Southwest Changing Rules for Plus-Size Passengers

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Southwest changing rules for plus-size passengers: What to know

There is to be a significant change to a popular policy that allowed larger travelers to book two seats for the price of one.

www.newsweek.com

 

[Patri]

I never knew they had that policy. I agree with this change.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

While I understand this will be a hassle for some, I think their existing policy would become difficult after they implement seat assignment and charge extra for certain seats..

 

[moonstone]

I am glad they have that policy and hope all other airlines follow suit.

On one of my solo trips home (to YYZ, a 5hr flight) from Belize for my post chemo treatments I had a middle seat and was first to arrive. I put the armrests up to make it easier for me and the window seat person to get in. A very large lady arrived and said she had the window seat. I stood up in the isle so she could get in. When she sat down her thighs were 'hanging over' onto my seat. After I sat down I started to pull down the armrest (I knew it probably would not go all the way down and the lady said oh we dont need that. I said yes I do, I have a shoulder injury and cant have my arm hanging for 5 hours. I pulled it down as far as it would go and put the tip of my elbow on it, and also pulled the other one down. Soon afterwards a very large (height & width) man arrived and sat in the isle seat, his thigh also hung over onto my seat and he started to lift up the arm rest since I wasnt using that one (for fear of my elbow getting squished when he sat down). Once again I said no, I need that, and pulled it down as far as it would go. Now I was sandwiched between 2 very large people. The man's shoulders were probably 4-6 inches over my seat back and I was sitting at an angle to avoid shoulder contact. When the flight attendant came along to check on overhead bins and seatbelts, she stopped and looked at me for a few seconds before moving on. I was hoping she would tell the man to move over but instead a few seconds later she came back and said to me, ma'am gather your things and come with me. I hadnt taken anything out of by backpack yet so when the isle man stood up, I pulled by bag out from under the seat and followed the FA -right up to the next level of seating! It was an isle seat with way more leg room and the middle seat was empty! I thanked her profusely and she said oh you couldn't have sat for 5 hours like that, you are most welcome! My former seatmates now had 3 seats to share between the 2 of them and probably used every inch! Thanks WestJet!


~Diane

 

[am1]

A good and fair change. Now charge two year olds less than plus sized passengers. Never understood that before 2 is free on a lap and after two charge the same. But a bag a pound over will be charged as a heavy bag.

Then the airlines want to charge me extra to sit beside my own kids no matter where on the airplane.

I would never accept being uncomfortable on a plane (more than normal). I would speak to the flight attendant right away.

 

[Luanne]

A good and fair change. Now charge two year olds less than plus sized passengers. Never understood that before 2 is free on a lap and after two charge the same. But a bag a pound over will be charged as a heavy bag.

Then the airlines want to charge me extra to sit beside my own kids no matter where on the airplane.

I would never accept being uncomfortable on a plane (more than normal). I would speak to the flight attendant right away.

Okay, let's explain it to you. If a kid sits on a lap they don't take up a seat. If they are over 2 and have their own seat, you pay for it. I never felt comfortable with my kids as lap kids on a plane so always brought their car seats and bought them a seat.

And you keep saying you have to pay extra to sit by your own kids. I don't know what airlines you fly, but when I've flown with my kids and I make the reservation, I choose seats where we are all together. We pay extra for ALL of us if we choose the extra room seats or first class.

 

[am1]

Okay, let's explain it to you. If a kid sits on a lap they don't take up a seat. If they are over 2 and have their own seat, you pay for it. I never felt comfortable with my kids as lap kids on a plane so always brought their car seats and bought them a seat.

And you keep saying you have to pay extra to sit by your own kids. I don't know what airlines you fly, but when I've flown with my kids and I make the reservation, I choose seats where we are all together. We pay extra for ALL of us if we choose the extra room seats or first class.

A 30 pound kid uses less fuel than a plus sized person. The airline bean counters understand that when it goes the other way and charge over heavy baggage etc.

