Airline Defends Seat Policy To Fat Acceptance Group - Southwest Airlines Affirms Policy

KOAT ^

[chance33_98]

Airline Defends Seat Policy To Fat Acceptance Group
Southwest Airlines Affirms Policy
Posted: 6:03 p.m. EDT August 9, 2002

ATLANTA -- Officials from Southwest Airlines Friday affirmed their policy requiring passengers who fill more than one seat to buy a second.

Representatives of Dallas-based Southwest went before members of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance at the group's conference in Atlanta. Fort Worth-based American and Delta Air Lines also sent a customer service representative to the panel session.

The 22-year-old policy drew attention in June when Southwest switched to a new boarding card system. The carrier reminded agents that large customers needed to buy two seats.

Southwest says its policy is designed to make sure every customer has use of his or her entire seat. Southwest refunds the second-seat purchase when a flight is not oversold.

Critics contend gate agents enforce the policy arbitrarily and without sensitivity.

American Airlines also requires the purchase of a second seat for people who extend beyond their own. An American representative says the company doesn't make an issue of large passengers' seat arrangements unless another customer complains.

Delta Air Lines has no policy requiring a second seat purchase.

[sinkspur]

If you are going to have to pay more, you'd darn well better get more.

You do get more. An obese person gets more room with a second seat, and a fellow passenger gets all the room he bought, too.

This is not about "fat" people; it's about "obese" people who are forty or more pounds heavier than they ought to be.

I admire Southwest for taking the lead on this. They're in business to make money, not to cater to every politically correct group that waddles on an airplane.

[Jaidyn]

Thanks for the info. Also, I apologize if I offended you or any obese person. I was generalizing and didn't intend to put out anyone. I have a heavy sister who has thyroid problems. She is a wonderful sis and I wouldn't hurt her for the world! Her beauty is on the inside. That said, the guy who eats a dozen Big Macs in one sitting has an eating disorder and I sympathize, but he shouldn't expect favors at the public's expense. Mothers with tiny babies have to buy an extra seat for even short flights.

[Sonny M]

I know some freeper here is probably gonna flame me for being cruel, but several years ago I was on a flight. A large fat woman sat in the seat next to me. When she tried to lift the arm bar, I told her no, she complained that it was hurting her and at one point said something about lifting it anyway, I (not to nicely) told her that doing so "would not be wise". The whole flight, the arm bar stayed down, and did this whole Groaning thing like she was in extreme pain. Its not my problem, she should have bought an extra seat, I don't really have that problem anymore, now I usually just fly first class.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Oh, good, another thread where the smokers and boozers can tell us all how we should lead as healthy a lifestyle as they do. This is what I'd call a 'High Horse' thread, because most of the posters have corned the market on them.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

He dude, if you are obese that's your business. All we are asking is that you pay for the number of seats you occupy. Is that really so controversial?

BTW, Savage rules!

[chance33_98]

Smokers? Boozers? Where? :) I don't care how people live their life for the most part - I am overweight some and have paid extra for larger clothes in the past. I have worked and am working hard to 'downsize' - dropped several pant sizes this year alone and am looking good. No one made me fat, I did. And no one will make me thin but me. I could not in good conscience take up a seat an a half in an airplane and force someone beside me to suffer (I was not that big anyway, but had I been...). I do feel seat sizes are a bit small, but not because I am big - little legroom, etc. I drive anyway because I hate to fly, even when I go across country (I make California from ohio in 32-36 hours and the places to stop and see things make it all worth while).

[dcwusmc]

bump for something we can agree on! At last!

[supercat]

It would seem that if there are two or more "oversized" people on a flight, each pair of such people would use three seats. Thus, the maximum fair cost should be a 50% surcharge.

Secondly, if a passenger keeps the armrest down during the flight they should be charged for one seat. Likewise if they're flying with a companion who doesn't mind having it up (when my wife and I flew on Southwest, we'd put up the armrest; she didn't particularly 'intrude' into my space, but she was much more comfortable with it up. Since I liked being close to my Sweetie I didn't mind at all.)

If, as Southwest is stating, they only charge for the extra seat when the plane is full, perhaps they should inform large passengers that if the flight is full they will have three choices:

• Buy a second seat, to cover the cost of Southwest having to bump someone.
• Accept an uncompensated bump to a later, hopefully less-full, flight.
• Keep the armrest down during flight without complaint.

Depending upon circumstances, flyers might choose any one of the three choices.

BTW, how do these 'extra' seats fit in with the rules regarding nonrefundable tickets. If Joe Smith has a ticket for a particular flight which he will be unable to take, can he give it to Mary Johnson with instructions that while he will not be on the flight he wishes to have a seat dedicated to him (which he would be willing to have Mary encroach upon somewhat)?

[Tawiskaro]

Girls who eat sweets take up two seats.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

If I use fat text, will my ISP charge me more?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Airlines make money per seat, based on many factors, including the avg weight each seat contains when occupied, factored in with fuel costs, etc. This is how they know how much to charge. It's all tied in together. If someone requires two seats, then they pay for two seats. Go check out an airline, say - Delta, and look at their books from the previous year. Profits are based on Revenue passenger miles (per seat).

[robertpaulsen]

" including the avg weight each seat contains when occupied..."

So you're saying that skinny people subsidize fat people? That's fair?

[ofMagog]

Ah, if only they could charge obese women triple who marinate themselves in perfume...

[RedBloodedAmerican]

LOL! No I don't think that happens. But I guess Skinny folks are discriminated against, just like left-handed folks! They arrive at their fares by a complicated method of averaging number of seats, miles flown, etc...it is not an easy thing, and they go per-seat. So it only makes sense that they charge per seat.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Let them ride on the wing. Sometimes the odor is overwhelming.

[ofMagog]

Maybe if the airlines had a large sheepdip barrel at check-in...

[Publius6961]

This subject has been debated at length, but if the question has been asked, I missed the answer.
Wouldn't this become a non-issue if the arm rests were fixed?

[Publius6961]

It sure is nice of you to define their business model for them.
I have a better one.

Let them decide how to run their business, and if you don'r fit, fly "Oink" Airlines.

[Publius6961]

airlines seats have gotten so narrow that airlines may see this as an excuse to make them even narrower---

You must be part of the problem, or you wouldn't be changing the subject.
How did I guess?

[sinkspur]

But, airlines seats have gotten so narrow that airlines may see this as an excuse to make them even narrower.

And, for some strange reason, my pants keep shrinking, too!