The whole Southwest Air/ Kevin Smith thing was ridiculous. They misrepresented him completely (read: lied). He bought two tickets because his wife was going with him. She ended up not going. He picked up his two tickets and sat down in one seat, buckled the seat belt and lowered the arm rests. (This is the test for whether you're Too Fat To Fly: if you can't buckle the belt without extenders and can't lower the armrests.) He was safely in the seat, completely in compliance with regulations, and THEN they threw him off the plane. They also publicly humiliated a heavy girl who they apparently also asked to leave the plane. Kevin Twittered about it at length and did a Podcast as well. He was livid, and rightfully so.

He bought two tickets because his wife was going with him. She ended up not going. He picked up his two tickets and sat down in one seat, buckled the seat belt and lowered the arm rests. (This is the test for whether you're Too Fat To Fly: if you can't buckle the belt without extenders and can't lower the armrests.) He was safely in the seat, completely in compliance with regulations, and THEN they threw him off the plane.

This is what I don't get: he HAD 2 seats. He was complying with their policy. So how could they throw him off when -- let's ignore the fact that HE FIT IN ONE SEAT ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN SPECS -- he had 2 whole seats for himself?

What am I missing? Other than the fat hate, that is?

Steph--apparently he stood by for an earlier flight, where there was only one seat.

I went to lunch with my husband, then dropped him off, turned around, and went to Starbucks to get a giant iced sugar bomb. It's that kind of day.

Steph--apparently he stood by for an earlier flight, where there was only one seat.

I've read so many different accounts that it's all jumbled in my head -- thanks!

My understanding is that he bought two seats because it was more comfortable, not because he couldn't fit in one seat. However, he bought two seats according to their "customer of size" policy. When the time for the flight came, there was only one seat (which he could fit in), but because he was registered as a "customer of size" (he'd bought two seats on the first leg of the flight), they kicked him off.

Regardless of whether or not I agree with the "suctomer of size" policy on SWA or not (I do not, BTW), you DO NOT SEAT THE PASSENGER and then boot him off later. You put him in the fucking seat, you let him take the fucking flight. Shut the fuck up SWA.

Obviously, that should say "customer", but suctomer is kind of funny, so I'm leaving it.

The government is spending too much on anything which doesn't directly benefit ME. Taxes on ME are too high.

When they protested in DC a few months ago, they were complaining in all the newspapers that there weren't enough Metro trains, and that some people had to take cabs.

I would just like to say that it's entirely possible to not have "fat hate" and the like, nor be biased against people of any size, but to also like to not be scrunched into my seat because someone else is in my space.

However, I lay the blame at the airlines and how they've reduced the seat sizes over the last 20 years in order to put more asses on every plane and increase revenue (to offset the very much cheaper tickets that everyone demands). That goes for tall people, too! I am so very happy to only be 5'5" whenever I'm on an airline; I look at these poor souls who are stuck with their knees in their faces for 5+ hours and want to cry on their behalf!

This is fun--listen to the senior class of Smith react to the announcement that Rachel Maddow is going to be their commencement speaker: [link]

I love how their excitement ramps up the more they realize who it is before her name is mentioned.