Excellent point, agahast!!!

I can't even begin to imagine how large the 14 year old had to be to not fit in one seat. I've seen some pretty large adults fit into those seats. How sad. As to the comment that the 14 year old was late and the adult should not have been removed from her seat, the kid was probably traveling as an Unaccompanied Minor. The airlines have very specific safety regs concerning transporting UMs and they get boarding/seating priority since they are minors. Of course unless the parents had purchased 2 seats for the minor, I don't think the other lady should have been booted. And for all we know they did purchase 2 seats for their size 4X 14year old. A fact the airline doesn't have to disclose - that would be really embarrassing for the kid. The lady may have purchased one of the teens 2 seats.

Unless, of course, the kid has some sort of medical problem.

Ever notice how there's always that one idiot who yells "Child abuse"? Grow up, get an education, become God, then judge. Maybe at that time you wont be so beneath people.

I agree. Unless there is a medical reason, all parents with kids that over weigh and the child need counseling. But either way they are discrimating against someone. Its almost impossible to make the right call.

The unaccompanied minor policy usually only applies to children 12 and under, so I'm sure that wasn't the deal.

Absolutely right about that, Aghast. That's a crime, in my opinion. Any parent not ensuring their child is getting good nutrition rather than sucking down Coke, pizza, and Ding-dongs should be held responsible. Same thing regarding limiting TV/video game time and making sure that a child gets outdoors for some exercise. Any parent not doing that is doing something terribly wrong, in fact abusive. A child too obese to sit in a plane seat as a teenager is in a dire health crisis, and this is prognostic of major morbidity and early mortality if that course is not altered soon.

To me, the issue is less about for whom the seat is being given up, and more about the alarming crisis of obesity in the US in comparison to most other nations. I am sure someone is going to play the poverty/education argument here, which is in fact statistically true. But really folks, how much education do you need to realize your child is double or triple the size of a normal teen? Second, if you have the economic means to buy your child pizza, coke, McDonald's crap constantly, other junk food, a TV, Nintendo/X-box of your choice, then you should have the economic means, even if on public assistance, to provide a meal with real nutritional value and a balanced diet for your child. All of the outdoor play is free of cost, and wonderful athletic facilities can be found for free or very low cost even in the most urban, impoverished neighborhoods.

are you kidding me!!!! get a grip, find out some facts before you call the cops!!!

Jaime, the article specifically says they SOLD her the last seat on the plane. She did purchase her ticket.

I've seen some pretty solid 14 year old kids that look like they should be playing college football. Just because the story said the kid had some "girth" doesn't necessarily mean the kid was Fat Albert!

I absolutely agree! what kind of parents allow their CHILD at the age of 14 to get that big?! As an overweight person myself (not THAT overweight, but above average) I understand flying and lack of space irregardless how big or small someone is. But should someone else have to take the fall becuase of the way you live your lifestyle? not right. I agree with a lot of the people who said because the child was late, he should have given up his seat because he couldn't fit in one. That ladywas there first and paid for it. once she boarded, she had every right to fly. I'm sure she had somewhere important to go just like everyone else. I strive to teach my children good eating habits, and lead by example. i think the parents should do the same. Absolutely a case for child abuse/ neglegence.

If the computer showed one seat left he must NOT have bought two seats so she should have kept her seat. Don't know why the kid is so fat but it's not her problem.

Those that make comments that the parents should arrested or the kids be taken away need to understand something about hashimoto's hyperthyroidism. It's a medical condition. So before u judge someone... *LEARN* something before u judge. It is a genetic issue, so it runs in families.

I agree! That poor child has been "crippled" by his parents, and now has to face hardships both in the community and within himself. If this was an animal, and not a human being, PETA would have dragged the owner into court, and the animal would have been taken away from his/her care. It's sad that our wonderful country has more laws on the books that protect animals than humans...even children!

OK, I agree that she should not have been made to give up her seat, BUT we were at an amusement park recently and there was a kid, about 14, who would not fit in the seat and the safety device would not lock, so he was asked to get off the ride. I felt HORRIBLE for him! Although that's what the seat out in front of the ride is for, I am sure he didn't try it out before getting in line. Show a little compassion people! What if it had been you or your child, as the fat person? Many people that are that large, have a medical condition! Besides this was a teenager...

No, I am not a large person. I'm 5'2" and top the scale at a whopping 97 lbs... I'm just saying, may be you should show a little more compassion... I do...

First off, Those who make comments about being obese be it an adult or teen are not knowledgeable on the subject and have not been there ,should not comment. The woman was on "stand by" and did not have a regular booked seat. People have been bumped on stand by for other reason than this. There are alot of other things such as a soldier, family member etc. being the reason for bumping a stand by person. That is way it is when you are on stand by. If you dont want to be possibly bumped then book a regular flight. So those of you who say someone needs counseling or it is abuse for being fat. My answer is ignorance is bliss.

Remember this is a 14 year old child not an adult. How would you like it if your child was booted from a seat (for whatever reason), alone, and left to figure out what they should do next. Though I don't think it was fair the lady was booted, it would have been worse to have the child booted.

Little to no chance this child suffered from any other disease than just bad eatting habits. I was that child at one time. My folks were heavy but it wasn't their fault I was not an active child and ate a lot of crap i shouldn't. then again my father owned a grocery store and I had access to anything I wanted to put in my mouth. so maybe it is their fault. Naw just mine and the lady shouldn't have had to give up a seat she purchased before this child arrived. Genetic issue or not.

what?? Have you SEEN these seats... you don't have to be "seriously" overweight to need more than your assigned 18 inches of space! Also this person was flying standby... they sold her a seat then realized they made a mistake. (they didn't want to embarass the kid they could have pulled her aside and said we sold a seat prematurely and we need to fill it with the paying passenger. ) period.

the compassion should have been on the part of this lady.. who only cared that she didn't get to fly when she was already on STANDBY.

The sales rep should have been allowed to keep her seat. I'm sorry the teen arrived late and has a weight problem, but if two seats were required to seat her because of her weight and girth, then two seats should have been paid for in advance by the parents or whoever booked the seat. The airline dropped the ball on this one big time!

The people here demonizing this kid, his parents and all other large people need to do a little more research on weight gain and its causes.

Well, until parents can have actual control over their kids once again, then we wouldn't have all these unruly, fat-azz teens growing up in America. Parents can't spank or tell kids what to do for fear of being turned in for physical or verbal child abuse. Look at the 12 year old that accused a man of raping her all because he took away her cell and ipod and told her to go to bed and to sleep. Next day, he's arrested for rape.

Take all these unruly kids to the alligator infested swamps, and all those that make it out alive might just be useful in our society.

This lady should sue. If the kid was too fat for one seat, then the family should have been removed and put on another/later flight.

I call it Slim-Discrimination. lol

Cheryl- Are you effing high?! You are seriously comparing some fat kid to a soldier coming home?! Really?! She was stand by until she paid for her ticket! Once she was seated she should not have been removed. Your are right. Ignorance is bliss cuz I got a damm good laugh from your ignorance. Thank you

It is probably the exception and not the rule, but why do we always assume that fat people are lazy? There are many medical reasons for weight gain and/or obesity, that cannot always be helped right away, as I recently have found out. Having been thin my whole life, I am now faced with rapid weight gain and was shocked at how I am now treated. I want to wear a sign "It's medical, NOT bon bon's"

Airlines are as friendly as a rabid dog; if we had not destroyed rail travel, ther would be competition with the airlines, if i can drive there in one day, i drive; airline travel is as bad as going to the dentist!

Yes, by all means accommodate this kid as quickly and discreetly as possible. Then, they may not notice that they are so fat they are abnormal and are going to be unhealthy and die before they should. Get up and give up your seat soon they will be on SS disability because they eat too much. But, they deserve it because they have a disorder and you should pay into Social Security so they can have it.

You are a @!$%#ing moron!!!!!

To the petite adult professional employed lady who was bumped off a flight for which she already paid and arrived on time by a late arriving really fat kid...some days you can't win for losing. You know, that's gotta suck.

Wrong.

I am sorry- I do believe that most fat people are lazy. I see them go to lunch at McDonalds and order two combo meals for themselves.

I am 6'7" at 254lbs and one combo meal goes to my waistline at 41 years old. I still exercise pretty solidly but it is hard for me to keep it off the middle- and I have to try hard.

The USA has alot of people that make the wrong decisions or have never learned. Yes, SOME fat people have medical conditions which they cannot help, but MOST fat people got that way first THEN developed a medical condition as a result of being overweight.

A little more exercise could not hurt/ whereas the apologists will make any excuse for fat people.

We are all responsible for our OWN actions- NO ONE ELSE.

While many of you here are busy being apologists for the kid and an equal number are reviling him ... You are both right ... and you are both wrong!

First of all, many have made the disclaimer that the child may have a medical condition. In which case, they have no argument. Secondly, others have claimed the woman was on stand-by and, therefor, not entitled to complaint or redress.

Even allowing for the possibility of the boy having a medical condition (of which I will accept the possibility but highly doubt), if he was too big to fit into a seat on the plane, the family had to know, on some level. If I had been bumped by this obese child, I, too, would have been incensed. At one time, I, myself, having then untreated hypothyroidism, was one of those morbidly obese passengers but, even at 100 pounds overweight, I fit easily into ONE seat without transgressing on a fellow passenger's space. Too large to fit into an airplane seat is not just twenty or thirty or even fifty or eighty pounds overweight. We are talking about a child who is well over one hundred pounds overweight. This is morbidly obese and, in all likelihood, unless something is done to turn him around, he will die before he is forty. Even with a medical condition, this is unacceptable.

As for the woman's upset at being bumped and so many here feeling, since she was on stand-by, she had no rights. Excuse me? She paid her ticket. She was seated on the plane. Her bags were stowed. At that point, she should have been treated as any other passenger. If a passenger is using two seats on a plane, he needs to pay for two seats on the plane. Otherwise, that second seat is already occupied. What would the airline have done were there no stand-bys on the plane and there was only one remaining seat? Shoved tubby into one seat? Offered him a free ticket for a future flight and advised him he would have to wait for the next plane to his destination? Bear in mind, too, this boy was a late arrival. The plane was already full and ready to take off when he arrived. HE was the disruptive element. Now, unless someone can show me evidence to contradict these points, my argument stands.

