Southwest Airlines and overweight passenger policy

[Mama Mouse]

The FJ thread over on the Universal forum got me thinking about this. I am plus sized and I know this is the airline which has had the most "drama" regarding this issue.

The thing is, their website guidelines are excruciatingly vague! How the heck am I supposed to know if they don't have set guidelines?

Would really love to hear from anyone else who is pooh sized and flown southwest.

FFIW, I'm usually a size 22 pant.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Actually, Southwest has an entire, very clear page regarding Customers of Size. They can't be specific because each person is built different, but you can go to seatguru.com to get information about the actual seat size.

The "drama" is general self-induced, or based on misunderstanding. If you're referring to the show "Airline", remember those people all agreed to appear on the show - even the Customers of size. If you're referring to Kevin what's-his-name recently, well, my understanding is he purchased two seats as required, then Southwest let him fly standby on an earlier flight where there was only one seat available - thereby misinterpreting their own policy.

Easiest solution: If you are concerned that you may not be able to fit completely in a single seat with the armrests down and not flow over into an adjacent seat, purchase two seats now. If there are any empty seats on your flight (or flights, if not nonstop), Southwest will refund the cost of your extra ticket.

 

[Mama Mouse]

I actually hadn't heard of any of those things. Just knew that Southwest had had a lot of press with stuff related to this issue.

I'll read seatguru. Thanks for the tip. However, I'm not going to waste my money on a second seat if I don't need one. And since I have no clue whatsoever what their seats are like, I thought it would be good to hear from other larger people and maybe even know their size to see how I compare and what to expect.

 

[Mama Mouse]

I've read the Southwest page several times. It's not very helpful. I get the 17 inches but 17 inches WHERE? Are the arm rests on either side, low by my butt? Or by my waist? Even knowing this could help.

 

[Leash]

I've read the Southwest page several times. It's not very helpful. I get the 17 inches but 17 inches WHERE? Are the arm rests on either side, low by my butt? Or by my waist? Even knowing this could help.

I just flew Southwest last month so I'll try to give you some insight. I wear about 18/20 and I fit in the seat though I could feel the armrests on my hips but I was not "spilling over" into the other seat. The armrests were right on my hips while sitting down, so I guess really right at the widest part when sitting, I'm 5'6".

I think it also will matter where you carry your weight, all in the top or bottom or fairly evenly distributed.

Hope that helps.

 

[seashoreCM]

I get the 17 inches but 17 inches WHERE? Are the arm rests on either side, low by my butt? Or by my waist?

It's 17 inches everywhere. If you push on someone else* then you are a candidate for the special overweight passenger policy.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

* A more rigorous definition requires a Ph.D. in math i.e. refers to something called a rectangular solid.

 

[DebbieB]

I've read the Southwest page several times. It's not very helpful. I get the 17 inches but 17 inches WHERE? Are the arm rests on either side, low by my butt? Or by my waist? Even knowing this could help.

The seat cushion is 17" across.

Are you traveling alone? If you are traveling with someone else, I would get early bird check-in, you'll be likely to get a window or aisle seat and a traveling companion can sit in the middle with the arm rest up and you will not have to worry about encroaching on a stranger.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The armrests end up at about waist level. Spillover could be above the armrests or below them, depending on the individual passenger's body composition. Because we are all three-dimensional, it can't be determined in advance which, if any, passengers will need two seats. Southwest's Customer of Size document seems very clear to me on this.

The decision to purchase two seats in advance is entirely up to the passenger, based on the guidelines and information provides by Southwest along with any information one can garner online. As indicated above - if the passenger opts to purchase two seats and there is even one unsold seat on their complete itinerary, Southwest will refund the second ticket after the flight. Instructions are available on the website.

Alternately, the passenger could purchase a single ticket. If, on arrival at the airport, the Gate Agent determines that the passenger may not or will not fit completely in a single seat with the armrests down, they will ask the passenger to preboard and will test the ability to fly fully in a single seat. If the passenger can fit in the one seat with the armrests down and not 'overflow' into an adjacent seat or the aisle, no harm no foul - AND the passenger has preboarded.

If, on the other hand, it's determined the passenger needs a second seat, they will be required to purchase one. If there isn't an additional seat available on that flight, I forget what the exact restriction is - whether someone else would be bumped, or if the Passenger of Size will have to take a later flight.

 

[kaytieeldr]

and a traveling companion can sit in the middle with the arm rest up and you will not have to worry about encroaching on a stranger

That actually doesn't matter to Southwest. They feel each passenger is entitled to one (and only one) complete seat, and don't care that a passenger would be infringing on a traveling companion's seat.

