Kevin Smith 'Too Fat' to Fly Southwest

Instead of getting angry, Kevin Smith should take this as a wake-up call. Whether he was singled out or not, his health is at stake and overweight people are terrible examples for children. While I have some friends who are overweight - who I love dearly - they all do have a real lack of self esteem that prevents them from getting the help they need to take care of themselves. I hear others frequently making comments behind their backs about how they should "get help" - it is a hand to mouth disorder. Hugely overweight people don't want to hear it, but they really don't look "good" regardless of grooming and most people don't like watching them eat.. How we take care of ourselves IS a reflection on our self control and pride. Smith should take the high road by taking advantage of this situation to be a spokesperson for others battling weight issues and show that anyone can loose weight; if he can't do it alone get professional help. He should thank the airlines and apologiize for his initial reaction. I don't want to sit on an airplane where there is no elbow room and its very selfish of him to think he is entitled to more space than he purchases while others aren't.

For a man who usually is quiet-someone unnecessarily turned the volume on.

If a double chair or double seater is forced into a single seat with a unfortunate passenger sitting in the seat directly next to that person, they are DEFINITELY squeezed into 3/4 of their own seat at best.

I suspect most of the folks reading this article and blog have very little if any experience with a double chair or double seater individual. They cannot sit in a single chair, so TWO chairs are pushed together to support both 'butt-cheeks'!

Shoehorning a double seater into a single passenger airline seat that is in the cheap seats is definitely going to greatly inconvenience the passengers that are sitting next to the grossly obese individual. The grossly obese individual should have gotten a business or first class seat where they would have had more room to expand upon.

For a family member, having part of your child laying across your legs or body is one thing, but to have the leg, arm or butt-cheek of a grossly obese stranger laying across your legs or body for 3 or more hours is expecting too much from a vast majority of airline passengers.

I don't think their requirements list you an as exception. Get over it!

I don't think their requirements list you an as exception. Get over it!

The last comment is the most constructive – I do hope it lands on receptive ears. From a news cast I just saw, he had purchased a double seat on a later flight but this one opened up. However it had only ONE seat and for a full plane, that is unfair to whoever sat next to him.

A demo of an obese passenger who was able to lower his armrest did not resolve the huge overhang of the person sitting there who would be taking over a large portion of the seatmate's seat, for which he paid his fare expecting to travel in comfort. I agree I hope some people consider they are not healthy and do not get special consideration – it is not discrimination Rosie (from her blog today) and fairness and respect demand that 'space' is to be respected.

You folks aren't getting the entire story. The quote from Southwest is intended to make you think Kevin needed two seats, but it's misleading. He claims that not only was he able to fit in his seat as per Southwest's guidelines - armrests down and all - he was quite comfortable and was even able to buckle up without needing a belt extender.

The airline's quote about Smith's ticket buying habits are also misleading, not to mention chilling. Kevin claims he occasionally buys two tickets when flying Southwest not because he has to, but because he likes having a buffer between himself and other passengers and Southwest's fares are cheap enough that he can afford it. (The airline's quote is their own misinterpretation of his statements on the matter.) But consider, do you really want Southwest - or anyone else - divulging your buying habits if you get into a dispute with them?

Basically, this article is a piece of junk. Mr. Meadows barely bothered to get Smith's side of the story, preferring instead to pass along the corporate smoke and mirrors Southwest fed to him. Shoddy journalism to say the least. But what do you expect from People Magazine?

@Tim in upstate NY...if there is anything shoddy in the logic of this article it is your shoddy logic. While everyone has a right to allow themselves to deteriorate physically and become grossly overweight, they do not have the right to impose their conscious lifestyle decision to inconvenience anyone else. It is wrong to make another passenger or passengers uncomfortable in order to accomodate a passenger whose lifestyle decisions make him/her incompatible with the seating on any public conveyance. I'm sorry that he was embarrased in front of other passengers but byeond that, he get's no sympathy from me.

What about the excessively tall; the athlete, the mom and baby ; the disabled and the criminal that everyone is forced to accomodate?

Be careful. Or by some standard you will be next.

@John H: Do you have any proof that Smith did any of that? Or are you taking Southwest at their word? Because it seems like a major part of this story is that SWA isn't quite telling the truth here.

I support and believe Southwest Airlines. They are a very respectable airline and the favorite of many. This story reminds me of Joan Rivers complaining about the incident with her passport. Apparently people like the two of them think they should be handled differently than others.

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nylarginylserine......Protein...reduce the carbs, Kevin

@Tim in upstate NY – you say "Kevin claims he occasionally buys two tickets when flying Southwest not because he has to, but because he likes having a buffer between himself and other passengers and Southwest's fares are cheap enough that he can afford it."

If you have to buy a second seat because you can't fit in one, then so be it. But if you can fit in the seat with the armrests down, you shouldn't be buying a second seat simply because you want more room and don't want anyone sitting next to you regardless of whether or not you get a refund on the second seat.

From the last sentence of the last paragraph of section 15G of the Contract of Carriage which is on Southwest's website to download.

"G. Additional Seat Purchase. The purchase of more than one seat for use by a single passenger is required in the following circumstances:

(1) To accommodate a Customer of size who encroaches on an adjacent seat area and/or is unable to sit in a single seat with the armrests lowered;

(2) To transport a Customer who, because of his or her particular disability, would be unable to travel without the purchase of additional space on the aircraft; or

(3) When necessary to transport large musical instruments or electronic audio/video, medical, or other sensitive equipment unsuitable for carriage as checked baggage, as specified in Article 46.F.

It is the passenge's responsibility to notify Carrier of a unique seating need. In accordance with Article 10.F., Carrier may refuse to transport individuals who are unable or unwilling to comply with Carrier's seating requirements.

***Except as specified above, purchase of more than one seat for use by a single passenger is otherwise prohibited.***"

So when it's convenient for him to be a Customer of Size, he says he is, so he can buy two seats (Poor man's First Class.) When it's not convenient – like wanting to standby for an earlier flight, all of a sudden he's not a Customer of Size any more.

I'm sorry, but Mr. Smith can't have it both ways.

@LoneStarMike,
Thanks for the clarification. I only fly Southwest and think they are a great airline. Take good care of them :-).

Kevin,the fact that your movie is coming out next week has nothing to do with this "controversy" right? right?

@Tim,
Bottom line, Smith is grossly overweight.

Me thinks this is a man who likes to blow his own horn!!!!!

@James: Maybe so, but the real issue is, was he or was he not in violation of the airline's Customers of Size policy as quoted above? Southwest says he was, he says he wasn't and is willing to prove it on national TV. Depends on who you're willing to believe...

(Seems another comment I submitted either yesterday or the day before didn't make it through. No matter, this one pretty much sums up the crux of the argument.)