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.

[homeschool mama]

I've heard Jet Blue is a wonderful airlines. Too bad they don't fly in/out of where I am. :o(

[homeschool mama]

**On second thought, I still like that skinny bimbo idea.... **

tsk tsk tsk

[kemathen7]

I've heard the same ... unfortunately I live in Denver. The only discount airline we have is Frontier. Compared to Southwest and Jet Blue, they aren't much of a discount! By options are United and ... United.

[homeschool mama]

**Fly 8 Roundtrips, Get 1 Free bump **

aahhhh! But if you purchase your round trips over the internet then it's FLY 4 ROUNTRIPS, GET 1 FREE!

[homeschool mama]

ROUNTRIPS = ROUNDTRIPS

[July 4th]

Some overweight activist was just on FOX saying that 'she'll fly where she's respected,' meaning she's no longer going to fly Southwest. Guess which airline I'm going to start flying?

[homeschool mama]

Southwest is celebrating their 31st Anniversary! That means $31 tickets...check it out!

[Sloth]

BTW, I am overweight and would be entirely willing to pay for a second seat for myself, but the only time I fly is for work-related trips, and that is all arranged ahead of time by my employers. I don't know what I'd do if I showed up with my ticket and the person at the gate wanted me to pay for an extra seat.

[Hunble]

Hey, it is fun picking on fat people. I do it every day.

But we live in the real world.

Advise on how to transport my own personal "Minnesota Manate" to Cozumel next year?

[1Old Pro]

Perhaps they could just add some seats that are 33% larger in an area on the plane. Hopefully on both sides for balance :) And then just charge 33% more for the larger seat.

[Free Raven]

I agree, maybe they should just put some normal sized seats in those things. Oh and remove a few rows while they are at it!

The problem stems from greedy airlines trying to cram as many people into one plane as possible which allows them to sell more tickets. They put smaller sized seats in the planes with as many rows as possible. I'm not fat but I am tall and the seating on airlines is horrible! What is wrong with simply having normal sized seats for crying out loud??? Most of the seats seem to be empty when I fly these days so it seems to be a good time to redesign the seating. It is also my understanding that tall persons may be charged double as well!

The airlines can go #### themselves. I hope these lawsuits go well!

[Hunble]

Perhaps they could just add some seats that are 33% larger in an area on the plane. Hopefully on both sides for balance :) And then just charge 33% more for the larger seat.

Correct answer.

Amazing how a free market can work, if given the chance.

[tonyinv]

All the airlines need to do is place a standard seat next to the checkin counter and have "people of size" sit.

Kinda like the "All Carry On Bags must fit in this space...", it would be "Your Fat Ass Must Fit in this Seat!"

Bravo to SW

[meowmeow]

Sounds like a good idea. On a flight from LA to DC, I sat next to a woman so large she could not lower her tray table and she was spilling over the arm rest into my middle seat. A co-worker was sitting across the isle and he said later that he kept looking over and couldn't see me at all.

[maxwell]

My wife is FAT! Seriously, when we fly, I demand that we both get isle seats, since I do not want to be stuck sitting next to her. When she "flowes" into my seat, it can be very annoying. But what is the alternative? If the airlines are going to charge her double, we simply could not afford the vacation. Should I tell my wife that I will take a skinny bimbo with me instead? Heck, for the extra airline price, I could hire a hooker and die with a smile on my face.

LMFAO!!!! Y'all are KILLING me here!

I don't know if you meant that to be funny dude but that is F***ING HILARIOUS...

[TexRef]

I'm not fat — I'm big boned!!!

[kemathen7]

I don't think its necessarily the airlines being greedy - they need to pack people in the plane like cattle just to break even. Like I said in an earlier post, United Airlines needs to sell 91% of seats on each flight to BREAK EVEN. Not even make a profit. Don't get me wrong - I'm not defending them. Obviously some bigger changes need to be made other than making customers pay for extra seats.

[RnMomof7]

I am fat (BTW 1500 calories I put on 1 pound every other week ..no kidding)..We always ask for seats with one window..that way only my husband that loves me is affected..But lets face it they have packed people into seats that are little more than baby car seats for years..this will now allow them to add one more row..

And no I will not fly if they made me buy 2 tickets..

[Lazamataz]

The cutoff should be if you need the seatbelt extender.

[Salgak]

Let's see. . .ever hear of the Federal Aviation Act of 1932 ? Or the Civil Rights act of 1963 ? Add in the Americans With Disabilities Act, and you've got the authority. The Aviation Act puts passenger aircraft in the realm of public accomidation, the Civil Rights Act prevents discrimination in public accomidation, and the ADA requires equal accomidation for those with a "disability". . .