Kevin Smith Still Sucks at Flying
12.07.10
Famously too-fat-to-fly guy Kevin Smith had more plane trouble recently, and after sopping up his gravy tears with some leftover biscuits, he sat his tubby ass down in an orthopedic swing and hammered out an angry blog. Long story short, he checked in an hour before his flight and even used a concierge service, but when he showed up to his gate at JFK, Virgin America employee “Manny” wouldn’t let him board. Smith complained that the plane was still attached to the jetway and that his wife needed medication that was in the plane’s baggage hold, but to no avail. This just in: people who work at airports are A-holes.
Manny wouldn’t give me his last name; he said he didn’t have to. I said it was unfair, as he had my name (and home address!); he insisted two more times that he didn’t have to furnish me with his last name (Erwin did, however). The pair then looked to book us on the next flight out – which had no first class available.
It didn’t matter: at that point, I knew I’d never spend another dime on anything Virgin-related ever again.
Was it Manny Shyamalan? He’s probably still pissed no one liked Last Airbender.
[Update] Unlike Southworst, @VirginAtlantic seems to care: lovely, apologetic email, full refund for flight, free tix offer – all before I’ve landed. I appreciate the gesture/effort.
As for why he only showed up to the gate eight minutes early, Smith explained that being the world’s most famous air complainer has its downside:

