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[quote=Anonymous]"Southwest Airlines will soon require travelers who don’t fit within the armrests of their seat to pay for an extra one in advance ..."  and "If a passenger who needs an extra seat doesn’t purchase one ahead of time, they will be required to buy one at the airport, according to the new policy. If the flight is full, the passenger will be rebooked onto a new flight."

My question is this: What does "fit within the armrests" mean exactly? Will they have a human butt & gut measurement device along with baggage measurement devices? Or is it entirely up to the gate agents to give people an eye-ball estimate of whether they will fit or not? And are the armrests the deciding factor?

What about the 6'7" person who has slim hips but linebacker shoulders that extend well into the other seats?

What about the person who is a bit generously sized in the hips but slim from the waist up, and might extend an inch or two under the armrest itself - is that considered not fitting "within the armrests"?

IMO this is a class-action lawsuit waiting to happen.

Full AP article below.

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Per Associated Press: "Southwest Airlines will soon require travelers who don’t fit within the armrests of their seat to pay for an extra one in advance, part of a string of recent changes the carrier is making.

The new rule goes into effect Jan. 27, the same day Southwest starts assigning seats.

Currently, plus-size passengers can either pay for an extra seat in advance with the option of getting that money back later, or they can request a free extra seat at the airport. Under the carrier’s new policy, a refund is still possible but no longer guaranteed.

In a statement Monday, Southwest said it is updating some of its policies as it prepares for assigned seating next year.

“To ensure space, we are communicating to customers who have previously used the extra seat policy that they should purchase it at booking,” the statement said.

It marks the latest change at Southwest, which had long been known for letting its passengers pick their own seats after boarding the plane, and for letting their bags fly for free, which ended in May. Those perks were key to differentiating the budget carrier from its rivals.

Southwest says it will still refund a second ticket under its new policy for extra seating if the flight isn’t fully booked at the time of departure, and if both of the passenger’s tickets were purchased in the same booking class. The passenger also needs to request the refund within 90 days of the flight.

If a passenger who needs an extra seat doesn’t purchase one ahead of time, they will be required to buy one at the airport, according to the new policy. If the flight is full, the passenger will be rebooked onto a new flight."
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