Thankfully I mostly fly Copa Airlines so I get economy plus included and can still choose seats for free for my group.

It will be 6 years ago tomorrow I had to fly home for my grandmas funeral and brought my two sons. We had tickets booked there for a few days later for vacation/visit. Had to fly Delta and booking last minute the back of the plane was already filled for families. No 3 seats together as everyone is trying book window and aisle and leave middle empty or book middle in a vacant row to not pay for seat selection. I only wanted to have 3 seats together. Did not matter where on the plane. Then missed our connection because of immigration. On the way back changed our flight to a few days earlier to avoid a hurricane and same issue. 6 years olds should not be sitting beside strangers for their safety as well as the enjoyment of everyone else. I posted about it in the travel section.

 

[Luanne]

A 30 pound kid uses less fuel than a plus sized person. The airline bean counters understand that when it goes the other way and charge over heavy baggage etc.

Thankfully I mostly fly Copa Airlines so I get economy plus included and can still choose seats for free for my group.

It will be 6 years ago tomorrow I had to fly home for my grandmas funeral and brought my two sons. We had tickets booked there for a few days later for vacation/visit. Had to fly Delta and booking last minute the back of the plane was already filled for families. No 3 seats together as everyone is trying book window and aisle and leave middle empty or book middle in a vacant row to not pay for seat selection. I only wanted to have 3 seats together. Did not matter where on the plane. Then missed our connection because of immigration. On the way back changed our flight to a few days earlier to avoid a hurricane and same issue. 6 years olds should not be sitting beside strangers for their safety as well as the enjoyment of everyone else. I posted about it in the travel section.

So this was one time when you couldn't sit together because you booked at the last minute (for an understandable reason)? And I know you've posted about this before and I think I've discussed with you about this before.

 

[am1]

So this was one time when you couldn't sit together because you booked at the last minute (for an understandable reason)? And I know you've posted about this before and I think I've discussed with you about this before.

We flew to Nassau with a stopover in Miami there and back as we wanted to do shopping/stuff in Miami after for a few days. But it is a real thing that airlines are indifferent to and paying customers feel entitled to a seat they had to pay to choose which I understand. But the airlines computer matrix should find a way to keep a parent traveling with small kids together at no additional cost.

 

[Pennytx]

My father in law was a large man
Very curious
He always paid the extra to sit in first class because the seats were larger
Otherwise he didn’t fly
He didn’t feel it was appropriate to inconvenience others due to his weight issues… true class!

 

[Pennytx]

Very courteous and humble man
Sorry for the misspelling
I don’t know how to edit the above post

 

[Pennytx]

Very courteous and humble man
Sorry for the misspelling
I don’t know how to edit the above post

 

[Luanne]

Very courteous and humble man
Sorry for the misspelling
I don’t know how to edit the above post

You can edit your post by clicking on the "Edit" button. It's below your signature next to "Report".

 

[Luanne]

We flew to Nassau with a stopover in Miami there and back as we wanted to do shopping/stuff in Miami after for a few days. But it is a real thing that airlines are indifferent to and paying customers feel entitled to a seat they had to pay to choose which I understand. But the airlines computer matrix should find a way to keep a parent traveling with small kids together at no additional cost.

So are you saying that while you are willing to pay for a seat, if it's an upgrade, your kids should get their seat upgrades free so they can sit with you? You could all fly basic, but then I guess you get no seat assignment.

 

[Pennytx]

You can edit your post by clicking on the "Edit" button. It's below your signature next to "Report".

Thank you
Sorry truly didn’t know how to do it

 

[am1]

So are you saying that while you are willing to pay for a seat, if it's an upgrade, your kids should get their seat upgrades free so they can sit with you? You could all fly basic, but then I guess you get no seat assignment.

I just want to sit together no matter where. That should be a basic concept for airlines to understand. If I pay for an upgraded seatf I would expect to pay for them as well.

