It’s already been established that I’m a big fan of Kevin Smith’s. It should come as no surprise then that I have an opinion when it comes to this situation.

For those not in the know, Southwest Airlines recently kicked Smith off of a flight, citing their “customer of size” policy. Supposedly the rule on their flights is that if you can’t fit between the armrests of your seat, you have to buy a second seat to ride. Smith, by his own admission, is a large man. He was, however, able to fit between the armrests of his seat. He was still removed from the flight regardless of this fact.

Now, there are some circumstances that help color the story. Smith had purchased two tickets for himself on a later flight, but was attempting to fly standby on an earlier one where only one seat was available. I can see how this, coupled with the obvious girth of the man, could lead Southwest employees to the conclusion that he required two seats.

Smith claims to have purchased the two tickets on the earlier flight as a luxury, but this is beside the point. The simple and irrefutable fact is this: once those armrests came down he should have been left alone.

Look, I can understand why Southwest Airlines has their policy. For me, the policy isn’t the issue. The issue is their application of it outside of it’s own guidelines, and their subsequent refusal to admit any wrongdoing.