 

[Mama Mouse]

Thanks all. The information is helpful. I get that they can't be too specific. I guess it's just been so long since I've flown I don't really have a frame of reference. Still not sure what I'm going to do but I'm putting some thought into it. I've measured at my widest point and I do fit within the 17 inch parameters but I still worry.

ETA: I also just measured a couple chairs in my house and my kitchen chairs are exactly 17 inches across at their widest point. However, no arm rests so who knows.

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks all. The information is helpful. I get that they can't be too specific. I guess it's just been so long since I've flown I don't really have a frame of reference. Still not sure what I'm going to do but I'm putting some thought into it. I've measured at my widest point and I do fit within the 17 inch parameters but I still worry.

ETA: I also just measured a couple chairs in my house and my kitchen chairs are exactly 17 inches across at their widest point. However, no arm rests so who knows.

I think you will be OK, I've seen people alot larger than size 22 in one seat. I mentioned the traveling companion because you will not have to worry about them complaining or insisting that the arm rest be down.

 

[Mama Mouse]

I think you will be OK, I've seen people alot larger than size 22 in one seat. I mentioned the traveling companion because you will not have to worry about them complaining or insisting that the arm rest be down.

I'm travelling with my Mom and my 7 year old. The ironic thing is that my twiggy little 7 year old will probably spend most of the time encroaching into *my* seat.

 

[mdurette]

If you are traveling with someone else - do what the previous poster said. Pay the $10 for Early Boarding to ensure you sit with your travel mates. It will only become an issue of THEY complain.

 

[bumbershoot]

That actually doesn't matter to Southwest. They feel each passenger is entitled to one (and only one) complete seat, and don't care that a passenger would be infringing on a traveling companion's seat.

But they will really only notice if someone makes a stink. Like I firmly believe (Hollywood writer/director) Kevin Smith did.

DH is a big guy, and he's never had a problem, not even when he needed the seatbelt extenders. And that's not just when he's traveling with us, but with total strangers as well. He will contort himself like a pretzel so as not to mash up against anyone else, which maybe makes him different from many (*cough* Kevin Smith *cough*, or so I assume), but still...


DH doesn't worry about any of this. And he's bigger than the equivalent of a size 22 woman, and he carries weight everywhere, so it's not like he's a twig man with a big belly...but he doesn't worry about this stuff. The ONLY problem he's ever had was when he was seated in the exit row, needed an extender, and the snooty snotty Air Jazz puddle jumper flight attendant was a jerk to him (without ever actually *explaining* that you can't have a belt extender while in the exit row), but even then he wasn't told to get a second seat. He was simply moved from the exit row.

The ironic thing is that my twiggy little 7 year old will probably spend most of the time encroaching into *my* seat.

Good point!

 

[ILoveMyGirls]

I'm in a size 20 and we always fly Southwest. They have never given me any trouble about my weight. I hope you don't run in to any trouble.

 

[Missyma919]

I flew SW twice with my dad. He is a big guy. All he did was ask for a seat belt extender as we loaded the plane. Each time it was brought discreetly with a friendly face. No big deal at all.
Have Fun!

 

[goff1029]

I flew with my husband on Southwest a few months ago. We purchased the Early Bird check in. I sat by the window and he sat in the middle. I am a solid size 22 and I carry my weight in my hips (I'm an 18 on top). Before I sat down I pulled the seatbelt all the way out. I did not need an extender, but I didn't have any room to spare either. The armrests did dig in to the top of my hips a little, but fortunately I was able to raise it since it was my husband seated next to me. I was seated in a row with three seats. My husband is 5'11 and weighs about 230 and the woman on the other side of him - I'm guessing she was about a size 24/26. We were all tightly squeezed together and my husband did tell me that she was halfway in his seat, but we all made the best of it! Good Luck!

 

[Mama Mouse]

Thanks for the info everyone. It helps me feel a lot better. Still working my hiney off (hopefully literally!) so hopefully I'll be even less nervous by the end of July.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

I fit in the SW seat just fine! My sister is bigger and has to get a seatbelt extender, and they happily give it to her. Of course when she flies she is with me and my familly, so it is her at the window, a small child in the middle and me on the aisle, so they say nothing as far as her not quite fitting in the seat. If she were to be alone, on a full flight and people that were sitting next to her complained, then there might be issues.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

I just flew SW this past weekend and I was on the aisle...I too bring the seatbelt all the way out, with no room to spare. The lady at the window had an extender..would say she was a size 26 and we had a completely full flight. We ended up with a medium build man in between us. He was super nice, talked to me for the first half of the flight and then fell asleep on me....LOL! We were all three nice and cozy together! But all was well. Sure, we could ahve gotten a jerk that was stuck with us, and who knows what would have happened, but not a big deal.