And, Auteur, I am well aware of the causes of obesity. MOST of them - almost ALL of them - are self-inflicted.

Weight gain is caused by surplus calories -- consuming more than your body requires -- except in rare cases. If you are one of the rare cases and you can't fit into one seat, then you have my sympathy, but you should still have to purchase two tickets.

For the vast majority of people it's simple, if you want to lose weight, eat less, eat healthier, and exercise more. Stop making excuses. I'm tired of subsidizing the obesity/indulgence epidemic with my tax dollars going to cover the medical expenses that result directly from this overindulgence. In no way should those who choose to take care of themselves and live healthy lifestyles be forced to accommodate to those who do not by giving up their seats on airplanes. This is just madness!

An airline does not care about how "Petite" any STANDBY customer is. Think they weighed her "petite" before letting her on? The full paying customer has a window of opportunity to catch their flight and it is before that door closes. What this child weighs has zip to do with it if she is a full paying flyer. If the Standby had been a full paying customer and a standby heavier person came in because the thin one was late, the thin one would have gotten the seat.

That aside...

When did we get so mean that we think a 14 year old should be attacked by adults and what did this standby woman think she was doing when she opted to be placed on standby and then blame the full paying kid for being late but within the timelimit? The standby adult, thin or heavy, should reconsider how she saves money or if she wants to go by the standby negatives long before she fights with a little kid when she only sees weight. Poor, poor pitiful standby. Give me a break.

That is why I DON'T FLY STANDBY and if I must, I instead book another flieght and get a room if I can. I do it for less obscene reasons than a kid who paid more than me, earlier than me. I weigh 103 so I can certainly play like this is not a bogus accusation by a standby who cries wolf.

Totally agree....when parents allow their kids to become not only overweight but obese they should be the ones to pay for it!! Afterall they are the parent. Its child abuse!!!

I agree fat at 14????? a medical condition? Give me 4 mo. with that kid and I bet you she would lose weight. Its simple, if you don't put it in your mouth it can't grow on your gut or butt. Eat less and excercise more until you lose the weight its that simple. People that call it a medical condition are just annoying, stop making excuses for YOURSELF and this KID. The only problem is lack of self control, and lack of responsibility by the parents. LOCK EM UP!

For all those who say the childs parents should be punished for letting their child become overweight--that is just plain stupid. Most parents with overweight children do all they can to help their children with their weight. I don't think any parent would intentionally let their child become obese. Those who think so clearly must not have children.

I've heard of "trimming" the fat but not "adding" the fat.

The issue is not the weight of the 14 yrs old; rather the issue is that this woman was on standby basis and not a conformed ticket. Big difference!!! Wach airline has a contract of carriage at the gate to inform each passenger what his/her rights are. The article failed to mention this.

We know from Kevin Smith's incident with Southwest that they do make overweight passengers buy 2 tickets. The airline probably let one of the seats purchased for the 14yo go to stand-by passengers. Of course, when the kid showed up, they needed that seat back. And can you fault a 14yo for only just barely getting there on time? 14yo's don't have drivers' licenses.

Rich as long as people want to talk about weight they won't figure it out. The headline in this article promoted the conversation but weight has zip to do with the rules of an airline customer flying full price vs standby as you noted.

I didn't see where it said the over weight person was 14

my thoughts exactly. I was on a plane and the passenger next to me was not even obese but overweight yet she crowded me in my seat. I am 5'2" and weight 130 lbs. So I am not skinny skinny but not overly overweight either.

I feel sorry for this lady and I was getting upset by it but she was on standby so she shouldn't have too much to complain about. But on the other hand since she was already seated they should have told the 14 year old too late seat is gone.

I have another question. Did this girl or her parents pay for two seats? If not shouldn't it have shown up as an available seat anyways?

I think that people who need two seats should pay for two seats period. I don't care how old that person is either. That 14 year old who is that overweight should be under a doctor's care to help her lose the weight. There isn't any excuse to have an overweight kid unless it is for a medical problem.

lazy parents, lazy kids.

rdixiesunrise61 the story did not say but you can assume she likely did pay for two seats. In any case she paid for any seat she paid for, full price and early. I was once so late for my flight due to something beyond my control that we heard our names called and were running. We got to the door just as it was half closed. They opened it and we got on.

No one plans on being late but if that door is open and you paid full price for your seat they do try to accomodate you. As I noted I weigh to little.

For everyone screaming that it might be a medical condition, and we all need to educate ourselves . . . well I have years and years of Kinesiology education, and I am a certified personal trainer. So I have the education.

Yes, there MAY be a thyroid problem, but that is just an excuse. At the end of the day, weight loss comes down to the Law of Thermodynamics (energy can neither be created or destroyed). So the energy you take in with calories either gets used, and transformed into other types of energy, or it gets stored as fat. That's it. If you have a medical problem, that means you do not burn as many calories at rest (metabolism) as someone without the same condition. But that is not an excuse to gain weight, that just means you have to work harder than other people. Yes, it's not fair that you have to work out twice as much as the next person, to lose the same amount of weight . . . tough, that's life. Eat less, work out more. If your kid is fat, feed them less, and make them work out.

I have seen it hundreds of times. Someone comes in and blames their weight on a medical problem, and I tell them all the same thing . . . "That just means you have to work harder. Are you up to the challenge?" The ones that are will lose the weight.

FLReader

Ever notice how there's always that one idiot who yells "Child abuse"? Grow up, get an education, become God, then judge. Maybe at that time you wont be so beneath people.

Flreader actually it is considered child abuse. There have been articles where the child was taken from its mother due to being overweight. I remember one in England and one in Maryland where the child was going to be taken from the mother if they did not help the child lose weight.

There are health risks with obesity and so that puts that child at a health risk. Hence the abuse.

To me there isn't any reason for a child to be obese except for a medical reason, like the thyroid being out of wack or from a medication or a very slow metabolism.

A parent should care about their child enough to help them. But some just don't care they set them in front of the tv, video game and then that sets a pattern.

ADAD - my mother has hashimoto's disease and has never weighed more than 107 pounds in her life (88years)... come up with another excuse for the fatties

yes, that's CHILD ABUSE!!!

Next time this little porky flies. Somebody please bump his fat @$$ and see how likes it!

Cheryl,

The woman was on "stand by" and did not have a regular booked seat.

Did you even read the article? She BOUGHT THE LAST TICKET! Let me explain...Southwest SOLD her the last ticket on the plane. Now, do you understand?

I've had to sit next to obese people on a plane before and it's f'ing disgusting. They can't fit all the rolls within their purchased space so the rolls end up in mine. I've had to sit almost sideways in my seat because of some fat bastard's gut hanging over into mine. Now, who should be asked to move... someone who's taking up two seats or the one who fits comfortably in the seat they purchased?

Ahhh yes, lets add more crimes and criminals to an already over-crowded judicial system. That's the answer!

What everybody needs ot realise is that THEY BOTH PAID FOR THEIR SEATS, one for one, she paid for hers he paid for his, the point is that the boy was too fat to fit in his seat. It doesn't matter if she was on stand by the seat she was sold was open, not the boys. The airlines duty would have been bump the boy to buisness or first class.

As to the growing argument that obese people are fat because of a medical condition, A SMALL PERCENTAGE of obese people have a medical condition, NOT EVERY FAT PERSON has a medical condition, so when we (the people) see an obese person we should not ASSUME that he has a medical condition, (because of the small percentage) WE SHOULD ASSUME HE IS JUST FAT.

Now that said, I being in childcare, would have to seriously talk to the parents of the boy and inform them that to not provide adaquete nutrition and excercise in their child's life is constituded as neglet and they can be held LEGALLY responsible for their child's health.

Cantakenomore,

If the flights are full and you are waiting for a seat to open up AT THE AIRPORT so you can buy a ticket for a flight that is full you are on standby. Period. If the full priced original flyer shows during a window of opportunity prescribed by any airline, even though late, she or he gets their fully paid seat if the airplane can accomodate that. The standby customer can pay again for that seat but if the person who already paid for it much earlier comes in, the standby returns to standby position if that is how the airline handles these situations and the timeframe is still there.

Even if the airline could not remove her under their own rules this has to do with the fully paid child. This is between the standby and the airlines. And then it gets down to their rules.

I'll add that though I do not fly standby because I do not like the shuffle or the rules of the hurry-up-and-wait, and as a full paying customer who gets there early as a rule and makes reservations well ahead of time, if an airplane I was on asked me if I would disembark for a 14 year old kid even if she or he was the one on standby - I would do it on a voluntary basis. And it does not matter what a child may weigh to get my seat. If they told me that they were trying to save a child from embarrassment I would not only leave the plane but I would probably have to fight the urge to leave her with a pillow and my foot warmies.

I am a mom first. You can't take the protection out of us moms and it does not matter whose child it is. So the standby loses by the humanities of mom-dom. That would be an inconvenient internal law written long before any of us were born.

Before casting the parents as unfit a reasonable person would want further information. That is what is wrong with this country you all know what is best for someone else and their kids. Get a grip or a life and mind your own business.

Speaking like somebody who is not a parent.

I couldn't agree more with you Aghast..... If a 14 year old child is too fat to fit into one seat, then the parents should be blamed. What the heck are the parents feeding this 14 year old that he/she became so fat to fly like a normal person. My God!!!!

Also, Southwest is by far the most horrendous JUNK airline that I've ever flown on. Their fleet of airplanes don't even look safe to fly. Their customer service is just down the toilet!!!!

How this airline stays in business??? I don't know......

