Soon Southwest Airlines
will require travelers who don't fit within the armrests of their seat
to pay for an extra seat in advance, part of a string of recent changes
the carrier is making. The new rule goes into effect Jan. 27, the same
day Southwest starts assigning seats.
Currently, plus-size passengers either can pay for an extra seat in
advance with the option of getting that money back later, or they can
request a free extra seat at the airport. Under the carrier's new
policy, a refund is still possible but no longer guaranteed.
Part of the push to assigned seating
In a statement Monday, Southwest said it is updating some of its
policies as it prepares for assigned seating next year. "To ensure
space, we are communicating to customers who have previously used the
extra-seat policy that they should purchase it at booking," the
statement said.
The news marks the latest change at Southwest, which had long been
known for letting its passengers pick their own seats after boarding the
plane, and for letting their bags fly for free, which ended in May.
Those perks were key to differentiating the budget carrier from its
rivals.
Southwest says it will still refund a second ticket under its new
extra-seating policy if the flight isn't fully booked at the time of
departure, and if both of the passenger's tickets were purchased in the
same booking class. The passenger would need to request the refund
within 90 days of the flight.
If a passenger who needs an extra seat doesn't purchase one ahead of
time, they will be required to buy one at the airport, according to the
new policy. If the flight is full, the passenger will be rebooked onto a
new flight.
Ripple effect of the rule
Jason Vaughn, an Orlando-based travel agent who posts theme park
reviews and travel tips for plus-size people on social media and his
website, Fat Tested Travel,
said the change will likely impact travelers of all sizes. Southwest's
current policy helped create a more comfortable flying experience for
plus-size travelers, he said, while also ensuring all passengers have
adequate space in their seats.
"I think it's going to make the flying experience worse for everybody," he said of the new rule.
Vaughn described the change as yet another letdown for Southwest
loyalists like himself. "They have no idea anymore who their customer
is," he said of the airline. "They have no identity left."
The airline has struggled recently and is under pressure from
activist investors to boost profits and revenue. It also said last year
that it would charge customers extra for more legroom and offer red-eye
flights.