Continental's Policy on Large Pooh Sized Customers of Size

[seashoreCM]

. They offered me $50 travel voucher "for my inconvenience" and I turned it down,

At that moment they just got away with not having to pay anything for what they did to a passenger.

(Re-read the earlier posts and edited this to add: Had you never been given your own seat on the flight then ... ) better, given what you described as their final response, to counteroffer with a suggested larger compensation,writing to the top and/or using small claims court if needed, then use the compensation, and then quietly not fly them again.

Corporations must bring a lawyer to all court proceedings, even small claims court. There is an excellent chance the airline upon receiving a summons, will ante up a $400. voucher to induce you to withdraw the case, especially when they did not follow their own rules.

 

[ducklite]

At that moment they just got away with not having to pay anything for what they did to a passenger.

Better, given what you described as their final response, to counteroffer with a suggested larger compensation,writing to the top and/or using small claims court if needed, then use the compensation, and then quietly not fly them again.

Corporations must bring a lawyer to all court proceedings, even small claims court. There is an excellent chance the airline upon receiving a summons, will ante up a $400. voucher to induce you to withdraw the case, especially when they did not follow their own rules.

I don't want money. I don't want a voucher. I just want them to give me a full seat if I pay for a full seat. I don't think taking them to small claims court will make a bit of difference to them. I'd rather get a bunch of people in teh same boat together and file a class-action suit against them to get them to wake up.

They should very specifically put on their web site that if you can't fit in your seat with the armrest down and without oozing into the seat next to you, that you will be required to buy a full fare ticket or be taken off the plane. If they would actually enforce this so that people of size would see it in the news and wise up, it might get the point across.

I paid for a fuill seat, I'm going to use a full seat, and I'm going to do it on a carrier who buys into this policy rather than putting it on the web for the sake of taking up bandwidth.

Anne

 

[robinb]

Continental never called me back like they said they would, so I called them. They basically told me I was out of luck, they don't discriminate against larger passengers, and that was just the way it was.

Anne, I can hear all the "Extra-Pooh-sized" DISers dialing CO now. Why fly Southwest when CO won't make 'em buy an extra seat?

ETA:
For those of you who were offended, insulted or hurt I would like to apologize.

I left the original comment in place because I think editing out what you say is cowardice. Plus, it's been quoted a few times . I didn't write what I did to insult or hurt people. I wrote it as a funny/sarcastic/ironical juxtaposition between CO ignoring their own rules and SWA enforcing their own rules to the hue and cry of many DISers who are considered COS. I was way off the mark.

I didn't write it thinking "How can I hurt as many overweight DISers as possible?!?". I also didn't write it thinking "How many overweight DISers would this insult?" So, in fact, I did not consider how what I said would effect other people. I usually do and I had what I can only describe as a brain fart/disconnect yesterday. I try hard to be considerate of others as I expect them to considerate of me. We all make mistakes and this is one of mine.

 

[CarolA]

Anne, I can hear all the "Extra-Pooh-sized" DISers dialing CO now. Why fly Southwest when CO won't make 'em buy an extra seat?

Becasue 9 time out of 10 SW is cheaper... Plus SW has a much bigger flight base into MCO then CO does...

 

[MickeyCrazed]

Anne, I can hear all the "Extra-Pooh-sized" DISers dialing CO now. Why fly Southwest when CO won't make 'em buy an extra seat?

Wow... that is pretty rude... Why would you assume that all the Extra-Pooh-Sized DISers would not want to buy an extra seat for their own comfort?

That is pretty much a blanket statment saying "If your fat, you don't consider how you may affect people around you." I have to say that I am very offended by your comment.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

You know, Southwest gets chastized a lot about thier enforcement of this policy... but I think this thread really points out why it's needed, and why it's a good thing that they do enforce it. Southwest even goes so far as to refund the price of the ticket if even one seat goes empty on that flight. I just don't understand why other airlines would risk loosing a frequent flyer over something like this... especially in a time when they need all the FF they can get.

