Petite Woman Bumped from SWA for a hefty passenger.

[Tammi67]

Do you really see this as a civil rights issue?

My post wasn't directed toward the issue. It was directed to yours, referring to her boo boo being kissed. People cry about everything to the media. Since she is thin and petite, has society already assumed that she has more going for her than an overweight person, so should she just keep her mouth shut? That's how many posters have made it sound. It doesn't take away her right to voice her complaint.

 

[Tammi67]

Why was it then necessarily for her to then go to the media to whine? And neglect to mention that she was adequately compensated?

You will need to ask her that. Perhaps she did mention that she was adequately compensated and the media chose not to publish that tidbit. Which is very possible. You know how they (the media) like to skew things.

 

[FergieTCat]

You will need to ask her that. Perhaps she did mention that she was adequately compensated and the media chose not to publish that tidbit. Which is very possible. You know how they (the media) like to skew things.

So do airline passengers.

 

[danalee]

well ya know its SW fault in the first place... If they would have made the 14yr old but 2 seats before she left on the first leg of her trip there would have been no problem at the second... But apparently they did not. You want a rule, then have a rule, but this grey area in the middle is what keeps getting SW in these type of stories.

If all SW employees cant agree on passenger size/seats rule then get rid of it~

 

[freckles and boo]

My post wasn't directed toward the issue. It was directed to yours, referring to her boo boo being kissed. People cry about everything to the media. Since she is thin and petite, has society already assumed that she has more going for her than an overweight person, so should she just keep her mouth shut? That's how many posters have made it sound. It doesn't take away her right to voice her complaint.

She went to the media AFTER Southwest went above and beyond to satisfy her. She was flying stand-by. They owed her nothing. But you are correct. She certainly has the "right" to voice her complaint and I have the "right" to call her a whiner. And for the record, because it seems to matter, I am just about the same size and weight as the whiner. I do have it easier than an obese person when it comes to air travel. I am also an adult (and mother) and expect that a ticketed minor would be accommodated before me if I were flying stand-by.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

By the mere fact that the passengers sizes were (and are continuing to be) stressed, I beg to differ.

It is the focus because the issue occurred due to size. I don't know what being petite has to do with it except that her size was not an issue but she had to surrender a seat for someone for whom it was and guardians failed to plan accordingly.

If a passenger had a medical need for an extra seat to accomodate medical equipment or something such as a splinted appendage, then it would seem they too would have been expected to plan accordingly or otherwise be accomodAted when a volunteer steps forward.

Forcing anyone to give up a seat they paid for to accomodate someone who needs a second seat to fit is an unjust practice.

musicians that travel with a large instrument have to buy a seat for the instrument of they wish to check it. Or would you be okay with a forced bump to accomodate a cello?


I don't advocate abandoning a child--but I don't favor excessive special treatment to provide service to a passenger of any age that didn't pay for it to the detriment of another passenger unless it were an emergency. A late overweight passenger needing a free extra seat doesn't constitute an emergency.

 

[danalee]

It is the focus because the issue occurred due to size. I don't know what being petite has to do with it except that her size was not an issue but she had to surrender a seat for someone for whom it was and guardians failed to plan accordingly.

If a passenger had a medical need for an extra seat to accomodate medical equipment or something such as a splinted appendage, then it would seem they too would have been expected to plan accordingly or otherwise be accomodAted when a volunteer steps forward.

Forcing anyone to give up a seat they paid for to accomodate someone who needs a second seat to fit is an unjust practice.

musicians that travel with a large instrument have to buy a seat for the instrument of they wish to check it. Or would you be okay with a forced bump to accomodate a cello?


I don't advocate abandoning a child--but I don't favor excessive special treatment to provide service to a passenger of any age that didn't pay for it to the detriment of another passenger unless it were an emergency. A late overweight passenger needing a free extra seat doesn't constitute an emergency.

well then dont fly Stand-By Plus the woman was compensated, so why all the hub-bub..you were on stand-by you got bumped, then you got a free later flight...get over it, dont call the local news and whine. Have some dignity and next time dont be cheap by a ticket, get your seat and put your skinny butt in it!

If I was on Stand-by and bumped for whoever or whatever needed the seat, that was the chance I took by choosing to fly stand-by

 

[DizBelle]

No, the issues is that a person who bought the one seat they required was bumped for the person who didn't buy the two they did required. Had the hefty passenger bought the two seats they should have or fit in the one seat they did buy it would be a moot point because everyone would have done what they should ahead of time.

ITA. If you need two seats, you should purchase them. You should NOT cross your fingers that the plane won't be full and you'll just get one.

 

[sbell111]

well ya know its SW fault in the first place... If they would have made the 14yr old but 2 seats before she left on the first leg of her trip there would have been no problem at the second... But apparently they did not. You want a rule, then have a rule, but this grey area in the middle is what keeps getting SW in these type of stories.

If all SW employees cant agree on passenger size/seats rule then get rid of it~

the rule is that a person of size may be required to purchase a second seat if the flight is full. Apparently, the first flight wasn't full, so it wasn't an issue.

Forcing anyone to give up a seat they paid for to accomodate someone who needs a second seat to fit is an unjust practice.

