Posted on 08/09/2002 5:24:19 PM PDT by 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.
LOL. No, I meant for a check on your malnutrition, if you can fit into a six-INCH seat!
It would, but oftentimes passengers, even those who are not overweight, enjoy being able to put them up if there is nobody in the seat next to them to object (either because the seat is vacant, or because they have a travelling companion such as a spouse who they know will not object). I have on a number of occasions used up all three seats on a row when I decided to take a nap. Such a thing would not be possible were the armrests fixed.
I am six foot eight inches tall and weigh 270 pounds.
Want to meet to discuss this further?
Barely.
But, when they put those TV sets on the ceiling, no. ;-)
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