Kevin Smith Unleashes Twitter Storm on Southwest Airlines

[naum]

For kicking him off the plane for being too fat

See, Kevin Smith has 1.6 million followers on Twitter, who all get to read just how unfairly he was treated, and how the airline tried to make everything better with a $100 voucher.

Of course, this is not the first time the airline has managed to get in the news with stupid decisions by its staff - last time they made the news, an overweight passenger was barred from flying, and missed the funeral of his uncle.

Follow the hilarity that's ensued - http://twitter.com/thatkevinsmith

[schild]

He's fat. I was fat once, not nearly as fat as him and there's nothing I hate more than sitting next to a fat fucker on a fucking airplane.

Seriously.

It sucks.

Doesn't fucking matter if he's Kevin Smith.

Edit: I like how it somehow matters if he has Twitter followers, whoopty doo.

[Pennilenko]

I once flew 8 hours sandwiched between two douches who literally had rolls over the armrests pushing against me the whole time. It was the most fucking disgusting thing i have ever had to endure in my entire life. Without exaggeration, I could not move without lifting parts of them out of the way. The worst part was how offended either of them got if i had to even adjust my position in my seat, it was like they were angry that I wasn't respecting their fatness.

[Soln]

yeah this obesity entitlement thing isn't going to last.  You're paying for temporary seating -- you don't have a right to more than what you paid for.  Buy 2 seats.  I admit it's unfair, but I don't see a solution by expecting people next to you have to feel uncomfortable as well.

[Trippy]

He did buy 2 seats.

However he switched his flight to a standby one and that changed things so he only had one seat available. But it's not clear why he was allowed on the standby flight if there was insufficient room for him.

Edit: SW reply (their blog site with this post is down):

Not So Silent Bob
Sun, 02/14/2010 - 14:57 — Christi Day

Many of you reached out to us via Twitter last night and today regarding a situation a Customer Twittered about that occurred on a Southwest flight. It is not our customary method of Customer Relations to be so public in how we work through these situations, but with so many people involved in the occurrence, you also should be involved in the solution. First and foremost, to Mr. Smith; we would like to echo our Tweets and again offer our heartfelt apologies to you. We are sincerely sorry for your travel experience on Southwest Airlines.

As soon as we saw the first Tweet from Mr. Smith, we contacted him personally to apologize for his experience and to address his concerns on both Twitter and with a personal phone call. Since the situation has received a lot of public attention, we'd like to take the opportunity to address a few of the specifics here as well.

Mr. Smith originally purchased two Southwest seats on a flight from Oakland to Burbank – as he’s been known to do when traveling on Southwest. He decided to change his plans and board an earlier flight to Burbank, which technically means flying standby. As you may know, airlines are not able to clear standby passengers until all Customers are boarded. When the time came to board Mr. Smith, we had only a single seat available for him to occupy. Our pilots are responsible for the Safety and comfort of all Customers on the aircraft and therefore, made the determination that Mr. Smith needed more than one seat to complete his flight. Our Employees explained why the decision was made, accommodated Mr. Smith on a later flight, and issued him a $100 Southwest travel voucher for his inconvenience.

You've read about these situations before. Southwest instituted our Customer of Size policy more than 25 years ago. The policy requires passengers that can not fit safely and comfortably in one seat to purchase an additional seat while traveling. This policy is not unique to Southwest Airlines and it is not a revenue generator. Most, if not all, carriers have similar policies, but unique to Southwest is the refunding of the second seat purchased (if the flight does not oversell) which is greater than any revenue made (full policy can be found here). The spirit of this policy is based solely on Customer comfort and Safety. As a Company committed to serving our Customers in Safety and comfort, we feel the definitive boundary between seats is the armrest. If a Customer cannot comfortably lower the armrest and infringes on a portion of another seat, a Customer seated adjacent would be very uncomfortable and a timely exit from the aircraft in the event of an emergency might be compromised if we allow a cramped, restricted seating arrangement.

[Teleku]

I fully support fat apartheid.

[Trippy]

Kevin's podcast of his side of the story (ep 106):

http://www.smodcast.com/

[Trippy]

"Bear convention"

[Trippy]

Holy shit this thing is fucking long.

[Lakov_Sanite]

He makes a good argument.

[Soln]

well, he tried I guess. 

[Trippy]

http://twitter.com/ThatKevinSmith/status/9128066586

Hey @SouthwestAir: you bring that same row of seats to the DailyShow, and I'll sit in 'em for all to see on TV.

[schild]

@Southwestair should be all: @ThatKevinSmith: How about you fucking diet and quit your bitching? It's like you're a little girl with a skinned knee or some shit. Snoogins.

