Southwest Airlines' Generous Policy for Plus-Size Passengers Garners Attention
Southwest Airlines is making headlines for its "customer of size and extra seat" policy, which allows passengers who require more than one seat to proactively purchase the necessary number of seats prior to travel. This policy, which has been in place for over 30 years, permits up to a full row of three seats for passengers of size. Customers can purchase the additional seats in advance or request them for free at the airport. Southwest refunds all extra seat purchases for customers of size, even if the flight is oversold. The airline's unique boarding process does not assign specific seats, but passengers with an Extra Seat Boarding document can preboard to select seats that meet their needs. Southwest's policy is more generous than some other carriers, as it allows for pre-purchase and refunds, while others require the second seat to be purchased or only offer refunds if the flight is not full.