Southwest Airlines for the fluffy....

[cuterlt]

I can't find anything very clear on the Southwest website, and have done some searches on the internet and can't really find anything helpful.

Does anyone know anyone who has been forced to buy two seats, or has been forced to buy two seats? What is the guideline, if there is one? Is it weight or width or something else?

Thanks!

 

[Beth76]

On an episode of Airline (the show that follows around SW) they had a large man booked for a flight. They told him that if he couldn't put the arm rest down on his seat that he would have to buy another ticket. He ended up having to buy another ticket.

 

[LadyyRedd]

This is directly from Southwest's website:

What is the definitive gauge for a Customer of size?
The armrest is the definitive gauge, as it serves as the boundary between seats. Customers who are unable to lower the armrests (the definitive boundary between seats) and/or who compromise any portion of adjacent seating should proactively book the number of seats needed during initial reservations.

I am a large person and use a seatbelt extension, but I fit in one aircraft seat. Do I have to purchase two seats?
Our policy does not focus on weight, and the seatbelt extension is not the determining factor. We use the ability to lower the armrests as the gauge, as the armrests are truly the definitive boundary between each seat.

Are all overweight people subject to the policy?
Many Americans are "overweight" or "clinically obese." A number of overweight or obese people occupy only one seat. In fact, many Customers may use a seatbelt extension but occupy only one seat, and these Customers would not be asked to reserve a second seat. If a Customer cannot lower the armrest (and is unable to comfortably travel with it in the down position), he/she is required to pay for the additional seat occupied. Again, we will offer a refund if the flight does not oversell.

Kimya

 

[lowie]

i think i read somewhere that an average airplane seat is 18" wide. i know my behind is wider than that! i just did a google search on 'how wide is an airplane seat' and i think i was right, about 17-20 inches.

 

[Sherri]

My brother in law is very large and only required one seat but that may because he was sitting next to his wife and it didn't matter if he spilled into some of her space. Personally, I think if seats can't accomadate everyone, then the airline should give the passanger the extra seat and not make them purchase it.

 

[RNMOM]

Here is a site that discusses all the planes and the seat sizes. I found it helpful. I simply always buy an extra seat to avoid the embarrassment and they DH and I book the three seats accross and are very comfortable.

 

[MushyMushy]

RNMOM, you forgot the link.

Here's a thread where I talked about my experience with the CoS policy: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1139441

 

[janette]

One of my BiL's is a big guy. His preferred airline is Southwest. He buys 2 seats but if the plane isn't full they will reimburse him for the 2nd seat. He almost always is reimbursed. He is also allowed to pre-board so he's ensured 2 seats together. It makes his flight more comfortable to have the 2 seats and he finds their policies to be consistent.

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

Here is a site that discusses all the planes and the seat sizes. I found it helpful. I simply always buy an extra seat to avoid the embarrassment and they DH and I book the three seats accross and are very comfortable.

I'm curious as to how this works. When you buy the extra seat, don't they require you to give a name? Do you just use your name twice?

 

[SandraVB79]

Personally, I think if seats can't accomadate everyone, then the airline should give the passanger the extra seat and not make them purchase it.

Sure, they can always make the seats twice as wide, and have prices twice as high. Honestly, I wouldn't like that at all, because I perfectly fit in one seat. The problem I have is with leg room, and because of that I try to get economy plus.
Maybe airlines could have the economy plus for more leg room and a fluffy economy (sorry, I don't feel very creative today to come up with a better name) where the seats are wider. Same principle, other configuration.

 

[ducklite]

My brother in law is very large and only required one seat but that may because he was sitting next to his wife and it didn't matter if he spilled into some of her space. Personally, I think if seats can't accomadate everyone, then the airline should give the passanger the extra seat and not make them purchase it.

Why? MOST passengers who need two seats are perfectly able to lose the weight to fit into one--they make a choice, consciously or unconsciously not to do so. For every free seat given, the carrier loses revenue. For every dollar lost, they make it up with higher fares to other passengers. Frankly I don't like the idea of subsidizing someone's obesity. Not at all. That's not a flame against obese people. I think most people who are obese realize they are, and deal with a lot of things because of it--discrimination in employment being a prime example. But there's a big difference between someone not getting a job because of their weight, and someone causing a direct economic burden to others because of their weight. There's a big difference between someone who was born blind at birth who needs a seat with extra legroom to accomodate their service animal, and someone who has slowly packed on 100 extra pounds over the years who feels that they should get an extra seat for free.

And by the way, because SW doesn't guarantee seats next to traveling companions, the concept of using some of their seat doesn't work with them. While it's probable that they will be seated together, if they end up with "C" passes or arriving at the airport late due to a traffic problem, and they are not able to get seated together, your BIL could be required to deplane if the flight is full and he can not fit into his seats with the arms down.

With the ridiculously low prices of advance purchase airfare, it's foolish for anyone needing more than 17" to accomodate their torso's to not buy a second seat in advance. If they are forced to buy one at the gate it will be at full price.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Sure, they can always make the seats twice as wide, and have prices twice as high. Honestly, I wouldn't like that at all, because I perfectly fit in one seat. The problem I have is with leg room, and because of that I try to get economy plus.
Maybe airlines could have the economy plus for more leg room and a fluffy economy (sorry, I don't feel very creative today to come up with a better name) where the seats are wider. Same principle, other configuration.

They already have wider seats, it's called first class.

In all seriousness, what happens if someone who doesn't need the extra space, would jsut like it for a few dollars more grabs up all the "Fluffy economy" seats. Then those who "need" them complain. Will the carriers then discriminate against the average size people who paid for those seats and force them to relinquish them? How will they know until people get to the airport? For the price of economy seats bought in advance at a large discount, there's no reason a person can't simply purcahse two seats for themself. I'm seeing SW fares at under $120 r/t when purchased in advance from a lot of markets. At $240, that's still a bargain for two seats.

Anne

 

[MushyMushy]

I'm curious as to how this works. When you buy the extra seat, don't they require you to give a name? Do you just use your name twice?

With SWA, you give two versions of your name -- Jane Smith, and J. Smith. Then if you try to print your boarding passes online, the J. Smith won't be able to, so you go to the airline counter to get the boarding pass printed there, plus they'll give you a pre-boarding pass.

 

[MushyMushy]

They already have wider seats, it's called first class.

In all seriousness, what happens if someone who doesn't need the extra space, would jsut like it for a few dollars more grabs up all the "Fluffy economy" seats. Then those who "need" them complain. Will the carriers then discriminate against the average size people who paid for those seats and force them to relinquish them? How will they know until people get to the airport? For the price of economy seats bought in advance at a large discount, there's no reason a person can't simply purcahse two seats for themself. I'm seeing SW fares at under $120 r/t when purchased in advance from a lot of markets. At $240, that's still a bargain for two seats.

Anne

I totally agree. Even for as many overweight people as there are in our country, there are still few enough who have trouble fitting into seats to be able to justify widening them all.