One in every three Americans is overweight, which opens a door for the world to be even crueler because it is full of sexism, ageism, racism and now “bigism.”
Kevin Smith, a famous film director, said he was kicked off a Southwest Airlines plane Feb. 13 for being too fat.
Smith said he usually buys two seats when he flies, but this time he flew standby and only one seat was left. He said he could put both arm rests down and buckle his seat belt, which are airline requirements.
We do not need another “ism” in this world. There are enough as it is. Overweight people sometimes cannot help it and want to fly on planes just like everyone else.
It shouldn’t be passengers’ responsibility to provide themselves with a comfortable service. It is the airline’s job.
People with special needs are accommodated as well as people in wheelchairs. It is not fair for people with fuller figures to have to accommodate themselves by buying an extra ticket.
If an accommodation needs to be made, the airlines should make them available, especially for the amount of money people spend on tickets. The airlines could always get a section of bigger seats.
For an airline to kick people off once in their seats after their bags are checked damages not only the airline’s reputation but also the person’s.
The airline said it was because of safety issues and for the passengers sitting next to him to feel more comfortable, but this is just a prime example of a new “ism.”
Embarrassed is lightly stating what Smith could only have been feeling during this event.
Southwest thought they could make up their mistake by giving Smith a $100 voucher to apologize, but money does not cure the embarrassment and self-consciousness Smith now has to face.
People seem to accept that if you’re overweight, you should purchase two tickets. That’s not acceptable.
Southwest should have thought twice before evicting him because it now puts the image in people’s minds that the airline practices “bigism.”
