'Silent Bob' Aims Twitter Feed At Southwest Airlines. Guess Who's Winning.
You may have already heard that "Clerks" director Kevin Smith was thrown off a Southwest Airlines flight yesterday for being too fat - after he was buckled in.
So take the mistreatment of a geek cult hero, add his Twitter feed with over a million and half followers (ThatKevinSmith), and you have a well-deserved public relations nightmare. In a stunning display of the power of new media vs. old, Kevin (who's famous for his colorful language on Twitter) is not holding back on this one. He's got up a podcast, too:
Director Kevin Smith was ejected from a plane after being deemed "too fat to fly," he says on his Twitter account.
After delivering a speech in San Francisco, he boarded a Southwest Airlines flight to Burbank and was seated on the plane but then was thrown off the flight Saturday evening. The director of Clerks and other movies, who is also known for playing the movie character Silent Bob in many films, fired off a round of Twitter messages aimed at Southwest. Among them, "Fair warning folks: If you look like me, you may be ejected from Southwest Air." A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines wrote an apology on the company's Twitter account. The message, from an unnamed representative, says "Hey Kevin! I'm so sorry for your experience tonight! Hopefully we can make things right."
Have any of you ever had a similar experience?
Nope, I have never had a similar experience. When I sit in an airline seat there is room for another half a person in the seat. I have skinny genes. :)
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
but I can't get my fat ass into 'em anymore :(
I think I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so.....
I also have skinny genes. But unfortunately I'm hypothyroid. I'm not fat - but people look at me and think I need to lose weight. They also assume I eat the wrong foods and sit on my ass all day - none of which are true. The "everybody's fat" crowd needs to get a clue.
*
silent bob has become fat bob. He's a walking heart attack and not all that funny anymore.
---
what is worse, ignorance or indifference?
I don't know and I don't care!
You're fat. Lose some weight. We're only telling you this because we care. Now get the fuck off our plane!!!
Love,
Southwest Airlines
PS we're sorry we called you fat and fucked up your schedule by kicking you off our plane. We had NO IDEA you were famous and had more followers than Christ on Twitter. I mean, after all, you're fat! How could you possibly be creative enough to be famous? Our bad. we just assumed all plus sized folks were low self esteemed slobs. Once in awhile, we get it wrong.
Please, take this apology and $100 VOUCHER as our way of saying, sorry
fatmanKevin. And please quit fucking cursing us out on twitter.me-oww!
You're on a roll today.
Nicely said, m_k!
Southwest Airlines' apology is beyond pathetic. The comments posted at their site are quite entertaining to read.
Keep twittering, Kevin! Shame on you, Southwest Airlines!
$100 Bucks? I voluntarily gave up my seat for a later flight on KLM and was given $300 and $65 for food and drink at the airport, or, a RT ticket from SFO to Amsterdam at some later date.
When you are forced from a flight, I thought the airlines were supposed to pay you more than the face value of the ticket.
"Hey Kevin, Stop playing the poor abused fat kid sympathy card. You are NOT getting into my pants, and that's final! I'm married now! --Love, Stacie Mistysyn." (aka "Kaitlan" from Degrassi Jr. High.)
http://jam.canoe.ca/Television/TV_Shows/D/Deg...
I am amazed that he can afford a plane ticket, the way his movies lose dough. Next time, roll home.
After all, Michael Moore has never been kicked off a plane, and he's twice as big. In fact, I think Moore probably gets to fly for FREE now that he's become the champion of abused airline industry employees. :)
flight. It wasn't just him who was treated disrepectfully. She posted a comment on Southwest's blog...let me find it... Ok, I'm having trouble, but the assholes made her cry. There's no excuse for this bullshit.
I've never seen change without a fire
Well, if that were the case I'd agree. We'll have to confirm exactly what happened from other witnesses.
It appears that there's more to the story. From what I read, Kevin normally buys two tickets. However he tried to take an earlier flight on standby and that flight only had ONE seat. Kevin decided to make a scene because he's got the ability to do so in a very high-profile way.
Kevin must have a movie coming out that needs promoting. Next time he should take a picture of how he doesn't fit in one seat rather than taking a picture of his face making some goofy expression. That would be more relevant and informative. Then you can all decide if you'd be comfortable sharing half of your seat with him for the entirety of your flight.
http://www.blogsouthwest.com/not-so-silent-bo...
