SW extra seat q's

[FairestOfThemAll37]

From what I read on the policy, they give you a "seat reserved" sign that you place on the seat next to you. I'd think most people wouldn't bother to ask about it.

 

[angwill]

I did see a story of a woman who was forced to buy a second ticket due to her size. She had to jump through hoops to come up with the money and then the flight sold out and they made her give up the second seat she bought to someone who was on standby. There was a lot of controversy about it all. I do think these stories are few and rarely happen.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I did see a story of a woman who was forced to buy a second ticket due to her size. She had to jump through hoops to come up with the money and then the flight sold out and they made her give up the second seat she bought to someone who was on standby. There was a lot of controversy about it all. I do think these stories are few and rarely happen.

The policy has since changed, they no longer require anybody to purchase a 2nd seat at the airport. If it's deemed that a 2nd seat is needed then they are given one.

Also, they do let one other person preboard with you! If you have more than two people though I would suggest not booking together because you can't checkin and get seating assignments 24 hours in advance with the extra seat, you must check in at the terminal. Hope that helps.

I'm guessing you mean boarding number since SW never has seat assignments.

This makes me really nervous as I'm the one planning the trip. From what I understand (I'm a researcher lol) SW policy is that when a plane is oversold they first ask for volunteers then if that fails, last to check-in gets bumped. If the person getting the extra seat can't check in until they arrive at the airport, I would think they have a likely chance of being last checked in. Most people for SW check in online well in advance of the flight. I'd hate to have our one party member miss a night of vacation as we're on the last flight out.

 

[princess barbara]

Just fyi, last April, I flew to WDW on Southwest, had EBCI and requested a seat belt extender when ZI boarded. There were none left and I even asked a second attendant. My husband helped me squish my seat belt on and I ended up with lovely bruising after the 3 hour flight. When the attendants made their sweep through the cabin at takeoff and landing, they avoided looking at me as they couldn't tell if I was buckled in or not. Talk about embarrassing...

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Just fyi, last April, I flew to WDW on Southwest, had EBCI and requested a seat belt extender when ZI boarded. There were none left and I even asked a second attendant. My husband helped me squish my seat belt on and I ended up with lovely bruising after the 3 hour flight. When the attendants made their sweep through the cabin at takeoff and landing, they avoided looking at me as they couldn't tell if I was buckled in or not. Talk about embarrassing...

I'm so sorry! That's awful. Luckily nobody in our party needs an extender.

Ugh, after hearing so many stories and all the inconveniences, I think we may draw straws and squish lol.

 

[jls886]

This makes me really nervous as I'm the one planning the trip. From what I understand (I'm a researcher lol) SW policy is that when a plane is oversold they first ask for volunteers then if that fails, last to check-in gets bumped. If the person getting the extra seat can't check in until they arrive at the airport, I would think they have a likely chance of being last checked in. Most people for SW check in online well in advance of the flight. I'd hate to have our one party member miss a night of vacation as we're on the last flight out.

As a longtime SW flier, and a weekly SW flier for two years, I'll just confirm that this is true. I have seen more than one irate person at the SW counter - last to check-in and bumped from the flight. It doesn't happen often at all, but it does happen. I think I saw it twice in the two years I was flying weekly, and as I'm thinking about it I think both may have been around holidays. Normally, people are quick to jump off the flight and give up their set (myself included, I can't tell you how many times I volunteered) because the perks you receive from SW are fantastic.

 

[sookie]

Wow I don't like that!! why should everyone absorb the cost of someone needing 2 seats? That's crazy. You should pay for what you use. Talk about discrimination.

I've been a big girl in the past, even though I am much smaller now. I never had to get an extra seat BUT knowing how it is to be obese...

An obese person does not want to encroach on the space of others. They worry about it. Smaller people feel the same way. This policy makes it easier on everyone.

Now that I am smaller, I was stuck middle seat between two large men. It was very uncomfortable as they were obviously encroaching on my seat and both needed extenders. This was on Delta, and I even asked if maybe another seat was available - nope, none. I had to stay in my assigned seat. It was a horrid flight - I felt like I smelled like both dudes by the time I got off. Was that their fault? No, it wasn't their fault that two big men were assigned seats next to a smaller passenger. But it would have made life easier if a seat had been sold to at least one of them. It would have caused the flight to not be as full (and I might have been placed elsewhere).

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I've been a big girl in the past, even though I am much smaller now. I never had to get an extra seat BUT knowing how it is to be obese...

An obese person does not want to encroach on the space of others. They worry about it. Smaller people feel the same way. This policy makes it easier on everyone.