Hey @!$%# the answer is easy: cheap tickets

I saw a recent report on the number of obese children in this country. Our children are the fattest and unhealthiest in any industrialized, 'monied' nation. The parents of all these children who are being over-fed and doomed to have serious health problems should be made to take parenting classes. We have an epidemic of diabetes in teens and adults. Its insane. If feeding our children fast-food several days a week, too much fried food, sugar, fats and starches isn't a crime.....and if I hear one more person say its a 'glandular problem' I'll tell what the 'problem' is, its the two HUGE fast-food hamburgers, large fries and milkshake they are currently eating!

Now, SW should most definitely apologize and make amends to this woman. It has to be the first time I've read where a thin person was the victim of a weight issue?!?!

You need 2 seats...pay for them!!! We will be paying for their healthcare issues because obese people have more of them. Pass the twinkies!!!

For all those who are claiming that the woman who was bumped should have been because she was a "standby" passenger...

I don't recall SWA's exact policies, but it's something like "passengers with reservations must checkin ten minutes before the scheduled flight time or their seats may be sold to standby passengers.". In other words, if you're a "passenger with a reservation" and you show up at the gate 8 minutes before departure, you've effectively not been a "passenger with a reservation" for two minutes. Quite simple. The standby passenger, upon buying a ticket, is no longer a "standby", they are a "passenger".

Unless SWA sold the standby seat earlier than they should have, they shouldn't have bumped the woman.

I've seen SWA tell people who show up just before departure with "confirmed" seats that they are sorry, but their seats were sold to other passengers. As I recall, SWA may have let them take a later flight in this particular case without charging a "ticket change fee", but I'm not sure about this.

WhatsLegal and we don't know the timeframe. Obviously this all happened fast so it could well be that they were already dealing with the a child who was present when the time appeared to pass. Perhaps it was not in the system yet that she got there. In any case as noted this is between the airline and the standby person. Not the kid. I would suggest that the airline wants to do the legal thing to keep from being sued so they may have decided law favored the kid if indeed they just sold the ticket as someone else registered the kid or it was an airline mixup.

The standby passenger has remedy for any airline breaking an unbreakable rule. She stands on nothing if no rule was actually broken. I've been late once and been seated. It can go according to any rules or how full a plane may be. I think you are right about the ticket fee waived but I'd like to know too.

Yes I too would like more info as to why this 14 year old was to big to fit into one seat? Was it due to medical problems beyond her/her parent's control? Or, is she simply a big eater and her parents do nothing to help the problem?

That being said I know this must be the norm when you fly standby. I was on an international flight that had been postponed due to weather for 4 hours. Incoming flights had also been postponed so a lot of standby passengers were allowed to seat. Then the plane had some computer related problems and by the time all was ok to leave, the paying passengers had arrived and those on standby had to deplane to make room for them. I can only imagine the inconvenience it must have been for those people, not only were they seated but their luggage was stored below by that time and that had to be taken off and the regular passengers luggage loaded. Finally 6 hours later than scheduled we were able to take off.

Those parents should be put to death! Praise Allah!

I am well aware of the causes of obesity. MOST of them - almost ALL of them - are self-inflicted.

Do you have evidence to support that claim?

It is sad we have a child obesity problem. Nonetheless, the airline was in the right - all the way around.

The woman sounds like a whiny witch and men - you'd hate to be her husband - believe me.

To FLReader, practice what you preach. By calling someone names and assuming they are uneducated, you are acting as judge.

Often a standby passenger is not standby by choice. If their originating flight is late or cancelled and they miss their connecting flight through no fault of their own, the airline automatically books them on the next flight. If that flight is full then they are added to the standby list. A standby flier has paid in full when they are issued a boarding pass. I have been forced to fly standby many times due to airline incompetence and it is no picnic.

As for the obesity epidemic in America, the CDC website provides useful information and statistics for those who want to learn more.

Standby seats can be sold days in advance, but they are just that, STANDBY. I've flown standby lots of times. Sometimes had to wait for the next flight. Once got bumped after seated because of people who arrive late. It is a tough call for the airline people if the fullfare passanger arrives after the standby is seated. Technically they can make them wait for the next flight. I understand the time we (my kids and I) got bumped after being seated, the fullfare passangers arrived and were noisy and rude and threatening lawyers when told they needed to wait. Southwest went out of their way to make sure we were accomodated on the next flight and that we would not get bumped again even though we were originally standby. We don't know if the 14 year old's parents were causing problems or not, but this was probably because he was 14, flying unaccompanied, and someone thought making him wait would look bad. Technically he could have been refused because they should have bought two seats. Talk to the people who fix the planes. They will tell you that they often have to fix those seats severely overweight people use, even if they use two seats, and if they can't fix them, but have to replace them, it costs the airlines many more times than the cost of the ticket. People who run movie theaters talk about having to deal with broken seats, too, and their seats are bigger. It seems extreme that doctors will get after us middle-agers about 10 or 20 pounds, but out and out obesity among both adults and children is an epidemic. And it costs our society in medical care, as well as damage to transportation and other public places that are made to accomodate average adults, but cannot handle someone three times that large.

First, of all we don't know the circumstances as to why this child is so heavey, second, who are we to judge what criminal charges, if any, should be imposed.

Aghast took the words right out of my mouth. I'm going to go out on a limb and say the parent(s) are rolly pollies, too, who apparently aren't EMBARASSED enough for their child to push away from the table rife with fatty, calory-loaded dishes. Likewise fastfood establishments ( Iwon't dignify them with the moniker of restaurants-it defames latter) are regularly on their places to go to list, daily perhaps. Get some help 'cause I'm sure the youth is ridiculed by his peers. and it ain't going to go away. If the kid is an unaccompanied minor, which he apparently was, the pain of shame is going to run deep. The petite lady victim here deserves much more than an apology. Also, the airline has strict rules to follow as to missing a flight due to being late checking in at the gate (parents again).

Most aeroplanes already have bigger seats ----- they are called business or first class. You pay for them! The whole idea of coach is for those of us who would like to travel frugally...

But do people with wheel chairs or special needs have to pay for first class or business class? Coach section should have specially designed seats for specially designed people at a non-first class price, is all I'm saying. To make it easier for everyone and avoide situations like this.

lets not compare being overweight to being disabled. I am a bigger guy and I completely understand that if you are too big to fit into one seat, BUY A SECOND SEAT!!! Or go first class. Why should this woman be made to move when she paid for the ticket and this little fata$$ takes up two??!!! And at 14 years old??!!! And southwest didnt want to embarrass the little fatty. BOO HOO! The PC squad has completely gone overboard with this one!

First of all the woman that was removed did not buy a ticket she was on stand by you jerk. If a 14 year old is overweight its not because they are lazy or useless its because their parents are lazy and useless. Second of all she was standby so all teh explanations he needed was that the passenger who's seat she got had arrived so she needed to leave end of discussion.

I do not feel that we should start catering to the minority. It's a known fact that Americans are growing increasingly wider and that needs to stop. I don't buy that the 14 year old was overweight due to medical problems. I believe it to be the same cause as most overweight people: laziness coupled with poor eating habits. Why should airplanes have to be redesigned to accomodate a fat passenger when all that fat paasenger has to do is purchase an extra ticket? Bigger seats mean fewer people can board a plane, which means more planes in the sky to accomodate travellers. I'm sorry, but your suggestion is economic foolery at a time when we Americans have seen enough political and economic foolery to last a century.

If you are on standby you already bought a ticket...it does not mean you get on a plane for free...

Jamie-

Do not call people names, it is rude. Second, she did buy the seat, it clearly said it in the article, if you read it. Calling people names won't get you anywhere and neither is giving your opinion without reading the whole article and not just the first part.

I'm sorry, but the article said that the woman was on standby and that the ticket clerk sold her the last seat, which meant that she had a ticket. The article also said that the person who showed up needed two seats; therefore booting the woman from hers. Maybe you should read carefully before calling people jerks.

Jamie: read the article it clearly says she purchased the last seat, he had not purchased two, upon his arrival he could not be confined to simply his seat so they resended the sale to her, & gave the large boy her sit. and it is the childs fault, no matter how worthless his parents may be, there is a thing called running that is free to everyone, no shirt or shoes required.

Jamie, you are absolutely incorrrect. Standby people in most cases already paid for a seat and are at the gate waiting for an opening. The opening happens when a person is late. So she did buy a ticket(you don't fly for free), and she was given the seat because this person did not make the window time and shouldn't of been able to bump anyone.

Second, I don't think I would call anyone useless, but at 14 I agree that his parents are to blame, but there are a lot of healthy kids that have over-weight parents and this person has a choice to be healthy and chose not to.

Not sure if I missed it, but to defend Southwest airlines a little, it does not say whether this person was escorted by a Southwest employee. If my son was flying on a plane, I might ask the airline to escort him or her to make sure they arrive OK. 14 year old's are not adults and maybe Southwest was concerned with that when they bumped this lady.

So, people who fly stand-by don't pay for their ticket? Wish I had known this sooner!

It said the women was flying standby, not full fare. Not to defend the airline or the other person. But before I even read the artcle I knew that something was up with the lady...they don't ask full fare people to leave for another full fair person.

I think overweight people should pay for two seats. I think airlines should double their fares.....we all take to many trips, and small children should stay home...I am tired of putting up with the cattle car arrangement cheap tickets result in. Imagine, the companies would survive, their employees could make a good living again, we'd save millions of gallons of full, lessen env. impacts at high altitudes, and flying might even become...kind of pleasant again.

If you read the story, you would have seen that the sales rep who was on standby, was sold a ticket. She was on the plane fair and square.

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like I was comparing overweight people to the disabled. That was ignorant and stupid of me. I apologize.

And let's not resort to name-throwing. I understand that this woman was on stand-by. Stand-by means that one risks being thrown off the plane if another passenger who bought a ticket beforehand shows up. However, I also read the article. And the woman was not thrown out of her seat because she had bought another person's seat, but because the 14-year-old's seat was next to hers and the child required both his/hers and the woman's. Which I feel like is unfair. To an absurd degree.

