Kevin Smith

[GoodAsGould]

If he knows about the 2 ticket policy for people of his stature I don't think he should be making a big fuss, your own fault for trying to save a quick buck. Next time get two tickets or lose some damn weight.

[The Critic]

If he knows about the 2 ticket policy for people of his stature I don't think he should be making a big fuss, your own fault for trying to save a quick buck. Next time get two tickets or lose some damn weight.

 

Just going from his side of the story, he wasn't trying to save a buck, he was trying to get home sooner.

He was able to buckle in without seat belt extenders, and he was able to lower the armrests.

He says he always books two seats for himself (and had two tickets for his scheduled flight, they only had one available seat for the earlier standby flight) but (again, in his words) not because he's too fat, but because he doesn't like sitting next to people.

 

Assuming this is true, then SWA shouldn't have pulled him from the flight. In recent pictures I've seen, he looks fat, but he doesn't seem like he'd spill into the seats next to him.

 

[Kyyle23]

I hope we dont hear that he started using "Do you know who I am?"

 

I am already reading that he thinks that he was ejected because the attendant or pilot didnt like his movies, which is really lame

[Leonard Zelig]

If he knows about the 2 ticket policy for people of his stature I don't think he should be making a big fuss, your own fault for trying to save a quick buck. Next time get two tickets or lose some damn weight.

 

It's not his responsibility to monitor their policy, if he needed 2 tickets, they should not have sold him just 1.

[Balta1701]

It's not his responsibility to monitor their policy, if he needed 2 tickets, they should not have sold him just 1.

In the days of electronic ticketing and electronic boarding passes, it's entirely possible and in fact likely that the first time he actually saw a person was when his ID was checked at security.

[BigSqwert]

I prefer it to regular plane boarding.

 

I don't get why Southwest gets a bad rap. I don't see the need to pay significantly more for marginially better to worse service for the big carriers.

It's obvious a lot of you are not business travelers.

[Steve9347]

If you intrude on someone else's space, then you get off the plane or plan ahead and get yourself two seats. Lord knows Smith can afford it.

[The Critic]

If you intrude on someone else's space, then you get off the plane or plan ahead and get yourself two seats. Lord knows Smith can afford it.

You should listen to the podcast. He brings all of these points up. I think what bothered him the most was A: that he could fit in the seat with no seatbelt extenders and the armrests lowered, B: that the ticket woman was claiming that the pilot wanted him off the plane when it didn't appear that the pilot could even see his seat, and C: that neither of the women seated next to him had any objection (or any space invasion) to him sitting there. There were larger people than him sitting on the plane with no objections (again, his words) and he felt that he was singled out.

 

Just from listening to the podcast (and being a regular listener of it), I doubt he was a prick to anyone on the plane. He always seems to have a firm grasp on the fact that he's fat, and that he can afford to buy two seats (and usually does). I'm sure after all this, he probably just wishes he'd have waited for his regularly scheduled flight.

[Steve9347]

You should listen to the podcast. He brings all of these points up. I think what bothered him the most was A: that he could fit in the seat with no seatbelt extenders and the armrests lowered, B: that the ticket woman was claiming that the pilot wanted him off the plane when it didn't appear that the pilot could even see his seat, and C: that neither of the women seated next to him had any objection (or any space invasion) to him sitting there. There were larger people than him sitting on the plane with no objections (again, his words) and he felt that he was singled out.

 

Just from listening to the podcast (and being a regular listener of it), I doubt he was a prick to anyone on the plane. He always seems to have a firm grasp on the fact that he's fat, and that he can afford to buy two seats (and usually does). I'm sure after all this, he probably just wishes he'd have waited for his regularly scheduled flight.

I should listen to the Podcast.

[Tuna]

In the days of electronic ticketing and electronic boarding passes, it's entirely possible and in fact likely that the first time he actually saw a person was when his ID was checked at security.

 

 

Don't you have to see someone for a stand by flight or can you do that over the computer as well? I don't know, just asking...

[BigSqwert]

Don't you have to see someone for a stand by flight or can you do that over the computer as well? I don't know, just asking...

With United you can request stand by at an electronic kiosk and just wait for them to call your name when they're boarding.

[NorthSideSox72]

This could all have been solved with a software fix - if you move someone to standy who is in a party of 2, you should be able to specify all-or-none on the standby. Seems like something the airlines should do, just to protect themselves.

 

[SouthsideDon48]

It's obvious a lot of you are not business travelers.

And what are you saying? Are you saying you rather sit in a plane that has First class/business class with unneccessary amenities?

 

Can't fly without a fancy glass of wine, a hot blanket, a pillow and blanket, and a full course meal?

 

Don't like sitting with the "peasants" in coach?

 

I like Southwest because people don't get special treatment just because they're business travellers or rich. You kinda sound like a snob. :-/

[BigSqwert]

And what are you saying? Are you saying you rather sit in a plane that has First class/business class with unneccessary amenities?

 

Can't fly without a fancy glass of wine, a hot blanket, a pillow and blanket, and a full course meal?

