Southwest Rapid Rewards - Southwest fails to enfore their two seat policy for obese customers

The other day I was on a WN flight. There was 2 pax occupying the aisle and window seats of the bulkhead row. Then, an xtra large obese man walks on and squeezes into the middle seat. The man barely fits into the middle seat. It was fairly obvious a pax of his size should have been made to purchase 2 seats. But the FA did nothing about it but quietly asks the pax in the aisle if she wanted to move. The pax in the window seat moved already. I don't know if the obese man bought 2 seats or not. But it didn't look like he did. OTOH, WN should have required the obese man to purchase and sit in two seats which WN and the FA had failed to do. I hope this is not a precedent.

My understanding of the rule is that obese passengers only have to purchase a second seat if the plane is full. Otherwise, they do as what apparently happened, reseated the passengers.

I agree, if they were able to move the skinny guy to another seat, then the flight wasn't sold out. If the POS (whoops, I mean COS) got on toward the end of boarding and there weren't two seats together, about the only thing the COS could do is plop down wherever and then have the FA move the skinny person, exactly as was done in this case!

I'm pretty sure that a qualifying passenger has to buy the second seat before boarding. The second fare is always refunded upon request, EXCEPT when the plane goes out completely full of passengers who were ticketed on that flight (if it's full because standbys were boarded just before the door closed, the big passengers still gets the refund). I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
My understanding of the rule is that obese passengers only have to purchase a second seat if the plane is full. Otherwise, they do as what apparently happened, reseated the passengers.

I'm pretty sure that a qualifying passenger has to buy the second seat before boarding. The second fare is always refunded upon request, EXCEPT when the plane goes out completely full of passengers who were ticketed on that flight (if it's full because standbys were boarded just before the door closed, the big passengers still gets the refund). I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

As a former 300+ pound guy I never had the policy enforced, however I did look into it (in case). You are correct, the employee will supposedly on determining that the passenger exceeds the "size limit" automatically charge for the 2nd seat. The COS is then allowed to pursue a refund if there is not a sold-out flight (standby lists aren't counted against the COS.) I am sure one of our friendly WN employees that visit often could clarify further, however if I was in their shoes and I knew that the plane had a few open seats I don't know that I would want to offend the COS and make them buy a ticket that would simply be refunded. Tough situation.

I think the issue is that we have no way of knowing whether the person actually purchased two seats or not, because of open seating. Just because he purchased two seats doesn't mean that he found two seats together. And even if he had been required to purchase two seats at the gate/counter, it's possible that he just wanted to sit in the bulkhead.

You were in your seat first and then a larger person comes along and takes part of your seat.

You have the right to ask the flight attendant to reseat him but the flight attendant has the final say.

The flight attendant should have a good reason for making you move although ferreting this out should be saved for a written letter after the flight is completed.

The airline's only obligation is to get you an empty seat somewhere.

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I saw where Honda is making the U.S. model of the Accord 2 (original post said 9) inches wider just for COS folks, so I guess this issue is gonna get bigger before it gets smaller. It would be nice to know what (if any rights) a non COS has in these situations. And congrats to WN for being the one to gut up to this issue.

1. If seated next to what you think is a COS, can you have the FA call for a CSS (supervisor)?

2. Do you have the right to insist the arm rest stays down between you?

3. Or maybe you just say something nice to Mr./Ms. COS in the spirit of "we are all in this life boat together."

And, some FA's are pretty good about telling people about empty rows and the opportunity to spread out. And some don't care.

I think the issue is that we have no way of knowing whether the person actually purchased two seats or not, because of open seating. Just because he purchased two seats doesn't mean that he found two seats together.

That statement is not really correct, all COS's that buy two seats in advance or are made to buy a 2nd seat at check in are given a reserved seat card to show they have bought that seat. Granted I am sure not all COS's wave this to the whole plane but they can be asked to show it to “save” the seat next to them. COS's also pre-board after the wheelchair and other blue card passengers. The FA's on board also know how many COS's are going to be on board and 99% of the time will protect that extra seat for the COS's by standing in that spot or near it directing people as the plane fills up.

Myself as a COS love SW's policy on it and I enjoyed my flights on SW a lot more now that I can buy that extra seat in advance and know I will be comfortable and so will the other passengers. When I travel with my wife they even let her pre-board with me.

I saw where Honda is making the U.S. model of the Accord 9 inches wider just for COS folks, so I guess this issue is gonna get bigger before it gets smaller. It would be nice to know what (if any rights) a non COS has in these situations. And congrats to WN for being the one to gut up to this issue.

1. If seated next to what you think is a COS, can you have the FA call for a CSS (supervisor)?

2. Do you have the right to insist the arm rest stays down between you?

3. Or maybe you just say something nice to Mr./Ms. COS in the spirit of "we are all in this life boat together."

And, some FA's are pretty good about telling people about empty rows and the opportunity to spread out. And some don't care.

Is this true? I have an Accord and love it (my wife usually drives it). When I need to replace it, I am going to be very mad if a replacement Accord costs more and burns more gas unnecessarily. :mad:

One question would be the following. Suppose someone gets an A boarding pass and takes an aisle seat. Then an obese individual takes a middle seat next to the person with the aisle seat.

Now is it fair to ask the person on the aisle to move? If there are only middle seats left - presumably why the obese person took the middle seat - is it fair to ask the aisle person with the A BP to move to a middle seat just to give the obese person a second seat adjacent to the one he has?

I don't know what the solution is other than to ensure that the obese person is given early boarding to avoid the above situation.

I don't know what the solution is other than to ensure that the obese person is given early boarding to avoid the above situation.

This already happens, so your middle seat scenario is a non-issue.

Is this true? I have an Accord and love it (my wife usually drives it). When I need to replace it, I am going to be very mad if a replacement Accord costs more and burns more gas unnecessarily. :mad:


Nine just didn't make sense - I did a google news for Honda Obese, and several articles came back stating that the US model was 2 inches wider. The article also mentioned other changes by car manufacturers to make it easier for larger folks to get in and out.