I am married to a person in a wheelchair and they do not always have special seating. The standard is if you cannot transfer from your wheelchair to a regular seat with minimum assistance you do not fly. In my opinion the 14 yr old should have bought 2 seats as is standard on most carriers and have been at the gate on time. Any other passanger would have had to catch a later flight just for being late, why the special treatment at some one else's dignity.

FIRSTLY, the lady did have to buy a ticket to be on standby, she just didn't pay for a specific flight being that she travels for work and set schedules can tend to rush deal making so stick the corn cob back up the behind and quit smoking that hash. If a 14 year old is too big to fit into one seat both him AND his parents need a life change that would require more activity then pushing the buttons on the microwave for a couple of "Hungry Man" meals for everyone.

Secondly, the passanger in that paid for her seat was her, not the FATTY beside her that needed two seats. I would have raised a stink the whole way down the gangway so he would be embarrassed. I'm 200lbs and can manage to squeeze into coach so he must have been 300+ and that is completely unacceptable for anyone shorter then 6'9" and NOT a bodybuilder or power lifter.

I wish people would stop taking the "victim" argument for the kid. He was fat and i would have been pissed if i had to leave a flight that i made it on time for and was already seated. I'm sure him being late had to do with not enough time between flights to waddle his way past every fast food joint in the airport before arriving at his gate.

"Poor planning you your part does not constitute an emergency on mine." If he can't make it across an airport to make his flight maybe he should have missed it and caught the next one. Sorry mom your son will be a little late because he couldn't get his fat A** in gear an do a little jog across the airport like any other person that has to make a connection and cutting it close. Most airlines will call ahead for you if your times are close to let the connecting flight know you are coming and to save your seat.

the kid paid first, stand by is always a chance something can go wrong.

Your right FL GIRL it is rude to call people names it was very rude for BRAD to call a 14 year old child a fat a$$ as well. Standby is paid for yes at a very very discounted rate. The kids parents paid for the seat at 14 he was flying as an unaccompanied minor and therefore should get preferential treatment regardless.

unhappy dem..the kid paid for ONE seat and needed two, so she had to give up her seat to the fatty. It's not like she took the kid's seat and then had to give it up when the kid showed up. She had to give up her seat because the kid's seat was not big enough to accomodate a fatty.

A fata$$ is a fata$$ Jamie, I don't care how old they are. Discounted or not, she still purchased a ticket so your original point is brainless. She shouldn't have to give up her seat because fatty's parents were too stupid to buy him two, or more to the point, they're too stupid to have him eat right and get some freaking exercise.

It is ridiculous the names that are being thrown out in this debate. Fat@ss also being one of them. But respectfully, I have to disagree with you on your other points. The child's family paid for one seat. The child required two. The petite woman bought one of those two and was booted off so that the kid could have those two seats. If you think about it, he (or his parents) therefore paid discounted price for two seats (just like the women paid discounted price for hers). Do I think he should get preferential treatment because he is an unaccompanied minor? Sure. To this degree? Maybe not.

Uhnhappydem - "standby" status is a seat sold on the premise that space on the plane is not guaranteed and it is possible that if the plane is full, you must wait for the next plane. Supposedly once the airlines determine you can board, you have a confirmed seat and are no longer on stand-by. At that time, they could ask her if she would consent to being bumped, but they should not have taken off the plane. The kid was in the wrong (for whatever reason) for ariving too late at the gate. Could be a medical reason, could be he was just screwing around, could have been a delay with TSA. When that happens, anyone can lose their seat. If they determined he had only paid for one seat and needed two (again, regarless of whose fault his size is) and there were not two seats available - sorry, kid. Next flight is in two hours.

You completely misread the story.

Yet you offer your holier than thou opinion.

WOW. Stand by is where you by a cheap ass hell ticket, and are hoping to get a seat. The fact that the TEENAGER took up two seats is not really the main problem. The fact is that he took up a seat the a lady had paid STAND BY for. Therefore, if he needed that seat for any reason, she has to give it up. It's her own fault for flying stand by, where anything can happen. If she really wanted to get on that flight, she'd have bought a regular ticket like that 14 year old did. Or his parents anyways. And there are flights all the time. She can always catch the next one.

This article is very misleading. The standby passenger could not have purchased the LAST seat, because if the teen needed two seats, there must have been two seats together in that row, or it would have been a moot point.

In all likelihood, the two seats had been reserved for the late passenger, because what are the odds that the only two seats that were together were in the standby passenger's row? If there was another available seat on that flight, they would have seated her somewhere else and not in the two seats that were together.

I can't believe how many people are being so insulting to a 14 year old kid. As a parent, if I book a flight for my child, he should have priority over a standby flier regardless if he needs 1, 2, or 3 seats. We don't know if the parents paid for 2 seats or not, everyone is assuming. However, I would gladly give up my seat for a child flying as an unaccompanied minor (which I am assuming because the parents were not mentioned as being on the plane). I'm not siding with the airlines because the situation as explained in the article could probably have been handled better, but I am siding with the CHILD over the ADULT. The woman needs to act like an ADULT and grow up. Obviously if she was flying standby, she wasn't in a hurry to get somewhere.

Do you know what standby means . Being that the kid was fat means nothing if you are standby passanger. When i came back to the States from Viet Nam i had a first calss ticket and i was bumped cause some kid was going to see his mommy at Christmas time from basic training now that sucks

If the flights are full and you are waiting for a seat to open up AT THE AIRPORT so you can buy a ticket for a flight that is full you are on standby. Period. If the full priced original flyer shows during a window of opportunity prescribed by any airline, even though late, she or he gets their fully paid seat if the airplane can accomodate that. The standby customer can pay again for that seat but if the person who already paid for it much earlier comes in, the standby returns to standby position if that is how the airline handles these situations and the timeframe is still there.

Even if the airline could not remove her under their own rules this has NOTHING to do with the fully paid child. This is between the standby and the airlines.

I would like to add that though I do not fly standby because I do not like the shuffle or the rules of the hurry-up-and-wait, and as a full paying customer who gets there early as a rule and makes reservations well ahead of time, if an airplane I was on asked me if I would disembark for a 14 year old kid I would do it on a voluntary basis. And it does not matter what a child may weigh to get my seat. If they told me that they were trying to save a child from embarrassment I would not only leave the plane but I would probably have to fight the urge to leave her with a pillow and my foot warmies.

I am a mom first. You can't take the protection out of us moms and it does not matter whose child it is. So the standby loses by the humanities of mom-dom. That would be an internal law written long before any of us were born. lol

Does anyone here actually know how standby works on Southwest? This is not a deeply discounted ticket where you hope for a seat. To fly standby on Southwest Airlines, you have to have a seat for a different flight, get on the list, and then once the confirmed passengers have boarded they will see if there is room and then SELL you the standby upgrade. Yes, upgrade- because you have to upgrade to FULL fare on Southwest to fly standby, which is much higher than an advance-purchase rate- sometimes by more than double. The only exception is if your scheduled flight is delayed, but they only waive the price increase, you still paid your full advance purchase price on your original flight. Regardless, it is not some cheapo ticket that cost less than the 14 year olds flight cost as several posters have suggested.

Once they sell you the upgrade and your ticket is changed from the original flight to the current one you are no longer on the standby list, you are a ticketed passenger for that flight. If they ticketed her knowing one person may still be coming, they were expecting that person to fit in one seat- the parents did not purchase two as they should have. And I have sat next to some considerably large people on planes- for a 14 year old kid to not fit is just sad, medical condition or not.

What do you not understand about flying standby? you are not guaranteed to get on a particular flight and may still be asked to vacate if a late full fare paying passenger arrives. So the cheapskate women gets no sympathy here.

The airline sold the woman a ticket because there was one vacant seat on the plane, meaning the fatty's parents only bought their child ONE seat.

It's not the woman's fault that the fatty arrived LATE, or that his parents didn't buy him two seats. She should not have been kicked off the plane.

I was a fatty myself (though not nearly big enough for two seats) at that age. The kid is old enough to realize he is overweight and he is also old enough to do something about it.

This isn't a five year old we're talking about, it's a teenager who can begin to make his own decisions. No one should have to suffer because he decided to become a land whale. In the case that it's a medical condition, the parents can get him the care he needs if they can afford it; and if they can't, they shouldn't be buying him plane tickets.

I am surprised that plane could even fly with that much waite!

I keep seeing a lot of people who do not understand standby tickets. You buy a ticket at a reduced rate, it can sometimes even be far in advance, with the agreement they will get you there. You then book a flight that has opennings and hope for the best. If fullfare passangers fill the plane, you wait for the next plane, because although you are promised your destination, you are not promised a particular flight at a particular time like fullfare.

This is not the same thing as someone missing a flight (overbooking, late, etc.) who is put on the next flight. A rescheduled fullfare person, although some airlines call them standby, too, has priority over someone who purchased as standby passanger.

You purchase standby because it is cheaper or because fullfare is sold out and you want to take a chance of someone not making it. It is cheaper because you are not guaranteed a particular flight at a particular time! When this lady, or whoever purchased her ticket, bought a standby ticket, she was agreeing to be flexible about which flight she took. By putting her on the next flight to her destination, the airline upheld their agreement with her.

By the way, the teenager was a girl, so let's stop referring to her as "he." And yes, if she was that heavy, two tickets should have been purchased. And it is possible, none of the news reports tell, that she was late from a connecting flight. If that were the case, had the decision been made to make her wait, we would probably be reading a story about Southwest stranding teenage girl because she was too heavy to fit in one seat while allowing a standby passanger to stay on board, even though undoubtedly they would have made sure she was on the next flight.

EAE have you ever even flown Southwest? Perhaps visited their website and looked for a flight? You can NOT purchase standby in advance- it is a day of flight upgrade and any standby customer on southwest has either a) paid full fare, b) had their original flight cancelled/delayed, or c) missed their flight/connection. There are some airlines who do offer the type of standby you are talking about, but Southwest is not one of them. Perhaps you should know something about an airlines definition of standby before claiming that other people don't understand it. I happen to fly Southwest regularly and I never fly standby because it costs me MORE money and I lose my A boarding pass and get stuck with last seat on the plane.

