Kevin Smith (Silent Bob) and Customer of Size policy
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: AC SE100K, F9 100k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,160
Kevin Smith (Silent Bob) and Customer of Size policy
another Southwest PAX was denied from flying due to his size: This time it was Kevin Smith AKA Silent Bob.
"Kevin Smith was thrown off a Southwest Airlines flight yesterday for being a "safety risk" -- a polite way of saying he was deemed too fat to fly...
...Smith also received a $100 voucher for his trouble and a few apologetic tweets from SWA, but based on the number of four-letter words used on Smith's Twitter page ... we don't think the apology was accepted.
Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2010/02/14/kevin-smith-southwest-airlines-twitter-safety-risk-fat/#ixzz0fWeM0uym"
If it's true that the armwrests went down and he didn't even need an extender, then it's a shame that FAs are enforcing this so selectively and letting planty of other oversize passengers encroach on others seat space.
"Kevin Smith was thrown off a Southwest Airlines flight yesterday for being a "safety risk" -- a polite way of saying he was deemed too fat to fly...
...Smith also received a $100 voucher for his trouble and a few apologetic tweets from SWA, but based on the number of four-letter words used on Smith's Twitter page ... we don't think the apology was accepted.
Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2010/02/14/kevin-smith-southwest-airlines-twitter-safety-risk-fat/#ixzz0fWeM0uym"
If it's true that the armwrests went down and he didn't even need an extender, then it's a shame that FAs are enforcing this so selectively and letting planty of other oversize passengers encroach on others seat space.
#2
In Memoriam - Company Representative - Southwest Airlines
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: Southwest spokesperson
Posts: 1,201
expert7700,
We are truly sorry for the experience Kevin Smith endured on his Southwest flight. As many FTers know, our Customer of Size policy is not new and can be found here: http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/cos_qa.html
Our folks are looking into the situation and gathering facts so that we may address any missteps internally. We've already reached out to Mr. Smith via Twitter and via phone to personally apologize.
We are truly sorry for the experience Kevin Smith endured on his Southwest flight. As many FTers know, our Customer of Size policy is not new and can be found here: http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/cos_qa.html
Our folks are looking into the situation and gathering facts so that we may address any missteps internally. We've already reached out to Mr. Smith via Twitter and via phone to personally apologize.
#3
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN CP
Posts: 6,360
The armrests are the gauge. If Smith is being honest ("I'm seated WITH ARM RESTS DOWN"), he shouldn't have been bothered.
That said, the DYKWIA meter is pegged, and given he has a movie to promote (its poster is his Twitter background), he has incentive to be as obnoxious as possible in response and drive traffic to his Twitter page. The timing couldn't be better from his perspective.
That said, the DYKWIA meter is pegged, and given he has a movie to promote (its poster is his Twitter background), he has incentive to be as obnoxious as possible in response and drive traffic to his Twitter page. The timing couldn't be better from his perspective.
#4
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: WN Rapid Rewards, Delta Skymiles
Posts: 400
Actually the armrest is not the only gauge...
Customers who are unable to lower both armrests and/or who compromise any portion of adjacent seating
I can lower the armrests but I definitely compromise part of the adjecent seat so therefore I need the second seat.
Customers who are unable to lower both armrests and/or who compromise any portion of adjacent seating
I can lower the armrests but I definitely compromise part of the adjecent seat so therefore I need the second seat.
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Houston, TX USA
Posts: 203
SWA really needs to ease up. The responsibility should be with ticket counter and gate agents, people don't deserve to be humiliated by a plane full of people.
The fact that he few up to from Burbank without any problem reminds me what a lawyer told me one time, "It's better to not have a policy at all then a policy that followed only once in a while"...
I know that SWA is a very low cost carrier and I'm sure Kevin could have afforded a second seat if they had told him AT THE GATE or CHECK IN.
If SWA is so cheap they can't give a passenger of size an extra seat every once in a while, they need to have a seat at the gate and have questionable pax sit in it BEFORE they get on the plane.
The airlines must be unaware that obesity is now seen as a medical condition and ADA rules are soon to follow....
It's very sad, but it takes a large celebrity to expose the problem....
The fact that he few up to from Burbank without any problem reminds me what a lawyer told me one time, "It's better to not have a policy at all then a policy that followed only once in a while"...
I know that SWA is a very low cost carrier and I'm sure Kevin could have afforded a second seat if they had told him AT THE GATE or CHECK IN.
If SWA is so cheap they can't give a passenger of size an extra seat every once in a while, they need to have a seat at the gate and have questionable pax sit in it BEFORE they get on the plane.
The airlines must be unaware that obesity is now seen as a medical condition and ADA rules are soon to follow....
