Southwest Airlines has been praised by a series of plus-sized TikTokers for their efforts to accommodate "customers of size" by allowing them to request a complimentary extra seat.
Air travel has often been a more difficult experience for customers of a larger size, given the often pretty restrictive size of the average airplane seat.
While there are a few options to get extra legroom, if a person wanted to have a bit more space with an empty seat next to them, they'd previously have had to pay for the privilege.
However, the Texas-based airline has a "customers of size policy" meaning travellers can get one - or two - extra seats for free if they need a wider seat than the boundary created by the armrest.
Southwest Airlines' website states: "Customers who encroach upon any part of the neighboring seat(s) may proactively purchase the needed number of seats prior to travel to ensure the additional seat(s) is available. The armrest is considered to be the definitive boundary between seats."
The statement says customers can either purchase two seats when they book and have one refunded, or purchase just their own seat and contact customer services to get the extra free seat added on.
It added: "It also helps us ensure we can accommodate all Customers on the flight for which they purchased a ticket and avoid asking Customers to relinquish their seats for an unplanned accommodation. Most importantly, it ensures that all Customers onboard have access to safe and comfortable seating."
The policy - which not everyone knows exists - has been in place for over 30 years and the definition for needing an extra seat is if the passenger is "unable to lower both armrests and/or encroach upon any portion of a seat next to [them]."
While they prefer for customers to pre-book so they can accommodate the request before the flight gets overbooked, passengers can request their extra seat when they arrive at the check-in, too.
One plus-sized passenger, who posts on TikTok as @kimmystyled, shared a video showing customers how they can make use of the customers of size policy at the airport itself.
She filmed herself speaking to a woman at the check-in desk, who immediately arranged the complimentary extra seat for her, giving her a second ticket to place on the seat to reserve it.
Kimmy also recorded herself asking for a seatbelt extender when she got on board the aircraft to ensure she was safe and comfortable for the trip.
She added in her caption: "Southwest is the only airline that allows you a second seat at no extra cost even if the flight is FULLY booked.
"You HAVE to use it at the departing gate when you start your journey. If you don’t use it going out you can't use it flying back. Go to the departing gate agent and kindly ask them to use the customer of size policy.
"I’ve done this a dozen times and never had an issue or been denied. They will print you a new ticket + a second ticket to put down on your free seat. You will also be allowed to pre board!"
She revealed that as the airline doesn't allocate seating, she will always take a window seat and kindly tell anyone that tries to sit in the seat next to her that she has two booked, but added: "To be honest I almost never get approached because no one wants to sit in the middle seat next to a fat person on a plane."
Kimmy told her followers: "I’ve heard from others sometimes southwest will just put customer of size in your account so anytime you approach the main ticket gate you’ll get both your tickets at once but this hasn’t happened to me yet. I think this has to do with how 'visibly fat' you are."
She added that she believes that Southwest is the only airline to be truly inclusive to customers of all sizes, explaining: "Public airplanes are public transportation and should be accessible and comfortable for us all. I applaud @southwestair for being the only airline with a fair and humane way of flying fat passengers with dignity.
"We shouldn’t have to pay for two seats. Seats should be larger for all people including tall and pregnant passengers. Since airlines got deregulated it’s been an ADA nightmare.
"Airlines should also allow wheelchairs in the cabin esp power wheelchairs. This is an access issue at the end of the day and discriminatory to fat and disabled customers."
Another passenger called Caroline explained in a video at the end of October, via the New York Post: "If you’re fat, you know the anxiety of flying and this alleviates it a lot.
"I had a very comfortable flight just feeling like I was allowed to take up the space I needed."
Jae'lynn Chaney, who is a 'plus-sized travel expert', also praised the airline for not making larger passengers pay double just to be able to sit in comfort.
She told Fox Business: "Super fat is how we identify. There’s a spectrum of fatness. And as a 'super fat' individual you start needing different accommodations.
"I just feel really happy that there was something like this for people. I hope to see more airlines implement 'customer-of-size' policies.
"The Southwest customer size policy helps many travelers offset the disproportionate costs that we incur because of needing extra room. And so, it’s not just about physical accessibility. It’s also about financial accessibility."
However, the policy that the extra seat can be added at the airport itself has angered some, including one woman who claimed she and her teenage daughter and a friend were kicked off a flight in June to accommodate a larger passenger having two seats.
She claimed in a video on Twitter: "Please help me understand why do I have to spend the night without any accommodations in Baltimore because an oversized person didn’t purchase a second ticket."