How do you know what caused this kid to be obese? Do you know his medical history? It's not always about overeating, and your statement is- simply put- cruel.

However, if the parents of this kid knew he would need two seats, prior arrangement should have been made. This was an avoidable situation. The fault lies not only with the airline's handling of the situation, but also with those who made the travel arrangements for the child. I'm sure the kid didn't gain all that weight on the way to the airport.

You are unreal! You, you little petite thing, are cruel. I was on stand by once, after I was late getting to the airport and missing my flight. I understood that if the plane filled up I would not get a seat on the flight. The boy is the one with the purchased ticket for that particular flight and (for all we know) it does not tell in the story, he may have bought 2 seats... regardless he was a passenger on that plane with at least one seat bought and paid for, he gets on and she gets off regardless of how many seats he paid for.

All you holier than thou people should have something horrible happen to you to take you down a peg or two, calling people fat***, lazy, stupid, and the other degrading names you are calling people you don't even know is despicable.

Most people are just lazy and eating wrong. It is true that some medical conditions cause you to be heavier than normal, but that is not as common as the lazy ones. It may be cruel to prejudge fat people, but isn't wrong to throw every overweight person the "medical excuse" card. Society should be a little harder on these people, we shouldn't accept this as normal and right. All the people that aren't taking care of themselves are costing us all later in medical bills. Not to mention the emotional distress it causes their families. There is no black and white, lots of areas of gray.

I, for one, am so sick and tired of hearing "It might be a medical condition" that I could scream. I highly doubt that more than 1% of obese people have a medical condition that wasn't started by being overwieght in the first place. Even if you have a medical condition, eat less. Why are we babying people that are killing themselves and drowing our healthcare? Maybe if the kid was a little more embarassed he'd lose wieght.

A: "Anonymous" admits to having bought the last ticket. Standby holds last priority. Period. The fact that "anonymous" would try to turn this into a story (which I'm sure she wants money for) says more about our society than anything else on the page. BTW, why not give your name if you have no shame about your opinions/actions? Perhaps because inherently your heart is good and you knew you were acting foolish?

B: Except in cases where the parent requests/pays for it, SW stops considering you an Unaccompanied Minor when you turn 12...and this one is 14. You can request the service for a 14-yr old, at cost of $100 RT. Regardless, this is a child! You would displace a child, seriously?

C: SW does charge overwight passengers a second ticket if they require a second seat: http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/cos_qa.html. 98% of the time (that's a SW stat) passengers get a refund after the flight, but only if the flight was not full. The fact that "anonymous" had to wait for standby would seem to imply the flight was full, eh? Therefore the child would not have been entitled to a refund...this was not charity.

D: The "late-arriving" as quoted in the article must be the disgruntled woman's interpretation. If s/he had truly been late by airline standards, SW would not have let him/her on and "anonymous" would have had the seat.

Brenda, you are way out in left field, they ONLY board standbys after the time for the regularly scgeduled passengers to board has past. Fatass was not there and the lady boarded and was seated, thus SHE was also a paying passenger, legitmately aboard and seated. He required two seats; Sorry two seats are not available, you arrived at the gate too late, you have to wait for the next flight and can board AFTER purchasing a second seat. I think they owe this lady not only a refund and free flight, but also a voucher for a free flight in the future. Porky should stay away from Mikey D's and other fast food places along with sugary sodas and other snack foods. "yesIdid"; again they only board standbys AFTER the time for regular passengers boarding has passed; this fatty arrived AFTER that time and had NO CLAIM on the seat; would I displlace this "child" ; SORRY BUT the child was NOT displaced, fatso had not shown up on time as required on the ticket and had NO right to displace an already boarded passenger because their fatass required two seats.

As far as the bogus name issue; I notice you were too big of a wimpy jerk to use YOUR real name; So, go take a long hike off a short pier.

Wimpy jerk, really? Thanks, how sweet of you! ;-) A quick google search on the real live name Colonial Girl shows me your picture: http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=colonial+girl&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=CyFuUtu5NTK-RMpHuzASZtMWiCgAAAKoEBU_QMela&fp=c9522a8e2ed29b05

If I were putting myself out there for attention/compensation like petite, of course I would give my real name. This is just a simple pointless comment board which serves nothing other than to pass a few random moments in time. Clearly you take it just as seriously, hence the kindly name-calling from your safely anonymous perch. Thanks for reminding me why I almost never come on these things...lol

P.S. enjoy the horse...or is it a pedestal?

I'm on the large side and have refused to fly for the past five years not because of my girth...but because security at the airport has gone overboard. If security is bad...being nickled/dimed to death by airlines because they can means flying is something I can do without.

At least on a bus or driving...I don't need to wait for several hours for the flight to be in the air...be searched at least once...usually two/three times and with the wait...I can be where I want without being nickled/dimed to death...since I choose what I want to eat/drink.

Have you considered that maybe the kid is unable to "get out of the house" to play? He could be ill, he could have a mental disorder; there are any number of reasons as to why people gain weight.

Yes, mark. Of course the kid is fat because he plays video games and watches tv.... He must be a horrible stereotype.... it couldnt be the bad eating habits he learned from his parents... Your comment just kinda pissed me off since i play a lot of video games and im still in pretty good shape, the three obese people in my grade? girls- who dont play video games. So lets not be a jerk and stereotype people online and act better than them. Fat? must be a guy who plays video games and never leaves his house! you should be slapped... really hard.

Oh my god...what an ASININE comment...No 14 year old kid "needs a little embarassment". You, sir, are a ruh-tard.

I agree 100%. You have no idea if it is from the parents, lifestayle, a medical issue or what so keep a better & more educated stance on things you have no idea about. The story does not provide enough facts to form an opinion except that this is very sad & good for the Airline for "trying" to be discreet about it. It must have been a very hard call to make. Try praying for this kid & for a softer heart for the woman who had to be kicked off.

What an incredibly insensitive, ignorant remark! You have no idea as to why a fourteen year old would be obese as there are more reasons than just poor eating habits that cause obesity. Oral steroids? Anti-seizure medications, etc. Do you smoke? Eat and exercise perfect? Watch t.v?

w1n5t0n -

Actually lots of studies have shown that our children are lazy and play a lot of video games, it is the major cause of obesity. Less likely it is a medical problem. You think you are in good shape now but give it some time, (we don't know your age, which must not be that old judging from your very immature reaction)

Dani if the child was ill or has a mental disorder I don't think he would have been flying by himself.

Teens need to be encouraged in a positive way to lose weight, not shamed into it.

No, the original passenger showed up late and took both seats while only paying for one. I don't think I would have gotten up. If the late-comer can fit into the 1 seat they purchased, so be it, if not either buy another seat or wait until there's a flight that isn't full.

you have it all wrong, you are suppose to be at the gate and ready to board 15 minutes prior to your departure she has every right to complain, he lost his seat when he didn't show up on time, also he didn't pay for two seats look at airport boarding polices!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why is this even a story, That's the price you pay for flying standby. It means if a fare paying passanger does not show up you then fly standby for 1/2 to 1/4 the price... If they do show up off you go....

Standby seats are only assigned once the original passenger missed the flight. This "kid" probably showed up late because he was too heavy to move fast enough and couldn't get to the gate on time. Sad but still deplorable situation. Rules are rules. What if the original passenger for that standby seat had shown up? Would they have kicked that passenger off? Once she had purchased her seat she was no longer standby so they had no right to kick her off anymore than they would have the original purchaser.

To Hmmmmmm,

She was in her ONE seat, the kid had paid for ONE seat. They had to move the woman, who would not have had to move, because the kid took up two seats. If the rotund teen had not taken up TWO seats she could have flown as planned. But NOOOOOOOO, they gotta boot her to make room for the fat TEEN that takes up TWO seats and PAID FOR ONE.

I never said SHE was the overweight one! I was complaining that SHE (the petite one) was unfairly made to leave tha flight. Sorry if I was in the middle of a rant and failed to check back to the article for proper nouns. I suppose it would have made it easier to read. I sincerally hope she (petite) got her money back or a free seat on the next flight!

@Inspector, she didn't buy the kid's seat, she bought a separate seat.

The child abused kid paid for one ticket not two, learn how to read moron.

She was flying standby and got bumped by someone who was already booked on the flight. I don't care who was fat, petite, or Marsian. That's what can happen when you fly standby. Next time you fly, get your ticket ahead of time. The airline didn't do anything wrong and has nothing for which to apologize.

If she was not stand by yeah it would be an issue, but everyone who flys standby knows they might not get on the plane. If her ticket was half priced, it would be in the best intrest of the airlines to seat the 14yo. What do they lose? What would of been a bigger issue, leaving a stand by passenger at the gate. Or a 14yo stranded? I am pretty sure, if they left a 14yo sitting at the airport there would be a bigger issue over this.

SHAME ON LIL MISS PATITE, your a grown adult you would of rather left a 14yo kid alone stranded in an aport?

Maybe there should be a news article about my last flight I forgot a had a Trojan in my pocket kept setting off metal detector. They treated me like a terrorist, it was very rude and degrading. MSN I will sell my story!!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA WOOOOO....... Where anything is complaint worthy.

Voice, you do not live up to your name. I assume you meant "Martian" not Marsian but that's not the point. Flying stand-by does not mean you don't have any rights. If a person is late or cancels their ticket you may fly in their place. Every airline announces you must be at the gate X amount of minutes before flight or you will lose your seat. That's what happened to the 14 year old. That person should have been booked onto another flight- not the person who did their part by patiently waiting and then being told a seat was available. Lastly, the person flying stand-by already had a ticket (you can't be at the gate unless you're a ticketed passenger) but wanted to fly on an earlier flight. I do that all the time. So the petite person DID have a ticket. Flying stand-by is beneficial to both the traveler and the airline and the airline blew this one.

Now, that's the Voice of Reason!