[Trippy]

[Paelos]

This is what happens when you stop shaming fat people and give them cameras.

Or access to Twitter.

[Lakov_Sanite]

Eh, if he's not too fat to fit in the seat, not too fat to buckle up and not fat enough that the people next to him dont even care, why not let him have a seat?

Honestly I understand all this anti-fatty rage because no one likes sitting next to the 300lb guy but it's not really deserved here.

[schild]

Eh, if he's not too fat to fit in the seat, not too fat to buckle up and not fat enough that the people next to him dont even care, why not let him have a seat?

Honestly I understand all this anti-fatty rage because no one likes sitting next to the 300lb guy but it's not really deserved here.

1. People are willing to sit next to him because he's Kevin fucking Smith.
2. He weighs a shitload more than 300lbs.
3. He's Kevin Fucking Smith.
4. He's got an even frame, so fitting isn't so bad with him I'd imagine. Still, huge guy.
5. Why isn't it deserved here? Because we're a geek forum with fatties? So what? I'm not making fun of them for being fat, I'm making fun of him because he's famous, fat, and entitled. It's a combination of the 3.

This is what happens when you stop shaming fat people and give them cameras.

This.

[Lakov_Sanite]

Well, we also could get into an argument that this is all just a scam to get large people to buy two seats even if they don't need it. It really has nothing to do with safety and the airlines don't really give a fuck if the people next to fatty are comfortable, they just want an extra ticket sale.

[schild]

Well, we also could get into an argument that this is all just a scam to get large people to buy two seats even if they don't need it.

Yes, but that would largely be bullshit. I'm glad tubby has to buy 2 seats, I haven't sent next to a huge person in nearly 5-10 years because of it, though, for a while, I bordered huge.

Part of the problem is I see why airlines do this... and wholly agree.

[Pennilenko]

Well, we also could get into an argument that this is all just a scam to get large people to buy two seats even if they don't need it. It really has nothing to do with safety and the airlines don't really give a fuck if the people next to fatty are comfortable, they just want an extra ticket sale.

Fuck that shit, you sit on a flight where a persons fat is literally laying on you and keep that opinion. I fully support fatties buying two seats. I didn't feed the bastard 4000 Twinkies, I shouldn't have to hold on to his fat rolls.

[Triforcer]

Kevin Smith's ass should complain to its congressman.  And possibly his congressman, as well.  

[Abagadro]

Kevin Smith's ass should complain to its congressman.  And possibly his congressman, as well.  

 

But seriously, I've been sandwiched between an obese person and the side of the plane. Not fun.

[naum]

Yes, morbidly obese individuals that make adjacent seats uninhabitable, I see the logic.

But, the problem for airlines is defining "fat".

Is it an objective measurement like where everybody steps on a scale and if you bust the needle past 300, you get dinged for another seat? Some people carry their weight more gracefully than others. What about super tall NBA gangly freaks that don't appear as excess largess but still flop over adjacent seats?

Or based on fellow passenger complaint(s)?

Or a totally arbitrary cursory examination by airline staff that targets said undesirable fatties? And though some might be immune to any social faux pas of engaging would be flyers and grounding them for their excessive "attached" baggage, others are too petrified to say anything. Or should there be federal marshal fat police on flights?

Without a clear standard, it's ripe for lawsuits, though I suspect a provision to outlaw any suits against airlines might be forthcoming in PATRIOT Act III, the newly christened Republican congress landmark edition.

Yeah, I don't like being next to fat people and I am a big guy — 6'2"/250-280lb, and I've had to suffer in the middle between larger fellows on occasion.

Though I'd prefer that over screaming infants or ladies with their dog packed in their purse.

[Abagadro]

I'll take screaming kids over being a sardine any day. Just throw on some earphones and the cries go away. You can't magic away feeling like a panini.

[angry.bob]

Here's the thing that often gets overlooked: it really, actually is a safety thing.

Despite Americans getting way bigger, the FAA will not change what they consider to be an "average" person.  The size of that person is 170 pounds and I forget what the physical dimensions are supposed to be. But they're pretty small too. This weight is used for everything from weight and balance to the actual design of the aircraft, safety equipment, and even the means of emergency escape. Making an overweight person buy two seats is the best compromise that still lets people over about 200 pounds fly. Even then it's not perfect as the seats, restraints, rafts, floatation devices, inflatable door slides, and even the openings of some emergency exits will not work with people that big. Even if the weight is all muscle, it doesn't change that the equipment isn't designed to handle the weight. Someone who's 250 can place an extra 1500 some pounds of stress on some parts of the seats during takeoff. As much as I love to hate on companies for being greedy at the expense of their customers, it's actually the best option they have available.