And no, I don't work in the airline or travel industry. But I do travel for business.
you'll find that he vehemently denies buy 2 tickets as a normal deal. but hey, we both got our info off the internets, so we both must be right. How'd that happen?
From the horse's
mouthtwitter page:# I've read this massive chunk of misinformation a lot today: "Kevin Smith usually buys two seats when he flies commercial airlines." Proof? about 7 hours ago from web
# Srsly: @SouthwestAir put that in their blog. I never said that. On SMod, I describe buying seatS for THIS week's flights. Hardy "usually". about 7 hours ago from web
# But look how easily misinformation is spread. I've read that "usually 2 tickets" bullshit EVERYWHERE today. Thanks again, @SouthwestAir! about 7 hours ago from web
Via @doktordee "yep, that ended up in every article i saw on the matter. classic case of no fact checking. typical" Well-known outlets, too.
# Via @XanxiuZ "Some dude from bestfares on MSNBC yammering about how you routinely buy 2 seats" 'Routinely'? Man, ya suck a dick just once... about 7 hours ago from web
me-oww!
He does have a new movie coming out next week called Copout.
Jesus I have to lose weight.
Fly, fatboy! Fly!!!
The people of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage." J.K. Galbraith
Stories like this almost make me glad to that I've never had the opportunity to visit the East Coast or go overseas. Nobody needs that kind of treatment. Not only does it fuck up your schedule, I imagine it's humiliating too.
I've never seen change without a fire
experience" link.
:(
May the asshole commenters circumstances change so that they can put on 50 to 100 lbs and see how quickly society turns on them.
I've never seen change without a fire
Sorry but lust wins!
And I'm not sure that this was the case in this situation ...
But I also feel sorry for the person that has to sit next to someone so large, who has also paid for a full seat, but is only getting 2/3rd of one, because the person next to them is spilling over into their seat. And that can be the case, even if the belt goes around the person.
I had a flight once where I was the middle person between two large guys (they weren't even fat) ... I was squished from both sides and was very uncomfortable for the entire 3 hour flight. The plane was full, with nowhere for me to go.
he has a long line of twits that explain the situation. It's not what you think. It's fucked up.
me-oww!
I read earlier that he was originally booked on a difference flight and had purchased 2 seats. If that's the case, he's aware of the problem.
And yeah, it was fucked up, it should have been handled well before he was packed away and had been seated for awhile.
doesn't buy two seats because of his weight, he buys two seats because he doesn't feel comfortable conversing with the person next to him.
I've never seen change without a fire
he doesn't buy multiple seats, but he was traveling with someone. That person wasn't on that leg of the trip. He's going batshit trying to stop that 'he always buys two seats' bullshit.
It sounds to me like he never buys extra seats, he just happened to this time.
At any rate, I'll believe him before I believe a load of corporate suits playing CMA.
me-oww!
even if he didn't buy two seats, why would ANYONE buy 2 seats? For the same price you could sit in first class and I would think that for anyone but the most obese person those seats would be fine.
First, southwest doesn't have First Class, all their seats are economy, so that wouldn't have been an option.
Second, First Class seats are typically 3x to 5x more expensive than coach seats, not just double.
He took up a quarter of my seat. He looked embarassed, and the flight was only an hour, so I just put up with it. If it had been an longer flight, I think I would have had to request that the airline give me my whole seat.
unshaven, stinking, dirty--yes. But not (so far) to the point of being extricated from the plane. Good thing too, 'cause those were times I was likely transporting illicit substances from one location to another.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
SWA doesn't care if the publicity they get is good or bad, it's publicity. The "too fat to fly" concept it purely arbitrary. One person makes that decision. The last thing that person is is discreet. After I sent a complaint letter to SWA, they sent back a letter telling me in a nutshell that they really didn't care and if I wanted to fly I should go with another carrier.
Go, Kevin! Get this discriminatory practice in the open!!
If you can't fit in the seat with the arm rests down and there is no empty seats, then explain why the person sitting next to you who also paid for a ticket has to share part of his seat with you.
read the story. then you won't look like a dumbass when you post your protest against 'teh fat'
me-oww!