Sorry "voice of reason" you are wrong. You can't pick and choose which RULES you are going to obey. Once they sell a stand by person a ticket, the seat then belongs to them. "Airline rule". You must be at flight 15 minutes prior to scheduled boarding time. "Airline Rule". if you are late to your flight and a seat is still available, then you can board. If they sold your seat... tough noogies.... The airline has a lot to apologize for... I hope they get lots of bad press and make things right for this bumped passenger.

Inspector Gadget, Hmmm...., and others who all seem to think Standby is cheaper: southwest in their disclosures that state the security fees and all that state very specifically

"Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime fare"

Which means her ticket cost MORE than the kids, who likely paid an advance purchase rate, or at least got the Child discount off the full Anytime fare. Now, her ticket may have cost less than the TWO the child's parents were supposed to buy- but clearly they didn't. If they had, then it is Southwest's mistake and their obligation was to offer compensation to a volunteer asked to deplane since they overbooked themselves- but I seriously doubt this kids folks bought 2 seats.

yes, and if you had complained too loudly, you would have been crucified for being insensitive to the fat person! If you need 2 seats - pay for 2 seats but let me, a normal size person have the space I paid for. I have refused to fly on a plane where my seat mate was 400+ lbs ooozing into MY SEAT!

I fly SWA often and have been in the same situation. They SHOULD have a policy that if you can't get the armrest down, therefore confining your bulk to your seat, you must buy a second seat.

Maybe they also need a person size check, just like the lil box they use to check your carry ons!! lol, just have over sized people try to fit into a box, if they dont charge twice, or make um ride in the hold!!

Same happened to me, only it was only an hour--I was in the window seat, an enormous woman sat in the aisle seat, and at the last minute an even bigger man squeezed into the middle, pushing me up against the wall! No wonder I now get panicked, and refuse to sit anywhere but in an aisle seat, if I fly at all.

They do have a policy: http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/cos_qa.html.

It is possible the heavy person didn't travel often enough to realize they would need a second seat. If they didn't know, then they would not have had reason to pay for a second seat in advance. But when SW had to displace the petite person, per the policy the heavy person would have at that point had to pay for that second seat. Heavy would have priority for the space because petite was "only" standby.

I have seen this happen before, where 2 regular size men were seated and the last passenger came on board was easily 400lbs, the only seat left was next to these men. The flight attendant looked around and put a preteen boy in the middle seat so the overweight man could have the isle. Even though the boy was small, he was still very crowded in his own space. This was so unfair to the boy; however, the boy was kind to change seats with one of the two men. Can you imagine how uncomfortable an average size man would be sitting in the middle? This particular man should have bought 2 seats to accommodate his size. I know I would have thrown a fit if it happened to me. My thoughts are; if you require more room, then you need to be prepared to board first (or at least on time) so that others are not put in this type of situation.

The standby would not have been sold if this person (teen or not!) would have been on time. I guess that’s the problem with our society, we are so afraid to offend others that we cater to them. The teen was late, she should have lost her seat for missing her boarding call and the person that dropped her off should have been responsible for the lost seat.

it shouldn't have a happened...but the alternative was telling the obese person their full fare ticket would not be honored, and if they had found out the article would have been .....overweight person who paid full fare was denied seat given to standby customer.

D'd it do, D'd if you don't

There is a final boarding call for ALL airlines, even SW, the Greyhoud of the sky. The fat kid was probably late because he/she stopped to eat four times going through the terminal. I'm a skinny guy. I don't get a discount because some fat slob needs half of my space!

You may not be fat but you are a sorry excuse for a human being.

But not half as sorry of a person as you are Brenda with your misguided and idiotic ideas.

Oh yeah your a genuis...na na na na

The well-researched fact is that only about 4% of the overweight population of this country has a medical condition that causes them to be overweight or obese. That leaves an awful lot of fat people who are fat because of their lifestyles & choices they make that only they are responsible for.

I understand no group wants to face discrimination... whether it's race, sexual orientation or even height, no one can change their skin color, race or height nor should they feel they are expected to. However, the overwhelming majority of overweight people CAN CHANGE but don't put the work into it that it requires. It is UNFAIR for them to expect or demand fat acceptance when their physical condition has an economic effect on the remainder of the population. Whether the issue is airline seating, health insurance & medical expenses, and all other kinds of "changes" that are being demanded to accomodate the ever-growing average American... it's all b*llsh*t. Eat salad & get off the couch.

I really wish people would stop using medical disorders as an excuse for being obese. I have hypothyrodism, a hormone inbalance with weight gain as a symptom, and am 5'7" and weigh 130 pounds. I take my medicine, work out, and eat right. It's difficult, but you can overcome things like medical conditions and be healthy, it just takes hard work.

Jessica-8975

Great Point and so True!

Do you know if the overweight person is NOT trying to lose weight? Don't you think that if we could snap our fingers and be at an ordinary weight, we would? I work very hard to lose each excess pound on my body but it's an uphill battle for each ounce. Don't assume we don't try or aren't trying. You might be surprised.

AMEN!

Jessica, you are so right! Why is it that only in this country so many people have 'medical conditions'! Get treated then. Next time you eat next to a fatso, observe HOW MUCH they eat. They usually polish their plate and then eye yours!

Rappenwolf - it is very difficult to lose weight, but most "large" people that I know aren't even trying. They are comfortable in their own skin. That's very good for them as morale is everything. That said, fat people shouldn't be boarding flights without knowing that they must purchase two tickets. It's just proper etiquette.

I'm so sick of hearing the "medical condition" excuse for being overweight. It's funny how this "disease" only effects people in advanced countries and misses people in countries where every other disease is rampant. What a coincidence that this disease showed up in europe shortly after the invasion of american fast-food. Yup, avoiding responsibility and blaming everyone else for your problems is the new way of life.

Oh Sascha you can tell you have NO CLUE what you are saying. They are NEVER confortable and only act like it since most do not know where to begin since childhood (parental influences) is the main cause of this horrible disease. They need to teach this in school instead of how to make a blanket & our youth would be way better off!!!

Jessica - it is unfair!! I choose to smoke. I know its unhealthy and my insurance carrier charges me extra for it. I do not have a problem paying that additional because, again I choose to smoke. I also think that people who choose to be overweight should pay a premium, be it medical or an extra seat on a bus, train, plain.

The end reason for a Fat Person (Weight Challenged), is an overactive mouth. But let's make it sound better and say it is a Medical Condition. The US is one of the, if not the leading country for fat, go to Europe or Asia and see the difference. Lived in Spain for four years and in the Peace Corps for two, when we returned to the US, what a Shocker. If a Medical Condition, then the United States is having a Weigh Challenged Epidemic.

That may be true but your choices shouldn't inconvenience other people. I live in NYC and on the subway I never see obese people who take up two seats on a crowded train. No matter how big you are, you always make room if there's space next to you for someone else and I appreciate that the people here try to keep other passengers in mind.

Just because she is a "business women", and "probably" "really" needed to be on that flight...does not make her more worthy of anything especially not an airline seat he had paid for on that particular flight.

Since we are speculating maybe both his parents were killed in a donut truck accident and he was flying to make arrangements for their funeral. Is this less important than the "business" the standby, meaning standby, (you standby and if a seat opens up you can sit in it), the petite woman was on.

Brenda, are you incapable of reading, they only paid for a single seat for fatso and should have purchased two seats; fatso arrived too late and couldn't even fit into a single seat so they bumped a paying passenger that had boarded and taken a seat legitimately. SHE had paid for her seat and had more right to it than fatso showing up late and too gross to fit a single seat. Tossing th "petite" lady was wrong on numerous reasons.

Brenda

Never Mind, it would not help.

If it was soooo important she shouldnt of been standby. that is why this story does not look good for her. just imagine if she broke a nail on the way out... "women injured disembarking plane!!!!!" if she was pre ticket and ready to go thats one thing, but she was stand by and that is a 50/50 to get on.

colonialgirl...you have really singled me out...stalker in another life?

Julie:

Please learn the difference. I know that I'm being picky but, i get tired of trying to figure out what you are trying to say. Didn't you pay attention in school? Or were you one of those you said that you will never need to know how to express yourself?

there = over there

their = possessive [ their flight ]

they're = they are

your = possessive [your flight ]

you're = you are

yore = the past

AMEN! I was thinking the exact same thing. The dumbing-down of America... sigh.

ooooooooo...watch out, grammar police in the house.

Julie & David- I think you understand the situation and have made a logical statement. To the "medical handwringers" please go to your parents, or your grandparents, and look at their high school yearbooks. Now go to the mall. See a difference??

hdrider- are you really that shallow???

julie is just mad because your right!

If America gets much dumber, we will have to refer to the President and Vice President as "Bea-vis and Butt-Head".

mailsmoker: It's not a matter of being shallow it is being practical. I own my own machine repair / rebuild company and when I start to read a resume with this type of mistake - TRASHCAN. A part of my mechanics' job is to write a report to the customer regarding their findings and work performed. If the writing is poor then the customer may think that the work was also done poorly. I can not send a secretary with each mechanic to write the report for him.

P.S. My mechanics make an average of $60+K per year

lol, i istnot wondurfull how they call you stupeed but yet they da ones spenden soo much time trying to figgya out that thair u MENT? its a discustion not a engwish room. ist another 1 of the stipeeds americans way of bein betta den everyone els.

if i look you in the face an i says "their, there, they're" how longs ist gunna take you to figua out whats one i ment?

hdrider-1765193--I'm an English teacher, and you're my hero!!

I agree this ridiculous! Fatty people should have to pay for two seats! I use to love flying too. But thanks to 911 that changed everything! Damn the terrorists!

Army,

Exactly. In trying to avoid another "heavy" bumping, they just created more controversy.

Really a simple solution. Assuming that the fare was refunded to the frequent flier. An apology and a free flight should be offered to the lady. Additionally, the over-weight passenger should be put on a permanent 'Too-Fat-To-Fly' and not allowec without adult supervision and also charged double for each trip. And just for good measure; whoever booked fatty's flight should be charged with attempted fraud knowing the situation they were just trying to scam the Airline.

hmmm she should just sue um for everything their worth. but hey if the bumped that fatty he should of sued um then too. I am starting to figure out why america has no jobs anymore. you make one lil mistake at its sue hell for you.....

