He was to take a flight to see specialists at UCSF. His ascites led him over the weight limit for a single seat. The airline wouldn’t let him board without buying another seat.
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{ 15 comments }
Bravo. I had to sit next to an obese person on SWA whose butt-crack was exposed the entire flight. You pay more for oversized luggage, you should pay more for oversized passengers.
That’s absolutely deplorable! This was someone in dire need of medical help. “Bravo”, is by no means appropriate in this situation. Is there no one left – that has any sense of right and wrong, no sense of common decency, or empathy for another who is suffering? I don’t know how the people involved can live with themselves.
If he couldn’t pay for a plane ticket, how the heck was he going to pay for his liver transplant?
Oh, yeah….he wasn’t.
My problem with the airline is that the flight wasn’t full – if the story is correct. They could’ve accomodated this man without harming others. Some airlines that charge for two seats often waive the cost of the next seat if there are empty seats available. This seems reasonable.
If the flight had been full with only a limited number of seats most of which likely to be taken, I’d tend to be on the airline’s side. It is not the question of reason why – it is a question of protecting safety and health of others. Provided that the man really couldn’t fit in a seat. The article doesn’t tell us how big this person is or what his shape is. Some obese people can fit into airplane seats just fine because their weight is all in their belly, while others occupy almost two seats and can end up almost sitting on top of their neighbors. Depending on how big and heavy he is, it might be go beyond uncomfortable – the story of this woman crushed on Virgin Atlantic is scary for anybody who plans flying on an airline that doesn’t charge for two seats.
But if the article is correct, the flight wasn’t full… So I don’t understand the airline’s position.
So the Mayo Clinic refused a transplant, but Southwest Airlines is the meanie.
Was there a guarantee he was going to get a liver at UCSF — where to then?
well, diora,
if the flight wasn’t full, maybe they should just throw open the gates and fill them with freeloading passengers. What’s it to the airline? They have a business to run. It makes sense to price tickets to achieve the highest proffit on a flight. It is conceivable that this is achieved without every seat full, assuming that the higher price of a ticket for the sub 100% capacity nets more revenue over the pricing required to fill all seats. Further, ehrt is a marginal cost for having an extra passenger in the fuel required; too low of a ticket price actually will cost more than taking off with the seat empty. The empty seat will then possibly permit more paying cargo (sold by the pound).
Southwest has a business to run. Did they miss an opportunity to gain some positive PR? Sure. But that doesn’t make them evil, merely somewhat shortsighted on this business transaction.
Bravo is correct.
I go 155#, my wife 125#, my daughter 45# and my son 75#.
Returning from oversees we had 4 bags amongst us all to check in. Three were ten pounds over which we had to pay for. Quite an annoyance when we were seated in between a bunch of 300 # ers.
Sorry, but if you need two seats for yourself, whatever the reason, you should have to pay for them. How many other seats were available on that plane is completely irrelevant. Being overweight does not grant a right to freeload.
Having ascites and liver failure is unfortunate. So is having diabetes, kidney failure and other disorders. But you don’t have a right to free or discounted use of privately owned transport just because you are oversized or by virtue of your chronic medical problems.
For those who think it is so “deplorable”, let them pay this person’s extra charges. I always like to hear the outrage of those so ready to spend someone else’s money. Classic worthless leeches and hypocrites.
If I had been there. I would have paid for it. You really should be careful who you refer to as “classic worthless leeches and hypocrites”. For me, life is sacred. I see it is a business for others.
“If I had been there. I would have paid for it. You really should be careful who you refer to as “classic worthless leeches and hypocrites”. For me, life is sacred. I see it is a business for others.”
But you weren’t, so you get to keep your money. Wasn’t that easy? You didn’t have to do anything and you can still pretend to be so concerned. And what does that have to do with condemning as “deplorable” the fact that someone is expected to pay for something they want consume, here, space on an aircraft flight? Since when does asking someone to pay their way make for a breach in “common decency” or violate a sence of “right and wrong”?
Self-righteousness as a justification for taking what isn’t yours and what you don’t otherwise want to pay for, sorry old story.
You know what? We are all going to die. That’s right, 100% of us. The sooner we accept this fact, the better.
Forget the airfare.
Who is going to pay for a liver transplant for this patient on disability who isn’t willing to pay the freight to be evaluated? In any other country, this would not be an issue. Your time is near, and we will make you comfortable.
I think the subject of this story detracts from the gross misallocation of economic resources apparent in considering a liver transplant in this case.
Perhaps Southwest airlines is a little smarter than to think money grows on trees. I am a Southwest Airlines shareholder (ticker symbol: LUV) and feel they did the right thing in protecting shareholder value in this case.
By the way, I think a doctor should get to charge two visit fees for an oversize patient occupying two seats in the waiting room. At least the airline has a choice!
You know how they have those metal racks for you to check to ensure that your carry-on luggage is the right size to fit into the overhead compartments…. I wonder how long until they create one to determine whether our fat asses can fit into the seats….
Goodness, there are a vile bunch of you in here. Im certainly happy the shareholders profit was protected. You should call the company and congratulate them for keeping you first in their thoughts. That is absolutely more important than some fat ass getting a liver transplant.
Or so you say!
“You know how they have those metal racks for you to check to ensure that your carry-on luggage is the right size to fit into the overhead compartments…. I wonder how long until they create one to determine whether our fat asses can fit into the seats..”
I suggest a scale you step on when you check in. And the metal detector could be configured to screen those with excessive dimensions whereby if you cannot walk through, you have to buy another seat.
I completely agree with Southwest’s policy regarding oversized passengers. I am personaly fed up with people who take up half of my space on a flight and then claim that they should only be charged the same as me. It’s insane, there is a point where someones size is a lifestyle choice. Based on the diet and exercize practices of most americans statures such as this are becoming the norm. Those of us who maintain our weight and size through exercize should not be made uncomfortable because of someone elses choices. The solutions that would solve this problem would be for a limited number of larger seats could be offered in coach for a higher rate, offer for a fee an upgrade to a larer first class seat, or sell a large passenger a second seat. That being said the policy of Southwest should definately be put into place on all air carriers to allow for comfort for all.
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