Read my post I was talking about my experience not yours or anyone else.
as you say read the post dumbass
and it read like a person who assumes the subject of the op was fat enough to take up your space, like HE couldn't get the armrests down etc...just like a load of other posters on this thread. No one said he should be allow a seat and a half for the price of one, so why do you need an 'explanation' for that?
So you're in company. I wouldn't call it good company, but you have company. If you didn't mean to allude to the OP, perhaps you should have been clearer. So if you weren't referring to Smith, I retract the dumbass and apologise for it, and will just say you communicated your idea poorly. I have been guilty of the same.
me-oww!
Thing about this was when i read it on CNN (i think)... When Smith made comments in regards to when he was leaving, "He saw another fellow fatty, who should have been removed too. But i didnt throw him under the fatty bus, but we made eye contact" paraphrased of course...
I think it looks even worse now that they're trying to say sorry now knowing that he's a celeb. THey should stick to their policy, but now look like a company that will give up policies based on who you are
Bottom line: They suck.
*
Eat less...Move more.
"I can't keep doing this on my own with these...people."
Open mouth...remove foot.
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
He's been telling kids at every speech in the past year about how all he does now is smoke pot and eat.
Great message.
Karma's a bitch you fat fuck!
you are a dick. Flatout. And that is a very mature comment.
Southwest doesn't discriminate against giant obnoxious assholes. They might then require you to buy a crate and travel with the other beasts in the cargo bay.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
He's not even that big. Yet he has more brains and wit than you. Stupidity is a bitch you dumb fuck.
NOBODY 2012
me-oww!
And I'm pretty certain that airline seats HAVE gotten smaller. Even with my thin build, a middle seat is never a comfortable experience. Hell, even the new "thin" format newspapers are basically impossible to read onboard. I feel sorry for anyone who is even of "average" weight having to endure most flights.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
Has anyone else noticed that the newer john stalls in restaurants etc. are VERY small??
I weigh 145#, wear a size 10/Medium and sometimes, especially since the doors swing INTO the stalls, I have noticed I can barely squeeze through!!
I'm guessing those who cannot fit in the "normal" stall have to wait to get into a "disabled" stall??
Hardly ever fly, so I can't comment on those seats, but as I recall first class seats are MUCH larger than coach seating.
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
creates more problems and turns away customers. Not a smart move.
NOBODY 2012
sorry
I think it's inconsiderate when someone uses my seat for their flight
I don't know the solution but there is no question I don't want someone else in my chair on a 6 hour flight
From teh twit machine:
me-oww!
How about some bigger seats? Haven't you been reading, Americans are fat!
bigger seats are fine but that means higher prices of course
in addition there is always someone too big for that seat
bigger seats mean higher prices in an already struggling industry
how about this;
you pay per cubic foot for your volume, I think that makes sense
water displacement is how you determine volume. that'll kill business.
me-oww!
That'd be great! Each passenger comes up and has to sit on a little seat above a big container of water. Then bystanders pay 3/$1 for balls to pitch at the prospective passenger to hurl him or her into the water, where his or her body mass is calculated... a multi-pronged solution: accurate calculations for aviation purposes, a little extra revenue on the side for the airline, and good clean fun for all!
out of Chap 11. Better, with all those wet clinging clothes, no need for invasive scans anymore! Doubleplusgood: All ignitables pretty much ruined! Take THAT underpants bombner brigades!!!!
me-oww!
The average person is larger sized, yet we have to put up with thin people on their little high horses all the time. With the smaller seats it's not entirely our fault.
And I won't lie, I'd love to see fat-discriminators have a turn of events that causes them to put on weight and be treated like the pariahs of society. They have it coming.
I've never seen change without a fire
I've been both, fat and thin
I think everyone is being selfish if they think it's ok to occupy your neighbors seat
I believe a great solution is to base prices on volume, of course they'd never get away with it
someone miss a family funeral because you don't like what they weigh.
I've never seen change without a fire
"..you don't 'like' what they weigh...?
Think you are missing the point. It's not I don't like that someone is obese.....I don't like that they hang over into my puny little space for five hours while I sit crouched up like a peanut.
Peanuts don't crouch; they crunch.
missing their relative's funeral? Or something equally important? Smith's schedule was just screwed up, but Southwest has booted other people, and in one of Susie's links, they caused a man to miss his uncle's funeral.
