Being fat, self-image, and getting thrown off airplanes

Thanks for posting. I know it's true about having to work harder. And I remember when the incident occured. I listened to his broadcast about it.

Flying Fluffy can be a challenge with any airline. I did a post about it last year:

Flying Fluffy

Everytime I hear something like this, I am extremely greatful to be Canadian. It is against the law here for airlines to require an obese passenger to purchase two tickets. The supreme court of Canada ruled that when I person purchases a ticket, they purchase 'carriage', not a 'seat' specifically. Obesity is also a protected ground for discrimination as it is considered a physical disability, which means the obese are legally required to be accommodated in a number of cir****tances.

If a person knows ahead of time that they need two seats, they are asked to notify the airline at the time of booking so it can be handled discreetly, or else at the check-in desk. If you haven't notified them ahead of time or the airline determines that you need a second seat for safety purposes they are to do what is necessary to make two seats available. If the flight is full in the class you're booked, you can be bumped up a class or accommodated on the next possible flight.

I think this is a much more dignified way of handling this!

I have flown many, many times with Southwest Air and because I was obese, I always purchased two seats when I made reservations...it helped me and also my hubby who has arthritis in his legs and gave him extra room. I was always treated with the utmost dignity and kindness by every SW employee and because I use a mobility scooter I was always pre boarded and rode my scooter right to the door of the plane and it was always ready and waiting when I disembarked. Why would I want to put myself thru the embarrassment or possible flight bump by doing otherwise? I was always reimbursed for the second seat when I req after my flight as to whether or not the flight was full with paying passengers. Even if every seat was occupied, if 1 person such as an employee or employees "buddy" flew free....I got my money back! I spoke with United and Delta and American Air who said they also could enforce the 2 seat requirement ot the airport and they didn't care (their exact words) whether or not the plane only had 1 other passenger, they required it and would not consider reimbursing me for my second seat!! Guess what??? If Southwest flies there, that is all we will ever use even though I now no longer need 2 seats!!    Self image is what you make of yourself....I was proud at 477 lbs and even prouder now at 247. No one can take my dignity away unless I let them. .

Kevin said (at the time) that normally he buys two seats but this time he had to change his flights for some reason and wasn't able to.

But I personally think he shouldn't have to. Even though I never been big enough to need a seat belt extender and could always get the armrests down even at my heaviest and now I am a normal weight, I still think it's wrong to make someone pay for two seats just because airlines have decided to make more money by making the seats and the spaces between them smaller and smaller over the years.

I agree with the Canadian courts. You aren't buying a "seat" but "passage".  Otherwise, why not charge by weight. That way little kids would pay a lot less and tall and/or big people more. Plus, instead of charging so much per "piece" of luggage, they could charge by how much it weighs so those of who fly light can save some money. After all, weight impacts how much fuel is consumed so this way of charging is actually related to costs. 

I might feel differently if airlines were told how big to make the seats. But they control the seat size so they are essentially making them as small as they can and then punishing people for not fitting into this arbitrary size.

Thanks for sharing!
I'm pre-op and my husband and I have a wonderful trip planned next month, just before my surgery.  The flight makes me absolutely DREAD the whole thing.