The best option would be for the FAA to change their numbers and airlines to update seats and equipment, but that's not likely to happen.

[naum]

Here's the thing that often gets overlooked: it really, actually is a safety thing.

Despite Americans getting way bigger, the FAA will not change what they consider to be an "average" person.  The size of that person is 170 pounds and I forget what the physical dimensions are supposed to be. But they're pretty small too. This weight is used for everything from weight and balance to the actual design of the aircraft, safety equipment, and even the means of emergency escape. Making an overweight person buy two seats is the best compromise that still lets people over about 200 pounds fly. Even then it's not perfect as the seats, restraints, rafts, floatation devices, inflatable door slides, and even the openings of some emergency exits will not work with people that big. As much as I love to hate on companies for being greedy at the expense of their customers, it's actually the best option they have available.

The best option would be for the FAA to change their numbers and airlines to update seats and equipment, but that's not likely to happen.

True all that, but America in 2010, I'd wager at least 50% of male passengers are > 200 pounds.

[apocrypha]

The best option would be for the FAA to change their numbers and airlines to update seats and equipment, but that's not likely to happen.

This. Airplane seats are too small.

I don't fly very often, and have never flown anything other than in the cheapest seats available, but I'm wondering if the seats in Business/Executive/Expensive class are as small as in Cheapo? Or do rich obese people get a free pass here?

[fuser]

Why didn't he just get his money refunded and fly a different airline if he's so outraged?

[Abagadro]

The best option would be for the FAA to change their numbers and airlines to update seats and equipment, but that's not likely to happen.

This. Airplane seats are too small.

I don't fly very often, and have never flown anything other than in the cheapest seats available, but I'm wondering if the seats in Business/Executive/Expensive class are as small as in Cheapo? Or do rich obese people get a free pass here?

They are significantly larger.

[Trippy]

Why didn't he just get his money refunded and fly a different airline if he's so outraged?

There weren't any other flights available from Oakland to Burbank at that time. On his podcast he said he even considered renting a car and driving to LA.

[Arnold]

He's fat. I was fat once, not nearly as fat as him and there's nothing I hate more than sitting next to a fat fucker on a fucking airplane.

Seriously.

It sucks.

Doesn't fucking matter if he's Kevin Smith.

Edit: I like how it somehow matters if he has Twitter followers, whoopty doo.

Agreed.

I was once much heavier and had to regularly fly SW for work.   Though I was overweight, most of me fit into the seat (240-205lbs); it was my shoulders that went beyond the footprint.  If I got an aisle seat I could lean.  If I got a window seat I could lean.  If I got stuck in the middle... well that sucked - for me.  I had to shrug in my shoulders, but at least those on the plane with me did not have to deal with me in their seats.

If I got stuck next to a fat fuck, I would make some noise.  There is no fucking way I would deal with their fat ass being in a seat I paid for.  Fuck you and go buy another ticket.

[Bzalthek]

I'm obese and I don't mind paying for double seats.  Now, mind you I don't roll into the other seat, but there's just not enough room, especially if I want to do anything with my arms except keep them crossed tightly, and my shoulders still bump into everyone.  I like having another seat to give my legs a little more room to maneuver. 

That being said, the current design is fuckstupid.  Those seats are too small even for non-obese people.  And even forgetting the width of the seats, the distance between one row and the next is retarded.  By the time the flight is over my hips and knees feel so abused I can barely walk.

[01101010]

There weren't any other flights available from Oakland to Burbank at that time. On his podcast he said he even considered renting a car and driving to LA.

Considered till he found out there were nothing but compact hybrids left. 

Sucks to fly for everyone now-a-days. I gave up flying except when forced for work and thankfully that has only been twice in 3 years. Two things are seemingly at work here. The ever-expanding American human being and the airlines struggling to expand seating numbers by narrowing seats and thus selling more tickets. I am a skinny fucker which I blame on my mother and her genetics, so I fit perfect in most of those seats, though being 6' I barely have enough leg room. I actually feel for those extremely tall people and those extremely wide people- can't be fun to wedge your ass in one of those seats nor can it be pleasant to attempt to fold your legs up to fit with the seat in front of you. However, this situation is nothing but a bitchfest on twitter (which is pretty part and parcel for that shit feeder) fueled mainly because Kevin made a bunch of movies. I met Kevin in Pittsburgh when he was filming here (strangely met him at the comic convention which I never go to regularly) and he was a nice enough guy - but seriously, take your outrage out on the target and stop trying to mobilize the pitchfork and torch crowd - you aren't as famous as you might think.

[waffel]

100s of 'tweets' and a podcast about this? Who gives a fuck? It would be nice to see him put this much effort into losing weight.

[schild]

Bazinga.