Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast/PA

Woman challenges airline after 'too fat to fly' incident

Kenlie Tiggerman says Southwest Airlines need to be clearer about when an overweight passenger needs to book an extra seat.

A WOMAN WHO says she was humiliated by being told by airline staff that she was ‘too fat to fly’ on their plane has filed legal action against the airline.

Kenlie Tiggeman writes in her weightloss blog that she filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines over their policy regarding extra seats for overweight passengers.

She says that the airline needs to give “overweight and obese Americans a clear definition of their rules at the point of purchase” instead of at the point of departure.

Tiggeman says she is not advocating obesity, but believes that obese people “deserve equal treatment and the opportunity to clearly understand the rules” and that airline staff have taken different approaches to the situation on different occasions:

The problem I have with Southwest is not that they may want me to purchase two seats. It’s that sometimes they want that, and other times they don’t.

The airline’s ‘Customer of Size’ policy says that passengers who encroach on neighbouring seats should book the number of seats they require for their journey in advance:

Customers who encroach upon any part of the neighbouring seat(s) should proactively book the needed number of seats prior to travel. The armrest is considered to be the definitive boundary between seats and measures 17 inches in width. The purchase of additional seats serves as a notification to Southwest of a special seating need. Most importantly, it ensures that all Customers onboard have access to safe and comfortable seating.

Southwest Airlines told ABC News that if providing an extra seat doesn’t deny another passenger a seat, they will refund the extra charge.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
68 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dotty Dunleary
    Favourite Dotty Dunleary
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 7:30 PM

    Crush their cars and rip up the driving licences while you’re at it…

    702
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Dickson
    Favourite David Dickson
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 7:43 PM

    @Dotty Dunleary: have you still got a licence that you could rip?

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jenni
    Favourite jenni
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 7:58 PM

    @Dotty Dunleary: I wouldn’t crush that Lamborghini…but tbh I would have bothered buying a lambo in Ireland. Other than motorways, the roads are shi?e.

    49
    See 8 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Powell
    Favourite Michael Powell
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 8:02 PM

    @jenni: what Lamborghini?

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dotty Dunleary
    Favourite Dotty Dunleary
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 8:08 PM

    @jenni: Looks like a UK Reg Ferrari…

    Though probably just a Toyota MR2 with a bodykit…

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dotty Dunleary
    Favourite Dotty Dunleary
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 8:09 PM

    @David Dickson: Old Skool!

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Dickson
    Favourite David Dickson
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 8:18 PM

    @Dotty Dunleary: just like the guards with their mph.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Edwards
    Favourite David Edwards
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 9:11 PM

    @jenni: it’s a Ferrari alright and impound and crush laws like Australia wouldn’t go astray here I’d say

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Foster
    Favourite Stephen Foster
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 9:49 PM

    @jenni: looks more like a Ferrari 288 GTO. Good ole Magnam PI.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ウィリアム はげ
    Favourite ウィリアム はげ
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 10:22 PM

    @Stephen Foster: you’d have to be very brave or stupid to do 178km in that old piece of junk though. Most likely that was the micra in the background.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack
    Favourite Jack
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 11:01 PM

    @ウィリアム はげ: 178 is 110 in old money. Any Ferrari is well capable of safely handling that speed. Especially on a motorway. Even lesser Ferrari’s like the 288

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Dickson
    Favourite David Dickson
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 7:37 PM

    “The car caught speeding, drink driving, and driving the wrong way around a roundabout in Donegal”
    Wait till that car gets home the owner will batter it for messing about. No petrol for a month.

    220
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jonathan Power
    Favourite Jonathan Power
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 8:21 AM

    @David Dickson: he was probably practicing for the rally next weekend. That does be carnage around town bits of cars everywhere

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Lynch
    Favourite Alan Lynch
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 8:27 PM

    160kph on a motorway is nothing to any modern car. Motorway speed limits need to be revised

    189
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Finbarr Lucey
    Favourite Finbarr Lucey
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 9:10 PM

    It’s nothing to a modern car but it’s the idiot behind the wheel doing that speed would cause an accident.

    211
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute kevinhunt101
    Favourite kevinhunt101
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 9:23 PM

    @Finbarr Lucey: on a straight road it’s grand with not much traffic. A good car doesn’t feel like it’s even going that fast

    56
    See 7 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Van Transport Johnny O'Connor
    Favourite Van Transport Johnny O'Connor
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 9:58 PM

    @Alan Lynch: nothing until you need to stop in a hurry

    64
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick J. O'Rourke
    Favourite Patrick J. O'Rourke
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 10:05 PM

    @Van Transport Johnny O’Connor: Or a sheep walks across the road.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute heavyhits
    Favourite heavyhits
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 10:40 PM

    @Alan Lynch: Irish drivers are very specific, so better keep the limits.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ohhh_reeally
    Favourite Ohhh_reeally
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 9:41 AM

    @Alan Lynch: no they don’t. The speed limits take account of a lot more factors than the cars capabilities.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dotty Dunleary
    Favourite Dotty Dunleary
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 10:39 AM

    @Alan Lynch: No they don’t and you’re completely wrong!

    A BMW. Audi, Merc etc,. etc. may well be able to comfortably cruise at 160kph, however the Irish motorway isn’t designed to safely handle cars traveling at that velocity.

    Irish M roads are basically dual carriageways with a higher speed limit. Autobahn’s they are not!