 

[ducklite]

Wow... that is pretty rude... Why would you assume that all the Extra-Pooh-Sized DISers would not want to buy an extra seat for their own comfort?

That is pretty much a blanket statment saying "If your fat, you don't consider how you may affect people around you." I have to say that I am very offended by your comment.

I don't feel that all larger people feel this way, but I will say that the majority of those that I have seen on airplanes have not bought a second seat or a FC seat and instead prefer to hope that either the person seated next to them will move, or won't complain about them taking space from a seat they didn't pay for.

I used to "grin and bear it" but with the increasing obesity numbers in this country, I've decided that their problem is no longer going to be tolerated as mine. I paid for a full seat, I will use a full seat. And if it means that a larger person will be in discomfort--or dare I say even embarressed because of my wanting the use of the seat I paid for, frankly this is THEIR problem, not mine.

How many 300 pound people can realistically fit into a airplane seat without taking space from a neighboring seat? My guess is very few--although I'll concede that there are a few that could--and those are not the people I'm referring to.

Do people of size simply not care? Are they oblivious to their size? Do they feel it's their "right" to take as much room as they need? Or are they truly ignorant of the size of plane seats because they've never flown?

I don't know. But airlines MUST face the facts that obesity is becoming epidemic in this country, and they must find a way to accomodate passengers without expecting someone to lose the use of the space they paid for. Sure, 10% of the population is obese, but 90% is NOT, and those 90% are the ones who need to speak up like I did, otherwise our rights will be trampled by the carriers and those who choose to not be realistic about their size for one reason or another.

Anne

 

[bicker]

Sure, 10% of the population is obese

Uh, 23 percent were obese, as of 2003. [Source: 2003 data Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

Perhaps the airlines should offer two sizes of airline seats for two different prices: Say $200 for 16" wide (18" clearance), $260 for 20" wide (21.6" clearance), with very stiff penalties for purchasing seats too narrow for your body.

 

[ducklite]

Uh, 23 percent were obese, as of 2003. [Source: 2003 data Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

Perhaps the airlines should offer two sizes of airline seats for two different prices: Say $200 for 16" wide (18" clearance), $260 for 20" wide (21.6" clearance), with very stiff penalties for purchasing seats too narrow for your body.

OK, 23%. I guess I'm ten years behind the times... Thanks for the correction!

I'm all for the more expensive wider seats--I'd shell out the extra cash for one, and my body doesn't need it--but it would be nice. Of course then there would be a larger person complaining because the larger seats were taken by those who didn't really need them so they weren't able to buy one...

Anne

 

[Stephieann]

how wide are the seats in SWA planes. hope my oversized plus butt will fit...if not i guess i will be driving or flying CO... lol... i will not buy 2 seats. but my butt is not that big LOL

 

[MickeyCrazed]

ducklite,

I didn't take offense to any of your comments. I was upset regarding this one:

Anne, I can hear all the "Extra-Pooh-sized" DISers dialing CO now. Why fly Southwest when CO won't make 'em buy an extra seat?

I personally love SW for there flexibility for customers of size. How can you get a better deal than a free extra seat if the flight is not full? It is actually a great policy, and the only reason I fly with them.

Now, if they would only change the cattle call boarding process.

 

[bicker]

Southwest's seats are about 17" wide inside the arm rests, on average. Continental seats are 17.2" wide.

 

[robinb]

Wow... that is pretty rude... Why would you assume that all the Extra-Pooh-Sized DISers would not want to buy an extra seat for their own comfort?

That is pretty much a blanket statment saying "If your fat, you don't consider how you may affect people around you." I have to say that I am very offended by your comment.

I'm sorry you were offended. It was meant as a nod to all the heated discussions in which Anne and I have take part over SWA's policy on making a COS buy an extra ticket. Many people who are COS are upset by SWA's policy and the enforcment of that policy. Many people don't want to buy an extra seat and have said so. Honestly, I agree with you. I think SWA has the best policy ... if there are extra seats, an extra one is yours for free and we'll give you your money back. If there isn't, you'll need to pay for it.

