Hi Everyone...

I have received a lot of response to our (NAAFA's) protest of Southwest Airlines 2-seat "policy" for larger passengers. There are a large number of people stating that Southwest has a "right" as a business to charge whatever they want and whomever they want. I've also been told that as a business they really only need to accommodate the average consumer. I have written a reply to those comments that I would like to share with you all. Feel free to pass it on.

No one is disputing the fact that businesses have the right to run their businesses anyway they see fit, within the law. That said, I think there is a bigger picture issue here.

There is no accident that Southwest airlines is currently the only profitable airlines, and the only airlines that did not ask for federal bailout after 9/11. They did away with any options for larger seating, (business and first class), and made all their seating the smallest in the industry . Their seats are 17" wide.

It has been stated that Southwest only has an obligation to, and is infact (by it's policy), catering to the average customer. That is patently and statistically incorrect. According to the National Institutes of Health, 55-60% of US adults are over the BMI standard for correct weight, or what they consider "overweight", with approximately 20-25% of adults now being classified as "obese". The NIH is clear that statistically, we as a population are getting larger - interstingly, (from information gained from the Tall Club of America), not only are we getting larger (or fatter), but taller.

So instead of looking for a reasonable way to fit the average person, meaning making their seats larger, they shrink their seats. Why? Because they are not interested in serving the average customer. They do not even care about disenfranching 1/4th to 1/3 of the adult population by their unfair 2 seat policy.

Yes they are a business, but they are a *Service Industry* business. Which to me means that they need to service not just a select group of thin consumers...but a majority of the consumers equitably, which they obviously are not doing at this point in time.

It is my allegation that SWA is pitting thin people against fat people (in this issue) in way to draw the attention away from their continuing attempts to jam as many passengers into an airline as they can. They are playing up the great disdain and prejudice than many thin Americans have against fat people, and in my opinion, this is unconscionable.

I believe that this issue is one of the airlines putting a squeeze on all the coach passengers, being forced into seats that are uncomfortable so they can jam more people on planes. Using those who are "large" as an example, it just focuses more attention on how all flyers are stuffed into the "bleachers." There should be a Congressional investigation into the seat size issue coming out of this controversy. Federal safety and comfort standards need to be drawn up to avoid discriminatory situations faced by physically large folks of both weight and height.

As far as those who charge this as being a NAAFA "agenda". You bet it is. We have a right as fat human beings who work, live, play and pay taxes in this country to expect to be treated with the same respect, dignity and fairness that our thin brothers and sisters expect and recieve on a daily basis. We respect the right of thin people to not have to be uncomfortable on an airlines as well as ours. Our solution is for Southwest to install some larger seating for average and larger passengers or special need passengers. It will not eat into their profits, and if the costs are averaged out over all passengers (as are costs for other special needs, ie baby changing tables in restrooms, handicapped ramps in building, funding of schools, etc. averaged out over all of society) then there is no undue burden to anyone. My guess is people wouldn't even notice the extra $5.00 or so per ticket that this might likely cost us.

In my opinion, this issue is not about whether Southwest has a "RIGHT" to charge larger passengers for 2 seats, but whether Southwest has the class to do the *RIGHT* thing, and accommodate the majority of people with larger seating.

Regards,

Sandie Sabo
NAAFA Spokesperson

courtesy of Sandie Sabo