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Large fliers face higher fares
By Barbara De Lollis, USA TODAY
With planes filling up this summer, Southwest Airlines says it will begin enforcing a 22-year-old policy to charge larger passengers extra if they require two seats.
Starting Wednesday, a passenger unable to fit in one seat would pay $160 one way for a Houston-Dallas ticket bought that day, instead of $91, says Southwest spokeswoman Christine Turneabe-Connelly.
Southwest's decision could increase its revenue at a time when it is one of the few profitable carriers. It filled about 70% of its seats — which have 18 3/4 inches between armrests — in May.
Its move is drawing heated reaction from advocates for large people, who say Southwest is discriminating. "If a person takes up more than one seat, that's not the problem of the person, that's the problem of the seat," says Miriam Berg, president of the Council on Size & Weight Discrimination.
Southwest says it's not biased against large people. Nor is it the only airline that charges larger travelers for two seats.
Like other airlines, Southwest has let ticket agents decide whether to charge for the extra seat if the flight wasn't full.
Agents now will be told to charge for the extra seat even if the flight isn't full. Passengers could apply for a refund after the flight if it still had empty seats.
Southwest is hoping that large people needing two seats will voluntarily purchase two seats before they check in at the airport. A Southwest agent could make a passenger buy two seats if they need a seatbelt extension and to lift the armrests. Those fliers will not get double frequent-flier credits, the airline says.
Southwest says it began reviewing its policy two years ago after larger passengers said they were charged for extra seats inconsistently.
"Starting on the 26th, we're not allowing our customer service agents to turn a blind eye," Turneabe-Connelly says.
Southwest flier Jerome Bannister of Nashville likes the decision.
"If you have someone in the 250-(pound)-plus range, they can start making it uncomfortable" for other fliers, he says.
The change will take effect the same day that Southwest begins its switch from numbered plastic boarding cards to electronically generated paper boarding passes that show whether a passenger has bought a second seat, she says
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I wonder if they'll offer emergency lyposuction at the gate?
By Barbara De Lollis, USA TODAY
With planes filling up this summer, Southwest Airlines says it will begin enforcing a 22-year-old policy to charge larger passengers extra if they require two seats.
Starting Wednesday, a passenger unable to fit in one seat would pay $160 one way for a Houston-Dallas ticket bought that day, instead of $91, says Southwest spokeswoman Christine Turneabe-Connelly.
Southwest's decision could increase its revenue at a time when it is one of the few profitable carriers. It filled about 70% of its seats — which have 18 3/4 inches between armrests — in May.
Its move is drawing heated reaction from advocates for large people, who say Southwest is discriminating. "If a person takes up more than one seat, that's not the problem of the person, that's the problem of the seat," says Miriam Berg, president of the Council on Size & Weight Discrimination.
Southwest says it's not biased against large people. Nor is it the only airline that charges larger travelers for two seats.
Like other airlines, Southwest has let ticket agents decide whether to charge for the extra seat if the flight wasn't full.
Agents now will be told to charge for the extra seat even if the flight isn't full. Passengers could apply for a refund after the flight if it still had empty seats.
Southwest is hoping that large people needing two seats will voluntarily purchase two seats before they check in at the airport. A Southwest agent could make a passenger buy two seats if they need a seatbelt extension and to lift the armrests. Those fliers will not get double frequent-flier credits, the airline says.
Southwest says it began reviewing its policy two years ago after larger passengers said they were charged for extra seats inconsistently.
"Starting on the 26th, we're not allowing our customer service agents to turn a blind eye," Turneabe-Connelly says.
Southwest flier Jerome Bannister of Nashville likes the decision.
"If you have someone in the 250-(pound)-plus range, they can start making it uncomfortable" for other fliers, he says.
The change will take effect the same day that Southwest begins its switch from numbered plastic boarding cards to electronically generated paper boarding passes that show whether a passenger has bought a second seat, she says
-------------------------------------------------------------------------http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2002/2002-06-19-southwest-double.htm
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I wonder if they'll offer emergency lyposuction at the gate?