Now that I am smaller, I was stuck middle seat between two large men. It was very uncomfortable as they were obviously encroaching on my seat and both needed extenders. This was on Delta, and I even asked if maybe another seat was available - nope, none. I had to stay in my assigned seat. It was a horrid flight - I felt like I smelled like both dudes by the time I got off. Was that their fault? No, it wasn't their fault that two big men were assigned seats next to a smaller passenger. But it would have made life easier if a seat had been sold to at least one of them. It would have caused the flight to not be as full (and I might have been placed elsewhere).

I understand what Hannathy is saying.
Why shouldnt I be able to buy an extra seat so no one sits next to me so Im comfortable during my flight?

It would be great to not have a stranger sit next to DH and I. We could stretch out and not have an issue.

But we cant because we're thin and fit into our seat? How fair is that?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Southwest's Customer of Size policy is for the comfort of the other passengers - not for the C.o.S.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I understand what Hannathy is saying. Why shouldnt I be able to buy an extra seat so no one sits next to me so Im comfortable during my flight? It would be great to not have a stranger sit next to DH and I. We could stretch out and not have an issue. But we cant because we're thin and fit into our seat? How fair is that?

Actually it is very fair. You and I and anybody else who can fit into a single seat gets that with their ticket. Those who do not fit in one seat get the amount of space needed for their body for their ticket.

It's not so they can stretch out and, sadly, not even for their comfort at all. It's actually for other people as it's quite common for complaints against having to sit next to somebody they feel doesn't fit in a single seat.

And you can but an extra ticket as far as I know. You just won't get reimbursed for it as you don't need it.

 

[Hannathy]

Actually it is very fair. You and I and anybody else who can fit into a single seat gets that with their ticket. Those who do not fit in one seat get the amount of space needed for their body for their ticket.

It's not so they can stretch out and, sadly, not even for their comfort at all. It's actually for other people as it's quite common for complaints against having to sit next to somebody they feel doesn't fit in a single seat.

And you can but an extra ticket as far as I know. You just won't get reimbursed for it as you don't need it.

but you are getting twice as much for your money? the airline figures the price per seat based on how many seats are on the plane and what they have to make. if they are giving free seats away then everyone else will pay for it when they have to raise the price, except for the person getting the free seat.

They have priced the flight per seat and if you need two then you should pay for two. if they are giving away free seats then everyone should be able to get them. otherwise it is reverse discrimination. you are discriminating against the people who fit in the seat.

The way it was before was much fairer to everyone. if you need two seats you paid for them and if the flight had empty seats you got it back but if they could sell it then you had to pay for it. Why should the airlines loose money? Or other passengers absorb the cost for another passenger.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Actually it is very fair. You and I and anybody else who can fit into a single seat gets that with their ticket. Those who do not fit in one seat get the amount of space needed for their body for their ticket.

It's not so they can stretch out and, sadly, not even for their comfort at all. It's actually for other people as it's quite common for complaints against having to sit next to somebody they feel doesn't fit in a single seat.

And you can but an extra ticket as far as I know. You just won't get reimbursed for it as you don't need it.

So if 1/2 the people on a flight feel the need to buy an extra seat so then in reality only 1/2 the plane is full with paying customers or are there only a certain amount of these seats that are sold?

If 1/2 the plane is getting money refunded and planes are flying 1/2 full how is this not getting passed on to me the consumer with higher fares?
Im sure it is.

 

[maxiesmom]

Actually it is very fair. You and I and anybody else who can fit into a single seat gets that with their ticket. Those who do not fit in one seat get the amount of space needed for their body for their ticket.

It's not so they can stretch out and, sadly, not even for their comfort at all. It's actually for other people as it's quite common for complaints against having to sit next to somebody they feel doesn't fit in a single seat.

And you can but an extra ticket as far as I know. You just won't get reimbursed for it as you don't need it.

Actually it is not fair at all. We each pay for a seat. We don't pay for the space we may need. The earlier policy was more fair, if you needed more than one seat you had to pay for more than once seat. I think Southwest just got tired of the hassle and caved.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Actually it is not fair at all. We each pay for a seat. We don't pay for the space we may need. The earlier policy was more fair, if you needed more than one seat you had to pay for more than once seat. I think Southwest just got tired of the hassle and caved.

Yes Southwest did cave, based on complaints not from larger people from from people who had to sit next to them. None of this is for the benefit of the ***, none of it. Yet everybody lining up to scream but they get something I don't. SW just decided that anybody who doesn't fit into the increasingly smaller 17" seat should get to fly safely with their ticket.

Also, on any given flight there are lots of "non-revenue" seats being occupied. I'm sure southwest did the math and it's their decision. So if you don't like it, fly another airline.

Ugh, I should have known that along with the advice I asked for there would be a ton of people screaming about that's not fair, make the fatties pay. This is exactly why the poor friend of mine that needs the seat, who introduced me to DIS, was too darn afraid to post for herself.

