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Overweight man barred from flight, misses uncle's funeral
Okamoni Fa flies a lot, and says that despite weighing 400 pounds he's never had to buy a second seat like some overweight passengers.Until, that is, he really needed to get somewhere fast.
The San Jose man bought a last-minute ticket from Southwest Airlines to attend his uncle's funeral, but when he arrived at the ticket counter the agent looked at him and told him he needed to buy a second seat. The problem was, the flight was fully booked, and apparently there were no alternative flights. That left Mr. Fa stranded and he missed the funeral.
There's been a lot of debate about the policy of charging overweight passengers for a second seat. Southwest says that if a passenger can't put down the armrests without encroaching on their neighbors' space then they need to buy another seat. If the flight isn't oversold, Southwest says they refund the extra charge.
In this case, Southwest has said they will refund Mr. Fa for the one seat he did buy, but wasn't allowed to use.
That's cold comfort for him. He wasn't able to join his family in their time of mourning and must now be wondering what the ticket agent will say the next time he tries to board a plane.
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Filed under: North America, United States, Airlines, News
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 23)
Candy Nov 25th 2009 8:10AM
I am an overweight woman. I do fit comfortably in my seat, but I have seen others who do not. If I were to gain weight and could not fit into my seat, I would want to purchase the 2nd seat, not only for my comfort, but for the person sitting next to me. Even though I am heavy, I agree that the man should not be allowed to make others uncomfortable. He should have purchased 2 seats right the start, then he wouldn't have had this problem. Overweight people should not blame others for their physical ailment.
anna Nov 25th 2009 9:40AM
Thank you, Candy, for a sane post. I totally agree. After all, it's not about discrimination or dislike, but about inconvenience to others. No inconvenience=no worry.
Carmen Nov 25th 2009 6:57AM
Thank you South West for standing up for the common passanger. If you are that large, you should know that 2 seats are required. Why should the person seating next to you be "forced" into that uncomfortable position due to your weight problem? Just buy the extra seat, since you require that space.
Other people do not want your body up against them during the flight and encroaching their ability to relax. So to all large people, become more considerate to others!
libslie13 Nov 25th 2009 6:59AM
LOSE SOME WEIGHT
Great1 Nov 25th 2009 7:04AM
I am fat, and have flown a lot ,and only experience this once. The problem is the sets are just to small but the seats in first class are normal. We are shuttled like
cattle in small cabins with crying babies, bad odors, tight asles, and small bathrooms. Planes need to be designed for comfort since they are stealing money for bags and other basic things.
anna Nov 25th 2009 9:40AM
Why are you so negative towards airlines? Maintaining airplanes is not cheap, and then there's fuel, personnel salaries, etc. They are not swimming in cash. You just acknowledged that seats in first class are ok - fly first clall then, if you want comfort. But those of us who just want to get to our destination fast (as opposed to spending a day or two driving) simply want to have the full space of the seat we paid for. We don't mind crying babies, as long as they don't interfere with safety of others.
lex Nov 25th 2009 7:06AM
obviously, someone morbidly obese would want another seat for their comfort, as well as the comfort of those around him/her. but in the case of a family emergency, airlines may need to overlook some of their "policies", and make accomidations. it may not seem fair to "normal" size people, but if put yourself in someone elses shoes for a moment, you will realize you would want the same courtesy. we wouldnt discount someone beacuse they were a dif color from us, so why discount someone beacuse they are a dif size. life is hard enough for people who have weight issues, and who the hell are we to judge them. just beacuse we think it is their fault. this man should have been allowed to fly, the airline could have figured it out.
Belle Nov 25th 2009 7:18AM
When I fly, I pay for my seat. During that time that seat is my "personal space".
Yet it is often overflown into by the person on one or the other side of me. Never
has that person "asked" to invade my space or apologised for it. To people that are overweight and flow into anothers seat it is a given that that is their right as we should not persecute them for their weight issues. This happens in sports venues as well as airplanes. It is very uncomfortable to be rubbing legs and arms with someone you have never met for hours on end just because they happen to be obese. Not at all fair to the person (me) next to them who has paid for an "entire" seat. Not to mention YUCK.
Randall Feb 15th 2010 1:52PM
OMG, you actually had to touch one of THEM! Maybe you should make the airline pay for therapy bills.
Gretchen Nov 25th 2009 7:14AM
Southwest's policies are enforced at the airline's whim and are totally inconsistent. I'm overweight and always buy a second seat voluntarily; I've never requested nor do I expect a refund for the seat. Last year, when Southwest overbooked a flight, they forced me to surrender the extra seat I'd bought AND they told me I'd violated their conditions of carriage by purchasing an extra seat "for my own comfort." The "customer service" agent told me, "What if everyone bought an extra seat for comfort? Our planes would be half full." No, I couldn't understand that remark, either. So don't blame the person encroaching on your seat -- she may have tried to do the right thing and was punished for it.
crksr Nov 25th 2009 7:14AM
Lose the fat or, pay double.! Another fact of life.
doug Nov 25th 2009 7:17AM
Wouldn't it be nice if airlines made the seats a little wider, but nooooooo they cram you in a cattle car extracting the last ittsy bittsy bit of space to to make a profit.
anna Nov 25th 2009 9:40AM
Fly first class. Seats there are wider. But most of us are ok with the regular seats, as long as nobody's spilling over.
Kay Nov 30th 2009 1:30AM
Don't turn to your right or left, your nose might poke somebody's eye out.
SANDY Nov 25th 2009 7:25AM
A 400 LB MAN SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED 2 SEATS IF HE WAS GOING TO FLY....FOR HIS OWN COMFORT,IF NOTHING ELSE.
Vinnie Nov 25th 2009 7:28AM
It's always amazing how crewl people can be to each other.
Brandy Hillis Nov 25th 2009 7:28AM
I believe they should install a few bigger seats for overweight people and let them know it will be a little extra on airfare for them, or at least let it be fully known that if you are overweight prices are higher, rather than not only inconvenience the person when they arrive plus cause embarrassment on their behalf, im not overweight myself, but i strongly feel this is unappropriate plus very rude!
jim Nov 25th 2009 7:30AM
i am a fat guy, 390-400 lbs, i always buy two seats or fly 1st class, he knew that the policy is in place but just thought it did not apply to him... now that being said once i get two seats, i am always telling people to get out of my extra seat its mine whether my butt is in the seat or just crowding it from the side, i don't care if you dont mind sitting so close ...i do
plus i find it worst when i have someone that dosn't believe i showering prior to flying
nflpooh Nov 25th 2009 7:32AM
Airlines should absolutely have some larger seats and charge accordingly. I feel bad for the obese but there is no reason to make other people suffer for your weight. They paid for their seat for their own use not for you to seat on top of them. If you cannot sit with the armrests down and the plane is booked then when you paid for your single seat that you knew would not fit you why didn't you buy the second seat. Because you said oh well I'll just flab over into the seat that someone else paid for. And all you fat people want to say that everyone else is rude and nasty, they wouldn't be if you didn't sit on them, you expect others to say well they couldn't help it because they are fat, yes they could help it they are the ones that raised that hand to their mouths no one force fed them. Get over it and pay for two seats from the beginning and you won't miss your flight.
Chris Nov 25th 2009 7:38AM
Southwest was perhaps a bit heavy handed in denying a seat however I do agree that the comfort of the neighboring passengers should be considered as well. We as a society need to send a message that as a population we've become way too fat and people need to take responsibility. If you can't look down and see your toes, its time to waddle off to the gym.