Someone said--"I have to wonder how many of these are bona fide...And how many are the same person posting over and over. Have they really ever had to spend a 4 hour flight crammed next to someone taking up part of their seat? Doubt it ever happened. If it did, they are candidates for sainthood."
You know, I've been saying I should be considered for sainthood for years, but apparently you have to perform three miracles and be gruesomely killed. Or at least dead. So for now, I'll settle for 'respectful decent human being'.
I did post previously (about flying to Amsterdam next to a very overweight person) but only the once. It most certainly happened and was indeed quite uncomfortable. It was also longer than four hours, as Seattle -> Minneapolis -> Amsterdam in a DC-10 is more like a 12? 14? hour flight. I didn't take any of the free drinks because I didn't want to try to climb over this sleeping person to go to the bathroom. The thing is, it ALWAYS sucks to have to worry about climbing over people. It sucks to share a row with someone. It sucks to NOT share a row with someone. I just flew a very long way only a couple of weeks ago, and there was nobody in the seat next to me, but do you think I managed to get comfortable enough to have a nap? Indeed not, sir, because airline seats are gruesomely uncomfortable and that's just that.
And it was most certainly bona fide when I said it would not have occurred to me that my discomfort for a limited amount of time would be so important as to infringe on the right of some other person to use a ticket she had purchased, to get where she needed to go. Maybe she was going home to see her family. Maybe she had a job interview. Maybe she was on vacation. Who knows? These are /people/, with lives and feelings and stuff they need to get done, and being petty about a stupid few inches of seating is incredibly entitled and selfish.
Kit, aka the Blessed Saint Millicent the Worshipful, from now on. Patron saint of people who hate flying?
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News flash: FLYING IS UNCOMFORTABLE. It's not pleasant. This is true regardless of who is sitting next to you, in front of you, behind you, or across the aisle. So? Flying is an unpleasant experience that requires a measure of politeness, empathy and compassion from EVERYONE, passengers and crew alike. A coach ticket entitles you to get from point A to point B within a certain time frame and without actual physical harm. It does not entitle you to good movies, good food, or the ability to stretch out your legs comfortably. It would be nice if it did, but it doesn't. I 'inconvenience' other passengers by needing to make use of the 'barf bag' every other flight, because I get miserably airsick. If you think vomit is less gross than sitting by a big person, you have issues.
I'm a thinner-than-average woman who does not take up much space and usually gets 2 weeks worth of stuff into one school-sized backpack. (I have never been offered a discounted fare, by the way, for using less space or weight or fuel than the 'average' passenger, do will happily donate that which is unused to anyone who requires it). Most of my flying is translatlantic these days, though I used to fly SW quite frequently to California and had not ever realized a policy like this existed.
I once flew from Seattle to Amsterdam crammed into the corner window seat in a tiny DC-10, next to an extremely overweight Dutch woman who went to sleep moments after the flight started. It was uncomfortable, I admit--so what did I learn from it? I now make sure to take an aisle seat. End of story. The idea that this woman would not have the exact same right as me to use a ticket whch she had bought and paid for, and to reach her destination and conduct her business exactly the same as me, did not and would not ever have occurred to me, because it's utterly ridiculous.
But hey, if you're that worried about sitting next to a fatty, you can sit by me next time. I'll try not to throw up on you.
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Kevins Response:
http://silentbobspeaks.com/?p=393
Make it 'right'
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02-16-2010
04:58 AM
1 Love
I have been seated next to people who encroach on my seat and it made me miserable, claustrophobic, uncomfortable and I also felt unsafe w/lack of mobility.
If you cannot fit in a seat without encroaching on mine, i see NO problem with requiring you to occupy two seats.
Sorry if this hurts your feelings, but I have a right to 100% of the seat I purchased, without having to rub against you in my own seat!!!!
BRAVO to Southwest Airlines!!!!
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02-16-2010
04:57 AM
1 Love
I have been seated next to people who encroach on my seat and it made me miserable, claustrophobic, uncomfortable and I also felt unsafe w/lack of mobility.
If you cannot fit in a seat without encroaching on mine, i see NO problem with requiring you to occupy two seats.
Sorry if this hurts your feelings, but I have a right to 100% of the seat I purchased, without having to rub against you in my own seat!!!!
BRAVO to Southwest Airlines!!!!
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02-15-2010
04:56 PM
He sat in the seat and put the armrests down.
This post is pretty pathetic.
Do I trust a giant corporation or a lousy filmmaker? I'll trust Kevin Smith's word over SWA's.
I just flew from Little Rock, AR yesterday and my brother is larger than Kevin Smith and he did just fine.
WTF SWA?
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They should think about replacing these 737's with Airbuses which would accomodate the same number of people, and be more green, also the Airbus is cheaper to maintain too.
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Given the fact that Southwest employees are among the highest paid in the industry and that the company has the longest record of profitability and stability, I'm surprised that Frontier employees would be so thrilled about the news of being purchased by a less stable and reliable airline. I was also surprised to see a quote in the Republic press release that said "Now, we have to turn our attention to the important work of integrating two great brands: Frontier and Midwest Airlines, which enjoy strong loyalty in Denver and Milwaukee.” That doesn't make it sound like Frontier will be staying the same old Frontier, as many of the Frontier employees have said they expected. I'm guessing there will be many challenges ahead, but it will be interesting. I wish all the employees well...and good luck. This industry needs it.
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Noooooooooo! Hope all turns out well for both airlines, but what a bummer.
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I'm not upset by this news, but in the long run, I think F9 Employees may have regrets.
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The person who suggested that Environmentalist should be upset about Southwest obviously didn’t see the environmental study that came out last week from Green American, a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to creating a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. Southwest Airlines received the best environmental score with a B+. United was among the worst with an F. Frontier was not on the list.
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"Republic is just financial help to get Frontier out of bankrupcy." I didn't realize that Republic was a non-profit philanthropic agency? Since when do companies just give out money to "help."
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I wonder why F9 employees believe Republic is such a good option and Southwest such a bad one. If we have another dip in the economy, or another rise in fuel costs, or both, Southwest is much better prepared to weather the storm.
A Southwest acquisition will undoubtedly result in more change for the F9 folks, but when you're in bankruptcy, change might be the best thing.
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A couple of misspelled words may have revealed an earlier commentors carelessness, poor typing skills, or inability to spell.
Your calling him/her out on it and then dismissing his/her opinion just because of it, simply reveals you to be a complete jerk.
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does anyone else find it ironic that f9 employees are coming to this site to brag about themselves and insult swa and then have the nerve to call swa employees trashy or smug? the anger seems misdirected. everuyone seems to agree that f9 has been a good airline (even though they've had poor management and bancrupsy). don't tarnish your good image (or legacy) with bad behavior now.
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"F9's share has continued to grow even after WN arrival."
I believe that's called "the southwest effect."
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11-12-2008
12:05 PM
7 Loves
I think Gary is doing a great job, and I have a lot of faith in his leadership. With the crazy circumstances of the last decade, name another carrier that has weathered this storm as well? So many comments have been critical of our leadership, but I fail to see where they have steered us so wrong. As for flying our own metal and crews on international routes or not “trusting our own Employees” – no one is saying we can’t or won’t some day, only that this is the most prudent route at this juncture. And things change. If there's anything we know about this business it's that things change. Yes, other airlines are doing it, but how profitably? My guess is that one of the reasons they are doing it is because they can’t compete with us on more domestic routes. If you’re so envious of their position, perhaps you should go work for them. Oh, wait, they’re not hiring. Honestly, you all sound like ignorant, insolent brats. I am very thankful that it’s Gary Kelly running this company, and not some of you.
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