Thankfully Copa Airlines allows me free upgraded seats for all as a lowly silver member from a branded credit card. First class upgrades only on paid fares but prefer to use miles.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

So are you saying that while you are willing to pay for a seat, if it's an upgrade, your kids should get their seat upgrades free so they can sit with you? You could all fly basic, but then I guess you get no seat assignment.

I just want to sit together no matter where. That should be a basic concept for airlines to understand. If I pay for an upgraded seatf I would expect to pay for them as well.

Thankfully Copa Airlines allows me free upgraded seats for all as a lowly silver member from a branded credit card. First class upgrades only on paid fares but prefer to use miles.

There's a very simple solution here. @am1 should simply not fly with airlines that don't meet her preferences for seating together. Those airlines will pay the penalty of lost business for not accommodating @am1 and others like here, whereas airlines that do meet those preferences will see their business boom. Soon, airlines will either meet adapt to those standards or go out of business. Problem solved without needing to whine about how airlines treat passengers.

 

[easyrider]

More interesting than the Southwest policy to me is the article revealed the other airlines policies. We fly Alaska and I now know their policy. Next time someone doesn't fit in their seat next to us, which doesn't happen very often, I might request that passenger move or take a different flight. While it hasn't happened often, for us it's usually a long full flight back from Mexico or Hawaii, with someone that just can't fit in their seat with the armrest down.

Bill

Alaska Airlines' customer-of-size policy requires passengers who cannot fit comfortably with the armrests down to purchase an extra seat, but they may receive a refund for the second place if an open seat is available on the flight.

 

[jwalk03]

This is one of the many reasons I will miss the SWA opening seating policy!! It is much easier to avoid sitting with someone that is huge when you can see them and pick a seat based on your seatmates.

 

[Luanne]

This is one of the many reasons I will miss the SWA opening seating policy!! It is much easier to avoid sitting with someone that is huge when you can see them and pick a seat based on your seatmates.

Unless you were one of the first to board and have someone of "size" sit next to you later on. Unless you intend on getting up and changing seats at that point.

By the way, I'm not in favor of SW's new policies and didn't mind the open seating.

 

[jwalk03]

Unless you were one of the first to board and have someone of "size" sit next to you later on. Unless you intend on getting up and changing seats at that point.

By the way, I'm not in favor of SW's new policies and didn't mind the open seating.

Sure things are possible- but I never had that happen in many many southwest flights. I had a great strategy for picking a seat that almost always worked! If I was flying solo I always picked an aisle seat where there was already someone in the window. Or better yet an aisle where there was a couple already sitting in the window and middle- preferably with a smaller lady in the middle with a husband at the window!

 

[WinniWoman]

I don’t fly anymore but we always picked aisle seats or most recently premium economy.

 

[am1]

There's a very simple solution here. @am1 should simply not fly with airlines that don't meet her preferences for seating together. Those airlines will pay the penalty of lost business for not accommodating @am1 and others like here, whereas airlines that do meet those preferences will see their business boom. Soon, airlines will either meet adapt to those standards or go out of business. Problem solved without needing to whine about how airlines treat passengers.

Way off base as airlines are given special preference in flying routes and such. I will limit flying with said airlines but if there are no other options or it simply is the best option I will fly with them and push for sitting today with toddler aged daughter. Airlines are not a supermarket or clothing store where one can simply avoid one.

Regardless of what I do or the airlines do most will go bankrupt at some point.

Flying together with infants or small kids or even a disabled person should not be made a profit center for airlines.

 

[zentraveler]

Okay, let's explain it to you. If a kid sits on a lap they don't take up a seat. If they are over 2 and have their own seat, you pay for it. I never felt comfortable with my kids as lap kids on a plane so always brought their car seats and bought them a seat.

And you keep saying you have to pay extra to sit by your own kids. I don't know what airlines you fly, but when I've flown with my kids and I make the reservation, I choose seats where we are all together. We pay extra for ALL of us if we choose the extra room seats or first class.

I see a rant coming from @am1 about [his] kids on planes. We have been around this block before ad nauseam. Now looking for the ignore button for this otherwise useful thread.

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