...said the Southwest employee.

I've flown Southwest twice in the past year and the second time it was by no choice of my own [another airline overbooked a flight]. Both times I found their employees, snarly, rude and very unaccommodating. Still, at least I made it to my destinations.

movie fan...the kid took his seat AND her seat. The woman did not take the kid's seat...the kid took hers.

THANK YOU! Someone who is not being biased to either party! I agree with you totally, and only wish that more people though like you. No one here knows the whole story, and are jumping to the young lady's defense whereas she was on a STAND BY flight. The boy had the right-of-way. He paid for that flight. Not a stand by one. And if he needed her seat, the needed her seat. Either way, he paid for that flight. She paid for a "maybe" on that flight.

Elizabeth, What part of showed up too late don't you understand? Once he arrived after the boarding time for regular passengers, he had no so called "Right-of-way", and once boarded the YOUNG LADY had the RIGHT OF WAY to the flight and her paid for seat. Fatass needed two seats, arrived at the gate too late and did NOT deserve to be either boarded OR to bump another paying passenger so his fatass would fit. IF he had NOT paid for two seats, he had NO RIGHT to bump another passenger. She paid and was seated; nothing else matters. Get a life.

Right on, Movie Fan. SWA is the best airline I have flown on yet. Most these bed wetters have never been out of their basements long enough to know what a good airline is (if they are even old enough to fly by themselves yet).

Agreed...that really came out of nowhere...for SOME people..obesity in this country IS an important issue especially when it's arises conflict like this.

Good, some one already made a racial issue out of this, definately can't forget to make it a political issue either.

It's funny how someone will hate liberals (or someone's race, etc), but then spend so much time obsessing over them.

Get a grip some people have weight issues due to conditions beyond their control such as medications. All americans have rights and voices, not just you and your whinning. I am quite sure she was refunded and maybe the teen's mom wasn't aware she needed to buy two seats. Grow a little humanity and compassion.

No, but as someone who exercises 1 to 1-1/2 hours daily to avoid being overweight, I would love it!

1 to 1-1/2 hours a day? Everyday? You must have no life. Maybe you should cut back on how much your eating so you can get it done in thirty minutes tops.

I have to exercise around an hour a day (not counting yoga/stretching) to maintain stasis since I actually DO have a medical condition in which weight gain is a symptom. Just to keep my weight down to a manageable level I eat less than 1500 calories a day (I'm a 6' tall woman, by the way) and exercise frequently.

I also go to school full time and work a full time job, so I have quite the 'life' :)

Those people are not rallying, they are being suck in by his gravitational field.

Hehe Mike.

Steve, that is the longest sentence I have ever read! I find it interesting that you chose to bunch all of the periods at the end of your rant, rather than disperse them throughout?

Now that was funny.

MSMADDIEG-- But it's OK to embarrass and inconvenience the lady whose seat was taken?

The kid has his ticket. The lady was flying standby. 100 out of 100 times the person flying standby would, and should, get bumped. The airline did nothing wrong. Next time the lady will learn to get her ticket ahead of time.

I guess Southwest was looking out for the kid's emotional well-being more than the kid (or his parent) himself....if the kid didn't want to be 'embarrassed' I would have guessed he'd gotten there in time, not late.

I've flown on Southwest once....and only once - never again. I'm no beanpole, nor am I overweight (size 14, pretty average really) and I could NOT hardly fit into their seat...

This situation is unbelievable....when 'someone' thinks it perfectly ok to inconvenience an adult, but not a 14 year old.... Just WHEN did any business get to CHOOSE which PAYING CUSTOMER they could embarrass??

ghggh

Did it occur to you jet-1017207 that maybe this kid was coming off of a connecting flight that caused him to barely make it to the gate? It happens! Sometimes you even miss the plane...he may have been thrilled to barely make it to his flight!

She was on standby, but she PAID for her ticket, and the kid took HER seat after SHE paid for it and was already sitting on it! He only paid for one, got there late, and she got kicked out because his fata$$ didn't fit in the ONE seat he purchased....get it now??

I think she's due a double refund of her ticket, and demand an apology from SW President for how things were handled. I won't fly anywhere anymore, not only because things like this but the fact that airlines are ripping people off with their exorbitant baggage fees. If I can't get somewhere by automobile, I won't go.

I think if these kids would get out and exercise, walk, play games outside, etc. they wouldn't have the obesity problem. I was raised on a farm back in the days before all this computer stuff, and we didn't have 24/7 tv either. My brothers and I got out and went exploring so to speak on our farm and usually neighbors' also. We'd be gone for an hour or so at least. We also rode our byecycles after we got them, again we'd be gone for an hour or so and while not in perfect health I'm no where near obese.

Forget standing a little longer, if the attendant tells her that there is now an available seat and she gets her boarding pass, she's in. Now the one with the problem was the large kid, he should've been the one placed on stand by because there weren't two seats available for him on that flight. Only ONE..Which he didnt' fit in.. He or his parents shouldn't have tried to cheat the airline by buying only one seat. I'm sure he's flown before and was very aware he didn't fit in just One seat.. Why not kick his ass of the plane for that??

flgirl1234

Thank You, you are one of the only ones that get it.

Amazing how many people don't realize that "Standby" is a condition before you board and sit down. She was on the flight manifest as occupying that seat.

The airlines could have asked if anyone, for a perk, could take a later flight. I think that would have been a much better way to go.

Even if the lady was on a standby flight, Southwest airlines made the decision that they had an extra seat available. If the lady pulled out her credit card and Southwest charged her for the seat that she was sitting in, then it should be hers. She paid for it fair and square. Why should she have to give up her seat after she paid good money for it just because someone is too big to fit into one seat. Somebody being too big to fit into one seat is nobody's fault but themselve. Period! If I paid $400 for a flight and got charged for it and I was already onboard the plane with my luggage checked in, I have ever right to be in that seat that I PAID for before I boarded the airplane. No Excuses!!!

A 14 year old over weight kid that can't fit into one seat like a normal passenger is not my problem. The parents should have known and bought two tickets instead. The article never mentioned anything about this being this child's first flight ever. It's not like the parents didn't know beforehand that their over weight child was not going to fit into one seat.

So tired of people feeling sympathy for people that are over weight. It's not our fault that they got that big.

I know some people were commenting on what if this child had a medical reason....... COME ON NOW..... Medical Reason or they just ate too much.... whatever the reason is, when was the last time you saw a 14 year old child that is so big that they couldn't fit into one seat. My God!!!

Darn straight! I'm petite, and I don't know how many times I've had to switch to the middle seat so some tall person can stretch their legs or some fat person can "ooze" over the side into the aisle. I have legs too! Oh well, I just usually piss the tall person off by constantly asking him to get something out of the overhead for me!!! I am TIRED of having my space encroached on so some not so small person can feel comfortable. I paid the same price you did, stay out of my personal bubble!!!

You are so right! I am very petite and I swear they put that in their computer when I arrive and seat a BIG passenger next to me. I've been TRAPPED in a window seat next to someone who expanded into my space and kept me from going to the bathroom! I never use my arm rests as they are always hogged by my neighbor. I think passengers should step on a scale and be charged by the pound!

Agreed. Everyone deserves to be respected and no customer should have to sacrafice more or less than another. Maybe someday we will pay for the seats that we need and they will create seats for the thin and seats for the thick. Xtra large seats cost Xtra large fees.

When I have the aisle seat (I'm 5'6") and am told (yes, told) to switch to the middle seat, I refuse. I've offered to switch if the person in the middle is nice and understands that seating is assigned and by no means should he assume he can sit in the aisle just because he's taller than than me. And yep, I've gotten into it a few times with men who DEMAND that I switch seats. Well, I don't really get into it, I just piss him off even more by calming saying "no." And then I turn to the person on the other side of the aisle and annouce, "if he'd only asked nicely I would've been happy to switch!" I relish those moments.

I don't fly anymore but when I did I always told the person/s next to me I didn't think what I had was contagious, but just in case I'd be holding this handkerchief while we flew....

I'm tired of it too. I'm petite being 5 foot even and less than 100 pounds and I always seem to get squished by an overweight passenger sitting next to me that paid the same price for their ticket. The last time it happened, I had it. I paid to go on a dream vacation that was plagued immediately when my neighbor plopped down next to me and was literally taking up 1/2 of my seat. I had to squish over onto my husband's seat and we couldn't put the armrests down because she was so big. I called the flight assistant over and explained that I didn't pay for 1/2 of a seat, I paid for the whole dang thing and either wanted the lady moved, or for my husband and I to be moved. And yes, I did this right in front of the woman. I have nothing against those of you with weight problems, however I shouldn't have to share in your misery --- or pay for it.

hello there I am 6'8" and have the right just as you in your 5 foot frame in a 18 inch set without a seat expander, and I yes did fly southwest and was told I may have to buy a extra set the is profiling, So Southwest and You just Deal with it

I am relatively petite myself, but I am claustrophobic, so I always reserve an aisle seat (I don't fly Southwest). And I won't switch to a middle or window seat. When presented with the tall person's discomfort v. the possibility of my having a panic attack at 10,000 feet, the flight attendants always choose to leave me where I am.

To all you petites who feel so put off I have a new pledge. The next time one of you asks me to reach something on the top shelf at the supermarket I'll laugh and point at you and get one of those items for myself.

Go right ahead and laugh. The petite among us have learned to manage very well in grocery stores, malls, etc. We don't take up much room and can't reach up high. We also don't invade your space. Can the tall, huge among us say the same? I have no problem with those larger then me. Just don't expect me to give to give up more of my space because you are big or tall. Why do you deserve more space than us?

