take a course in how to handle these situations. My daughter is an HR manager and they do sexual harassment courses all the time.

The agent should ask to speak to the person privately and there should be a private place for the seriously overweight individual to sit in a prototype airplane seat. It should be quickly obvious if an extra ticket is necessary.

Perhaps a conversation ahead of time when you plan to fly would let you know your options and prevent the danger of being bounced.