Question:
Has anyone flown Southwest Airlines recently
I fly down to San Diego tomorrow for my pre-op appointments. While I'm not nervous about the appointments, I am REALLY nervous to fly Southwest ever since the news came about about them possibly asking overweight passengers to purchase an extra ticket. My dad is flying with me, thank God, but I have such anxiety about going to the check-in booth and them telling me that I'm too fat or something! I flew Southwest about 6 months ago, and while I need an extender, and I'm surely not comfortable, I CAN squeeze into one seat. Has anyone flown the airline recently and have you had good or bad experiences? I guess I just need to calm my nerves! Thanks a bunch. — Renae (posted on July 31, 2002)
July 30, 2002
hi---in june i flew from florida to san diego on southwest. i am bigger
than you and it was NO problem, yes, i needed the extension but they were
more than willing to help. i was sitting in between my husband and
daughter. relax, it will be fine!! let me know how it went when you get
home!!! thoughts to you, gale
— gale C.
July 30, 2002
When I first heard about Southwest's new rule, I was very offended and
bad-mouthed them to no end. Unfortunately, the rumor is that many airlines
are going to be adopting the same attitude in the next few years. "If
you're too big to fit in one seat, you have to buy two!" If you ask
them why they're doing it, they'll say "safety reasons." I think
the REAL reason is that skinny people don't want to be smothered sitting
next to an obese person, and they're letting the airlines know. Is it
fair? No. But there are A TON of things that are not fair when you're MO.
Is it fair that many restaurants only have booths? No. Is it fair that
clothes even in the "plus-size" department only go up to 26/28?
No. Is it fair that MO people can't breathe very well or walk very well or
enjoy things that other people take for granted? No, but it's part of our
illness and one more reason I am SOOO grateful for this surgery. Love ya
all!
— Terissa R.
July 30, 2002
You can call the ticket agent at the airport and tell them the same thing.
Make sure they know that you are traveling with someone who won't mind
sitting with you. (Isn't that horrible...we have to be sure not to offend
anyone with our illness...ah well) Ask if you are going to be forced to buy
another ticket. Be sure to get the agents name if they tell you that you
will not. At least you'll have a little warning if they are going to be
*******s about it. Good luck!
— Carolynn J.
July 31, 2002
The news here in Austin showed a couple who were both mo. Southwest forced
them both to buy additional tickets for their flight home. So I'm not sure
that someone sitting next to you is going to appease them. They have
gotten so much bad press that hopefully they are easing up on this policy.
I think it will be up to the gate agent.
— Elizabeth A.
July 31, 2002
Congrats on your sucess with Kaiser and getting to go to PB. I am in the
same boat or SW plane rather! Don't worry. If they do, for some stupid
reason, want you to buy 2 seats, Kaiser has to pay for it. And you can
share some space with your Dad! Everyone is uncomfortable in SW's tiny
seats. Best wishes, the people at PB are great and you will be home in no
time. Let me know how it goes. I am in SAC also.
— ERICK B.
July 31, 2002
Time to clear up the rumors about this thing. It is not a new rule from
Southwest or any other airlines that you need to purchase two seats if you
take up two seats. Unfortunately, this is the way it has been on most
airlines for quite some time. The only time they actually make you pay for
two seats is if you are very large and need to put up the arm rest so that
you can sit partially on the next seat. They feel it is unfair to someone
else who may have bought a seat and would have to get bumped because you
are taking up two seats. I flew Southwest when I went to San Diego for my
surgery, and although it was tight I was able to fit into the seat (I'm
5'10" and was 306). As long as you can actually fit into one seat
without compromising other seats, they don't care.
— Jennifer Y.
July 31, 2002
I flew Southwest on June 30th (right after they announced that they were
going to start enforcing the rule). I was very nervous that they were going
to pull me aside and tell me that I had to purchase another seat. They
never said a word to me. Infact it was if they did not even notice that I
was MO. I was able to fasten the seatbelt without an extension, but just
barely. I was far from comfortable but thankful that I was not pulled aside
and totally embarrassed.
— Lisa M.
July 31, 2002
Wow - Thanks for all of the great responses! I love this website and the
people on it. Turns out everything went smoothly. I actually could fit
into the seatbelt without an extension (barely, of course), which was a
total surprise to me. Neither of the flights were full, so my dad and I
got to have a row all to ourselves each time. I have to also add that
everyone at Pacific Bariatrics was wonderful! I am now more confident than
ever in my decision and am grateful that I get to have the surgery at P.B.
