The bottom line is this - If you "persons of size" don't fly Southwest - Great!
You pay more, suffer more delays and take longer to get where you need to go. Easy, right?
Then the rest of us flyers won't have to be encroached upon and everybody is happy.
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You folks that think the armrest criteria is the ONLY factor when being seated on a SWA aircraft are ignorant of the actual policy. Go to the SWA website and actually READ the policy. Not only does a person need to be able to deploy the armrest, they also must not encroach past it into any passengers space adjacent to them.
Trust me, you folks that have a problem with this (read: are obese) are not going to like where this goes. Ultimately, you will force airlines to set criteria, weigh you and measure you and charge you accordingly; perhaps by the pound/dimension. Better yet, PLEASE proceed with your boycott. I encourage you to do so. Why?
Because it means that first, you obese folks will be flying other airlines. That's great news because it allows those of us who don't wish to be crowded in the seats we paid for due to your condition. Second, PLEASE take a look at the fares from Burbank to Oakland for SWA with a 21 day advance purchase. SWA is $69-$89 one way, is always on a Boeing 737, the flight is about 45-50 minutes and you don't get charged for two checked bags up to 50 lbs.
Now, go try to book the flight on any other airline. The identical flight will cost you $125-$250, will take a LOT more time (American and Alaska airlines fly you to Portland, Oregon, first and their best time is 4.5 hours), you will pay for your bags and you just might get the luxury of flying on a much smaller commuter type aircraft. And so you know, the other airlines have similar policies, but they just don't have the balls to publish them on their website. That's a LOT of food money. Maybe even the entire cost of a gym membership or a trip to a nutritionist or doctor - each time you fly.
Kevin had purchased two tickets on his selected flights. He asked the gate attendants to allow him to fly standby on an earlier flight (standby implies it is a full aircraft and the gate attendants cannot guarantee available seating until almost immediately prior to gate departure as they have to compl;ete a head count). Kevin made it onto the aircraft, but it was determined due to his mass and girth, that it might be uncomfortable for adjacent passengers - or possibly a safety issue. The conclusion was to deplane him and allow him to fly on his original flight - or any other flight where more seating might be available.
And while you're on the SWA website getting educated about the actual policy - you'll note that if you do purchase two seats and there ends up being enough vacant seats that you wouldn't have been required to purchase one, you receive a refund for the second seat. None of the other airlines do that. So, the next time you want to fly on SWA - purchase the necessary second seat and hope the plane isn't that full. You will receive a refund coupon to present the flight attendant if there are extra seats on the plane. How much easier can that be? Simply acknowledge your condition, plan for it - and if it doesn't inconvenience anyone else on the aircraft, you get your money back!
What obese folks are asking for here is the ability to inconvenience others who paid for their seat and that such an accomodation should be made without any consideration on their part, for others on the aircraft.
Again, PLEASE boycott SWA. PAY twice as much or more on other airlines, stay longer in transit, enjoying lengthy layovers, your time on turboprops and all the other benefits you will reap due to your "stance". It will be worth it, now that all the "offended" people of size are flying on other airlines, to watch how quickly the respond with published policies like SWA's. AND how quickly passengers of normal size flock to SWA to avoid the cattle rush. which means quicker boarding and deplaning for SWA passengers, lower fuel costs - well, the benefit list just goes on and on.
Perhaps Michelle Obama should 'weigh in' on this issue. But as it stands now, those who find this policy "offensive" and threaten to boycott are suffering from an indignation that not only did they foist upon themselves and hope to shoulder on others - but will ultimately benefit SWA and will result in more far reaching accountability for their own obesity due to airlines implementing much more uniform policies regarding obese passengers.
Lastly, the DOT has ruled for SWA in every court case surrounding this issue. The law recognizes that when you purchase a ticket to fly on an aircraft - it is interpreted to mean one seat. If you don't want to run the risk of being asked to deplane - then take some responsibility and acknowledge how your obesity will affect other travelers and purchase a second seat. Problem solved. Why insist that the aircrew have to make decisions "on the fly" because you refuse to acknowledge reality and/or are a cheapskate trying to get more than you actually paid for.
