Some travelers say this makes flying more comfortable, others say it's unfair.
DALLAS — Southwest Airlines' decades-old "customer of size" policy has sparked a debate on social media, with some giving it praise and others arguing its fairness.
For more than 30 years, the Dallas-based airline has given plus-size passengers a seat next to them for free.
"We’ve had a long-standing policy for more than 30 years designed to meet the seating needs of Customers who require more than one seat and protect the comfort and safety of everyone onboard," the airline said in a statement to WFAA.
@kimmystyled How to use @southwestair customer of size policy. Southwest is the only airline that allows you a second seat at no extra cost even if the flight is FULLY booked. You HAVE to use it at the departing gate when you start your journey. If you don’t use it going out you cant use it flying back. Go to the departing gate agent and kindly ask them to use the customer of size policy. I’ve done this a dozen times and never had an issue or been denied. They will print you a new ticket + a second ticket to put down on your free seat. You will also be allowed to pre board! Enter the aircraft, get your seatbelt extender, and grab your seat! I place the ticket in the seat next to me. I always take the window seat. If anyone tries to sit it in I kindly let them know I have two seats booked. To be honest I almost never get approached because no one wants to sit in the middle seat next to a fat person on a plane 🙃. I’ve heard from others sometimes southwest will just put customer of size in your account so anytime you approach the main ticket gate you’ll get both your tickets at once but this hasn’t happened to me yet. I think this has to do with how “visibly fat” you are. Public airplanes are public transportation and should be accessible and comfortable for us all. I applaud @southwestair for being the only airline with a fair and humane way of flying fat passengers with dignity. We shouldn’t have to pay for two seats. Seats should be larger for all people including tall and pregnant passengers. Since airlines got deregulated it’s been an ADA nightmare. Airlines should also allow wheelchairs in the cabin esp power wheelchairs. This is an access issue at the end of the day and discriminatory to fat and disabled customers. #southwest #southwestairlines #customerofsize #customerofsizepolicy #plussize #plussizetravel #traveltips #plussizetraveltok #traveltok
♬ original sound - Kimmy
The policy will be put to an extreme test in the weeks ahead.
AAA predicts air travel between Christmas and New Year’s will be the busiest in U.S. history, with 7.5 million people taking to the skies.
Southwest's policy states that larger passengers can purchase the additional seat ahead of time or they can discuss their seating needs with a customer service agent at the departure gate.
Southwest says the definitive gauge on whether or not a customer needs a second seat is the armrest, which serves as the boundary between seats.
While Southwest will accommodate passengers at the airport, they suggest customers purchase an additional seat with their initial purchase, saying the additional seat will be reimbursed after travel.
The airline suggests travelers using the policy should preboard, and place the seat reserved document in the next seat, so no one will sit next to them.
Others online took to Garris's comment section saying the policy is unfair and worrying that they would be bumped from a flight.
Another TikToker who posts about plus-size travel, Jaelynn Chaney told Fox Business: "I hope to see more airlines implement customer of size policies."
Review Southwest's "customer of size" policy here.
