Now they are causing their own customers to choose another airline to inflict a discriminatory policy. I am disappointed in them because I had admired their history of taking risks others would not. I'm asking all my friends and anyone that will listen to NOT choose SouthWest Airlines when they choose to fly.

Darliene Howell

To: Southwest Airlines
From: Delia Webster, Elmira, NY
Re: New Policy on "Plus-Size" Customers

Your new policy is:

1. Blatantly discriminatory
2. Unconstitutional (you are, in effect, denying equal services to certain members of society by making said services prohibitively expensive)
3. EXTREMELY BAD PUBLIC RELATIONS!!! Have you read the headlines lately? Over 50% of the American population is now considered "overweight"! Therefore, WE, the plus-sized customers, are now THE MAJORITY!!!

In times of general economic downturn and heightened security concerns cutting into your revenues, it is just plain STUPID to alienate the MAJORITY of your customer base. In other words: (a) Fat people have money to spend. (b) Fat people spend money on airline tickets. (c) This Fat Person will NEVER spend Dime One on an airline ticket from Southwest Airlines.

Southwest has the wrong solution. They, and all other airlines, need to go back to providing seats that allow sufficient space for today's 'average' person. That would alleviate most of our problems. We all need to get on the backs of the airlines for cramming us into spaces meant for very small people (or children). I am not a very large person yet I am cramped in the space. I remember sitting for 4 hours with a gentleman's knees in my back simply because there wasn't enough room for his legs. Why do we put up with this treatment?

Gillian Albers
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I am saddened by the fact that Southwest is trying to pin the discomfort of their seats on the larger patrons. I am not "supersize," but I'm not a very small person either. In my opinion, the seats on Southwest airlines are not comfortable, period. A lot of "average sized" people I know used Southwest airlines because of the low rates, but they all complained that the seating was claustrophobic and that they felt like sardines packed tight. These people are "normal" weight.

I also experienced discomfort on my flights with Southwest. Seems to me the airline is trying to pack more passengers onto less space and make the most money this way. I guess that is a typical airline policy, but the discomfort level is not anyone's fault but the airline's. I can see how a person of great size would feel very uncomfortable and would need more room -- my "average" friends definitely did!

It seems like the increased price for larger people is just another ploy to get more money and make up for the sardines that may be missed due to limited space. I definitely see it as descrimination. Are they also going to charge people double if they are very tall with long legs and need more room to stretch out? What if a very small person or child would have enough room to share their seat with another small person -- do they get 50% off for doubling up? Why is the penalty only on "weighty" people? If there's not enough room for people, the airline should re-evaluate its seating layout.

I have been a loyal patron of Southwest for years, but in protest to this policy, I will take another airline next time I need to fly. I wish the whole airline industry would take responsibility to provide comfortable seating for everyone. I know a lot of people of all different sizes who would fly a lot more if it were a pleasant, comfortable experience.

Thanks.

The following statement is from ISAA's Official Press Release regarding the Southwest Airlines policy:

The International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA) is opposed to Southwest Airlines' practice of double-charging its fat passengers if they occupy more than one seat. ISAA believes Southwest Airlines should offer a 50% discount on the second seat to non-disabled fat passengers and a 100% discount on the second seat to fat passengers who are actually medically disabled. This could be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.