woman removed from plane to make room for obese teen

[Amby 490]

Earlier this year, Southwest Airlines, came under fire for removing an overweight passenger from a flight. Now, five months later, the airline has done it again – but this time they kicked off a thin passenger to make room for an obese teenager, MyFoxdfw.com reported.

The Dallas-based airline confirmed that Southwest representatives asked the 5-foot, 4-inch woman, weighing 110 pounds, to get off the flight. She was flying standby from Las Vegas to Sacramento and had paid the full fare for the last available seat on the plane.

The woman said she had just sat down only to be told she would have to exit the plane immediately to make room for the 14-year-old who needed two seats.

"It didn't seem right that I should have to leave to accommodate someone who had only paid for one seat," the woman, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Sacramento

Bee.

The frequent flier said she was also berated by the crew when she began to protest.

A spokeswoman for Southwest Airlines said officials intend to apologize to the woman over the incident.

"We know this was awkward and we should have handled it better," Marilee McInnis said.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,597723,00.html?test=latestnews

[thongd4me 69]

Earlier this year, Southwest Airlines, came under fire for removing an overweight passenger from a flight. Now, five months later, the airline has done it again – but this time they kicked off a thin passenger to make room for an obese teenager, MyFoxdfw.com reported.

The Dallas-based airline confirmed that Southwest representatives asked the 5-foot, 4-inch woman, weighing 110 pounds, to get off the flight. She was flying standby from Las Vegas to Sacramento and had paid the full fare for the last available seat on the plane.

The woman said she had just sat down only to be told she would have to exit the plane immediately to make room for the 14-year-old who needed two seats.

"It didn't seem right that I should have to leave to accommodate someone who had only paid for one seat," the woman, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Sacramento

Bee.

The frequent flier said she was also berated by the crew when she began to protest.

A spokeswoman for Southwest Airlines said officials intend to apologize to the woman over the incident.

"We know this was awkward and we should have handled it better," Marilee McInnis said.

http://www.foxnews.c...test=latestnews

It does seem bizarre but I think the fact that the woman was in "standby" status

enabled them to boot her in favor of a passenger who wasn't on standby.

I don't know if he paid a premium but it does seem strange that they couln't

find her a seat, like in first class for her trouble. I'm thinking it was the last

available COACH seat...

Edited July 26, 2010 by thongd4me

[IndigoSkies 168]

As if we needed more reason to hate fatties....

[sweetnsour 0]

we you mean you...

[IndigoSkies 168]

we you mean you...

Say what?

[sweetnsour 0]

I am just saying not all people hate fatties..

[Amby 490]

indigo why do you always double post?

[IndigoSkies 168]

indigo why do you always double post?

I don't know. It keeps happening to me. I stopped apologising about it since it happens almost with every post.

[Jenn! 918]

It does seem bizarre but I think the fact that the woman was in "standby" status

enabled them to boot her in favor of a passenger who wasn't on standby.

I don't know if he paid a premium but it does seem strange that they couln't

find her a seat, like in first class for her trouble. I'm thinking it was the last

available COACH seat...

You're not supposed to pay attention to silly details like her standby status! A skinny woman was forced to give up her seat for an obese person! He was probably black, and gay, and muslim, too. God forbid we offend a minority!

[IndigoSkies 168]

I am just saying not all people hate fatties..

Sadly you're right. Hopefully, someday we'll all hate the fatties. And that will cause fatties to finally wake up and stop being so darn fat.

[thongd4me 69]

You're not supposed to pay attention to silly details like her standby status! A skinny woman was forced to give up her seat for an obese person! He was probably black, and gay, and muslim, too. God forbid we offend a minority!

I'll pay attention to any details I wish with no help from you.

I only made that observation in a neutral, non-judgmental way.

I also suggested a better course for the airline, to be able to please both customers

which they obviously did not do.

Minorities getting you down this week?

Thanks for the exclaimation point. A half point for subtlety.

[thongd4me 69]

indigo why do you always double post?

The stereo must have been blasting - seeing double, hearing double & writing double.

[Jenn! 918]

I'll pay attention to any details I wish with no help from you.

I only made that observation in a neutral, non-judgmental way.

I also suggested a better course for the airline, to be able to please both customers

which they obviously did not do.

Minorities getting you down this week?

Thanks for the exclaimation point. A half point for subtlety.

Reasonableness is unwelcome in VJ OT!

and pssst, I'm being sarcastic.

[thongd4me 69]

Reasonableness is unwelcome in VJ OT!

and pssst, I'm being sarcastic.

Hmm. If the statement was "God forbid we offend the majority"

does that count as sarcasm?

Gordon Gekko: "Sarcasm is good"

I love sarcasm too but not while I'm ironing...

[SMR 368]

You're not supposed to pay attention to silly details like her standby status! A skinny woman was forced to give up her seat for an obese person! He was probably black, and gay, and muslim, too. God forbid we offend a minority!

The fat passenger was also effectively on standby since he didn't buy two seats ahead of time. If the flight had been sold out he would not have been able to fly.

Two people failed to plan ahead and were at the mercy of fate. It doesn't really seem fair to chose one or the other, but in the end they had to chose someone.