Is Southwest still asking larger people to purchase 2 seats?

[simba2]

Is Southwest still enforcing their rule that larger people must purchase 2 seats? I am "fluffy" and find airplane seats tight. I always put the arm rest between DH and I up as it is more comfortable. (I might hang a little over into his seat, but we never take up any of another passenger's seat) Anyway, I know SWA was cracking down on making people who have to have the arm rest up buy 2 tix. We flew to Las Vegas last year and when we stepped up to the check in counter the woman stepped aside, had a conversation with a couple other employees, and I heard her say "I'm not going to say anything to her." She went out back, came back out and finally checked us in. I was so paranoid that I called SWA and purchased an extra seat for the return trip. (Did not want to go through that embarrassment and DH was afraid we might get stranded in Vegas.) Anyway, return flight was not full and when I checked in for the return the woman noted my second seat and asked about it. When I explained, she cheerfully said it was not a full flight and refunded me right there (no forms to submit once I got home). My question is -- should I buy 2 seats just in case and hope for not full flights (which means they will refund the extra seat). We are traveling over a holiday weekend and I am worried flights might be full and I might be denied boarding. I hate the worry of it, but I also don't want to spend the extra $ if they won't bother me. We've only flown once since the rule has been enforced. Has anyone else had first hand experience?

 

[Threehearts]

If you tip a bit into your husband's seat, I don't see how the airlines could have a problem with that. I travel a lot by air and have certainly had a "fluffy" person next to me at times and my attitude is, "this is probably a lot harder for the "fluffy" person than it is for me. I have arthritis and still seem to be able to manage and I'm a big believer in what goes around comes around. The next time I'm really crabby or my kids act up, some lovely person may just smile and give a supportive comment. Good luck to you!

Threehearts

 

[simba2]

I agree with you and my husband is happy to give me an extra inch of his seat, but believe it or not, they don't care if it is a family member's seat who you tip into (even if family member doesn't care). Their position is that you might not get to sit with that family member (since they don't assign seating).

 

[dznyntnh]

I am a frequent SWA flyer and I had many of the same questions last year when I flew to Las Vegas with my mother and a friend.

At the time they told us if you can get the armrest down that was pretty much their guide to if you 'fit' in the seat. Well, I'm big but I'm shaped so that getting into the seat has never been a problem and since there were three of us sitting together it didn't matter if the arm rests were up or down.

I still get concerned when I fly because the policy is very arbitrary in its execution.

But I have noticed the flight attendants on SWA are very nice when I have to ask for an extension belt, not making a big production. The thing that annoys me is that the stupid belts on the plane miss by about 1/2 an inch so I have to rise with all these buckles one on top of another, its rather comical sometimes.

 

[conntom]

That would be a big yes if you fly on southwest and you are
larg you must buy two seats.But if the Plane is not full the air
line may give you some money back? You can go to Southwest
airline on the PC and you can read all about it. Iam a very larg
man I have been buying two seats for years I don't like the price
of two seat but I do like that know one is next to me that way
I don't bother other people.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

It looks like they still have this rule in effect and after reading it, it sure seems very fair.

http://www.southwestair.com/about_swa/press/additional_seat.html

 

[Threehearts]

I guess that if a person were to "occupy" a second seat then this would be fair. I still think that it may difficult for a heavy person to anticipate. After reading Southwest's explanation, it does sound like they are trying to be very sensitive about the issue. Thanks Gail, for the source info..

Susan

 

[Gillian]

If you are concerned about not getting on the plane, I'd go for the 2 seats. I know it's expensive & it doesn't seem necessary if you get to the airport early & can sit with DH, but it's peace of mind. Plus you'll have an extra seat to spread out in!

Just a question. On SW, if you have paid for 3 seats, would it be a problem to keep the 3rd one open? I realize you can always say someone's sitting there, but I wonder how many people would ask if it's free? I've never flown SW & only have a vague idea of how it works in real life.

A friend of mine just flew them last week. I'll ask her if the flight was full & if anyone said anything. I have a feeling it wasn't enforced at all, because she didn't mention having to get 2 seats.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Just a question. On SW, if you have paid for 3 seats, would it be a problem to keep the 3rd one open? I realize you can always say someone's sitting there, but I wonder how many people would ask if it's free? I've never flown SW & only have a vague idea of how it works in real life.

I doubt it would be a problem holding the seats you paid for.
It works quite well in "real life". And, yes, it is still enforced IF the plane is full.

And, just an FYI, it is not unique to SWA. All airlines have the "occupy more than one seat and you pay for it" rule.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Threehearts
I guess that if a person were to "occupy" a second seat then this would be fair. I still think that it may difficult for a heavy person to anticipate. After reading Southwest's explanation, it does sound like they are trying to be very sensitive about the issue. Thanks Gail, for the source info..

Susan

You are more than welcome, Susan.

It is easy to anticipate. If your bottom exceeds 30" in a confined space, then you will probably need an extra seat.
I think SWA is being wonderful about the entire issue, they certainly got a lot of heat when they chose to enforce a rule most airlines have. After having flown "cheek to cheek" with someone I did not know, I applaud the move.

 

[Gillian]

What I was referring to is the open seating policy, not the requiring 2 seats policy. That's the part I've never had to deal with, except on the train, and wasn't sure how it really works. Do people fight ever? I've read about it enough here, and have friends who have flown SW, but find it hard to imagine.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Gillian
What I was referring to is the open seating policy, not the requiring 2 seats policy. That's the part I've never had to deal with, except on the train, and wasn't sure how it really works. Do people fight ever? I've read about it enough here, and have friends who have flown SW, but find it hard to imagine.

I have yet to see than happen, they seem pretty reasonable.
I have seen mothers get a little touchy cause someone would not leave their s/o, dh, dw, to give up their seat so they could sit with their child, but that was about all. A fight would get you ejected from the plane, hopefully, people are smarter than that.

 

[TreeOfLife]

I guess the airlines figure it is cheaper for them to charge a second seat than deal with the reimbursements and complaints of the passenger next to a person who did not fit in the seat. I don't think it should be taken personally by anyone involved, it is a procedure meant to avoid potential problems.

I'd say it is best for people in that situation to buy two tickets originally rather than go through the humiliation at the counter of being forced to or not take the trip at all. Then hope that the plane is empty enough to get you a refund.

 

[kitnrose]

Gillian (and anyone else who's curious ): In my experience with SWA, the chose-your-own-seat thing ALWAYS works better than the alternative. Of course, most of those flights have been only half-full so separation is never an issue. But even with fuller flights there's no trouble. As with other airlines, parents with small children board first and families with slightly older children know enough to check in early to get in the first or second boarding group. That's how they do it, you get assigned a 'group' by when you come (first 30 in group A, second in group B...) so they can sit together. I'm sure that if both these failed then with the help of the flight attendents they'd find a way to sit at least parts of the family together. Then moving onto Simba saving a seat if needed... the seat she'd be saving would almost certainly be a middle which are of course the last to go. And as a flyer I'd probably not go for the middle seat next to a 'fluffier' person if there's really another availible. No offense to the many people in the world that airline seats weren't designed for... heck, I'm small for my age and I still find many of those seats too tight! But for that exact reason I'd go for a seat between smaller people. Even if they aren't half a cool as Simba.