Gosh, how could Southwest possibly fly professional football and basketball players? Many of them---especially football players---are far to large to conform with Southwest and other US airline standards regarding passenger size. Perhaps Southwest just kicks off fat people who appear to be unknowns.
Every time planes are remodeled US airline companies seem to reduce the passenger space in coach a little more. Meanwhile, Americans are getting larger. At the same time, they develop more and more ways to charge passengers extra after the passengers are hooked to non-refundable tickets. With all the hassles airlines are giving customers, is it any wonder they are losing customers. It gets easier and faster to ride trains and buses every year. Amtrak doesn't frisk you nor pat you down or charge you for extra bags or leave you sitting in a cramped up position without a bathroom or food for hours and hours or kick you off after they have taken your money because you are fat or make you sit in a seat 14 inches wide with only 15 inches of knee room or subject you to body scan ex-rays or take your toothpaste away from you or change your schedule at the last minute so you miss your arrival time or do any of a hundred other insulting and rude things you have to suffer to fly.
By the way Southwest and other commerical airline executives in America, you should take a trip in coach on Singapore Airline to see how a quality airline operation provides space and service for its customers. Alaska Air is the only US company I have found that comes even remotely close to Singapore for service and even Alaska's First Class Accommodations are only about equal to those that Singapore provides in coach. But, then, Singapore doesn't spend two-thirds of its gross income on executive salaries and bonuses so it can afford to treat passengers better.
The best way to deal with irrational airline policies or rude treatment is to simply publicize it widely and encourage others to refuse to use their services. Over 25 years ago United Airline employees treated my wife and I badly on several different trips. I wrote long complaints to the company on two separate dates and called to complain without success. I included a promise that if the company did not address my concern, I would stop using United Airline. When I received no response, I advised all the people I managed that I would not sign a travel authorization on United unless there was absolutely no other alternative, and I have stuck with that for over 25 years. I imagine United has lost well over $200,000 in travel as a result. Not a large amount for United, but I assume that thousands of others in the country have taken similar action and contributed to United's financial failure.
I suggest that heavy people who are abused by airlines pass the information along the internet, and all other fat people avoid buying tickets on the offending airlines. Maybe eventually airlines who value customers will begin to provide considerate space and service to all customers.....not just skinny ones and kids.
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