?? about Southwest

[SaraMc]

Im pooh sized, but I read in another thread about 17" seats. I fit within that. However Im 5"11 and wear a size 22. Would I get pulled over as a COS? I want to fly SW because they are sooo much less expensive but if Im going to be discriminated for being bigger Its going to cost as much as any other flight. sooo Im wondering would I be a COS?

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

I wouldn't call it discrimination. All airlines have such policy.

The good thing about SWA though is that they will charge you the lowest possible fare, and if the flight has even one empty seat on it, they will refund you that extra seat at the end of the trip.

 

[kilee]

I've flown Southwest a few times in the last few years. I take a 22/24. The thing is everyone is built differently. I've never been asked to buy an extra seat. I can easily but the armrests down and not spill into any other seat. I also don't need the extender belt. However, my MIL who weighs pretty much the same as me and is within 2 inches of my height-- cannot get the belt even close and she would possibly be considered a COS as she has a hard time w/ the armrests down. I think it's all in the shape. She is all in her belly and bum-- where myself for a "big" girl have the weight really evenly distrubted. She has a hard time w/ seat belts in cars and I've never had that issue.

I do stress about it all the time when we fly SW. However, I've never had a problem. Alot comes down to body build

 

[SB in KY]

I would really doubt that a size 22 at almost 6 feet tall would attract any attention at all...especially if you do not need the seatbelt extender.

 

[disneyldwjr]

I would really doubt that a size 22 at almost 6 feet tall would attract any attention at all...especially if you do not need the seatbelt extender.

They do not chage you if you need a seat belt extender, they charge you if you cannot fit into the confines of the seat. There are many people of size that do need seat belt extenders but do fit into the seat.

SWA's site very nicely covers this situation.

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/cos_guidelines.html

 

[disneyldwjr]

Im pooh sized, but I read in another thread about 17" seats. I fit within that. However Im 5"11 and wear a size 22. Would I get pulled over as a COS? I want to fly SW because they are sooo much less expensive but if Im going to be discriminated for being bigger Its going to cost as much as any other flight. sooo Im wondering would I be a COS?

Why would you call maintaining the comfort of all passengars discrimination?
I applaud the implimentation of this policy, I have flown WAY too many times in half a seat. I wish all airlines would enforce this. I have NOTHING against anyone regardless of their size, race, etc. I do have SOMETHING against buying a seat and only getting half of it. SWA's policy is quite fair, IMHO.

 

[disnutt]

Why would you call maintaining the comfort of all passengars discrimination?
I applaud the implimentation of this policy, I have flown WAY too many times in half a seat. I wish all airlines would enforce this. I have NOTHING against anyone regardless of their size, race, etc. I do have SOMETHING against buying a seat and only getting half of it. SWA's policy is quite fair, IMHO.

I agree. I was once crushed against the window by a gentleman who took up both the aisle and middle seat on a NWA flight. I don't know if he paid for both seats but he should have paid for mine also. He wasn't Pooh sized he was a whole herd of Heffalumps.

We were stuck on the tarmac waiting for our flight to get the OK for take off. I was on the sunny side of the plane and it was hot. I really thought I was going to have my first panic attack. What was I going to do if there was an emergency and I couldn't get past this guy???

I will not fly in the window seat any longer because of this experience. This man had every right to fly but (and it was a BIG one) I was actually leaning against the plane wall the whole time as he wiggled around trying to get comfy.

 

[seashoreCM]

I agree. I was once crushed against the window by a gentleman who took up both the aisle and middle seat on a NWA flight.

I will not fly in the window seat any longer because of this experience. This man had every right to fly but (and it was a BIG one) I was actually leaning against the plane wall the whole time as he wiggled around trying to get comfy.

The airline must reseat you or pay compensation if you complain prior to departure, going all the way up to the complaint resolution officer if you need to.

You should not mention the other person's right to fly which is irrelevant to this discussion. If the airline mentions that, ignore that comment and concentrate on getting a seat for yourself.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Hint: If an airline employee says "There is nothing we can do" you can truthfully say right away, "That sentence is false.". The airline can deplane a standby or ask for volunteers.

Another hint: Someone else elbowing you or sitting on you or forcing you into a contorted position constitutes assault for which the airline can also be charged with if you notified the airline about the foreseeable problem and the airline failed to separate the two of you while keeping you on the flight.

 

[TiffJ]

The problem is SW doesn't give a COS 2 seats to make them & others comfortable, they just charge for it. If you pay for 2 seats you should get 2 seats. Sounds like SW is the only one benefiting.

 

[EmptyNester]

The problem is SW doesn't give a COS 2 seats to make them & others comfortable, they just charge for it. If you pay for 2 seats you should get 2 seats. Sounds like SW is the only one benefiting.

If you PAY for two seats you get two seats. Why should any airline give anyone a second seat for free?

 

[disnutt]

seashoreCM-

Thanks for the information. I've always felt helpless when dealing with airlines. I hope I never need to use your advice!

 

[disneyldwjr]

The problem is SW doesn't give a COS 2 seats to make them & others comfortable, they just charge for it. If you pay for 2 seats you should get 2 seats. Sounds like SW is the only one benefiting.

What? if you need two seats you should pay for two seats. It is, indeed, to make pax comfortable. SW is not the only one benefiting, the ones flying that can actually have the entire seat are benefitting also. SW will refund if the plane is not full, if they were doing as you claim, they would not refund. ALL airlines have this policy, SW just impliments it.

 

[Alexander]

The problem is SW doesn't give a COS 2 seats to make them & others comfortable, they just charge for it. If you pay for 2 seats you should get 2 seats. Sounds like SW is the only one benefiting.

What are you talking about?

 

[CarolA]

The problem is SW doesn't give a COS 2 seats to make them & others comfortable, they just charge for it. If you pay for 2 seats you should get 2 seats. Sounds like SW is the only one benefiting.

HUH??? They do give you two seats and allow you to board early to obtain two seats together. IF however the plane is not full SW refunds you the money... how is that benefitting SW??? If you take two seats, you pay for them that seems fair to me and SW refunding you if they didn't lose revenue they could have gotten from another passenger seems very fair.