It's very sad, but it takes a large celebrity to expose the problem....
#8
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798
Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7E18 Safari/528.16)
Who the hell is Kevin Smith?
Who the hell is Kevin Smith?
#9
Join Date: May 2005
Location: MIA/SJU/MCO
Programs: AA LT PLT; DL GLD, UA nothing, B6 Mosaic; Emerald Club Executive
Posts: 3,331
I've sat next to him... not on a plane, but two chairs next to each other. He's a big guy, but I'd have no issues sitting next to him.
Writer, Actor, Director... nerd god.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Smith
Writer, Actor, Director... nerd god.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Smith
#10
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Florida
Programs: sw
Posts: 145
SWA really needs to ease up. The responsibility should be with ticket counter and gate agents, people don't deserve to be humiliated by a plane full of people.
If SWA is so cheap they can't give a passenger of size an extra seat every once in a while, they need to have a seat at the gate and have questionable pax sit in it BEFORE they get on the plane.
If SWA is so cheap they can't give a passenger of size an extra seat every once in a while, they need to have a seat at the gate and have questionable pax sit in it BEFORE they get on the plane.
#11
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: PHX (live by CHD and work next to DVT)
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Posts: 1,292
SWA really needs to ease up. The responsibility should be with ticket counter and gate agents, people don't deserve to be humiliated by a plane full of people.
The fact that he few up to from Burbank without any problem reminds me what a lawyer told me one time, "It's better to not have a policy at all then a policy that followed only once in a while"...
I know that SWA is a very low cost carrier and I'm sure Kevin could have afforded a second seat if they had told him AT THE GATE or CHECK IN.
If SWA is so cheap they can't give a passenger of size an extra seat every once in a while, they need to have a seat at the gate and have questionable pax sit in it BEFORE they get on the plane.
The airlines must be unaware that obesity is now seen as a medical condition and ADA rules are soon to follow....
It's very sad, but it takes a large celebrity to expose the problem....
The fact that he few up to from Burbank without any problem reminds me what a lawyer told me one time, "It's better to not have a policy at all then a policy that followed only once in a while"...
I know that SWA is a very low cost carrier and I'm sure Kevin could have afforded a second seat if they had told him AT THE GATE or CHECK IN.
If SWA is so cheap they can't give a passenger of size an extra seat every once in a while, they need to have a seat at the gate and have questionable pax sit in it BEFORE they get on the plane.
The airlines must be unaware that obesity is now seen as a medical condition and ADA rules are soon to follow....
It's very sad, but it takes a large celebrity to expose the problem....
Last edited by SCGustafson; Feb 14, 2010 at 2:38 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Santa Cruz, CA USA
Programs: AA, UA, WN, HH, Marriott
Posts: 7,288
Several points need to be made here.
1) The PAX had actually purchased two seats for his flights from BUR to OAK and the return from OAK to BUR.
2) He decided to try to get on an earlier flight for the return. Supposedly, there was only one seat available. The GA knew that the PAX had purchased two seats and needed two seats, yet allowed him on the plane.
So the GA should have known he needed two seats both by observation and by seeing that he had purchased two seats. I suppose the PAX should have reminded the GA he needed two seats but maybe he figured they made an exception.
Very embarrasing to be kicked off the plane once you are already seated.
Why does this type of situation seem to come up with WN much more frequently than any other carrier - making people get off a plane once they are on for various reasons? Bad language on a T-shirt, inappropriate skirt length for teenage girls, etc etc. I do think some re-examination of the "appriopriate" policy needs to occur.
1) The PAX had actually purchased two seats for his flights from BUR to OAK and the return from OAK to BUR.
2) He decided to try to get on an earlier flight for the return. Supposedly, there was only one seat available. The GA knew that the PAX had purchased two seats and needed two seats, yet allowed him on the plane.
So the GA should have known he needed two seats both by observation and by seeing that he had purchased two seats. I suppose the PAX should have reminded the GA he needed two seats but maybe he figured they made an exception.
Very embarrasing to be kicked off the plane once you are already seated.
Why does this type of situation seem to come up with WN much more frequently than any other carrier - making people get off a plane once they are on for various reasons? Bad language on a T-shirt, inappropriate skirt length for teenage girls, etc etc. I do think some re-examination of the "appriopriate" policy needs to occur.
#13
Join Date: Aug 2009
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#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Houston, TX USA
Posts: 203
Next they will refuse Pax in wheelchairs because of the added cost...
#15
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Houston, TX USA
Posts: 203
I would much rather have a GA pull me aside and have a private conversation with me about my size then after I was seated on the plane and have a FA announce to the entire section of the plane that I was too fat and needed to get off!