Southwest Airlines rolled out a “Customer of Size” policy that gives plus-size passengers an extra seat on the plane for free, if they need the extra room.
According to the policy, “Customers who encroach upon any part of the neighboring seat(s) may proactively purchase the needed number of seats prior to travel to ensure the additional seat(s) is available.”
The policy says customers can purchase two tickets and then contact Southwest to get the seat(s) refunded after traveling.
Southwest Airlines stated the policy, “ensures that all Customers onboard have access to safe and comfortable seating.”
Some flyers are praising Southwest Airlines and calling the policy the right thing to do to accommodate passengers of all sizes — others have claimed that the policy “rewards obesity” by giving passengers a free seat.
“I think the need to be able to evacuate the airplane swiftly in the event of an emergency is really going to be overriding concern,” Ed Booth, a local aviation expert, said.
Booth also said Southwest Airlines’ “Customer of Size” policy makes every passenger on the plane safer by making potential evacuation easier. It’s a policy that is garnering national attention 11 days from Christmas when airline travel is expected to be the highest in years.
Booth said the policy could also create a fair share of problems.
“I pay for my ticket three months in advance and show up the required hour or two before the flight leaves, check in, then I’m told that at the last minute, I’m going to have to leave the airplane to accommodate another passenger who needs two seats, I’m not going to be very happy. And that’s understandable,” said Booth.
Plus-sized traveler Jae’lynn Chaney launched a petition on Change.org in April, calling for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to require all airlines to implement a clear customer-of-size policy.
News4JAX Insiders have varying opinions.
One Insider said, “Maybe they should make all seats wider to accommodate all the passengers and there would not be a problem with seating on their planes. Make everyone traveling comfortable.”
John said, “I’m 6′4 and if I want extra legroom, I have to pay for it. So should the same should be for plus-sized passengers.”
The FAA received a flood of complaints about the size of airline seats, which have been shrinking in size over the years. Most U.S. carriers have reduced the width of a plane’s seat to 17 inches from 18.5 inches. The seat pitch has dropped to 31 inches from an average of 35.
Booth said Southwest Airlines’ policy is an evolution of something the airlines have been dealing with for quite some time and he said he’s unsure if other airlines will follow.
“This is a new approach to dealing with smaller airline seats, and the need to accommodate heavier passengers,” Booth said.
While airline seats have been getting smaller, Booth pointed out that Americans have been getting bigger. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 40% of the American population is considered to be obese.
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