... View more
You folks that think the armrest criteria is the ONLY factor when being seated on a SWA aircraft are ignorant of the actual policy. Go to the SWA website and actually READ the policy. Not only does a person need to be able to deploy the armrest, they also must not encroach past it into any passengers space adjacent to them.
Trust me, you folks that have a problem with this (read: are obese) are not going to like where this goes. Ultimately, you will force airlines to set criteria, weigh you and measure you and charge you accordingly; perhaps by the pound/dimension. Better yet, PLEASE proceed with your boycott. I encourage you to do so. Why?
Because it means that first, you obese folks will be flying other airlines. That's great news because it allows those of us who don't wish to be crowded in the seats we paid for due to your condition. Second, PLEASE take a look at the fares from Burbank to Oakland for SWA with a 21 day advance purchase. SWA is $69-$89 one way, is always on a Boeing 737, the flight is about 45-50 minutes and you don't get charged for two checked bags up to 50 lbs.
Now, go try to book the flight on any other airline. The identical flight will cost you $125-$250, will take a LOT more time (American and Alaska airlines fly you to Portland, Oregon, first and their best time is 4.5 hours), you will pay for your bags and you just might get the luxury of flying on a much smaller commuter type aircraft. And so you know, the other airlines have similar policies, but they just don't have the balls to publish them on their website. That's a LOT of food money. Maybe even the entire cost of a gym membership or a trip to a nutritionist or doctor - each time you fly.
Kevin had purchased two tickets on his selected flights. He asked the gate attendants to allow him to fly standby on an earlier flight (standby implies it is a full aircraft and the gate attendants cannot guarantee available seating until almost immediately prior to gate departure as they have to compl;ete a head count). Kevin made it onto the aircraft, but it was determined due to his mass and girth, that it might be uncomfortable for adjacent passengers - or possibly a safety issue. The conclusion was to deplane him and allow him to fly on his original flight - or any other flight where more seating might be available.
And while you're on the SWA website getting educated about the actual policy - you'll note that if you do purchase two seats and there ends up being enough vacant seats that you wouldn't have been required to purchase one, you receive a refund for the second seat. None of the other airlines do that. So, the next time you want to fly on SWA - purchase the necessary second seat and hope the plane isn't that full. You will receive a refund coupon to present the flight attendant if there are extra seats on the plane. How much easier can that be? Simply acknowledge your condition, plan for it - and if it doesn't inconvenience anyone else on the aircraft, you get your money back!
What obese folks are asking for here is the ability to inconvenience others who paid for their seat and that such an accomodation should be made without any consideration on their part, for others on the aircraft.
Again, PLEASE boycott SWA. PAY twice as much or more on other airlines, stay longer in transit, enjoying lengthy layovers, your time on turboprops and all the other benefits you will reap due to your "stance". It will be worth it, now that all the "offended" people of size are flying on other airlines, to watch how quickly the respond with published policies like SWA's. AND how quickly passengers of normal size flock to SWA to avoid the cattle rush. which means quicker boarding and deplaning for SWA passengers, lower fuel costs - well, the benefit list just goes on and on.
Perhaps Michelle Obama should 'weigh in' on this issue. But as it stands now, those who find this policy "offensive" and threaten to boycott are suffering from an indignation that not only did they foist upon themselves and hope to shoulder on others - but will ultimately benefit SWA and will result in more far reaching accountability for their own obesity due to airlines implementing much more uniform policies regarding obese passengers.
Lastly, the DOT has ruled for SWA in every court case surrounding this issue. The law recognizes that when you purchase a ticket to fly on an aircraft - it is interpreted to mean one seat. If you don't want to run the risk of being asked to deplane - then take some responsibility and acknowledge how your obesity will affect other travelers and purchase a second seat. Problem solved. Why insist that the aircrew have to make decisions "on the fly" because you refuse to acknowledge reality and/or are a cheapskate trying to get more than you actually paid for.
... View more
