KTNV ABC,Channel 13,Las Vegas,Nevada,News,Weather,Sports,Entertainment,KTNV.com,Action News .:. Southwest Airlines passenger says he was told he was too fat to fly

Southwest Airlines passenger says he was told he was too fat to fly

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An Illinois man is taking issue with Southwest Airlines after a trip to Las Vegas over his weight. Emery Orto says he and his wife were about to fly home to Chicago from Las Vegas when a Southwest employee refused to let him on the aircraft saying he was too fat to fly.

Orto is 6-feet tall and weighs 350 pounds and says he was allowed to fly to Las Vegas with no problem. They say the airline's decision cost them more than $800 dollars and they want their money back.

"She hustled after me and grabs me and says, 'can you sit down in an airplane seat with the arms down?' I said, 'yes I can sit with the arms down, I've flown many times and never had a problem and she says, 'well, you're not flying today," explained Orto.

Southwest says Orto was arguing in a loud, belligerent tone of voice. The airline says in the end it was the anger issue and not his weight that led to the decision to keep him from boarding.

Southwest says the couple can get a refund for their unused tickets.