 

[JLKennedy]

Yes Southwest did cave, based on complaints not from larger people from from people who had to sit next to them. None of this is for the benefit of the ***, none of it. Yet everybody lining up to scream but they get something I don't. SW just decided that anybody who doesn't fit into the increasingly smaller 17" seat should get to fly safely with their ticket. Also, on any given flight there are lots of "non-revenue" seats being occupied. I'm sure southwest did the math and it's their decision. So if you don't like it, fly another airline. Ugh, I should have known that along with the advice I asked for there would be a ton of people screaming about that's not fair, make the fatties pay. This is exactly why the poor friend of mine that needs the seat, who introduced me to DIS, was too darn afraid to post for herself.

All this is going to do is cause a lot of people to get an extra seat for free. If my hip encroaches just 1" I'm good to go....I don't need to be obese just know how to sit to encroach and I'm guaranteed no one will sit next to me? Mental note for next flight.

 

[Bete]

I fit in the category of maybe I need an extra seat and maybe I don't. Anyway, we take a lot of car road trips as a family; so, I don't fly often to Orlando. For Orlando, Southwest would be our number one choice out of the choices we have for airlines.

I've been thinking about taking a trip and flying with a friend to Orlando. I, too don't want to be embarrassed about it. I've been seriously considering going to the airport and getting the scoop in person about the policy from Southwest and seeing for myself what's okay right at the airport. Hopefully, I could get some affidavit that would confirm it one way or the other. I would go as far as asking for a supervisor; so, I could get clearance ahead of time. I would get names and whatever else I could; so, on the day of the flight I could state what I did to avoid issues.

I won't say this will work or is a guarantee, but I'm willing to make this effort with the hope it will help me.

 

[maxiesmom]

Ugh, I should have known that along with the advice I asked for there would be a ton of people screaming about that's not fair, make the fatties pay. This is exactly why the poor friend of mine that needs the seat, who introduced me to DIS, was too darn afraid to post for herself.

No one is screaming "make the fatiies pay". On the other hand, is it fair that they get 2 seats for the price of 1? Nope. Airlines sell seats, they don't sell space. At least, most of them don't. It is no more fair for someone heavy to get an extra seat than it would be for my very tall brother in law to get an exit aisle seat for free, as he is squashed in anything else.

You should get what you pay for. Size shouldn't matter AT ALL.

 

[supersnoop]

No one is screaming "make the fatiies pay". On the other hand, is it fair that they get 2 seats for the price of 1? Nope. Airlines sell seats, they don't sell space. At least, most of them don't. It is no more fair for someone heavy to get an extra seat than it would be for my very tall brother in law to get an exit aisle seat for free, as he is squashed in anything else. You should get what you pay for. Size shouldn't matter AT ALL.

If you actually read an airline's contract of carriage, no, they don't sell seats. They sell the travel; getting you from one place to another. The ability to transport you from one place to another is based on how many seats they have on the plane, but they do have to account for some people being larger than others.

 

[angwill]

Actually it is not fair at all. We each pay for a seat. We don't pay for the space we may need. The earlier policy was more fair, if you needed more than one seat you had to pay for more than once seat. I think Southwest just got tired of the hassle and caved.

Actually, even before if you needed that extra seat they charged you and then when you got home you called the 800 number and they would credit you the cost of the seat. What they really did was made the rules clearer and less concerning for all involved. They had a bunch of people crying that they didn't want to sit next to people bigger than them so they made their rules. Then they had people afraid to fly with them questioning just what would qualify them as a POS. So they clarified the rules and made it very clear that you can get your money back after the flight so they didn't loose those who questioned if they would be considered POS. They did this to appease the smaller people so they wouldn't be turned off by flying SW and then they clarified the rule so POS wouldn't be turned off by the unknown. Sounds like a pretty good business idea to me. A company has the right to make and uphold any rules they choose to make. Just as you have the right to fly another carrier if you don't like their rules.

 

[Gracie09]

Actually it is very fair. You and I and anybody else who can fit into a single seat gets that with their ticket. Those who do not fit in one seat get the amount of space needed for their body for their ticket.

It's not so they can stretch out and, sadly, not even for their comfort at all. It's actually for other people as it's quite common for complaints against having to sit next to somebody they feel doesn't fit in a single seat.

And you can but an extra ticket as far as I know. You just won't get reimbursed for it as you don't need it.

My husband is very tall, with very long legs. He only can fit in bulk head or exit row seats (or in first or business class on other airlines). Southwest doesn't make accommodation for him to guarantee that he and the people around him are comfortable. We have to pay extra so he is in A 1-15 so he has the best chance at a seat he can fit in. If he can't find a seat, I feel bad for the person in front of him because his knees will literally be pressed up against their seat all flight and he will end up in pain. We pay for the space we use. Why is it fair that others don't have to?

Btw we don't fly sw unless it is absolutely the last choice because they are not so friendly to all "people of size".