Airline Defends Seat Policy To Fat Acceptance Group - Southwest Airlines Affirms Policy

KOAT ^

[chance33_98]

Airline Defends Seat Policy To Fat Acceptance Group
Southwest Airlines Affirms Policy
Posted: 6:03 p.m. EDT August 9, 2002

ATLANTA -- Officials from Southwest Airlines Friday affirmed their policy requiring passengers who fill more than one seat to buy a second.

Representatives of Dallas-based Southwest went before members of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance at the group's conference in Atlanta. Fort Worth-based American and Delta Air Lines also sent a customer service representative to the panel session.

The 22-year-old policy drew attention in June when Southwest switched to a new boarding card system. The carrier reminded agents that large customers needed to buy two seats.

Southwest says its policy is designed to make sure every customer has use of his or her entire seat. Southwest refunds the second-seat purchase when a flight is not oversold.

Critics contend gate agents enforce the policy arbitrarily and without sensitivity.

American Airlines also requires the purchase of a second seat for people who extend beyond their own. An American representative says the company doesn't make an issue of large passengers' seat arrangements unless another customer complains.

Delta Air Lines has no policy requiring a second seat purchase.

[Eala]

>Have you seen your doctor lately?
If you mean eye doctor, yes I have.

LOL. No, I meant for a check on your malnutrition, if you can fit into a six-INCH seat!

[supercat]

Wouldn't this become a non-issue if the arm rests were fixed?

It would, but oftentimes passengers, even those who are not overweight, enjoy being able to put them up if there is nobody in the seat next to them to object (either because the seat is vacant, or because they have a travelling companion such as a spouse who they know will not object). I have on a number of occasions used up all three seats on a row when I decided to take a nap. Such a thing would not be possible were the armrests fixed.

[07055]

You must be part of the problem, or you wouldn't be changing the subject. How did I guess?

I am six foot eight inches tall and weigh 270 pounds.

Want to meet to discuss this further?

[chance33_98]

I am six foot eight inches tall and weigh 270 pounds.

Do you have headroom in a plane??

[07055]

Do you have headroom in a plane??

Barely.

But, when they put those TV sets on the ceiling, no. ;-)

[Dakota gal in Seattle]

When is the airlines going to begin to charge parents who bring their infants aboard and carry them in their laps?

I'm not too sure whom I'd rather be sitting next to...an obese person or someone's "precious child".

[chance33_98]

My wife just flew to chicago and is heading to California next week for vacation with the parents/grandma. OUr daughter is 16 months old, she cannot get a discount seat until she is 2 - and no way she was paying $300+ for a ticket for her. Next trip out I will be taking the money for an extra seat for her though, as it is difficult for the wife sometimes - but the planes usually have an empty seat and work with her on it. I am not sure I understand the policy, between 2 and 12 you get the seat for like 1/2 price, under and over that full price. And my daughter IS precious!