The airline was once a favorite of plus-size passengers.
Travelers are feeling nervous about flying with Southwest Airlines. The airline recently reversed its plus-size passenger-friendly policies, and fliers allege that the airline is charging them a “fat tax.”
Many have spoken about being singled out at the gate to buy additional seats. One of them is hairstylist Erika DeBoer. She was traveling with her best friend when a Southwest gate agent asked if she needed an extra seat. Caught off guard because she had never needed one, she turned it down, but the agent insisted she was required to purchase one for the safety and comfort of others. She had paid for a window seat and was sitting next to her best friend, who had no issue sitting beside her.
@erikawithak27 @Southwest Airlines #southwest #southwestairlines #flying #omaha ♬ original sound – Erika
DeBoer says, “What is the process for you deciding that? Just looking at me? You have no clue if I can fit in the seat or not.” She asked if there was a test seat she could try, and told the supervisor she could sit in the seat without raising the armrest. But she wasn’t allowed to board and had to pay $176. She told People Magazine that Southwest has since refunded her and provided a $150 voucher. On her return flight, she did not have the same experience.
Commenters were quick to point out that tall people or men with broad shoulders are never asked to buy an extra seat, even if they encroach on others’ spaces. Many called out “corporate greed” and a “money grab” from the airline and shared stories of witnessing similar situations.
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SFGate spoke with multiple passengers who said they were embarrassed by Southwest staff. One man was asked to purchase an extra ticket because of his history of doing so, but he said he hasn’t needed one in some time. Another woman was told she needed the additional seat because she was “wide at the bottom.”
Plus-size influencer Samyra called it a “fat tax” in her video. She said she was kicked off her flight in December before the new policy went into effect. “There is no criteria that they are using to determine who has to pay for an extra seat. They are literally just discriminating,” calling it fatphobia.
@samyraIt is discrimination that is at the discretion and fatphobia of whoever is at work that day.♬ original sound – Samyra
Other fliers have shared that they are now nervous to fly with Southwest after seeing these videos. Stella Kittrell’s one-minute video, where she records herself going through the process and hoping for the best, has been watched 3 million times. “Why am I so nervous to fly? I wore my skinniest outfit today.”
@stellakittrell Replying to @Not in the mood ♬ original sound – stella kittrell
The policy is raising eyebrows because there are no written guidelines on who may be required to buy an additional seat. The airline explains that the armrest is the boundary, and anyone who lifts the armrest may be subject to an additional purchase. However, it is also dependent on the discretion of staff.
DeBoer and others have pointed out that Southwest needs to have a more objective policy to help prepare passengers. One comment on her TikTok said, “There should be a test seat, a height and weight requirement or a measurement requirement… SOMETHING objective so that people know in advance whether the policy applies to them. They do this with luggage, they can do it with people.”
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Flying While Plus Size
There was a time when plus-size travelers preferred Southwest over other American carriers. The Dallas-based airline had a customer-friendly approach to flying, and its customer-of-size policy was certainly a winner. It allowed travelers to reserve a second seat when they made their reservation, and the cost was refunded after the flight. It also allowed fliers to get extra space at the gate without any charge. This is no longer the case.
The website now states that customers “who encroach upon neighboring seats” need to get an additional seat before travel. “The armrest is considered to be the definitive boundary between seats,” it says, and informs customers that Southwest can determine if someone needs an extra seat for safety purposes. If a gate agent or other staff member decides a passenger needs one, they must purchase it at the airport for the cost of travel that day. Passengers may be rebooked if the flight is full, and may be asked to deboard if this determination happens after boarding. Plus-size passengers are no longer guaranteed a refund; they may get one only if the flight had an open seat.
Southwest, long considered a unicorn among airlines, has lost its edge over competitors and joined the bandwagon with baggage fees and assigned seats.
Related: What Happened to Southwest Airlines? A Deep Dive Into Its Decline