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Plus-size Southwest flyers can get extra seat for free at airport
Gate agents may now provide a free extra seat when two adjoining seats are open, after Southwest faced backlash over its January rule change.
- Southwest Airlines updated its "customer of size" policy on Friday, allowing gate agents to provide a free second seat when adjacent space is available, reversing a requirement that sparked significant backlash.
- Widespread backlash followed a January policy shift requiring plus-sized travelers to pre-purchase extra seats, with critics labeling the controversial mandate a "fat tax" after some gate agents enforced it publicly.
- Agents can now provide extra seats at no cost if adjacent spots are open, though Southwest still encourages pre-booking to avoid last-minute rebooking if flights are full.
- Travelers responded positively to the update, with one TikTok user calling it "the best news ever" after Southwest confirmed the shift aims to create a more consistent experience.
- Across the airline industry, policies for plus-sized travelers vary significantly, and Southwest's reversal marks a notable effort to standardize the experience for customers requiring additional space.
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28 Articles
28 Articles
After backlash, Southwest Airlines walks back new ‘customer of size’ policy
Just four months after implementing its new “customers of size” policy, Southwest Airlines has done an about-face by no longer requiring plus-sized passengers to buy an extra seat before their flights.
·Portland, United States
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Southwest walks back a plus-size passenger policy that landed it in the hot seat
Southwest Airlines quietly walked back its January policy shift.Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesSouthwest Airlines revised its "customer of size" policy to offer free extra seats.The change comes after backlash over the way its previous policy was enforced.The airline had required plus-size passengers to purchase an additional seat if necessary.Southwest Airlines is rethinking a policy that upset some travelers earlier this year.Last week, the airli…
·New York, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources28
Leaning Left5Leaning Right0Center21Last UpdatedBias Distribution81% Center
Bias Distribution
- 81% of the sources are Center
81% Center
L 19%
C 81%
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