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Boyle
    Favourite Mark Boyle
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 1:06 PM

    @Dotty Dunleary: What’s the difference between an Irish motorway and a German one?

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Lynch
    Favourite Alan Lynch
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 1:50 PM

    @Dotty Dunleary: to say I’m “completely wrong” is a bit off.
    The majority of modern cars are built to easily crack 160kph. I’m not saying that should be the limit but 130-140 is perfectly responsible in my opinion.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SlinkyDog
    Favourite SlinkyDog
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 7:43 PM

    Are we still using mph?

    89
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute William Kelly
    Favourite William Kelly
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 6:38 AM

    @SlinkyDog: yes, we are still using mph, a lot.
    All the UK imports & N.I vehicles have mph speedos, with kph in lower case.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Flood
    Favourite John Flood
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 6:43 AM

    @SlinkyDog: the UK chose to keep imperial measurements, I think we should have too. The EU extended the choice to us but we kept metric.

    16
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Caffrey
    Favourite Nick Caffrey
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 8:09 AM

    @John Flood: No. We are Europeans, not backward facing English.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gareth Cooney
    Favourite Gareth Cooney
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 8:14 PM

    The Nardai must have been dizzy tailing that guy round the roundabout.
    But then again, when a Nard is dizzy, a Nard is bizzy What?

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ohhh_reeally
    Favourite Ohhh_reeally
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 9:45 AM

    @Gareth Cooney: Nardai!! I hope that’s your Da in the profile picture and you’re just a little kid. If not then you’re an idiot

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank Dubogovik
    Favourite Frank Dubogovik
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 7:29 PM

    my old qashqai couldn’t even get up to that speed

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jonathan Power
    Favourite Jonathan Power
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 8:23 AM

    @Frank Dubogovik: you’re lucky there terrible top heavy dreadful handling you’d flip it turn it over

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Murphy
    Favourite John Murphy
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 7:57 PM

    Weeeeeeeeeeeeee !!!!

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joseph Molloy
    Favourite Joseph Molloy
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 7:45 PM

    The Gardas should be out everyday. They are waste

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Powell
    Favourite Michael Powell
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 8:03 PM

    @Joseph Molloy: they are 24hr 365days a year. You just worry about collecting your dole once a week.

    150
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gus Sheridan
    Favourite Gus Sheridan
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 8:25 PM

    @Joseph Molloy: not enough of them

    22
    See 9 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Edwards
    Favourite David Edwards
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 9:46 PM

    @Michael Powell: to be fair I’ve been living in Ireland full time since 2008 and have been breath tested once, there’s no deterrent here, in Melbourne 3/4 times a month wouldn’t even unusual

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Drew P. Baulsach
    Favourite Drew P. Baulsach
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 10:23 PM

    @David Edwards: seems to be very dependent on where you are in the country. I’ve gone through one, ever, but my dad might go through one a week. I’m in offaly, he’s in kildare.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philip Mckenna
    Favourite Philip Mckenna
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 12:59 AM

    @Drew P. Baulsach: very true I have lived in roscommon for 13 years never been tested once, was in Dublin for a wedding last year was tested twice in 3 days!

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hans Vos
    Favourite Hans Vos
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 9:28 AM

    @Drew P. Baulsach: I’m in Tipperary for 25 years and never been stopped for drink control. Only for roadtax and insurance control.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ohhh_reeally
    Favourite Ohhh_reeally
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 9:47 AM

    @David Edwards: I lived I’m Melbourne for 4 years and was never once breath tested

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ohhh_reeally
    Favourite Ohhh_reeally
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 9:47 AM

    @Hans Vos: no such thing as road tax control

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hans Vos
    Favourite Hans Vos
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 11:46 AM

    @Ohhh_reeally: oh reeally? You never stopped by the Garda for tax disk control.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ohhh_reeally
    Favourite Ohhh_reeally
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 4:30 PM

    @Hans Vos: no. Stopped at checkpoints where all required documents were checked.. not tax control as you call it

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hans Vos
    Favourite Hans Vos
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 8:39 PM

    @Ohhh_reeally: maybe not in Melbourne but in Ireland they never asked me for documents but only look if you have your disk’s displayed.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Foley
    Favourite Dermot Foley
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 7:39 PM

    Absolutely disgusting tbh. But absolutely hilarious too.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Christina Sherwin Russell
    Favourite Christina Sherwin Russell
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 4:06 AM

    Name and shame as they do here in ontario

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eric Gaffney
    Favourite Eric Gaffney
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 9:43 PM

    Unlikely to be perceived as toxic.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Mullin
    Favourite Stephen Mullin
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 6:24 AM

    It wasn’t me Judge – It was my drunkin self drive Tesla !!

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute LikeSeriouslySue
    Favourite LikeSeriouslySue
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 9:38 PM

    a court appearance is hardly a deterrent – the message is not being heard. It should be treated like intent of assault with a deadly weapon.justice system in ireland is a joke and people know it,

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute anthony o cathain
    Favourite anthony o cathain
    Report
    Jun 5th 2018, 11:42 AM

    3 yrs please

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Divad Nayr
    Favourite Divad Nayr
    Report
    Jun 4th 2018, 10:26 PM

    Absolutely discussing, that’s a Ferrari 288 GTO , not a Lamborghini.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      News in 60 seconds