Apparently you do have a problem with those larger than you or you wouldn't have started this thread. And this has nothing to do about deserving, and more about requiring.

cause god made me to look down at you

So let me get this straight. Every single one of you so called "petite" people want to rid the world of "fatties" or "fatso's" or "burdens" as you say? Should you all just go around from town to town and kill off the fat people? All of you should be utterly ashamed of yourselves. Ever hear of love and understanding of your neighbor? Apparently not!! That also stems from poor parenting, not just being over weight. I feel ashamed of this country when I read all the obsurd things you people have to say and defend a "skinny" person at the drop of a hat. I feel incredibally sad for you and your up-bringing and the way you turned out in this world. I can only hope when we get judged one day people like you that judge someone on their weight, get exactly the same treatment and get what you deserve.

You are AreYouKiddingMe 100 % right THK YOU

AreYouKiddingMe........... so what you're implying is that all the normal people should be sympathetic and give up our seats that we paid good money for just because overweight people REQUIRE them???

Everyone has the right to their own space, especially when flying and they paid good money for their seats. Why should anybody have to give up anything that they paid for just because the person next to you is overweight???? If a person is too overweight and needs more room, then just purchase two tickets. It makes all the sense. If you REQUIRE two seats, then you should pay for two seats. Why should anybody that paid for a seat have to give up half of it just because someone is too fat to sit in one seat. That's not our problem....... You mentioned that big people REQUIRE the extra space.... well then the airlines should REQUIRE you to purchase two seats. If big people purchase two seats because they REQUIRE the extra space, then there is no issue since you purchased two seats.

I can't stand people that think they should be treated differently just because they can't control their eating habits and gain 200 extra lbs.

several points...

1: they clearly stated in the article that the lady who got booted WAS FLYING STANDBY. That means (always has) that if somebody who was actually booked on the plane isn't there yet, you _may— get to fly - but if they show up before the plane takes off, they ALWAYS take priority over the standby - seeing as how they had a ticket that had been purchased well in advance. Don't confuse the issue here - this lady really sounds like a ditz that she is complaining. If she doesn't know how it works, too bad - but making fun of the fat kid?

2: fat people REALLY suck to sit next to on major public conveyances, especially airplanes - at least the really big ones , many of whom cough and wheeze when they breathe _even if sitting completely still— - not fun to have next to you on a long flight when you want to take a nap. If you're so hefty that you cannot fit into a single seat without your neighbors having to lean away (since you're flowing over the armrest into their chair), of course you need to pay for 2 tickets. It's moving freight, and to be blunt - you ARE a wide load, so charging more is not just appropriate it's a necessity since you take up more room and fuel than the typical passenger.

I feel sorry for the health problems these larger passengers suffer - but that doesn't mean I'm willing to let their "gut flap" lay on my lap.

If you look closely at the Southwest "Bags Fly Free" ad, weight and size restrictions apply. Over 50 pounds you pay and over 62 total inches, height + width + depth, you pay. Basically if you check a carry on you do not pay but if you check most standard size suitcases, you will exceed their limits and pay. So you get poor service on a flying bus and still pay to check your baGS

I have an expanding suitcase set and have never gone over my weight limit for my bags. maybe you should stop packing everything in the dresser, cabinets and the kitchen sink in your bag and you won't have those problems.

Wilkeslvc-2070746

50 lbs was always the standard before evrybody but Southwest started charging you for them and so is the 62". I have checked my large bag on every trip that I have took on SWA and never had a problem. You people need to get your facts straight before you start smearing somebody for something you do not have a clue about.

Has to be less than 50 pounds? Only a problem if you are taking a tuba! 62 inches? That is a pretty big suitcase! A 30 inch suitcase that is 18 wide and 12 deep gives you 2 inches to spare.

Leave the lady in her seat and put the fat kid in cargo.

What offal people you are! Making such comments about people who have a problem with weight. Comment after comment about someone being "fat, lazy, eating three times on the way through the airport" If I wanted to make a comment about you, I would say your brains are too small and you should have all been drowned at birth. How can you live with yourselves, you have no compassion. I hope none of you have children that are learning to act like you.

It is a challenge to live in a world with so many different kinds of people, tall & short, heavy & thin, smart & others who are challenged. As I read some of the terrible comments about overweight people I see proof of the decline of a socity that claim to want people to be treated fairly, with understanding and compasionson, but can turn around and be so mean. Such people do not have the ability to love other as they are. Such things lead to conflicts, riots, and wars. Let's help each other, not sling mud at each other.

The article points out problems with airlines, air travel, the way tickets are sold, how airlines deal with their customers, and the difficult of dealing with all the different body types. So start working on those issues and problem. How should the airline handle such issues? The answer is not "put the fat kid in cargo".

So all of you who think overweight people are fat and lazy and don't care about how they look.... take a hard look at you self in the mirror. Put those brain cells you have to work on some constructive solutions and remember we are all in this world together.

I agree that many of the comments listed here have seriously missed the point of the article, and that poking fun at the "fat kid" does nothing to help resolve the problem; however, the solution lies with the overweight passenger, not the airline. A fair review of the facts:

1) Coach seats are not very accommodating to those overweight. This is nothing new, and everyone that has ever been on a plane or a bus or a train or any other form of commerical transportation knows this. But airlines cannot be expected to invest billions of dollars doubling or even tripling ticket prices to replace seats that are only necessary to accommodate 2-3% of the population.

2) The airline has no way of knowing if a passenger weighs 120 pounds or 420 pounds by looking at a name on a reservation; therefore, the responsibility must fall on the passenger to inform the airline if such a situation exists and purchase a second ticket if necessary to avoid awkward situations like this. This is not a just a financial decision for the airline (losing a paid fare), but an obligation the airline has to others that also paid for tickets. This is not just about the overweight passenger, but also the comfort and service the airline provides for the other passengers seated in the same row.

3) If something doesn't fit, alternative arrangements need to be made. It's that simple. If I fly with a bag that doesn't fit in the overhead compartment, I have to check it and pay the fee (if applicable). The airline isn't discriminating against me, nor are they trying to embarrass me for packing heavy; it's an airline rule that I must accept to receive their services - that's all. They aren't making me fly on their airline, I am choosing to fly on their plane, and therefore, I must accept their terms to enjoy their service.

4) Had the airline had a backbone, they would have allowed the standby passenger to stay in her seat, discreetly made an effort to accommodate the heavy passenger on a later flight with more room, and allowed the next standby passenger to fly in the vacated seat. But once again, we have allowed our fear of offending the minority to outweigh our obligation to the majority.

Despite all the things I find wrong in this article with the way the airline handled the situation, I can appreciate the airline's desire to avoid any undue embarrassment to the overweight child. There are many reasons why they may have made the decisions they made that simply didn't make it into the article.

(a) Was the child flying alone or was she a part of a school group from which could not legally be separated?
(b)Would this have caused other passengers (parents guardians, chaperones, etc.) to remain in Vegas with the child?
(c) Was the fact that she is a minor traveling alone change the legal requirements for the airline knowing they were responsible for her safe point-to-point transportation?

Bottom line: Ultimately, airlines simply need to kick the PC bucket and publish passenger guidelines similar to their baggage rules (if they have not done so already), and force passengers to abide by them. If an overwieght passenger shows up to board and is unable to ft in his seat because he is too large and the flight is booked beyond the point that allows them to reasonably accommodate him, then he can buy another seat if available, or he can change his flight, but in either case, the onus falls on the passenger to know his situation and take the necessary precautions prior to booking and boarding. It's not like a person suddenly jumps from 180 lbs to 380 lbs between the time they bought the ticket and when their flight departs. It's all about taking personal responsibility for yourself.

Airline seat standards were developed primarily in the 1940's, based on the "average passenger" of the time. So were a large number of other seating arrangements, most notably the toilet. If you go into an old home that hasn't been renovated, you'll notice that the toilet, ceilings, and room dimensions are designed around smaller overall bodily dimensions. Height and weight.

Better nutrition (and yes, overall, it IS better) has lead to succeeding generations growing in size, height wise. With that, even the slimmest people are still wider, physically. They have to be, as the skeleton grows in all dimensions, not just height.

House builders, toilet makers, seat manufacturers have, for the most part, adapted by making rooms and seats wider and taller. The industries that have *not* kept up are the ones making auditorium seats for schools and colleges... and airlines.

Ever seen someone who's six foot tall trying to fit in one of those seats? Even if he is slim, it's clearly uncomfortable. And a tall woman is even more so.

Airlines have not replaced those standard seats, still insisting on the same decades old dimensions because it allows them to fill the plane with more passengers. They do lower the deck to provide more headroom, which means less cargo space in the cargo hold, which means they're doing their best to discourage people from bringing luggage and making you pay more for bags. From the airlines point of view, this is win/win/win. More people, more money, more fees.

Ultimately, obesity is not just a personal problem. It starts with deep rooted behaviors that are learned at home, in early childhood, with mothers saying "Clean your plate, eat everything put before you." and then putting an adult-sized meal in front of them.
Instead of putting smaller portions in front of the child, and letting them decide how much is enough, and accepting that yes, the child will get full well before an adult will. Or better yet, letting the child serve himself or herself. It starts in restaurants that give adult-sized portions of, say, Macaroni and Cheese to toddlers.

Finally, how many of the commentors here are overweight? Even the sceptic ones and the ones saying cruel things like "Was there no room in cargo?" I would bet that the number is somewhere between 20% and 30%, which is the NATIONAL AVERAGE these days.

Complicating matters in this specific case is Southwest Airline's definition of "A passenger of size".

“The armrest is the definitive gauge for a Customer of size. It serves as the boundary between seats and measures 17 inches in width.”
”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.”

How many of YOU can lower BOTH armrests and not compromise any portion of adjacent seating? This is no standard based on weight.

I can and my doctor says I'm overweight. Just flew Southwest last week. Going, I was between two other passangers, one another middle aged woman and the other an elderly woman. None of us compromised the other seats. Going back, the plane was not full so I didn't have anyone near me as most passangers seemed to prefer the front and I prefer to sit by the window, even if it means being in the back. Seat certainly wasn't an easy chair, but I fit in it quite nicely and left the armrests down. I would like a little more leg room.

LOL..you're living up to your name I see.

The kid asked to be seated with the others instead of the cargo.

Usually large shipments are transported in the cargo area.