Thanks again to everyone!
— Renae
August 3, 2002
A friend of mine in Oklahoma recently had to fly Southwest because her
publisher booked her into a conference, and sent her the tickets, hotel
reservation confirmation, etc. The agent at Southwest pulled her out of
line, and told her that she had to buy two seats. She isn't even 200 lbs
and is 5'7". When she attempted to argue this, she was told that her
"behind was too wide." She was mortified as the agent made no
attempt to speak softly; therefore, others in line around her were
snickering. This has been Southwest's policy since 1980. I don't fly
Southwest because of this. Generally, I fly First or Business Class. When
those options have not been available, I've never had another airline tell
me I had to buy a second seat. Glad to hear that Kaiser has to pay for it
at least! If this happens to you, and I sincerely hope it doesn't, I should
let Kaiser know. As I'm certain that Kaiser doesn't wish to pay for extra
seats, they may begin to contract with a different airline in the future.
For example, my experience has been that America West flies the same sort
of routes...I've flown with them, and have never had anyone be anything but
gracious and professional in their behavior towards me...but standard
disclaimer: YMMV. {{Big Hugs}}...and congratulations on your new life!
— CaseyinLA
August 3, 2002
Just wanted to let you all know of my recent experience flying Southwest
Airlines. I had to fly with them on July 31, 2002. After hearing/reading
all about the controversy regarding two seats, I made sure to ask Pacific
Bariatrics what their plan was for booking my ticket. My patient
coordinator told me that they have had a couple of their patients
embarassed at the airport and their policy now is to order two tickets for
their patients. I was relieved...but still expecting to be embarrassed at
the airport. (Pulled out of line or something similar.) When I checked in
the ticket agent asked if anyone else was traveling with me....my itinery
clearly said "second seat" and I told her no. I asked the flight
attendent (at the plane door)very matter of factly for a seat belt
extender, and was treated politely. The flight was 1/2 - 2/3's full, so I
stopped at the ticket counter when I was exiting the plane and asked what
does it take to get reimbursed for the second seat? ****They DID NOT
VOLUNTEER THIS INFORMATION!!****They handed me a slip of paper that read:
"Second Seat Refund Advice for Large Customers - Thank you for
purchasing an additional seat to preserve the safety and comfort of
yourself and other customers. If your flight was not involved in an
oversale, you may obtain a refund for the oppurchase of the additional seat
by calling or writing to: Southwest Airlines Customer Relations Department
- P.O. Box 36647 - Dallas, Texas 75235 (214)-792-4223. If you choose
to write your request for a refund, please include a copy of your boarding
pass stub and your Ticketless Travel and/or Tcket receipts. Please note
that when traveling on connecting or direct flights, you will only receive
your refund if no portion of the flight to your final destination involved
an oversale." I hope this helps to relieve some of the anxiety
that's out there. I STILL was not comfortable - waiting for a
confrontation which (thankfully) never came. I was planning to not
patronize Southwest Airlines, but as I wasn't the one who booked my
tickets, I had no control over that decision.
— Debbie A.
July 5, 2003
I flew on Southwest on 07/01/03 and I fit fine into the seats. I weighed
328 pounds at the time. But due to all the walking I did on my vacation,
when I got home I weighed 321 pounds. Anyway, the seat was very
comfortable. My husabnd sat next to me and he was not "squeezed"
at all. I did need a seatbelt extender. They were very nice in being
descreet about giving me one. But I did not care about other passenders
knowing about my extender. This was my first time flying and I wanted to
be as tight in my seat as I could be! LOL!
— Pzaz
July 5, 2003
I know of a gal who flew the end of last month who was completely
humiliated by SWA. She even went to higher ups and told them she could in
fact fit in the seats. She weighed less than 300 lbs. Since she couldn't
afford a second seat, to which there actually were no other seats available
she was bumped from the flight. They were not gracious, they were not
discreet, and they didn't even follow their own protocols in deciding who
is too large to fly in a single seat. I'd be vary leary of flying with
them. Also read up on their policy. If you can in fact fit in one seat
you have the right to board the plane and PROVE that you fit in one sit.
If you don't THEN they can require you to purchase a second seat. Read up
on their protocols online before you go. If you can change your flight to
a different airline I'd so. By flying them you're really supporting their
policy that humiliates and stresses out anyone of size.
— Shelly S.
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