02-15-2010
06:16 PM
So, what is the objective standard for weight? I'm 250 lbs, but over 6'2". I've never heard of an airline apologizing for not providing leg room, but that's another issue. I can lower the armrests (as could Kevin Smith), and I am as competant to act in an emergency as any other passenger. Oh, and I shower everyday, brush my teeth, use deoderant, wear clean clothes etc so I don't smell! I'll be sitting next to my petite wife on the flight anyway.
I'm holding a ticket for an SWA flight in a couple of months. It has never occurred to me that I could be removed from a flight, and it has never ever been an issue as far as I knew. I sent an e-mail to SWA when the Kevin Smith story broke asking for their objective standard (e.g. height to weight ratio, waiste size, etc,), but so far no response. I had to provide the date and flight number, so now I'm thinking I'm a marked man for raising the issue.
Okay, I promise I won't ever fly SWA again if they don't want me, but what is the risk I will be ejected from my upcoming flight? It seems to me that without an objective standard, SWA is setting itslelf up for a lawsuit. I'm not worried about discrimination (if I were disabled and fat, I would ask for a "reasonable accommodation"). If I miss a business meeting because I'm too fat, but my fatter (yet less qualified) competitor is allowed to on the same common carrier airline and gets a contract because I wasn't allowed to fly, aren't there some damages here?
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02-15-2010
06:11 PM
So, what is the objective standard for weight? I'm 250 lbs, but over 6'2". I've never heard of an airline apologizing for not providing leg room, but that's another issue. I can lower the armrests, and I am as competant to act in an emergency as any other passenger. Oh, and I shower everyday, brush my teeth, use deoderant, wear clean clothes etc so I don't smell! I'll be sitting next to my petite wife on the flight anyway.
I'm holding a ticket for an SWA flight in a couple of months. It has never occurred to me that I could be removed from a flight, and it has never ever been an issue as far as I knew. I sent an e-mail to SWA when the Kevin Smith story broke asking for their objective standard (e.g. height to weight ratio, waiste size, etc,), but so far no response. I had to provide the date and flight number, so now I'm thinking I'm a marked man for raising the issue.
Okay, I promise I won't ever fly SWA again if they don't want me, but what is the risk I will be ejected from my upcoming flight? It seems to me that without an objective standard, SWA is setting itslelf up for a lawsuit. I'm not worried about discrimination (if I were disabled and fat, I would ask for a "reasonable accommodation"). If I miss a business meeting because I'm too fat, but my fatter (yet less qualified) competitor is allowed to on the same common carrier airline and gets a contract because I wasn't allowed to fly, aren't there some damages here?
... View more