So in practice it appears it is up to other passengers to know that the armrest is the definitive boundary and to bring that to a flight attendant’s notice? Do people just rely on other people not wanting to seem rude to abuse the system? Shouldn’t the flight attendants be on the lookout for this, the same as they would for example (hopefully) notice someone with a leg cast in an exit row?
The gate agents should be on the lookout and ask questions at boarding. They will let someone large on even if they will spill onto the next seat if they KNOW the person in the next seat (assuming the child/spouse/friend doesn’t mind sharing half the seat).
I would have said something right away. I’m a large person but I fit in one seat, always leave the arm rest down, don’t need a seat belt extender but it is tight if assigned a middle seat not to touch the people on either side. I try, but when reaching for something or trying to get up, touching happens. Not for 2 hours.
Here is a summary of other airlines’ customer of size policies:
The policy tells the large person what they should do. It doesn’t address what the rights are of the person being squeezed out of their seat space when the large person doesn’t buy 2 seats.
I didn’t want to embarrass the large woman. I didn’t want to cause a scene. I think the airline is expecting and hoping the squeezed passenger will just grit it out.
I think this is exactly what both of them (person and airline) were hoping for.
That’s why the aisle is critical.
In the old days, if you wrote SW, you’d get $100 credit or something else.
In the new SW, they offer $20 for changing flights, so I imagine it’d be similar.
I think it’s one of those, policy or not, it’s a difficult situation any customer service person will do their best to avoid.
It’s uncomfortable to bring up and embarrassing for all parties. I can’t imagine in most cases that it gets addressed.
DH and I received luv vouchers after a couple of recent flights but ours were related to extreme delays. I would submit a complaint. You might get something.
We just flew Southwest for a Hawaii vacation and back (AWESOME by the way!). Southwest is like every other airline, except more freakin crowded. Next time, I fly Delta and we’re upgrading to first class!
Wow—that sounds very uncomfortable for you and the person who was larger than her seat. I’m sorry and I would definitely write a letter to complain! Fortunately H and I have not had that experience but we don’t fly SW. S has been booking us business class seats lately (on a variety of airlines)—it’s quite heavenly—even economy plus is nice.
In economy plus, we often book the aisle & window & the middle seat stays empty! It’s very nice & worth the extra money on 5 hour flights ( which are generally our shortest flights).
Sadly seats these days keep shrinking and passengers are NOT shrinking!