Reference no: EM131071140

https://www.tolerance.org/activity/test-yourself-hidden-bias

Case Study:

Colorado natives, Dave and his wife Gina, decide to take a six-day cruise from Florida in March. They purchase their cruise tickets and in accordance with the cruise policy, they must arrive in Florida a day before their ship departs. They search the web and find a good fare with Southwest Airlines and book their tickets online. After arriving at the airport and checking their bags, they head to the gate to board the aircraft. The gate attendant informs Dave, who is pushing 350 pounds and would obviously not fit in the seat without raising the armrest, that he must purchase an extra seat because of his size. Dave and Gina sort of stare at her thinking she must be joking. As it turns out, she is not. The gate agent informs them that the airline requires any passenger deemed 'large' to purchase two seats on the flight. And, since this is March, a popular tourist time in Florida, the flight is oversold and it is not likely that he will be refunded this fare. Dave and Gina do not want to forfeit their cruise tickets, but another airline ticket (at the same cost of the first ticket) is over their vacation budget. 

Southwest says their policy, in place since 1980, is designed to provide comfort for the person sitting next to an 'oversized' passenger. An airline survey revealed that the number one complaint (since the year 2000) has consistently been that "part of my seat was taken up by another (large) passenger." Defenders of large people have a very opposing view and think this policy is discrimination. Many think it is the airline's fault in the first place; they have failed to keep up with national trends by ignoring the fact that Americans are getting bigger; thus, they should design wider seats.

Questions to be Answered in Your Discussion Board Post:

1. If you were Dave and Gina, what would you do?

2. Do you think the policy of charging 'oversized' passengers for two seats is discrimination? Why or why not?