Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
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.
Gallery: Ten pilots you don't want in your cockpit
Gallery: The best from the weird and wacky world of tourist complaints
Filed under: North America, United States, Airlines, News
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 23)
Kay Nov 30th 2009 12:58AM
If you poke people with your nose, it's time to stop being a hippocrit!!!!
Georgette Nov 25th 2009 7:40AM
Place the blame where it belongs - on the airline. If airlines weren't so greedy to squeeze every last penny of profit, they would build seats that were wide and long enough to fit all people. Even slender people have problems with the seats that were built to accomodate only anorexic dwarfs. By building seats that are too small the result is discomfort for all and embarassment for the obese population.
anna Nov 25th 2009 9:41AM
What exactly do you mean by "slender people"? Most of us up to around size 14 are ok with the seats the way they are. I wouldn't call someone who's size 10 an "anorexic dwarf", nor would I call such person "slender" (not to mean they can't be good-looking and in good shape - quite the opposite). I'm afraid your perception of reasonable weight is a bit off. Try going to a big city where people walk in the streets, or overseas, just to see that the majority of people actually fit in regular seats without any problems. And running an airline is an expensive business; you really don't want them to save money on airplane maintenance and pilot training to install bigger seats, do you?
Kay Nov 30th 2009 1:31AM
Anna,
W\hat doctor are you of?
Oh, o.k.
Southwest Passenger Nov 25th 2009 7:59AM
Let's face it. America is getting bigger and airline & venue seats aren't. I'm a size 16 one size over the average size of an American woman, I am VERY uncomfortable in most venue seats. I'm okay in airline seats if the other passengers in my row are of normal size. The problem stems from when you get three large people in one row. The venues and airlines are only trying to maximize profits. I agree they should have a few larger seats on planes and of course charge more of them, but have them!! Apparently there IS a need! I fly Southwest all the time, not only because of price but because of their great service! Honestly I would hope they would have figured out this situation a bit better but it seems they couldn't ask for a volunteer to take the next flight because there was none!
Randall Feb 15th 2010 1:53PM
A few larger seats and charge more for them? Umm, you mean like first class seats?
BuddAlden Nov 25th 2009 7:42AM
Exercise, diet and discipline. Let's help our larger friends avoid this terrible situation in the first place. An eating disorder is as bad as drug addiction.
bwahahaha Nov 25th 2009 7:49AM
Surprisingly, there are those of us who make the effort to control our body weight....we don't eat three whole chickens and a dozen donuts for dinner every day, and we exercise muscles other than the ones used to operate a remote control. We're conscious of the ill effects of obesity, like diabetes, heart attack, etc., costs that weigh heavily (no pun intended) on the insurance rates that healthy people pay. Remarkably, we're not often sitting in a doctor's office, either - or a lawyer's office, trying to get social security disability payments because we're too fat to move anymore. Obesity is a totally self-inflicted "disability", and there's absolutely no reason why an airline - or anyone else, for that matter - should have to make special accomodations for those who refuse to help themselves. As a very frequent flier, I've had innumerable flights of misery when seated next to someone whose bulk spilled across three seats - and I fully support the airlines' right to refuse passage for these people unless a) they purchase adequate seating space and b) such seating is actually available on the flight.
Krista Kinard Nov 25th 2009 12:17PM
I am a slender person who travels whenever I can for pleasure. You only point out overweight people. It is like you have unresolved anger issues that have nothing to do with someones weight. It seems your life is need of blaming other people for everything.
Goodness sakes I have had babies kicking my seat entire flights just to keep the parents happy. Guys putting their nasty socked feet on the arm of my seat, and the list goes on and and on................. .Get over yourself!
SUSAN Nov 25th 2009 7:46AM
I fly Southwest all the time. No problem. However, for this person to miss his family's funeral is a deep error, let alone defamation of character. This was inconsiderate of Southwest.
pam Nov 25th 2009 7:46AM
What about the "normal" weight person who is taller than average and takes up leg room or the "normal" weight person whose shoulders are wider than their seat and the person next to them ends up with a shoulder in the side of their head for the entire flight. Or try being the middle seat between two people who each claim both of the armrests and whose shoulders impinge on your seat? I flew across the country with a man whose shoulders took up several inches of my seat and whose long leg took up my leg room and to make matters worse he fell asleep and trapped my shoulder under his. Tried waking him up - never stirred. Attendant said "Sorry, but the plane is full, you'll have to make the best of it." Maybe the airlines need to do something about tall and wide-shouldered people too.