That man's fellow passengers were a little less squeezed, but he will not get another chance to support his family while they said goodbye to his uncle.
I've never seen change without a fire
Pretty lame rebuttal I do say.
excuses people make to discriminate against others, myself.
I've never seen change without a fire
You comment about "thin people on their little high horses" and then you talk about "fat-discriminators" and how you would like to see them "put on weight" and be treated badly because "They have it coming. Aren't you doing a little discriminating yourself?
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
of my life as a "person of size." It may not be all thin people, but there are thin people who believe I and another people of size are less than human because of our weight. You should read the comments on the blog post about the man who was prevented from attending his uncle's funeral. You'll have to forgive me if the anger and hurt gets to a person and I want those types of thin people to learn what it is like.
I've never seen change without a fire
Your comment insinuated that all thin people were judgemental and unfeeling. I would never insinuate that all "people of size" were "less than human". While you don't want all people of size to be catagorized as one, you seem to be catagorizing all "thin people" as one.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
*
I've never seen change without a fire
No problem. If something was a painful to me as your weight seems to be to you, I would never wish it on anyone else, that's all.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
and the same people who thumb their noses at us could gain a lot of weight themselves. Depression happens, thyroid conditions happen, demobilizing injuries happen...and one would hope that if they would realize it could be them tomorrow they might have a bit more compassion. Without having to actually gain the weight of course... Sadly some people are not that capable of empathy...
I've never seen change without a fire
seat row partners. And their creation is completely preventable.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
trip when they're screaming. The high pitched voices of toddlers sometimes make my ears hurt. Can't imagine what an 8 hour plane trip would be like with a crying baby the whole way.
I've never seen change without a fire
Usually take-off and landings are the worst (pressurization on the ears) for them.
Sometimes, it's little kids that are even worse. Those, of course, are generally the parents' fault.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
I think this is a hoot. Give 'em hell Kevin!
*
Go for a jog, Kevin.
Um. Big Bob is effin huge now. Kevin Smith should have to purchase three tickets nowadays.
Kevin Smith's next four movies will have some sort of comic riff on fat people getting screwed over.
New Southwest Airlines slogan: "You are now free to waddle about the country."
The middle seat has no arm rests if the other 2 have to have 2 arm rests so the complaint about spillage is hogwash. An elbow is not spillage - now if you had to turn your body to fit in half a seat then I can see spillage but if the arm rests go down stfu.
...he uses big words like 'particularly' and 'delicatessen.' -- Jack
actually the middle seat has two armrests and the outside seats have one
now, if you want to come onto my seat I have a problem with that, how about I come onto your seat then?
how about for every bit of "spillage" you say is not happening I have "no spillage" back into your seat at twice the differance
what do you think about that?
not so much I bet
elbo into my seat is of course understandable as my elbo will also be into your seat, but body into my seat is not acceptable
what is so hard about that
we could only do something about the open-mouth coughers.
and the bathing impaired.
me-oww!
According to Alice X on an earlier thread the Founders never intended for rule by unwashed masses.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
I once had to remove a woman from a plane for lack of bathing in the last five (5) years. No kidding, she reeked. Passengers near her complained to the FA, who called the captain, who then called me to do the dirty work.
U had to bathe her mid-flight???
I know, too easy. U noted what you had to do. Ha! The visual alone is too much.
I think she was from Bangladesh. I had to find her son to come with me onto the plane to tell her.
Open-mouth coughers? Off the plane.
Bathing impaired? Off the plane.
Parents with crying and/or out of control children? Off the plane.
Wearing your pants around your ankles? Off the plane.
NOBODY 2012
people who think that if a drop of perfume/cologne is good then a bucket of it is better.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
Perfume nauseates me.
His twitter page is broken!!!!111!!
SWA had him kicked off twitter for being too fat, even though he passed their requirements!!!
me-oww!
broken.
I've never seen change without a fire
still works just fine...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
I guess something big has happened and has got people in a tweeting frenzy.
I've never seen change without a fire
I've sat next to obese people who hang over their seat into mine for 3-5 hours. It sucks. I'm also not keen on paying $25 for my bags being 2 lbs overweight when I weigh half as much as the fat ass that pays nothing. None of it makes sense.
I just think people need to be a little respectful of others. If you are so big you hang over the little half-human-size seats they pass out on the airlines..then maybe you better step up to first class when you can FIT in the damned seat.