You have to admit that in Anne's case, those fat people were rude and didn't care how their weight effected her.

 

[Marseeya]

I'm sorry you were offended. It was meant as a nod to all the heated discussions in which Anne and I have take part over SWA's policy on making a COS buy an extra ticket. Many people who are COS are upset by SWA's policy and the enforcment of that policy. Many people don't want to buy an extra seat and have said so. Honestly, I agree with you. I think SWA has the best policy ... if there are extra seats, an extra one is yours for free and we'll give you your money back. If there isn't, you'll need to pay for it.

You have to admit that in Anne's case, those fat people were rude and didn't care how their weight effected her.

No, the flight attendant was wrong and rude. The fat person was probably humiliated and just wanted to dig a hole and die. No matter what you think, obese people don't like inconveniencing others. I see absolutely no evidence that the woman was rude other than being unable to put her armrest down.

The airline should have made her buy an extra seat or the airline should have found Anne another seat if they weren't willing to do that, but I don't know how you can say the passenger was rude just for being fat.

FTR, I'm a fat person flying SWA in June. I'm not "upset" that they have this policy in place, but I sure wish I would have known about it before I booked my tickets. Now I just have to diet and diet, hoping I won't be publicly humiliated by this airline when we take our flight. Other passengers might not see this humiliation and may very well assume it doesn't bother me, but rest assured it would completely destroy me.

 

[robinb]

The airline should have made her buy an extra seat or the airline should have found Anne another seat if they weren't willing to do that, but I don't know how you can say the passenger was rude just for being fat.

Well ... there is a lot of blame to go around. Yes, the airline should have made the COS buy an extra ticket. Yes, the FA should have reseated Anne in FC without a blink. But the COS also has some blame here. They should have also followed the rules put down by CO and purchased an extra ticket in advance. By trying to "get by" with just one seat each they were in fact rude.

 

[WIDisneyFan]

How many 300 pound people can realistically fit into a airplane seat without taking space from a neighboring seat? My guess is very few--although I'll concede that there are a few that could--and those are not the people I'm referring to.

Do people of size simply not care? Are they oblivious to their size? Do they feel it's their "right" to take as much room as they need? Or are they truly ignorant of the size of plane seats because they've never flown?
Anne

I do understand what your saying here, but at the same time it really does walk a very fine line as often it is not an option to go First Class (many of the flights I am on are on regional jets that do not have a First Class section) and in many cases 2 seats are not a realistic answer. While I am not 300 pounds (actually 6'4 and about 280) I do find the seats comfortable (given that it is afterall an airline seat) with the arm rest down and more often have issues with leg room - my legs will bump yours during the flight and there is nothing I can do about it. Do I feel bad that I am not able to give the person next to me more space- Yes. Do I wish there was something I could do about it - Yes. Will I continue to buy one seat and try to be as good of a neighbor as possible - Yes.

Unfortunatley the airline industry as a whole uses what in my opinion is an outdated model of what a person is, and by this I do not just mean those that are clinically obese, people in general are getting bigger. I fly in excess of 75,000 miles a year for work and while I agree completely that there are case where 2 seats should be reqired (my opinion is if you do not fit between the arm rest - and I do mean between, not over) this does not address the larger issue.

So I guess what I am trying to say is not everyone that takes up a bit of extra room thinks its their right (I know I do not), I would venture to say most are trying to make the best of the situation and are simply hoping for a little understanding from those around them. And please understand this post is not saying that people should not get the use of what they have paid for (in this case a seat) it is more to point out that sometimes the best option is just to smile and make the best of the situation.

And just for the record -for the specific case mentioned by the OP, I think her request was very reasonable and her actions more than appropriate, In this case the airline did drop the ball and I do have to say if I were her I would take my business elsewhere as well.

 

[bicker]

No matter what you think, obese people don't like inconveniencing others.