Joe Nov 25th 2009 7:52AM
Am I overweight? no, not at all. I do have something to say to all the people who are crying about having to deal with overweight people in some way or another. I have no doubt there are some cases that were truly very hard to deal with for any number od reason but for the most I believe they are people who can't stand to look at a fat person much less have anything to do with them. For all of you liek that, I honestly hope that you, your mate or someone very close to you that you love comes down with some kind of thing that makes them gain weight and plenty of it. It would serve you right to have to take care of someone like that for the rest of their life! Of course, we all know you never would though, you'd find SOME reaosn to turn your back and walk away. You people are so petty and so completely stuck on yourself it's not funny at all. I'd take a plane load of fat people than people like this that will only care for what THEY feel and see.
anna Nov 25th 2009 9:41AM
Joe, there are very few comments in which people show they dislike those who are overweight. All we dislike is when someone very overweight is spilling into someone else's seat. If overweight people want some dignity, they should behave with dignity. They should acknowledge their condition and accommodate themselves accordingly - and everyone would respect them for this. Just like people who are caughing are expected to cover their caugh, and parents with small kids are expected to do what it takes to keep the child entertained and quiet throughout the flight. But too many overweight people seem to expect others to accommodate them.
willy Nov 25th 2009 7:52AM
Who cares? This may possibly motivate him to drop some pounds so his funeral is not in the next several months.
Lynn Fischer Nov 25th 2009 7:52AM
Being rude to the overweight isn't justified even though we all pay for their misuse of food. Automobiles, tires, seats, chairs, floors, toilets, tubs, doorways, floors, planes, busses, trains, beds, hotels and hospitals have all had to be reconfigured to accomodate the overweight at a heafty cost passed on to the rest of us. In addition we who are not fat are forced to help financially subsidize the overweight's medical care, operations, prescriptions, insurance, missed work, avoidable diabetes (and 50 some other diseases), wheelchairs (which aren't really free), along with hundreds of others costs the rest of us wouldn't have if the overweight either took care of their emotional problem or ate moderately. One shouldn't "boo" the overweight but one should not excuse them either.
Jan Nov 25th 2009 7:53AM
I once got to my seat on a flight with Southwest from New York to Florida and found that a very large man was not only sitting in his seat, but taking up half of my seat as well. On my other side was a woman with a small dog in a crate at her feet. I had to sit on my side the whole 3 hour flight.
Now that I've shared that, the problem that has to be addressed are the airlines and their attempt to cram as many people as possible onto every flight to maximize the dollars they earn for every flight. Here in the U.S. people are getting bigger and fatter, these industries need to realize this and get a grip on themselves. Care a little about people's comfort and safety, and behave like a human beings and not get cheap thrills out of humiliating a large person at a ticket counter.
We go through a lengthy ID and screening process before being allowed to buy a ticket, why not add a question about any needs or desires for accomodations for size or disability?
Worf101 Nov 25th 2009 7:55AM
Believe it or not I'm stuck on both sides of the question. While my stomach and rear fit into a Southwest coach seat just fine, my shoulders (Football and Military Service) are wide, massive and muscular. So while I can sit my butt in the seat I usually spend the whole flight leaning my shoulders in the aisle getting struc by the trolly dollys all night long. Business and first class would solve my problem but I'm a working man not a Shiek.
Worf
C.L. Nov 25th 2009 7:57AM
Finally, an airline willing to stand up for those of us that are not obese. If you are obese, and you don't want to pay for the extra seat to keep your fat from infringing on the person next to you, then lose some weight!
Mike Nov 25th 2009 8:02AM
It is about time! I've had to sit next to overweight people before and it is totally unfair. One time it was obvious that the person had not bathed in long time and had incredibly bad body odor. She was morbidly obese, smelled and took up part of my seat. She weighed more than all of my bags put together. If the rest of us have to pay extra for overweight bags then these fat and inconsiderate people should have to pay extra for two seats. If they don't care about their own health why should we be sympathetic about their "problem?" Sell them a ticket and put them in cargo with the suitcases!
Russ Nov 25th 2009 9:09AM
If your bag is over by 2 pounds, you get charged for overweight bag. Harsh, but does anyone get upset? No, you just take a few pounds out of the bag if you can and make it proper.
I am pretty sure than a fork has never entered anyone's mouth by accident or mistake. I have heard of waterboarding but never foodboarding. This is something one can control and to the rest of us that do control our forks, it is simply not fair.
I keep a can of fart spray on me at all times. I enjoy the smell and frankly cannot stop smelling it......similar to a fat one who cannot stop eating and making the rest of us suffer.
Amen to SW Airlines. Well done.