Southwest will charge large fliers extra fare

Wash Times ^ | 19 jun 02 | Mary Beaudette

[white trash redneck]

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.

[trevorjohnson]

WHere's the outrage!!! They are an oppressed minority! They have been vicitmized and marginalized like every other vicitmized group that takes offense at everything...

[trevorjohnson]

Discrimination?....I'd rather sick next to a lard-butt than a gueer or a smelly person. I would charge triple for queers...

[homeschool mama]

You've got freepmail.

[trevorjohnson]

The Gov't ought to keep their noses out. The free market would have solved segregation and the free market will cause SW to either change their polcies or lose money form the millions of fatsos of america.

[TexRef]

If an airline has three seats on one side of the aisle and a larger person requires 2 of those seats, why should the airline not require $ for the second seat?

Duh, because it is WRONG.

Would we even be having this discussion if the people in question were black or homosexual?

If they took up two or more seats, we would!

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Free skymiles?

[homeschool mama]

That *is* a bother...a huge one!

A friend of mine flies to usually 3 destinations each week for her job...has for over 20 years. Recently she was pulled from the line of passengers to be checked. The man using the screening wand came higher on the inside of her legs and she said, "Honey, if you go any higher you'll have to marry me." He broke out in laughter and stopped the search...

[pgkdan]

As long as they get both seats I don't see a problem with it. Anyone who does should fly another airline.

[MissL]

My past CEO life required me to travel between Seattle and my home in Kansas City. After 4 years the plane became just a "bus ride" and the crap that I endured over those years was "not of this world". I could tell you about the yappers, the bad brath, the snorters, the nervous "movers", the kids...crying, yelling, stinky, jumping and just evil. Now....we get to the fat people in your seat...they do need to be charged an extra fee and that fee should be given to the poor person who has to sit next to them !!! Thank God for Am Express and 1st upgrades !!!

[arm958]

I think the real solution is to have some seats 25 or 50% larger than others, then charge passengers who want to use them 25 or 50% more. I'd bet that even people who were not overweight might purchase those seats just to be more comfortable.

Not a bad idea! Kind of like first class, but without the leather seats, linen napkins, champagne, etc., etc.

[TexRef]

No, if you do not like having your "space" being taken up by a fat person, YOU get up and move. Not them, YOU!

So, if I pay for a seat on a plane and fatty sits down next to me, somehow he/she is entitled to part of MY seat?!?!

Talk about your all-time twisted logic!

[homeschool mama]

bingo

[TexRef]

Same goes for the person sitting next to you, who you claim is in your "space." What do you want that person to do, pay for your seat as well?

The problem is that they CANNOT FIT in the seat that they purchased... They literally overflow into the adjoining seat.

As someone else pointed out, it's akin to a 400lbs woman purchasing a Dodge Neon and then complaining that she can't fit -- Don't buy the car in the first place!!!

What if you are so damn fat that you not only overflow, but literally take up two seats?!? Should that person not be required to pay for both?

[homeschool mama]

**I wonder if Free Republic will charge me twice for posting twice?**

Yes. There are charges for post hiccups. :o)

[dcwusmc]

I am amazed... I find myself agreeing with you! Help! I must be losing it! You're making some good points!

[.38sw]

You keep saying that the person who is being crushed by the 400-pounder in the seat next to them can get up and move. Move where? You haven't explained that part. Sit in the aisle? Nearly every flight I've been on the past few years has been FULL. F U L L. No place to move. So a person is just supposed to be crushed? Oh. OK. So just shut up and take it is your philosophy.

[homeschool mama]

**Many people would be surprised at the medications that can cause weight gain. I'm on two of them now. **

Very true. However, cases of medication induced weight gain are rare. I experienced this 13 years ago.

[ladyinred]

I hope your wife doesn't read this!
I have mixed feelings about this. No other group could be treated this way, so why do those who happen to be overweight get exempted from the PC attitude in this country?
I understand both sides I suppose, but I do feel sorry for those whom this will impact, both financially and emotionally.

[homeschool mama]

Southwest Airlines bump. My favorite airlines!

[homeschool mama]

FOFL