I don't think we can generalize. I'm sure there are some people who do like inconveniencing others. However, people who "like inconveniencing others" are so rare that that is not the issue. What is of concern are those people who don't care enough that they're unfairly inconveniencing others, that they neglect their own responsibility (in this case, to identify themselves as a person of size, and book two seats, which they can and should do on every airline, not just Southwest). Unfortunately, there are many people who put their own wallet over their responsibility in that regard.

I see absolutely no evidence that the woman was rude other than being unable to put her armrest down.

That's really all that would be necessary to put that woman in the wrong -- evidence that she should have and didn't book two seats.

The airline should have made her buy an extra seat

No. The woman should have bought herself an extra seat.

 

[SueM in MN]

And just for the record -for the specific case mentioned by the OP, I think her request was very reasonable and her actions more than appropriate, In this case the airline did drop the ball and I do have to say if I were her I would take my business elsewhere as well.

I agree. And, if more people did what the OP did, there would be less situations where anyone else would have to do what she did.

A few years ago, my oldest DD flew to Russia. On her way back, she was assigned an aisle seat and was in her seat before the other people assigned to that row. The person who was assigned the middle seat asked my DD if she would "trade" seats because the woman was Pooh sized and would not fit as well in the middle. Being a nice college student (and being completely "guilted" by the woman - "I'll be miserable the whole time because I just won't fit in that seat"), my DD agreed. The woman proceeded to put up the armrest and take over part of DD's seat.
When the person assigned to the window seat arrived, she was also Pooh sized and said she could not fit with the armrest down. So, othere armrest down and another person taking up part of my DD's seat.
There was not a seat she could move to (and she didn't ask about going to First Class). Luckily DD is small (5 foot 6 and 110 pounds), but she said she spent the whole flight with other people's bodies touching her and could not change her position or move around in her seat.
So, my DD spent a miserable flight all the way from Amsterdam over the ocean back to the US.

We did discuss what to do if something like that ever happened again. She decided first of all, never to give up her aisle seat. And second, to complain just like the OP did. Unfortunatley, it sounds like a reasonable complaint may not have a chance of getting listened to.

 

[seashoreCM]

I. The woman proceeded to put up the armrest and take over part of DD's seat.
When the person assigned to the window seat arrived, she was also Pooh sized and said she could not fit with the armrest down. So, othere armrest down and another person taking up part of my DD's seat.
There was not a seat she could move to (and she didn't ask about going to First Class). [DD] said she spent the whole flight with other people's bodies touching her and could not change her position or move around in her seat.
So, my DD spent a miserable flight all the way from Amsterdam over the ocean back to the US.to.

Too bad I did not have my webpage http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm up and running back then.

The airline does not really have to make a larger person buy a second seat. All the airline needs to do is bump the larger person if there is no unpurchased second seat avaialble, and the airline is not obligated to ask for volunteers and not obligated to give any compensation. (Someone who needed and also purchased two seats would be protected by the bump rules.)

I would love to engage an airline in court over this but I have not had the good fortune to suffer any damages to collect. The problem happens on all airlines but instances are few enough that those affected need to follow through with compensation requests to make a dent in overall airline policy.

Perhaps the airlines should offer two sizes of airline seats for two different prices: Say $200 for 16" wide (18" clearance), $260 for 20" wide (21.6" clearance), with very stiff penalties for purchasing seats too narrow for your body.

No stiff penalties needed. How many employers, Walt Disney Corp. included, would pay the higher price for a larger seat for their larger employees? Not many I gather -- until some company finds out that a key employee got bumped and missed an important meeting and the company had to shell out for a hotel room.

 

[justplaingoofy]

I hate this!!!


I DO NOT mean to offend anyone however lets be responsible! You can go on an airlines website and see the size of the seats, etc....

This has happened to me more than once! One time I had to fly back from Jamaica pinned in the window seat with my back twisted & shoulders flush up against the window!!!

I dont understand why airlines have a metal baggage holder that says "if your baggage does not fit in here, you can't carry it on"...
Why don't they have a seat ....somplace private..where you can see if you fit into it? If not, other arrangements have to be made....

Some of my family is "of size" and I would not want anyone to be embarrassed..but come on!