Next issue is bawling, screaming babies. Ugh....flying really sucks these days. I love an EMPTY plane!
and just believing 'Guy kicked off plane for being fat' means he must've been slopping over the seats.
The SW agent said the armrests have to come down ok. The armrests came down fine, and the women passengers on either side volunteered his size was not a problem for them...
me-oww!
Famous people are more important than anyone else.
I've been flying Southwest for years, and I have never seen anything even remotely close to this in person. In fact, one time two large gentlemen (350-400 pounds each - really big guys) walked on. They each needed seatbelt extenders, but there was only one on board. The flight attendants held the flight until another could be found (not a long wait - they found the other extender quickly).
I am a pretty big guy ("only" 240 at 5'8"), so when I had a window seat once, and a guy who made me look svelte took the aisle seat, I was beginning to pity the poor soul who would have to take that middle seat from Kansas City to the west coast. Although they had announced that there would be no empty seats, they left that one open.
So, no, I have never seen such an act, and cannot believe ANYBODY would pull it, even a company as customer service oriented as Southwest. But then, they've pulled a few boners with women who dared to wear short skirts, too. (pun intended, I guess) Not all folks hired can be A#1, even for a company like that.
-------------------------------------------
“Remember when teachers, public employees, Planned Parenthood, NPR, and PBS crashed the stock market, wiped out half of our 401Ks, took trillions in TARP money, gave themselves billions in bonuses, and paid no
He coulda sweet talked someone into checking him in as their bag.
The he coulda flown free. SWA never gets high enough for oxygen to be a problem.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
because the passengers accused the crew of being drunk while intoxicated? (read carefully)
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
three free cocktails on their next United flight.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
This was about two years ago now. I went up to Minneapolis for the National Conference for Media Reform. The flight home (to KC) required me to change flights in Chicago. I was bumped from my initial flight and forced to stay overnight and take yet another connecting flight - to SAN ANTONIO!
BTW, this was with American Airlines.
Years ago one airline left my dog in his crate on the runway and didn't load it into the plane. When I got to Tampa I found out what had happened. They would fly my dog on the next flight coming to Tampa the next morning but refused to give him any water or food since they couldn't be responsible for doing those things. When he arrived the next morning in his crate he was covered in his own pee and poop and just about passed out due to dehydration.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
A friend of mine was the PA for a guy richer than christ, having sold his communication co to AT&T. he sent her to Houston to pick up a puppy he'd bought for the wife.
My pal saw the crate dumped on the baking tarmac. She went to an AA agent and said "That's an 8 week old puppy, when will he be loaded?"
"Oh it will be awhile."
"Get him off the tarmac, it's 100 degrees out."
"I know how hot out it is miss calm down, there's nothing we can do about it. We'll have you arrested if you continue on in this vein."
The friend calls the boss, who becomes INSTANTLY outraged, puts her on hold and makes a call-to the president of American. They're golfing buddies. He gets back on the phone.
"Is anything happening?" he asks.
She looks out the window and see a bunch of people all elbows and assholes, getting the crate, handling it like it was actually a living critter, and tells him yes. Then the phone at the desk rings, the threatening bitch apologises profusely and my friend gets her ass kissed all the way home.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could all make that call?
me-oww!
i was on a southwest flight last month and the dude sitting next to me, seriously, weighed about 400 pounds and i had to deal w/ his ass taking half of my seat and his shoulder fat shrouding me like i was sitting in a beanbag filled with lard. no offense, but fuck that. i paid for my seat and if lardo needs two seats, then lardo should pay for two seats. and by the way, southwest is the only fucking airline that i can bear to fly anymore. they are a first class organization.
and fit in the seat w/ the armrests down, and the passengers on either side said they were ok with him as their neighbour for the flight.
So what's that got to do with your story?
me-oww!
it's my fucking story. and what it's got to do with it, because you seem slow, is that southwest airlines has a duty to make fucking sure that if i've paid my fucking fare that i shouldn't have to sit in someone else's fucking lap because they don't fucking fit in their space. just because silent bob is famous and has a million stoners following his tweets doesn't mean that southwest should bend over and kiss his dorito-thickened keister.
all that said, it sux to be embarrassed like that. it shouldn't have happened.
