Oversized fliers appreciate cheap airplane tickets and discount hotel rooms every bit as much as normal sized people.
Kevin Smith, an actor/director, describes himself as way fat but says that his weight should not prevent him from traveling. Smith says that a Southwest Airline pilot forced him off a flight from Oakland to Burbank, CA, claiming that Smith did not fit properly in a single seat.
Smith complained about his treatment by Southwest on his Twitter page on Sunday, saying If you look like me you may be ejected from Southwest Air.
According to Southwests Customer of Size policy passengers must be able to fit safely and comfortably in one seat or make other arrangements.
After receiving upset customer comments from Smith and his fans, the airline used its Twitter account to apologize and later added a statement on its Web site. The airline reported that Smith flew on a later flight and was given a $100 voucher as well as an apology by phone.
Originally Smith had purchased two seats for his flight from Oakland. The problem occurred when he decided to fly standby and boarded an earlier flight that had only one available seat.
Smith claimed that even occupying a single seat that he was still able to place both armrests down and buckle his seatbelt, which satisfies Southwests requirement for a passenger sitting in a single seat.