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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 1 of 23)
Nick Nov 23rd 2009 7:38PM
While Southwest made a very practically correct decision, the otherwise people-friendly airline just bought itself some unneeded negative PR. Maybe they should gift him something creative and special (apart from the mandatory refund) to try and win the man and his family back.
Courtney Nov 25th 2009 7:07AM
Why should they do this?
Not an easy answer Nov 25th 2009 8:11AM
Yesterday I flew on airline (not Southwest) and the person in the seat next to mine was a big person. It was an awkward situation. I was was physically uncomfortable for the entire flight. She appeared uncomfortable as well. While I am sensitive to her situation, I believe the burden falls to the airline and the overweight flyer to resolve the situation. I don't think that, I as a non-overweight customer should be (by default) asked to seek assistance after boarding the plane in order to address the situation. I know it's awkward and not easy, but regardless of the cause, airline staff and the overweight flyer have to accept the responsibility for dealing with the situation professionally and before boarding.
customer Nov 25th 2009 8:18AM
yep! in future may be we have to maintain a 30" waste to get in any places like restaurents, movie theaters etc. you have to give mandatory TIPs for getting served. what else? in future may be we have to be perfect to live in this world like some robots- not some innocent human beings.
Tired of FAT people Nov 28th 2009 9:29AM
Why should ANYONE have to pay for this guys PORK
sharon Nov 25th 2009 8:41AM
Obese people need to incur the additional costs of a second seat. I have had several flights where large people just take over the arm rest and my seat, without any consideration for my comfort. They put themselves in this situation by overeating, and should pay the additional cost. Good for Southwest!
susan Nov 25th 2009 9:37AM
Better yet why didnt they see if there was a child on the flight (parent nearby of course) who would allow him to sit there. How about asking the other people on the flight if one person would might being a bit "closer" to someone who really needed to get to their destination. This is why i NEVER fly SW airlines...they really dont have ANY flexability in their "friendly" rules. Do they ask the person who smells to get off? No cause i sit next to those folks every day. Fat folks are an easy target. Bet they would not do that to a pro football player!
Cubroncs03 Nov 25th 2009 1:42PM
Do what? Bar him from a flight? Because he's huge. He made the decision to not do anything about his weight, now he's paying the price for his actions. Put down the fork and get on the treadmill, because Southwest has every right to make you buy an extra seat for your massive ass.
Stan Nov 23rd 2009 8:52PM
I know, I know...... all the porkers will write about genetics and heredity bla.. bla ....bla....... and if you put them on a diet of 1800 calories/day they will scream malnutrition. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
psoasminor Nov 24th 2009 4:04AM
gift can be used a verb too!
i love it when people incorrectly correct people.
QG Nov 25th 2009 8:51AM
Gift can be used a verb too...
That isn't even a proper sentence, since you like correcting ppl so much.
Stan Nov 25th 2009 10:16AM
Thanks QG
auntab Nov 25th 2009 11:09AM
god stan, you know what, i truly feel badly for your family (assuming someone would have you)...sounds to me like you'd be a bigot as well...and just for your edification you can be a bigot of many things, not just against a person of color which most people think...i dont even know you, but after reading your comments I am very thankful that i dont..you dont sound like someone i would pick for a friend or anything else for that matter.
Stan Nov 25th 2009 12:05PM
My sincere apologies to all that I have offended, I should have been more sensitive. I'm so sorry.
Auntab, I'm am not bigot by any means, its just that I have a short fuse for undisciplined people with with phony excuses.
cblock2 Nov 23rd 2009 8:58PM
Southwest couldn't have simply asked for a volunteer to take the next flight and free up a 2nd seat? I'm sure that under the circumstances they could have found someone willing to take a later flight.
It's always amazed me how Southwest can so often have customer-friendly policies and yet in the execution of those policies be so customer-unfriendly.
And BTW, "gift" is a noun, not a verb...
james Nov 24th 2009 4:02AM
I see so much positivity with this post. Hopefully the fat man will be more motivated to care for his life and lost some weight.
marenseven Nov 25th 2009 7:18AM
gift can be used as a verb
edel Soledad Ritter Nov 25th 2009 7:32AM
There is no reason at all to be ThaT FAT. But most if fat people do not have brains. JUST START to eat less.
Linda Nov 25th 2009 8:37AM
By the way, "gift" can also be a verb. Check your sources!
K S Nov 25th 2009 8:52AM
Did you read the article? There was no next (or alternative flight). I pay for
a seat and I don't want someone taking up his seat and half of mine (it has
happened in the past) unless that person reimburses me for the half of
my seat he uses.