Plus Sized passenges on SWA

[Shasta]

Well, because my trip next weekend is a 2 day trip without room for error, I just bought an extra seat for myself. The bad news is that I had to pay $289 for it instead of the great $96 each deal I got on my other tickets.

It's refundable and if they determine I don't need it, I can request a refund. I also can request a refund if the plane dosen't fill up. My fear is that they will see me holding two tickets and be more willing to make me use them both.

The SW employee was very, very nice. I hate ot have to do it but we fly out on Mother's day and that flight had only 11 seats left. It's only one flight a day too. It's flirting with disaster to not buy the extra ticket. Plus, I have been stessing about it 10 times a day. Now I can go back to being excited about our trip.

I'm on the right if anyone wants to make a guess as to if I'll need it. I won't be offended. Ha!

 

[weregoingtodw]

Wow... unless I'm *way* off, I can't imagine you needing two seats!

 

[PooohBear]

I agree with the previous poster in thinking you would not need an extra seat ! BUT if it gives you piece of mind to have the extra seat, then what's wrong with that ??!! At least you will have room to stretch out !! from what I noticed on our flights, it's usually the women who are a little large in the hips that needed an extra seat.... Have a wonderful trip !!!!

 

[indy4192]

Okay I learned the hard way back in Sept of 2005. I had purchased a round trip ticket on SWA from Indy to Vegas. On the flight out there was no problem, I boarded and flew with no problems. Yes the seat was tight but I made it okay. Then on my return I went through check in and was at the gate about 2 hours before the flight. At about 10 minutes to go till we boarded I was pulled aside by a SWA employee and "asked" if I wouldn't be more comfortable buying a second seat. I said no that I had flown out without problem and didn't see the need. He then stated again with more authority, REALLY WOULDN'T YOU BE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH A SECOND SEAT?. Again I said no, well he felt I would be and couldn't let me board without a second seat. We are now about 2-3 minutes till we board. I ask him what if I don't have the money (remember I had just spent a week in Vegas). He said then I needed to call someone and get a loan. I asked him if he was joking, he said no. He said the money would be refunded if the plane wasn't full. So given I needed to get home I shelled out another $160 (which I did get back 30 days later) and was given the "special flyer" sign and told to board with the handicapped.

Now I knew the policy before I bought the ticket, and have no problem with the policy. My problem is with enforcement. As I told the gentlemen in Vegas, that Indy didn't see a problem, because had they, I would have cancelled my flight and rebooked on another airline. I said they needed tocome up with a way to determine that wasn't subjective. I mean a young lady about as large as me boarded the same flight without having to buy the extra seat. So if you are large, try to find another airline.

 

[klmall]

I flew with my DH from BWI to MCO last year in April and he had no problems even though at the time he was a size 54. It was a bit of a squeeze for him and he needed an extender but no one asked him to buy a second ticket. The crew was very nice and polite when he requested his belt extender.

Later last year I flew out to Spokane and back with stops in Salt Lake, and Las Vegas and saw several 'passengers of size' on our jam-packed flights. None of them had empty seats beside them! One man was significantly larger than my husband and he sat with his wife and daughter in the row in front of me.

I think it must depend upon who is looking at the passengers checking in!

We saw more uproar over a family trying to check boxes of liquor for a wedding than passengers of size!

 

[airline2]

i can juast imagine the problems this will create when they go to assigned seating.

 

[Lewisc]

My question still stands, if it were to be mentioned, would they tell me at the gate or after I am seated?

Thank you,

Either. Generally they'll say something at the gate but if you don't fit in one seat the passenger next to you might complain. The only GA you have to have contact with is the person who scans your BP and they might not be looking at you. A few posters who were told after they boarded the aircraft.

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Southwest_Airlines/Southwest_Airlines_Boeing_737-300.php

Gives you some information. Can you easily fit in a normal movie theater seat? In a standard office chair? No guarantees but that's a good clue.

Needing a seat belt extendor doesn't mean you need a second seat but it certainly means you're close. Most people who purchase an extra seat wind up getting it refunded. As long as there is one empty seat on the plane SW will process a refund.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

They should tell you at the gate if they think you need an extra seat.

If you prefer the arm rest to be up and you are traveling solo, I don't think you can necessarily count on cooperation from the person next to you. If you haven't purchased two seats and someone decides to sit next to you and put it down, I think you will be stuck with that.

The arm rest must be DOWN for take off and landing. It's a safe bet anyway that a stranger won't want to travel next to someone with the armrest up anyway. Especially if the other PAX is bulging into their seat.

 

[seashoreCM]

The gate agent due to inattentiveness or distraction or otherwise might neglect to catch a person who is larger than one seat's space passing down the jetway but if this person disturbs let alone annoys let alone assaults the person next to him, attention may be called to the situation on the spot with numerous other people sitting within earshot.

The bad news is that I had to pay $289 for it instead of the great $96 each deal I got on my other tickets. ]

If you bought the second seat at the same time as the first seat you would have paid the lower fare that the first seat had.