Southwest Airlines Tells Woman She's "Too Fat To Fly"

Kenlie Tiggeman and her mother were flying home on Easter Sunday, which on all accounts should have been a pretty regular experience. But during their layover in Dallas, Texas the two women were singled out by an airline employee who told them they were “too fat to fly” — and the agent used those very words in front of over a hundred fellow passengers.

Kenlie, her mother, and the Southwest employees argued for over 45 minutes about the airlines “Customers of Size” policy, which requires passengers to purchase a second seat if they cannot fit between the 17-inch armrests. However, the same policy suggests Southwest employees should speak with customers in a private area — something that the the airline representatives had clearly forgotten. Kenlie’s mother tells MSNBC, “It was the worst time I’ve ever had in my whole life. I was embarrassed, humiliated.”

The Southwest rep tried to strike a deal with the women, suggesting they could fly — along with a third overweight woman — if they would all sit together. Finally, a Southwest supervisor stepped in and allowed the women to fly per usual and gave the ladies vouchers and an apology. But what good are vouchers and an apology if the damage has already been done — and worse, if airlines are rudely informing overweight passengers they cannot fly at airlines all over the country?