"Baby got back"? Beware of new Southwest policy

[Anonymous]

I once flew on a flight from Dubai to atl, something like 17 hours. The guy next to me was very fit, but built like a linebacker. 6’2” 240ish. his shoulders were the issue, they literally extended halfway into my seat.

[Anonymous]

They don’t provide measurements because a lot of the time, southwest is telling people they CANT have an extra seat, more than that they need one. And that might depend on demand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I once flew on a flight from Dubai to atl, something like 17 hours. The guy next to me was very fit, but built like a linebacker. 6’2” 240ish. his shoulders were the issue, they literally extended halfway into my seat.

Yes, but if he still fits within armrests so under Southwest's new policy he's good to go.

That's the point. Linebacker types and toddlers under two who kick and flail on parents' laps are ok. No need for them to purchase an extra ticket

[Anonymous]

I often scooch over in my seat so those needing the room can have it. No one wants to be obese. Sit by me. I got your extra.

[Anonymous]

I once had a larger person tell me the arm rest had to be up for their comfort. It was awful but there was in fact no way to lower it.

[Anonymous]

Southwest is a garbage airline, but this policy makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very simple - never fly Southwest. All the advantages they had are now gone.

Exactly. Unless it's the only way for me to get a direct flight somewhere, I'm skipping it.

We all know they won't care for the big white dudes but the rest of us who are larger will be publicly humiliated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I once had a larger person tell me the arm rest had to be up for their comfort. It was awful but there was in fact no way to lower it.

Wow. That's totally inappropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I often scooch over in my seat so those needing the room can have it. No one wants to be obese. Sit by me. I got your extra.

As a slightly obese woman with an exceptionally skinny and short wife, we cancel each other out. Thank goodness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They don’t provide measurements because a lot of the time, southwest is telling people they CANT have an extra seat, more than that they need one. And that might depend on demand.

Exactly. Even when they've paid for one. Such a rude airline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I often scooch over in my seat so those needing the room can have it. No one wants to be obese. Sit by me. I got your extra.

That's kind of you and most people won't even consider doing that.

I once had a large, statuesque (not obese) woman who sat next to me sit down and immediately apologize for her size and said she would try not to invade my space.

I pulled up the armrest and said it was no problem. And it wasn't. She and I had a nice conversation and I left that flight knowing I had connected in a positive, non judgemental way with another human being.

She didn't act entitled and I didn't act like an a$$hole. It worked out fine.

[Anonymous]

I'm small and when I traveled alone FA used to move me next to bigger passengers to make them fit. I had trouble saying no. It was miserable, I'd have my body crammed against the bulkhead or between two people and touched the whole time. My back would hurt from being crammed into half the seat. I don't fly solo as much anymore now I have kids.

I understand it's hard to be bigger, but as the person who's taken way more than my fair share of hits over this, I paid for my seat too and it just isn't my responsibility to give up part of my seat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have sympathy. My mom was obese and was so worried about flying because of it. She always sat next to me or my little sibling though and would take up some space from us. So hopefully that is still allowed? Like you can encroach on your kid's space? My mom flew with a seatbelt extender.

I'm petite and I can't tell you how many times I've been squished on a flight by obese people. It's really not fair. And being in the middle and people take both arm rests...

Maybe flights could have one row of obese seats? Like instead of a row of 3, it's a row of 2 larger seats that cost more. Or force them to fly 1st class.

This doesn't seem that sympathetic!

I was on a tiny regional jet recently from DC to Maine. I could barely fit in the seats and I am average sized. All of the larger people who knew better had booked business seats which were the size of normal airplane seats. Believe me, people are willing to pay more to avoid being uncomfortable and causing discomfort to others.

What would be great is if airlines could actually communicate about this in a kind, compassionate way rather than constantly treating people like an inconvenience.

[Anonymous]

I once ended up with a very bad back strain because I got stuck with a middle seat between two normous guys who eat took up 30% of my seat so I couldn’t sit back at all. They weren’t happy, I wasn’t happy. It was a full flight, cross country, and they clearly thought no one would take that middle but I had no choice. I felt bad for them but it was a crappy situation. I can’t say I’m opposed to requiring people to buy a second seat if they are gojng yo take up a significant amount of the other seat.

[Anonymous]

Oozing under the armrest is needing another seat.