I was mean.
But really, the guy wasn't sitting in anyone's lap.
The passengers on either side were ok with his presence
The other thing, he was allowed on the plane,
and could buckle the seatbelt
and lower the armrests-SWA's requirements they said he needed to fulfill.
I doubt the guy would have made an issue of it had they said "Pass this test" then he failed.
They said "Pass this test,"
he passed it
and they said "Get off anyway."
See big diff, between slopping over into your also paid for seat and being snug in his own.
And if you think I'm slow, well you'll find yourself to be at a disadvantage, because I notice you have been unable to grasp the basic facts of the story here...
me-oww!
but that is how most of us always are, wanting to be polite, putting up with selfish people playing victim and getting away with it.
My last air flight was the first I've face this: big hippo arms pushing me over my face 5 inches from sweaty fat underarms, that whole side of my body pressed against this person, making me hot and sweaty the whole time myself. I never imagined...
Really the vast majority of people, including the vast majority of the overweight or big people are not like this, but some are...and this guy is clearly one of them because this isn't his first time with this issue.
Readers were asked about their experiences. malmarti isn't the only one posting a story unlike Kevin's, so how about you keep from jumping down her throat?
Really, people are getting way too invested in this.
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
and I apologise for that. I was rude. but the guy, like so many here, seem to think he was filling extra seatage, which he wasn't, according to him and the passengers on either side of him.
me-oww!
of weight in and around the seat.
I am 5' 10" and weigh between 195 and 205 depending on the training I am doing at any specific point in my life.
I have about 12-15% body fat, again depending on how hard I am training at any given time.
My waist is 32-34 depending on the pants. Suit is somewhere around a 45-46 chest.
I am not fat. I am athletically built. But...sometimes just by the width of my shoulders and heft of my legs I take up the full seat and a smidge more especially at the shoulders when in a coach seat.
I used to fly 20-30 trips a year for work and leisure and easily half the time, the seat did not contain me fully, again especially up top.
So what should the policy be then?
I don't have the answer, but I would like to know what you all think.
and rub shoulders with ya. I do remember a flight like that, where the I kept sneak looking at the guy next to me thinking "Geez, the guy isn't fat; why is slopping over into MY space?" And I don't know WHAT it should be. I don't get angry with the obese person sitting next to me either. They didn't choose the seat. I am more pissed at the way this country is all about "Be skinny" but throwing corn syrup fat and snacks at everyone, while the airline is trying to make the seats 15" across so they can squeeze one more fat ass in per row.
My own personal policy is that due to a combination of stressors involved in flying, I'll drive boat or train there. Or leave and arrive on a foreign carrier from Vancouver.
me-oww!
what you mean.
I have some travel coming up to the East Coast and will be driving instead of flying.
Luckily, I have an open schedule for departure and arrival for my intended multiple destinations.
Flying can drive U nuts.
... though I am a few inches taller, body fat % is between 15-18%, and I weigh almost 300. The BMI scale says I'm morbidly obese, but my doctor says I'm only slightly overwieght. I can't fit in a coach seat at all, especially on southwest and Delta, (front to back or side to side) so I either have to get two seats or first class whenever I fly. Now, I've never been forced to, but still...
the BMI says I am just a couple points south of obese.
I guess these 1800 calorie days and 12 hours of gym time per week is the problem.
...I could lose a few pounds, but I am just a very thick and very wide person naturally. My legs are like tree trunks, my ribcage is 50", so there's only so much personal responsibility I can take before getting surgery, right? Even if I got my body fat down (a major problem I've dealt with my whole life; it's a struggle to maintain at the level I am) to around 7-10%, I'd still be obese by the BMI scale. I box recreationally too keep my weight down, but it also keeps my muscle mass up...
so that your shoulders are less broad. After all, its your fault you don't fit the seat, not the airlines' fault for making them narrower and narrower.
Look, I know skinny folks who complain about the size of airline seats even when they sit next to other thin people. I don't fly by choice, but hear about this from freinds who do while warning me to avoid the experience unless I want to pay a lot extra for a larger seat in 1st class. I am 6'4" and weigh 240lbs. I am just plain big all over. I wonder how heavyweight boxers get to their matches? Seems to me the airlines need to put in some extra large coach seating for big people as there are a lot of us...and we are not all famous.
unless grossly disproportionate, would never qualify you as obese.