 

Don't like sitting with the "peasants" in coach?

 

I like Southwest because people don't get special treatment just because they're business travellers or rich. You kinda sound like a snob. :-/

LOL OK pal.

 

When you have to fly, sometimes 10-12 times per month, you start to enjoy perks like:

 

- getting to select the exact seat you want when booking travel

- getting extra leg room in business class or economy plus sections

- getting free upgrades for traveling so much

- being able to show up right before boarding and not worry about having to sit in the last row next to the bathroom

 

When you spend tens of thousands of dollars on travel and live out of a suitcase then yeah, I want a little better treatment.

[southsider2k5]

I can't feel sorry for the subsidized business traveler. They should be forced to share their perks with the less fortunate travelers.

[Texsox]

It's obvious a lot of you are not business travelers.

 

 

I was for years, and had just as many bad seats on other carriers because I had to book at the last minute. With Southwest I knew if I arrived early enough, I'd get the seat I liked. I always thought that gave the edge to the frequent flyer over the once a year vacation flyer who books six months out and grabs the really good seats.

 

Even though I qualified for Admirals Club every year I rarely used it, I prefered hanging around the crowds.

[Texsox]

LOL OK pal.

 

When you have to fly, sometimes 10-12 times per month, you start to enjoy perks like:

 

- getting to select the exact seat you want when booking travel

- getting extra leg room in business class or economy plus sections

- getting free upgrades for traveling so much

- being able to show up right before boarding and not worry about having to sit in the last row next to the bathroom

 

When you spend tens of thousands of dollars on travel and live out of a suitcase then yeah, I want a little better treatment.

 

 

How far out were you booking to select the exact seat you want? I never had more than a week or two and aisle seats filled up quickly. The seats on SW gave about the same leg room as other carriers. The free upgrades are nice, I actually prefered the free tickets so I could take family and friends on some trips.

 

I have had to sit in the last row on an American flight from Houston, because I was flying last minute. It actually worked out cool, no one was next to me and I could stretch out and take a nap :-)

[BigSqwert]

I was for years, and had just as many bad seats on other carriers because I had to book at the last minute. With Southwest I knew if I arrived early enough, I'd get the seat I liked. I always thought that gave the edge to the frequent flyer over the once a year vacation flyer who books six months out and grabs the really good seats.

 

Even though I qualified for Admirals Club every year I rarely used it, I prefered hanging around the crowds.

 

That's part of the problem for me. Why do I want to waste an extra 2 hours of my life at an airport if I don't have to? With United I can show up just as they're boarding and still get a great seat that I selected 2 weeks earlier. Maybe it's just me but I'd rather have a little extra time to spend at home with my wife and dogs then to stand around at an airport terminal.

[Texsox]

That's part of the problem for me. Why do I want to waste an extra 2 hours of my life at an airport if I don't have to? With United I can show up just as they're boarding and still get a great seat that I selected 2 weeks earlier. Maybe it's just me but I'd rather have a little extra time to spend at home with my wife and dogs then to stand around at an airport terminal.

 

You must be flying some unpopular routes if only two weeks out gets you a great seat. That was never my experience. Two weeks out and all the aisle seats from the wings forward are gone.

 

 

And an hour or at most 75 minutes was enough for me to get a low enough number to get the seat I liked. The only time it doesn't work is when you are connecting and have a quick connection to make. That sucks when you are on SW.

[Reddy]

I can't feel sorry for the subsidized business traveler. They should be forced to share their perks with the less fortunate travelers.

for the record, i appreciated this comment. even though i'm on Sqwert's side here.

[BigSqwert]

You must be flying some unpopular routes if only two weeks out gets you a great seat. That was never my experience. Two weeks out and all the aisle seats from the wings forward are gone.

 

I have status with United. I rarely have trouble getting economy plus seating even if I'm booking within 2 weeks of the flight.

[Reddy]

I have status with United. I rarely have trouble getting economy plus seating even if I'm booking within 2 weeks of the flight.

in fact, with united, often you can get economy plus seating at the kiosk when you check in - so no, it's not difficult to select your seat ahead of time.

[Texsox]

I have status with United. I rarely have trouble getting economy plus seating even if I'm booking within 2 weeks of the flight.

 

Which seat are you trying to get? Does United hold back some seats for Economy Plus flyers? I was always on either Continental or American if I wasn't on SW. Every seat on their planes are up for grabs, first come first served, and up front aisle seats fill pretty quick, followed by the windows.

[BigSqwert]

Which seat are you trying to get? Does United hold back some seats for Economy Plus flyers? I was always on either Continental or American if I wasn't on SW. Every seat on their planes are up for grabs, first come first served, and up front aisle seats fill pretty quick, followed by the windows.

 

I think they keep economy plus seats open on United for those with status. They also allow those checking in on the day of the flight to upgrade to any available economy plus seating.

[Texsox]

I think they keep economy plus seats open on United for those with status. They also allow those checking in on the day of the flight to upgrade to any available economy plus seating.

 

Interesting, so if no one checks in, they would have empty seats?