Petite passenger booted from Southwest flight

[crashhelmet]

Are there people that would rather blame a disorder most people don't understand for their weight gain-yes

I'm on the line between normal and hypothyroidism-I don't take the medication as of yet, I'm just watching my hormone levels with my doctor, if they drop any lower I will need to go on medication, so yeah I know about this a bit and get sick and tired of hearing it used as a crutch or an excuse.

One of my old roommate's ex-wife was obese, to put it lightly. She claimed to have a thyroid condition and brought it up as her excuse every time someone mentioned her weight and the possible ramifications on her health. She would also eat 2 entire boxes of hamburger helper or macaroni and cheese herself, in one meal. I honestly think their monthly grocery costs were higher than their rent.

CH

[AdminAssistant]

I'm flying for the very first time next week. I'm flying Southwest (cheap, nonstop flight). I am terrified that I'm not going to fit in the seat. To the point of panic.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

It would help if there was, like, an example seat you could sit in out front to see if you need another one.

[ExRetailDrone]

It would help if there was, like, an example seat you could sit in out front to see if you need another one.

I was actually thinking that, also. They have example seats for some rides at various amusement parks I've been to so people can check first to see if they can fit in the seat before waiting in line.

[Peppergirl]

I'm flying for the very first time next week. I'm flying Southwest (cheap, nonstop flight). I am terrified that I'm not going to fit in the seat. To the point of panic.

Hon, I have seen your pics and you will be MORE than fine.
PM me or hit me up on facebook if you want to discuss....I can give some tips to make your life easier when you go. It's my job to help out NON sc's like you.

[Cassandra]

One of my old roommate's ex-wife was obese, to put it lightly. She claimed to have a thyroid condition and brought it up as her excuse every time someone mentioned her weight and the possible ramifications on her health. She would also eat 2 entire boxes of hamburger helper or macaroni and cheese herself, in one meal. I honestly think their monthly grocery costs were higher than their rent.

CH

And she is one of the people in the world who make those of us who actually have a thyroid issue look bad. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about a year ago. I am overweight (250lbs at 5'7") but I can barely finish one decent sized chicken breast, or when I treat myself to a steak, I have a hard time finishing anything larger than an 8oz. I do exercise as much as I can and do watch what I eat, but I've plateaued and can't seem to drop anymore that one or two pounds then it comes right back. I have been on meds since the diagnosis and have had them tweaked a few times. Your old roommate gives me a bad name by using a thyroid condition as an excuse.

Now, for you Red Panda....
Really?! Really?! Why all the hate for fat, overweight, obese, not skinny, not skinny enough people? Seriously. Would you please just stop. You are not helping the acceptance of those of us who actually do try to take care of ourselves, have put the cake down and walked away. You make it sound like because someone is not at an acceptable weight they all have problems with food. That is not the case all the time. I am starting to get frustrated with you and your inability to accept the fact that people come in all sizes.

Now, on to the subject at hand....
I'd be upset if I had to give up my seat and I was already boarded no matter the reason. Flying is stressful and a hassle already. To have to be forced off the plane and have to give my seat up to anyone would seriously annoy me. But, if I was asked nicely before boarding, I probably would be okay with it. Example, on a flight back from Mexico I was told that they had overbooked and I was asked if I would kindly give my seat up to a gentleman and his young son (about 7 or 8 years old). I was given a voucher for a later flight that placed me in 1st class and gave me a connection in Texas before going to Philly. Yeah, it was a little inconvenient with the connection, but I didn't have to go to work the next day and it gave the dad and kid an earlier flight so the kid could get some sleep. Plus, I was asked nicely and not told I had to do it.

[Nyoibo]

No, you DON'T necessarily know you won't fit into one seat (or "fit" according to the judgement of whoever is deciding that day) in advance, unless either you're going to actually take up much of the second seat as well, or else you've flown recently.

Which doesn't mean the skinny one should have been booted.

You should be able to, they have the seat dimensions available online, somewhere, not sure where, but if your butt and waist are wieder then you're not going to fit too well.

[Amina516]

No, you DON'T necessarily know you won't fit into one seat (or "fit" according to the judgement of whoever is deciding that day) in advance, unless either you're going to actually take up much of the second seat as well, or else you've flown recently.

Which doesn't mean the skinny one should have been booted.

Standard airplane seating is 17 inches across. The seat sizes are always listed on websites and its something most travel agents would know if asked.

[Amanita]

I'm a plus sized woman, and the last couple of trips I've taken, I fit just fine into the airplane seats. No need to use a seatbelt extender or raise the armrests here!

[draggar]

Back on topic...

The petite woman was flying standby - normally this means that you do not have a guaranteed flight / seat until the plane is away from the terminal. You can be sitting on the plane and they can boot you if a paying passenger comes later. If any person who had purchased a ticket for that flight came and there were no seats, the standby fliers would be the first to get asked to step off the plane.

It is sounding like there was one seat available but the 14 year old needed two so my question is - did she purchase two seats? If she did purchase two seats then the woman who was booted has no complaint other than the airline getting her hopes up, If she didn't purchase two seats then it's more borderline - yes she is a valid ticket holder but only for one seat, not two so technically the second seat would have been a standby seat.

[Peppergirl]

Travel agent chiming in:

Draggar is correct. If the woman was on a standby, she did not have a confirmed seat. Therefore, if the person who took up 2 seats had bought 2 seats, therefore eliminating the last seat , she is in the wrong.

Oh - and Southwest is one of the most hardcore of the airlines about the double seat rule for passengers 'of size'.

I have a couple of large customers that tend to get away with one seat on most carriers, but on Southwest - we go ahead and purchase two, because they tend to get stopped by them.

[Jack]

The local woman was flying standby, paid full fare for the last available seat

So which is it? Was she flying standby or did she pay full fare? Maybe I don't understand how standby works. If you pay full fare what's the difference?

[Peppergirl]

Standby is a situation in which you have paid for a seat on a specific flight, but have chosen to go on a different flight. If there's room on the flight you want to change to, you get a seat. If not, you dont.

[crashhelmet]

She might've been standby for missing an earlier flight or trying to get on an earlier flight than what she had originally booked. Happens all the time, especially flight out of here in Las Vegas.

The problem here is that there was an available seat for her, so they let her on the plane only to give that seat to the overweight teen that needed the second seat to fit properly. Then, to make matters worse, they ordered her to deplane without asking for her consideration first. The article linked in the OP says the teen only paid for one seat.

CH

[Peppergirl]

The problem here is that there was an available seat for her, so they let her on the plane only to give that seat to the overweight teen that needed the second seat to fit properly. Then, to make matters worse, they ordered her to deplane without asking for her consideration first. The article linked in the OP says the teen only paid for one seat.

CH

The problem is, if they put you on a flight...even if your butt is in the seat, you're gonna be the first one the pull off if something like this happens.

But I will concede that they should have made the teen pay for 2 seats then.