I’m sure I’m not the only one who has had to sit on an airplane next to a larger person. It’s not the best experience in the world, but this story made me think a second time on the topic. Meet Emery Orto who was essentially kicked off of a Southwest Airlines flight for being too fat to fly.
Orto was able to fly from his Chicago home to Las Vegas without any complaints or problems, it was the return trip that cut him down to size. As he tried to board his flight in Las Vegas with his wife he was stopped and interrogated by a Southwest attendant. According to Orto the conversation went like this:
“She hustled after me and grabbed me and she said ‘Can you sit in an airplane seat with the arms down?’ I told her yes, I could sit in the seat with the arms down, I’ve flown many times and never had a problem. And she said, ‘Well, you’re not flying today.’”
Ouch!
The reason for the interrogation and eventual refusal for Orto’s flight is because he is about 6-foot and 350 pounds. So, no question he’s a large man. However, as he stated, he is able to fly with the armrests down and he’s done it many times. Which, of course, turned what should have been about a 4 hour flight into a 19 hour ordeal to get back home. Southwest did refund his money, but that hardly seems to compensate for what happened.
Southwest also responds that when told he was too fat to fly Orto addressed the agent in an “elevated voice” and a “belligerent tone”. One could certainly understand why Orto might do so, but more to the point I absolutely don’t believe Southwest when they make this claim. Every airline I’ve ever flown on (and that is a lot) will allow zero ability to ever question a flight attendant or agent. They are given absolute power and control over you and if you try to question them they always pull the “belligerent tone” card.
The fact that Southwest allowed him to fly from Chicago to Las Vegas but not home again is just outrageous, some accommodation should have been made for him. They could have given him two seats or put him on another airline, but to just strand him with no option seems unconscionable. Normally I like Southwest and I think they run a pretty good company, but clearly there was a break-down here and I think they owe Orto an apology.
September 9th, 2009 at 5:18 am
Southwest handled this pretty despicably. You don’t just cut off people in the middle of a flight because you are the “emporer of the air.”
Treating others as one wants to be treated still is suppose to mean something.
You have clear rules that I communicated before hand. If you are so rude as to cut off a guy half way, then it should be your problem finding him a way home as well as getting his luggage back to him [yes, the despicable human beings at Southwest, in effect, held the man's belongings hostage, refusing to get them off the plan so he would have em].
September 9th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Wow, didn’t realize they held is luggage as well, classy.
September 10th, 2009 at 6:41 am
Listen, y’all don’t know the whole story here. What kind of ticket was this person traveling on? He may have been on a “free” or “non rev” ticket, and he may be trying to blow this story out of context. What was said between Southwest and this person is purely hearsay at this point. Be VERY careful not to jump to judgment on this one.
September 11th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Obesity is a problem in our society and making passengers on an aircraft suffer taking up too seats or even spilling
Into an aisle is selfish! Why should paying passengers of normal size compensate our space? Its their problem not mine.
I firmly believe fat people should be made to sit in a window seat out of the way in case of an evacuation. They
Would block an exit and prevent my family and I from getting off the plane. Again their issues with weight are not my
Problem! Also, I’m sick and tired of them using their obesity as a handicap!
To park closer, using elec. Scooters! Shame on you, your not handicap! Your FAT!
Get off your ass and WALK! So boo hoo fat boy I’m sure SWA won’t and should not compensate
You!
October 4th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
the problem with this - they are not following the rules everytime. no consitancy .. i do not believe they handled this situation with the grace and diginity they should have. they were not professional. if the customer was allowed to fly the first time with no issue, why would he not be allowed to fly back. they should have rules posted to begin with.. as far as being overweight ,, he maybe however he still deserves to be treated like a person, with diginity and respect. his eatting habits and walking routine is his business. if he wants to eat healthier and exercise it is his business. i do not believe it is okay for others to make judgements and comments based on that man’s appearance, i am sure we all have flaws,health problems or lifestyle choice issues… comments should stick to the issue, whether the man was treated fairly. if this were a discrimination issue with color, handicap,sex, people would be fuming at the ideal of this mistreatment, but because he is heavy,, he is less than and does not count as a living, breathing paying customer… that is not right!