Tall Husband flying SW

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I think that it depends on how you interpert the customer of size rule/reg.

Customers who encroach upon any part of the neighboring seat(s) should proactively book the needed number of seats prior to travel. The armrest is considered to be the definitive boundary between seats and measures 17 inches in width. The purchase of additional seats serves as a notification to Southwest of a special seating need. Most importantly, it ensures that all Customers onboard have access to safe and comfortable seating. You may contact us for a refund of the cost of additional seating after travel, provided the flight does not oversell (which means having more confirmed Customers than seats on the aircraft).
It could be argued that someone who is very tall, as in the case of the OP's spouse, that special seating is a valid need. I am going with Not Ursula on this one.

What? I have no personal stake in WN's customer of size policy, although I think it's clear by the language (no encroaching on neighboring seats, i.e., seats on either SIDE), that it refers to wide, not tall customers. It would be interesting to know if anyone tall has challenged WN's policy.

If you are tall, buying an extra seat to the side isn't going to help you very much. Sitting sideways isn't safe and armrests (FAA regulations) are supposed to be down for take-off and landing), so for part of the flight, you won't be sitting sideways anyway. You need to do your best to get an exit row seat or fly a different airline.

 

[gmeh1]

What? I have no personal stake in WN's customer of size policy, although I think it's clear by the language (no encroaching on neighboring seats, i.e., seats on either SIDE), that it refers to wide, not tall customers. It would be interesting to know if anyone tall has challenged WN's policy.

If you are tall, buying an extra seat to the side isn't going to help you very much. Sitting sideways isn't safe and armrests (FAA regulations) are supposed to be down for take-off and landing), so for part of the flight, you won't be sitting sideways anyway. You need to do your best to get an exit row seat or fly a different airline.

I realize you do not have a stake in WN's policy, but, I would imagine anyone can buy two seats for themselves if they so desire. I was going with the part that says buying two seats alerts WN that someone has a special seating need (paraphrased) and IMHO, being really tall indicates a special seating need. You are right the armrests do have to be down during take off and landing, but, I am unsure if flying while sitting sideways is dangerous/unsafe, what about the people that are leaning on others or lying down? I would think the only time sitting sideways is dangerous /unsafeis if you are the pilot. You would only not be sitting sideways for very short parts of the flight, hardly worth mentioning. I don't know of many airlines that would be comfortable for anyone that height, if you do, please, inform.

 

[jdb35633]

Thanks to all who replied - I did not mean to start a "size" debate, was just trying to get an idea of his comfort level. I drove a Honda Accord for a while so he can "squish" into smaller spaces. For those that suggested another airline, for a 90 minute flight I could not pass up Southwest's prices - if it was a longer trip I would have checked other airlines. Thanks again for the help!!

 

[deegack]

I realize you do not have a stake in WN's policy, but, I would imagine anyone can buy two seats for themselves if they so desire. I was going with the part that says buying two seats alerts WN that someone has a special seating need (paraphrased) and IMHO, being really tall indicates a special seating need. You are right the armrests do have to be down during take off and landing, but, I am unsure if flying while sitting sideways is dangerous/unsafe, what about the people that are leaning on others or lying down? I would think the only time sitting sideways is dangerous /unsafeis if you are the pilot. You would only not be sitting sideways for very short parts of the flight, hardly worth mentioning. I don't know of many airlines that would be comfortable for anyone that height, if you do, please, inform.

JetBlue, dh is 6'7 with a 40 inch inseam and she fits fairly comfortably in JetBlue regular seats. He fits well in the extra legroom seats. If we don't fly JetBlue we try and upgrade to first class just so he can be comfortable. We haven't flown southwest in years and probably never will because they have the least amy of room between seats.

 

[gmeh1]

JetBlue, dh is 6'7 with a 40 inch inseam and she fits fairly comfortably in JetBlue regular seats. He fits well in the extra legroom seats. If we don't fly JetBlue we try and upgrade to first class just so he can be comfortable. We haven't flown southwest in years and probably never will because they have the least amy of room between seats.

Not going to debate you, but, I think some of Delta's planes have less legroom than SWA. I am foot shorter than your DH and was incredibly uncomfortable on Delta flights and also AA flights, have never had a problem on Air Tran or SWA. I have a 34" inseam, all legs. LOL.

 

[bgirl29]

I have never flown SW but on other airlines when taking a carseat along it has been required to be placed in the window seat. That is something else you might want to check into OP.

 

[jdb35633]

Thanks bgirl - we had already decided to check the car seat!!

 

[seashoreCM]

Thanks bgirl - we had already decided to check the car seat!!

If he can angle his legs under the front of the car seat then bringing the (FAA approved) car seat on board guarantees him adjacent seats.

 

[NotUrsula]

Not going to debate you, but, I think some of Delta's planes have less legroom than SWA. I am foot shorter than your DH and was incredibly uncomfortable on Delta flights and also AA flights, have never had a problem on Air Tran or SWA. I have a 34" inseam, all legs. LOL.

That's correct. SWA's pitch is 32" on the older cabin fittings, and 31" on the newer thin-profile seats that they are now installing on their 737-700 and -800 aircraft. Most of Delta's domestic fleet is currently 30-32" in Economy.

SeatGuru has a chart of the pitch on various airlines, but remember that the measure is from the back of the seat frame to the back of the seat frame in the next seat forward of it, so the thinner the seatback cushion, the more legroom you will actually have. (That is why Delta tends to feel so tight; they haven't retrofitted the seats in their smaller planes for a while, as they are concentrating on the long-haul fleet.)

http://www.seatguru.com/charts/shorthaul_economy.php

Oh, and PS about the armrest; as long as it is blocked from rotating backward past the angle of the seatback, it isn't strictly required that it be down, so as long as it is solidly blocked from the front in such a way that it cannot fall down and hurt a passenger, the FA's will allow it to stay up. The reason for the rule is so that it won't stick out of the BACK of the seat and block someone trying to get out in an emergency (http://fsims.faa.gov/WDocs/8900.1/V03 Tech Admin/Chapter 33/03_033_003.htm, Section 3-3483). Also, it is perfectly fine to sit sideways in an aircraft; there are some models that have the FA's jumpseats installed that way, and so-called "divan" seating is common on private aircraft. (My father used to install custom aircraft interiors for the Air Force. Air Force One has some lateral-facing seats.)