southwest airlines customers of size

[Princess Patti]

Has anyone had any experience with Southwest's Customer of Size program wherein you are required to buy two seat if you cannot put the arm rests down between the seats. I am traveling with some big "boys" and this is concerning me. I was told that the ticket agent approaches people and suggests that they purchase the extra seat. I was also told that they would refund my ticket if I was unhappy with this policy. They told me that they did not want anyone flying with them that really did not want to.

My concern is that the seat is 17" (the size of a computer keyboard)

Please advise. Thanks.

 

[Peace Mickey Lovers]

I have flown Southwest and I am a pretty big person and have never been approached to buy a second seat. Good Luck.

 

[WDWorBUST]

I think so much of this policy depends on an agent. I flew with a friend that is on the larger side and she did not have a problem. My thoughts (and hers) are that if she is traveling with another party and they are comfortable beside one another why should you have to buy an extra seat. If the person that would not be considered "of size" is in the middle then why is there a problem?? She did need a seatbelt extender and just asked a flight attendant for one quietly and her request was granted with no problems and very quietly so as not to embarass her. They did have to move seats because the seats they first chose were not allowed to have extenders for some reason (I don't remember why) but again even that was handled fairly discreetly. However I have read horror stories of people who have been mistreated because of the policy - well I guess not because of the policy but SW trying to enforce the policy - I don't doubt them....but I have always had such a good experience with Southwest that I think those types of incidents are few and far between.

 

[kmmum]

Hi there..

We are flying with them in Dec and that thought is in my head every day!!.. I have been going to the gym, and trying to diet.. just because I don't want to be asked to purchase another seat. I am sitting here looking at the keyboard and thinking.. never..lol.. So I am just praying everything goes okay.. when we go.. I have flown with other airline and have never had a problem.. so hopefully this goes the same way!!!.. Enjoy your trip.. Sarah

 

[Princess Patti]

Thank you for all of the words of encouragement. I personally never have flown on Southwest, and I must say, this will probably be the last time. They were quite insulting on the phone about the policy. I really just want to avod any embarassment whatsover. Now that I am looking at the computer keyboard I too am concerned. How can anyone fit in that are or space. They told me that they fly Boeing 737 and that the seats are the same on all of that type aircraft. If you read the Q&A it makes your very nervous.

http://southwest.com/travel_center/cos_qa.html

I guess we all need the gym.

 

[Princess Patti]

I was also told that all airlines have this policy and I am researching this and finding it not to be true.

h mmmmm .....

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

I am a very large person and I was very concerned about this policy when we flew in June. At first I wasn't because I knew my 5 year old would be sitting next to me and then I started reading their website and it said that they would not let the rights of any passenger (even children) be infringed on. So I called Customer Service and they were very nice and said that if needed an extra ticket could be purchased that day.

I was lucky and had no problems. I was able to get the arm rest down between me and my daughter which is supposedly THE TEST. Anyway, going down the seats were roomier and I did not need an extender, but coming home I did need an extender.

I did read some threads on here though where people have been given a hard time before even boarding. The one person posted that they had no problem going down, but on their way back they were forced to purchase the extra ticket. The Southwest employee was also not very discreet about the whole thing and really embarassed the person.

I would have been horrified if something like that happened to me. I personally would rather have already had the 2nd ticket in place. Even buying a 2nd ticket for me, Southwest still has the best rates to Orlando from here. If we had to buy 2 tickets for my whole family though, that would be a different story. My 5 year old does not want to fly anymore though, so I doubt if we will be flying.

Good luck with your dilema.

Lisa

 

[disneygoof]

I think there was a story on the Today Show about this yesterday. You might check their website. I only caught the end of it, but there was a woman who had a ticket with SWA and was seated with the armrest down when approached by a flight attendant who said she had to purchase a second seat. She wondered whether race was a factor. They insisted and she refused, and when she deboarded, there were two very embarassed and aplogetic police officers waiting for her who helped her secure a discounted first class flight on United. She's suing.

 

[SandrA9810]

kmmum : At least you'll be ready for your next journey through disney world...
I might be skinny, but I still get worn out after one day at the parks. We used to rush to see everything and do everything, but now I have the mindset of "we're coming back in a month, we can do what we missed next time". Although I don't know what we're gonna do come December when we HAVE to see everything for Christmas in just three days.

