Kevin Smith "2 Fat 2 Fly" Southwest Airlines

[Admiral_Young]

What JacksonArcher forgot to add was that when Kevin boarded the second plane he sat at the front of the plane and a large woman sat next to him. He had his lab top out reading his tweets from the last few minutes regarding his incident and then a stewardess came and asked the large woman to come out and the woman later told Smith what had happened in the conversation and he realized that the exact same thing happened to her that had happened to him and his heart broke for the woman.

Kevin also stated in the smodcast that he suspects that this is probably part of their corporate policy and that the stewardesses that were reinforcing this were trying to be PC with him about his weight issue. I highly doubt that this was meant to be publicity for "Cop Out" Kevin's never really been one to pimp out his movies like this and he and Jen say that they even flew on the airline that week and have several times before.

The entire situation is fucked up in my opinion.

 

[Capt. Vulcan]

By traditional trains sure, but HSR would cut that down.

High Speed trains might be great for a place like Europe, but, the US is geographically to large.

No, Americans just foolishly refuse to accept anything but instantaneously as an answer for anything.

Would a NYC to LA trip by HSR be the fastest way to get there, no. Does that matter for most reasons to travel, no. Only instances where same day destination travel would be required would it matter. last second travel plans, emergencies, overnight deliveries... these all require air travel.

For things like a mid to long term relocation, a vacation, for an event weeks, months, or years down the line, it wouldn't make a difference to take an extra day for the travel by HSR.

Americans need to learn to relax, slow down, and realize that to enjoy the journey is far more important that to simply reach the destination as fast as possible. It's healthier for you, and it can be better for the enviroment as well.

Of the major nations I believe the United states averages the least number of vacation days per year per person. So yeah, spending even one extra day sitting on a train, and not on the white sands of miami is kind of a big deal. We don't all have the luxury of being able to relax away a couple of vacation days sitting in a train. When I go on vacation I want to maximise the amount of time I'm actually on vacation. Taking the eurorail and seeing the various countrysides was cool but I would have rather had that extra time in one of the countries, doing something. So I don't think long distance HSR system would be great for america. If you ever take a flight over the united states you'll see that most of it is empty.

Short distance HSR would be cool though. With all the security checks and whatnot it may actually take about the same time to take a plane and take a train short distances. For instance I can drive to las vegas from los angeles in just over 3 hours. A flight takes only 20 minutes, but when you consider driving to the airport, parking, being there early for security, going through security, boarding, take off, the landing cycle and getting a taxi to your hotel, you might end up taking the same time. From the doorstep of your house to your hotel room, taking a flight might actually end up taking longer.

Back on topic with Kevin Smith, that was pretty fucked up by the airline. Yeah everyone would like to have a perfect flight, sitting with two empty seats next to them surrounded in your own aura of how much better you are than everyone else, but that's not how reality works. There are fat people, people with stinky feet, crying babies, people with too much perfume, people that slowly crunch on ice cubes the whole way, people that watch R-rated movies on their laptop with kids around... whatever. Yeah Kevin Smith can lose weight, but people are also well within the ability to not be an asshole about a difference of maybe an inch of space. Guess which one is easier to do?

Quick question about Smith always buying an extra seat. Is it because he's fat or because he's famous and doesn't want to get bothered on a flight?

 

[Admiral_Young]

He said he's always bought extra seats. He explains in the SMODCAST that Jen was supposed to originally go with him to MACWORLD (this is where he was going in the first place) but she decided not to go for some reason and he was stuck with three seats. I forget the reason he stated for getting two seats.

 

[Jetfire]

This would make a great movie.

KS is right to be upset. You hear about stuff like this happening and you have to wonder...WTF are people(airline workers) thinking?

