Here’s my Southwest flight “horror” story…..I made reservations for a vacation trip several months in advance to fly Southwest Airlines. Because I don’t like to “push and shove” ahead of everyone, I’m usually one of the last few to board. On this particular trip, I WAS the last to board and the flight was completely full. The last remaining seat was next to a woman who must have weighed at least 300 pounds(gee…go figure!). I’m a 5’6″ tall, 123 lb. woman. Looking at what remained of MY seat not covered by the woman’s bulk, I kindly told the flight attendant(impatiently waiting for me to sit-down) that there wasn’t enough room. She curtly informed me I could sit immediately OR exit the plane! The fat woman stood-up and I sat down lowering the arm rest between us. The attendant immediately reached down and raised it saying the aisle had to be left clear(implying the woman could not exceed her seat space in THAT direction!) So, for the next several hours, I was forced to sit on my right side facing the third person’s(window seat) left ear. THAT person turned-out to be the fat woman’s teenage(normal sized) daughter who had adamantly refused her mother’s request to sit directly next to her because she would be too cramped! I was LIVID(plus really miserable!), to say the least but did not make a “scene”. After the trip, I wrote a lengthy letter of complaint to Southwest(sent with USPS Delivery Confirmation for proof of receipt). Wish I could say I received a timely response offering an apology, refund or SOMETHING but the company hasn’t even bothered to respond. How’s that for “great” customer service!?! If someone from Southwest Airlines reads this and cares to make amends…..I’m STILL waiting!

Fat People – STOP YOUR CRYING! I’ve flown SouthWest last year to Mexico. Being 6’4″ and weighing 455 pounds, I asked what their policy was BEFORE I purchased a ticket. They clearly explained if you are a person of big size, they strongly recommend you purchase two seats so you have room. They also provide an extender for the seatbelt. They said if the fight does not sell out, they will refund the price of one seat back to me (which they did). However, should the flight sellout, I am assured a comfortable flight and so is a passenger who might be next to me. They recommeded my wife take her seat next to me so we could share the 3 seats. The wife is 5’8″ and weighs 140 lbs. Things went very smoothly and I have recommended SouthWest to many people, including people who are large like me. Hey, no more than I want a 800 pound fat guy falling all over my space, I say respectfully, I don’t want to be falling all over someone next to me who weighs 200 pounds and deserves the right to their space! The weight issue is my problem and I am willing to pay for it! Cheers and happy flying!

“I’m diabetic. It’s very difficult for me to lose weight,” Moore said.

Actually, if you are diabetic, losing weight is the best thing you can do.

Sorry, Southwest – you’re WRONG! You keep making seats smaller to cram more people onto a flight – pure greed. Gone is the leg-room. Gone are any amenities – not even a glass of water! I’LL TAKE THE TRAIN!!!!

I agree with the company. I weigh 170 and got stuck sitting next to a 400lb person who did nothing but almost crush me on MY seat for the entire flight. If you are too large for 1 seat you should have to sit in 2 seats. why should i have to sit on 1/2 my seat because someone is too large for just the 1 they paid for .

This does not surprise me they have a TV show based on crazy and strange things with Southwest airlines.

For the last 20 yrs. people have gained weight. Sadly, if your weight compounds a medical problem, you will gain even more weight. But these airlines fly athletes, who aren’t small, so how big are some of these passengers?

Sorry, I agree with South West. It is extremely uncomfortable for me to sit next to someone overweight and I feel as if they need an extra seat to make EVERYBODY comfortable.
And it shouldn’t be embarrassing if someone tells you that you cannot fit into a seat — it should be embarrassing of the fact that you CAN’T sit in the seat in the first place.

Charge for seats by the pound. That way, everyone’s weight would be discussed. There would be no “discrimination”.

Southwest Airlines is not in the business of judging people and their body shapes/weights. The reason they charge extra is because it’s unfair to them that they can’t sell the seat beside the large person. It would also be unfair to sell that seat and have someone not be able to sit there comfortably because of the large person next to them extending into their space. It has nothing to do with discrimination. Southwest sells seats on airplanes. If I remember correctly (from the zillion times this story has already made news), Southwest reimburses the overweight person if the plane is not full (and therefore wouldn’t cost SWA to lose revenue on the seat). Very fair if you ask me.