Hollywood director Kevin Smith thrown off Southwest Airlines for being too fat to fly

[Seedersandleechers]

Hollywood director Kevin Smith has launched a furious Twitter tirade at Southwest Airlines after he was thrown off one of their planes for being too fat.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/02/15/hollywood-director-kevin-smith-thrown-off-southwest-airlines-for-being-too-fat-to-fly-115875-22044291/


I would gladly share a cramped seat next to Kevin.

[FirstLight]

1. hehe

i'd sit in his lap for sure!

[Seedersandleechers]

9. I love Kevin Smith

He could take my seat too, and i'd sit in his lap also.

[DURHAM D]

2. Not me.

Late last year I was on a full flight and the attendant had to help the guy next to me force down the arm rest. After it was down (allowing him to stay on the flight) his overflowing body mass took up a third of my seat. One leg and his right foot took up the floor space in front of my seat and I was completely jammed against the window for the four hour flight.

I asked to be moved and the attendant told me there were no empty seats and all that I could do was get off the airplane and re-book.

That is not the first time a large person has taken up part of my seat. So I say, kick them off instead of punishing the passengers that are contained within their own area.

[gmoney]

3. My question... what's Kevin Smith doing flying coach on Southwest?

Seems to me he'd fly first class or business class on some airline that offers those upgrades.

[oldtime dfl_er]

4. He was flying standby

If I recall, he did buy two seats on a flight, but then found an earlier flight and got on it via standby. I hope that's correct; I just woke up.

[Taitertots]

5. Kevin Smith needs to get on celebrity fit club

instead of complaining that he isn't too obese to fit on an airplane.

Why don't you call the airline next time you fly to make sure you are seated next to someone whose body fat folds over the armrest?

[Snow Bird]

6. SWA obviously didn't know who he is

I really don't either. He looks pretty big in the photo and to tell you the truth I don't care if it's Michael Moore or Rush Limbaugh, if they are slopping over into my seat ask them to leave.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. The airline's response is hyterically funny.

"a timely exit from the aircraft in the event of an emergency might be compromised if we allow a cramped, restricted seating arrangement.”

I was unaware that airlines now offered so much uncramped, unrestricted seating room for passengers.

[Tailormyst]

8. This is why I am to afraid to fly

Not sure I could handle being publicly humiliated, especially in front on my fiance. Most of the time I just pray I stay invisible, especially to those of you who consider me less then human. To be called out in front of everyone and thrown off a flight would just be to much.

[David__77]

10. It's hard to sensitively deal with this one.

I completely understand why these policies exist; and, frankly, I would not want to be seated next to someone who would infringe on my limited seating space. Unfortunately, it is an example of there being an additional cost associated with one's weight. One must purchase two seats in some cases, which may pose logistical issues at times. At the same time, I wonder how to deal with enforcing the policy in a sensitive way so as to avoid public embarrassment.

[Tailormyst]

11. What they should do is make a number of rows with wider seats.

I would happily pay a little extra for a wider seat, so would my fiance.

[David__77]

12. Isn't that first class? Or does Southwest not have that?

I do agree with you though. I think it would be fair if the price is in proportion to the area required for the seating accommodations.

[Tailormyst]

13. No I mean a few rows of wider seats in regular seating

First class would make it cost prohibitive for most to fly. I know at first class rates I could never afford to fly anywhere. Even a few hundred dollars is a large expense for me.

[Codeine]

15. Fewer seats = higher ticket prices for everyone. nt

[David__77]

16. I think those would cost more though, while keeping smaller seats cheaper.

This would be distinct from first class though. I thought about it, and first class tickets cost more per square inch of area taken than an economy ticket. That is because of the addition of extra services, a dedicated attendant, etc. The other reason is the economic principle of "willingness to pay"; they set prices for each category of seats so as to maximize revenue.

It would be nice if there were larger seats that were marginally more expensive, but at the same "price per square inch" as small economy seats, but I think that this would be problematic for the airlines, and would only result from public pressure. The problem is that these seats may not fill up and they would lose money.

[Codeine]

14. Genius or no,

he's a fat bastard. Celebrity fat bulges into other passenger's seats just the same as anyone else's.

[Hepburn]

17. Cannot tell from this pic, but he does not look that heavy to me...

:shrug:

[FirstLight]

18. Horrible customer service - listen to the WHOLE story

and really bad policy... He wasn't "flabbing over the seat"... he could buckle the seatbelt without an extender and put down the armrests..they were clearly making an example of him. They also used PC 'euphemisms' to tell him he shouldn't be on the plane, like he was a "safety issue"... and refused to use the word FAT (because corporate training tells them not to)

for the real story, listen to the SMODCAST (http://www.smodcast.com/) #106 on the top of the page

He then watched them do the SAME thing to a young woman on the very next flight, humiliate her and "suggest" she get a second seat, even when it wasn't necessary. They just wanted to pick on the Chubby people...usually most people who are treated this way are too embarased or hurt to speak out...thank goodness Kevoin Smith actually HAS a platform to speak about this. maybe some policies can be changed as a result.
I see plenty of posts here at DU about TSA being rude & cruel to those elderly or disabled passengers... this is discrimination just as blatant.
We are no longer allowed to say anything contrary on an airplane- or else we are hauled off in cuffs, so they can cram us on like sardines and deny food or bathrooms to people stuck on a tarmack because of the terrorist fear factor.
so yea, i think he has some right to bitch, and especially since it isn't just about HIM 'whining' ...he is the first guy to say he is a fat fuck, but he is now on a mission to defend fellow fatties, too :)