So Humiliated...

[Chrystee 838]

Well, I don't think the airline industry caused the entire problem. Airlines didn't cause the flying public to gain weight. For that, we can thank our increasingly sedentary jobs and entertainment options, our older ages and longer lifespans, and our faster, cheaper food. But a lot of other for-profit monster corporations get significant credit for the obesity boom.

Although with their shrinking passenger seats, smaller seat pitches, and less leg room, airlines are definitely contributing to the problem.

What offends me the most is the airlines' industry-wide, coordinated and thus far successful campaign to IGNORE their customers' needs for basic service. It goes against every healthy economic principle. They can do this now ONLY because they can manipulate their monopoly on the fastest way to travel.

I may not live to see it, but one day travel technology will offer human beings better long-distance travel options than the misery of airborne cattle cars.

</rant>

This is true.. but at the same time.. we want cheaper flights! We want to pay $200 round trip.. so I'll take being a little cramped for 3-6ish hours, over having to pay $1,000 for a flight.

I can understand how this would be a humiliating conversation to have but I am really not seeing cause for all the pitchforks. An airline employee saw someone who they thought might potentially not fit within the restriction of a single seat and called her over to privately discuss that it may be an issue and give a heads up as to what may need to happen. She didn't grab a megaphone and announce it to the entire boarding area or make a scene in front of rows of seated passengers. I really don't see how any of this is fat shaming or should result in money or free trips.

I have to agree. I'm really, really sorry you were humiliated, I would have been too, and I'm not saying the person wasn't rude, but how is it easy to approach the subject? Maybe she was trying to save you later embarrassment of someone pitching a fit and saying they are cramped. Its not fun, but hoepfully in the future you will fit with plenty of room! That's what I hope!

[Jacqbult 112]

HEARTBREAKING!!! Glad you a writing a letter and glad you have all of us who can relate! You will look fabulous soon enough then go find that woman and give her the finger...Okay, so I am immature, and would never do that but... would love to!

[highdesertblue 70]

I am so sorry you had to deal with that. I had a bad experience last year. Normally, the flight attendant very discretely hands me a seat belt extender, and that is the end of it. I generally fly about once a year, and I have weighed the same, plus or minus ten pounds for a long time. (Haven't had the surgery yet) The woman at the Southwest gate came charging down the ramp into the plane. I was in the process of putting on my seat belt, and she kneeled on the seat in front of me, facing my husband and I. She said that I couldn't fit in the seat with the arm rest down. i said I could, wait and look. She said in a nasty voice, "Not comfortably!" I had just flown a week before on two planes with Southwest. My husband was sitting right next to me, so there wouldn't have been another customer complaining. She told me she had to put a seat between me and the other passenger, had a printed "reserved" ticket that I had to place between us, and told me that I was now in the computer as a passenger who requires two seats. She was not discreet. How humiliating! I am flying to Chicago next week on American. I hope there isn't another incident. I've never had that problem before.

I was traveling with my husband who had a stroke six month earlier, and has stage four cancer, so I didn't get her badge number.

[auntjanny 289]

Desert blue... I hope karma works in such a way that you are the recipient of something wonderful and unexpected when needed the most. Life is hard. Kindness is so easy. Best wishes to you.

[Damasyn 1]

Well, I have to agree with most on here. You should write a letter. #1 You were approached by an employee that had NO business to question you about how you were flying in my opinion. The person taking your ticket, the pilot and stewardesses should have been the only one concerned about you fitting in the seats. #2 Just because you work in an airport does NOT give you free reign to scrutinize people who YOU think are too fat, too short, too stupid, etc etc. Unless that is in your job description its not for you to comment on leave it up to the people who are on that particular flight.

For an employee of the airport to ASSUME its their duty to approach random people and critique their looks ---- ( if they're not an air marshal looking for terrorists lol ) The only thing they would get from me is the middle finger salute !

Edited October 3, 2014 by Damasyn