 

[Bloodwhiner]

Has anyone read SW's response?

http://www.blogsouthwest.com/not-so-silent-bob.html?q=blog/not-so-silent-bob

They point out that Smith had purchased two seats on a flight but then requested to change to an earlier flight on standby. Standby passengers are the last to board and only a single seat was open. After his removal, he was still free to take the original flight he booked (I believe he did, but can't swear to it) using the 2 seats he had purchased (and would have ended up only paying for one) and was given a $100 travel voucher

Depending on the when he originally booked, the Oakland to Burbank flight costs from $45-$150(+tax/fees) one way per seat. I'd assume he booked the seats far enough in advance to get the $45 rate. getting a $100 voucher on a $45 flight is a pretty good deal in my book.

As the potential passenger next to Smith, I applaud their actions. I have had to squeeze in next to a large person who fit the seat but spilled over the armrests into my seat. I paid for my seat too, why should I be discomforted by someone else? I am entitled to the comfort as any other passenger. (note; this was not on a SW flight)

SW has policies an I will say they apply them pretty evenly across the board. I choose not to fly SW because I can almost always beat their fair or come close enough that I do not need to be one of the cattle herd (instead I choose to be a part of the sheep flock, whatever...).

Smith just went on a tirad because he could, the facts be damned.

 

[Trekker4747]

Kevin Smith, from my prespective is hardly so large he'd "spill over" the arm rests. Such a sitting position would be more uncomofortable for him than the person next to him.

IIRC Southwest's policy is that if you can fit in the seat and the arm rests are down then you fit.

 

[Amaris]

Has anyone read SW's response?

http://www.blogsouthwest.com/not-so-silent-bob.html?q=blog/not-so-silent-bob

They point out that Smith had purchased two seats on a flight but then requested to change to an earlier flight on standby. Standby passengers are the last to board and only a single seat was open. After his removal, he was still free to take the original flight he booked (I believe he did, but can't swear to it) using the 2 seats he had purchased (and would have ended up only paying for one) and was given a $100 travel voucher

Depending on the when he originally booked, the Oakland to Burbank flight costs from $45-$150(+tax/fees) one way per seat. I'd assume he booked the seats far enough in advance to get the $45 rate. getting a $100 voucher on a $45 flight is a pretty good deal in my book.

As the potential passenger next to Smith, I applaud their actions. I have had to squeeze in next to a large person who fit the seat but spilled over the armrests into my seat. I paid for my seat too, why should I be discomforted by someone else? I am entitled to the comfort as any other passenger. (note; this was not on a SW flight)

SW has policies an I will say they apply them pretty evenly across the board. I choose not to fly SW because I can almost always beat their fair or come close enough that I do not need to be one of the cattle herd (instead I choose to be a part of the sheep flock, whatever...).

Smith just went on a tirad because he could, the facts be damned.

Why did they eject him from the plane? He fell well within their required regulations.

 

[Shazam!]

High Speed trains might be great for a place like Europe, but, the US is geographically to large.

LOL WTF? America is too large to have transport that gets you to places quicker?

 

[Dusty Ayres]

High Speed trains might be great for a place like Europe, but, the US is geographically to large.

LOL WTF? America is too large to have transport that gets you to places quicker?

According to the logic of Shazam? Yes.

Amazing, isn't it?

 

[exodus]

Has anyone read SW's response?

http://www.blogsouthwest.com/not-so-silent-bob.html?q=blog/not-so-silent-bob

They point out that Smith had purchased two seats on a flight but then requested to change to an earlier flight on standby. Standby passengers are the last to board and only a single seat was open. After his removal, he was still free to take the original flight he booked (I believe he did, but can't swear to it) using the 2 seats he had purchased (and would have ended up only paying for one) and was given a $100 travel voucher

Depending on the when he originally booked, the Oakland to Burbank flight costs from $45-$150(+tax/fees) one way per seat. I'd assume he booked the seats far enough in advance to get the $45 rate. getting a $100 voucher on a $45 flight is a pretty good deal in my book.

As the potential passenger next to Smith, I applaud their actions. I have had to squeeze in next to a large person who fit the seat but spilled over the armrests into my seat. I paid for my seat too, why should I be discomforted by someone else? I am entitled to the comfort as any other passenger. (note; this was not on a SW flight)

SW has policies an I will say they apply them pretty evenly across the board. I choose not to fly SW because I can almost always beat their fair or come close enough that I do not need to be one of the cattle herd (instead I choose to be a part of the sheep flock, whatever...).