 

[Julia M]

Well, it also seems that common sense should play a role. If you are traveling with family, and are kind of over the seat boundaries with someone you know, that should be okay (as long as you can be buckled in safely)

On the other hand, if you're sitting next to someone else, and the plane is packed......I can see the rationale. I shouldn't have to have my limited space compromised by someone I don't know.

Julia

 

[Princess Patti]

Now, I have further begun to wonder, how big is big? Is it a certain weight. I realize that there are some issues with weight and some with shoulder size, but who is to determine. I guess they look at you and kind of profile what they believe to be true. As for traveling next to you family member they told me that was not allowed becuase you are infriging on that person even if they are your child and they have the right to a comfortable ride. Customer Service at Southwest told me that she has travelled with many "big" people next to her and it was torture.

What a shame this is. I have never encountered this on other airlines. Does anyone know the site where people are telling their horror stories. I work with ADA and am very interested in this treatment.

Thanks to all.

 

[tlbwriter]

Now, I have further begun to wonder, how big is big? Is it a certain weight.

I don't think they could go by weight. A short person will be more "fluffy" than a tall or muscular person at the same weight. Seems like they'd have to go by width.

 

[Princess Patti]

I guess so, it is each body with all variables. I guess you either fit or don't fit.

 

[staci]

Yeah, I read another very long thread about this.

Apparently there is no magic 'weight number', but rather, they use the armrests as guides. If you fit in between the armrests, your good to go. If not, you may be asked to purchase the additional seat. We just flew southwest this week, and while I am not skinny, I am well within the armrests, as well as the rest of my family. But we had two rather full planes, and I saw no flight attendants walking around measuring people or anything I know that is the picture that went through my head the first time I heard this policy! So if anyone was approached on my flight (and I dont think they were) it was done very discreetly, as I am a kinda nosy person when I get bored so I tend to pay attention to the people around me!

On the flight down actually, there was a bigger guy (not overweight really, think football player shoulders) who sat down next to my dad in the row in front of us. Because of his shoulder width primarily, my dad was leaning over slightly into my mom's seat. So since there were seats in the back of the plane, they just got up and went back there. I never saw any agents approach this man about his size, and he sat right in front of us alone the whole flight.

 

[Zoesmama03]

I was so worried about that when I flew in September. They said no word to me and I'm pretty large around 290 blah!!! I could get the arm rest down and supposedly this is the only way they can force you to pay. I left if up though because it was more comfortable. I also had my dd in her carseat in the window seat. Nobody sat in the 3rd even though they told me it was a full flight when they asked if I was checking her seat and said "no". They were just checking that I had purchased her seat.

 

[Princess Patti]

thanks for all of your thoughts ...

 

[Pinnie]

One issue that needs to be brought up is that SWA has open seating and there is NO guarantee that you will be able to sit next to your family member. You may end up sitting next to someone ELSE who doesn't want their seat space infringed upon. Remember your rights end at MY seat!

pinnie

 

[Shasta]

In my case, I bought an extra seat when traveling with my DW and DD. I stayed up late to get first seating (now you can do it anytime 24 hours prior)

When I got there, she told me I didn't need the ticket. I'm a male and weigh 315 and am 5'10". I am shaped like a tree truck, meaning that I am as wide at my shoulders as I am at my hips.

It's going to be a judgement call at the gate and in my opinion, if you are flying with family and can get first gate choice (can't remember the proper term), you are going to be fine. If you are flying solo and will be by another person, they are more likely to make you use the second seat.

By the way, I was refunded the cost of the extra seat.

 

[JustAshe]

I tell you, that program Airline is enough reason for me to be afraid to fly Southwest. lol

I prefer Delta. I'm a big gal, and I've never had an issue with them.

 

[RCBlackburn]

We lived in Maryland for three years and my parents came to visit often. My dad always had two seats because he is a big guy. The nice thing about SW is that if you buy the two seats and then the flight is not full, you can file a report with SW and get the price of the second seat refunded. This all has to be done after the flight has occurred, but was always nice for us to know that he wouldn't have to pay for the second seat.

Since you're going to Orlando, my guess is that the flights will be full - but if you can sit between the two armrests and get the seatbelt on (even with the extender) you should be fine. All airplanes are different - I don't care what they say - I carry a seat belt extender with me on all trips - sometimes I need it and it sometimes I don't - but the flight attendants are always very discreet when I need to borrow one - just mention it as you're getting on the plane to the attendant in the first class cabin and they'll be sure you get one. If all else fails, nab the one they use for the safety demonstration after they're finished with it.

Happy traveling!