Southwest Airlines has updated its policy for plus-size travelers and will no longer require passengers to purchase an extra seat in advance. Under the revised approach, airport staff can provide an additional seat free of charge if there is available space on the flight.
The change quietly went into effect late last week.
According to Southwest, passengers who need more space can now request an additional seat at the airport instead of being forced to buy one ahead of time. If extra seats are available, agents are authorized to accommodate them at no added cost. If the flight is full, the passenger may need to be rebooked on a later flight.
Earlier this year, Southwest introduced a policy requiring customers who needed additional seating space to purchase a second seat before traveling. Travelers could later apply for a refund if unused seats remained available after departure.
That policy faced backlash from some passengers who said they were approached at ticket counters or boarding gates and told they might not fit comfortably in a single seat.
The updated policy is expected to reduce situations where airport employees have to make judgment calls about seating needs in public areas at the airport.
Southwest said it still recommends that passengers who believe they may need extra seating book an additional seat ahead of time to avoid last-minute complications.
The airline added that the revised policy came after an extensive review process and said it plans to continue improving the experience for customers who require extra seating accommodations.
0