Smith just went on a tirad because he could, the facts be damned.

Why did they eject him from the plane? He fell well within their required regulations.

Going by his twitter rants, he probably caused a scene on the plane and was asked to be removed for that reason.

BTW, I've meet Kevin a few times and I find it hard to believe he can fit into just one seat.

 

[TheBrew]

I'm more shocked that:

A) Kevin Smith has a movie coming out that I didn't know about.

B) He didn't write it.

 

[darthraidr]

Whether he is making a bigger deal out of this than he normally would due to Cop Out hitting in a couple of weeks or not...it's really great timing for Kevin Smith, especially if he gets to show up on Larry King or Oprah Winfrey due to this.

Maybe Kevin Smith deliberately caused this whole thing just to get media coverage when it just so happens he has a movie coming out...

at first i was surprised, then i remembered Cop Out was coming out soon... so now i assume this is just him milking all of this for attention and a chance to get his movie some free publicity.

 

[exodus]

I'm more shocked that:

A) Kevin Smith has a movie coming out that I didn't know about.

B) He didn't write it.

"Cop Out" w/ Bruce Willis & Tracey Morgan.

It looks awful, so Kevin can use all the press he can get.

 

[JacksonArcher]

Going by his twitter rants, he probably caused a scene on the plane and was asked to be removed for that reason.

He was asked to vacate the plane for no apparent reason. And when he did leave, he left peacefully. Smith is usually someone who doesn't cause a scene and tries to be polite. He only went apeshit on Twitter when he was forcibly removed from the airline because he was deemed a "safety risk".

 

[John Picard]

High Speed trains might be great for a place like Europe, but, the US is geographically to large.

LOL WTF? America is too large to have transport that gets you to places quicker?

Happy reading!
http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=111140http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=111140

I am a US citizen who abhors the ignorance that is rampant in this country toward rail systems. I cannot wait for the day I can expatriate.

 

[exodus]

Going by his twitter rants, he probably caused a scene on the plane and was asked to be removed for that reason.

He was asked to vacate the plane for no apparent reason. And when he did leave, he left peacefully. Smith is usually someone who doesn't cause a scene and tries to be polite. He only went apeshit on Twitter when he was forcibly removed from the airline because he was deemed a "safety risk".

Sorry, I don't see anyone who's waited on stand by for a seat, then told to vacate the plane without questioning why without some type of disagreement/arguement. Especially when the person asking to leave hasn't done anything wrong, that they know of. Nobody but nobody would give up a paid seat anywhere without wanting a good reason as to why. Even Rosa Parks said "No".

 

[Lindley]

KS is right to be upset. You hear about stuff like this happening and you have to wonder...WTF are people(airline workers) thinking?

Weight and balance are not as much of an issue on large jets as they are on small planes, which is why you typically won't be asked your body weight and have your carry-on weighed for most flights. (They may also have sensors in the landing gear or something to determine total loaded weight.)

But they are an issue, and it's perfectly possible for a flight's safety to be compromised by the weight of its passengers, or even their seating positions.

 

[Takeru]

Kevin Smith, from my prespective is hardly so large he'd "spill over" the arm rests.

He's really fat, I'm sure he'd spill over.

 

[Corran Horn]

This is exactly why high-speed rail should be developed in the USA on a national scale. It's time for all Americans to be able to travel where they want to without bullshit like this.

That and it really just makes sense to have a HSR system here.

The TSA will get a hold of that too and fuck it up and it'll be just as much a pain in the ass to take a HSR line as it will a plane. Watch and see.

(even though it makes no sense)

 

[Bad Bishop]

High Speed trains might be great for a place like Europe, but, the US is geographically to large.

LOL WTF? America is too large to have transport that gets you to places quicker?

Happy reading!
http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=111140http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=111140

I am a US citizen who abhors the ignorance that is rampant in this country toward rail systems. I cannot wait for the day I can expatriate.

Where to?