But yeah, I imagine you would have a tight squeeze in every coach seat in America.
Depending on the level of fighter, those who are not in contention for anything notable normally have many bouts close to home. Many driving miles.
The guys I know who are professionals and have some say in the contract try to stipulate comfortable travel accommodations and sometimes that means negotiating 1st class flights.
In 1989 or 1990, I was grossly overweight, I had quit smoking a couple of years before and exploded from 160 lbs to 280 lbs.
Alaska Airlines Flight from Portland, OR to Hawaii.
Stewardess commented that the seat was too small for me while she was checking seat belts. Airborne, she came and moved me to a business class seat. Refused the $50 tip I offered her.
Flying back same thing same airline.
They got enough business and recommendations that they more than made up for the two upgrades.
evil is evil
If it is any consolation, I knew a young woman who worked complaints for Southwest. They screwed up a flight to LA. I asked her about it. She comped me a free round trip anywhere they flew. Then told me to call in and complain about that flight. I must have flown 6 to 12 flights for free on Southwest.
Then her college course was over and she moved, dang it.
evil is evil
I hope they offered him a Happy Meal at the MacDonalds of his choice.
I am not big, nor am I skinny, but I fit into ONE SEAT without intruding into another. As one who flies all over the world all the time for business, I am SICK of the guy / gal who thinks that getting into a seat belt means you fit in the seat. I pay for my seat - ALL OF IT - and I don't want you or your lard butt in my space - nor do I want your elbows in my sides, your head on my shoulder while you're napping, your thighs pressing so tightly against my thighs that you put my legs to sleep... Sorry Kevin - yes it's embarrassing and I have empathy for you (and your screwed up schedule), BUT I applaud SWA for taking action. I have asked on SWA flight repeatedly for people oozing into multiple seats to be moved, pay for two seats, etc. only to be told by the attendant it's the call of the gate agent! BRAVO SWA for finally listening and taking action!!!
So the fact that the two women sitting next to him said it wasn't a problem and they weren't bothered means nothing, eh? All that matters is some arbitrary rule and your opinion, even though you were nowhere near that flight and no one was inconvenienced by Kevin's presence on the plane?
Good to know. Be sure to call Southwest and let them know you're available for consultation on all their flights from now on.
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
Kevin's celebrity is the only reason this is MAKING news! The two women next to him weren't bothered...where YOU there? You accuse me of voicing my opinion, what have you just done??!! Would gladly work for SWA or any other airlines to enforce rules which are designed to make ALL PASSENGERS comfortable AND SAFE - You claim the rules are arbitrary shows YOUR ignorance!
and you will not gain 100 lbs if they "ooze" and touch you, I hope. And thankfully, ignorance is not contagious either, otherwise larger-size passengers would be screwed if the comments by people they have to sit next to is any indication.
I've never seen change without a fire
I read this story and heard that an organization of big people wants to boycott Southwest and I wholeheartedly support this action by our Super-sized Americans. I personally have nothing but good things to say about SWA, but I think a boycott is the best way to make them learn. Even if it takes years, be vigilant, BOYCOTT SWA!
I will be much, much more likely to book with SWA if it is less likely that someone who did not pay for my seat will get to take up a good % of it.
One person pointed out that being squeezed in with thin people is uncomfortable for people of size too, and they quoted blogger Kate Harding when she said that it's uncomfortable for people of size too, but "at least you don't have to sit next to a total asshole."
http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/not-so-sile...
I've never seen change without a fire
another reason we need high speed trains
U R so right!
YES!
NOBODY 2012
airlines have been reducing seat size for some time. Southwest Airlines is full of shit. There is no reason whatsoever that they can't install a row or two of wider seats and sell them for a slight premium. Airline seating is easy to modify. It's just an excuse to put the screws to their customers.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
you should read some of the vile comments on this story in HuffPost. Blame the fatty, no sympathy, no self reflection. Even though half of Americans are overweight, prejudice against them is socially acceptable. If people said the same about someone with burn scars or a missing limb they would become instant pariahs - but fat people "deserve" it because it is "their own fault". Nevermind that obesity is so simple to overcome that there is a 50 billion dollar a year weight loss industry that depends on its 95% failure rate to keep the billions rolling in every year.