No one was forced to give up a seat for which they paid. A standby passenger was removed from the flight.

 

[sbell111]

ITA. If you need two seats, you should purchase them. You should NOT cross your fingers that the plane won't be full and you'll just get one.

Given that the airline's rules are that you are not required to buy two seats unless the flight is full, I'm not going to get bent out of shape if people don't buy extra seats ahead of time.

 

[danalee]

the rule is that a person of size may be required to purchase a second seat if the flight is full. Apparently, the first flight wasn't full, so it wasn't an issue.

thats they grey area I mean, make it a rule not a kinda, sorta, maybe rule KWIM?
I have seen stories were people have a round trip ticket, flew with family, flight was full, go to come home and that ticket agent says you need another seat? Said person was ok on the way to the destination with no problem but the way back there is one? major grey area

and like i said earlier, parents, guardian of the girl may not have known the seat rule~

 

[crashbb]

Given that the airline's rules are that you are not required to buy two seats unless the flight is full, I'm not going to get bent out of shape if people don't buy extra seats ahead of time.

Actually, the policy states that customers who needs two seats SHOULD purchase two seats. The additional fare is refunded if the plane is not full:

Customers who are unable to lower both armrests and/or who compromise any portion of adjacent seating should proactively book the number of seats needed prior to travel. The armrest is considered to be the definitive boundary between seats and measures 17 inches in width. This purchase serves as a notification of a special seating need and allows us to process a refund of the additional seating cost after travel (provided the flight doesn’t oversell). Most importantly, it ensures that all onboard have access to safe and comfortable seating.

And from the FAQ section:

If a flight is "open," why are you charging for an additional seat?
A Customer of size has no way of knowing at the time of booking if his/her flights will be full. The inconsistency of charging for the extra seat on one occasion and not others leaves the Customer not knowing what to expect and not having a full understanding of our policy. Thus, we require the additional purchase despite booking levels.

 

[DizBelle]

Given that the airline's rules are that you are not required to buy two seats unless the flight is full, I'm not going to get bent out of shape if people don't buy extra seats ahead of time.

Uh, you would HAVE to purchase the 2 seats ahead of time because if the flight is FULL then there are no extra seats to purchase at the flight time.

 

[Tammi67]

I don't get it. If you need two seats, you need two seats. I need to purchase 3, for myself and 2 kids. So, if when we get on the plane and there are one or two empty seats, should I be refunded the cost of one or two of my tickets? Why does the "person of size" get a refund and not Joe Average Citizen? If you take up 2 seats, pay for 2 seats, period.

 

[FireDancer]

You purchase the 2 tickets whether or not the flight is full. If the flight is not full you are refunded the charge of the second ticket but still get the two seats.

It isn't that you don't need two seats on a non-capacity flight, it is that you don't need to pay for two. You still get them both.

 

[sbell111]

Uh, you would HAVE to purchase the 2 seats ahead of time because if the flight is FULL then there are no extra seats to purchase at the flight time.

You don't actually believe that an airline will sell only 100 tickets for a 100 set aircraft, do you? Of course not. The airline will oversell the slight to maximize revenue. Not only that, but the airline can open up a flight to allow one more ticket to be sold on a flight that is completely oversold and would not normally allow for additional tickets to be sold.

 

[sbell111]

I don't get it. If you need two seats, you need two seats. I need to purchase 3, for myself and 2 kids. So, if when we get on the plane and there are one or two empty seats, should I be refunded the cost of one or two of my tickets? Why does the "person of size" get a refund and not Joe Average Citizen? If you take up 2 seats, pay for 2 seats, period.

Because that is the airline's policy.

On our recent flight to Europe, my family paid for two seats and used three.

 

[Tammi67]

Because that is the airline's policy.

On our recent flight to Europe, my family paid for two seats and used three.

And it is their policy because of the backlash that they would get from people crying foul. Just another example of how political correctness is running rampant in this country. If one needs two seats to fit on an airline, one should be required to pay for both, whether or not the plane is full. People need to take responsibility for themselves.

 

[robinb]

And it is their policy because of the backlash that they would get from people crying foul. Just another example of how political correctness is running rampant in this country. If one needs two seats to fit on an airline, one should be required to pay for both, whether or not the plane is full. People need to take responsibility for themselves.

Oh please . I think it's sad that you equate compassion for others as something so negative as "politically correctness". If only compassion did ran rampant in our country it would be a much better place.

And what skin off YOUR nose is SWA's POS policy? Why do you care if they don't charge double if the plane is not full?

 

[crashbb]

And it is their policy because of the backlash that they would get from people crying foul. Just another example of how political correctness is running rampant in this country. If one needs two seats to fit on an airline, one should be required to pay for both, whether or not the plane is full. People need to take responsibility for themselves.

So, on my flight on Saturday I had an empty seat beside me. Of course I used it to spread out a bit. Should I have paid the airline for the extra seat? The flight was empty so everyone could have had an extra seat (it was a 2x2 plane).

In Canada, by the way, the airlines have to give a free seat to an obese passenger. The courts ruled that obesity was a disability. The passenger does, however, need a formed from they physician stating that they are too big for a single seat (much like a note is needed for a handicapped parking spot).