The airlines know how fat Americans are. The aircraft builders know. Yet they keep making airline seats narrower and narrower - even "normal" sized adults cannot sit comfortably in them. That is not the fault of fatties, that is corporate greed.
We should not allow them to get away with making the seats small and uncomfortable for profit and then obscure their responsibility by allowing fatties to bear the blame.
the warning. I'm not masocistic enough to read through those kinds of comments...
I've never seen change without a fire
because obesity can be prevented....and should be
seeing as I can't just stop taking them just so that I won't be booted off of a flight for my weight.
I've never seen change without a fire
Loads of meds make people fat. I made myself fat before chemo and radiation, so when I lost weight, I wouldn't lose muscle mass and be a stick insect. Some people have glandular problems, people who started out and remained fat throughout childhood have a much tougher time of it, because they have more fat cells than most and they only deflate, they don't go away.
So if you want to rag on the preventably fat, feel free. But how are you going to tell which fat person is preventably fat, and which ones are fat due to medical conditions?
me-oww!
I was chubby in high school, but once I was diagnosed and began with the medications at age 18, I have since gained a lot of weight. I have the responsibility to eat right and exercise, and I do those things, but because of the medications I will be heavy no matter what.
And if I could have undone the effects of the medications, I would have done so a long time ago. When the weight started, I went to our family doctor for advice and what to do, and he yelled "Stop eating!" at me. The shame from that little incident kept me from seeing a doctor at all for the next 3 years, and it took a bad iron deficiency to force me to finally go.
People who think fat-hate and descrimination is acceptable can, in the words of Tyra Banks, "kiss my fat ass."
I've never seen change without a fire
and slender. She was diagnosed with manic depression (the 70s-80s) after a bunch of horrific incidents she caused. They put her on lithium salts. She blew up. She went from 105-110 to 200+ (she'd been the tall willowy type). And it was very depressing for her-we'd laugh about that-how depressing her treatment for severe depression was. One day she was walking across a mall and an old friend yelled out "Sally! Sally! I haven't seen you in AGES! How far along are you?" She just dissolved. She was at a point in her life where she knew she'd never have a bf again, or a kid, or go back to being slender...
me-oww!
*
I've never seen change without a fire
i have a friend who is on anti depressants that cause her to gain weight...but she doesnt take up 2 airline seats
enough of the bs
overweight is one thing....being huge like ks is another
and he doesnt take meds....the fat fuck just likes to eat
anti-depressants doesn't mean those same medications won't interact differently with other people's bodies.
Stop trying to justify your prejudices. There is no justification for them.
I've never seen change without a fire
who are that way because of meds
and ya...i am prejudiced against fat people
hey...how many obese people are there in africa?
most people are fat because they cant control themselves
im a smoker....as such there are many places i am no longer welcome
lets make a deal...you get to be fat on a plane as soon as i can light up again
I can see you want to remain ignorant, and cling to your prejudices, so yeah, I'm done. I'm sure you're a delight to ride an airplane with.
I've never seen change without a fire
Doesn't cause you cancer you ignorant fucking cock sucker.
Kevin Smith fits in the seat with the armrests down and can close his seatbelt w/o an extender.
Jesus. what's your problem today? up until now, I've always thought you were fairly decent.
Wouldn't be the first time I figured wrong. :(
me-oww!
live and you learn.
I've never seen change without a fire
We should not allow them to get away with making the seats small and uncomfortable for profit and then obscure their responsibility by allowing fatties to bear the blame.
Thank you! (though "fatties" is rather insensitive).
I'm actually surprised that the "free market" hasn't stepped up to fill this need in an apparently "growing" market.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
Obviously Southwest was wrong, but does anyone else believe for a minute that they offer this apology and twitter song and dance to other customers that they have treated the same way? Do those other customers get vouchers and phone calls?
Southwest is just shameful. ugh.
larger celebrity this badly, I can only imagine how they are to other customers.
If I ever decide to take a plane somewhere, it won't be with Southwest.
I've never seen change without a fire
if Kevin Smith had acted like a self important big deal celebrity. If he had let everyone know he was a big shot Hollywood director he'd have been treated differently. Apparently that isn't Kevin's style, so he got treated like one of us instead.
Of course if he acted like one of those celebrities, he would never fly on SWA with "the little people".
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