TikToker travel influencers are praising a Southwest policy that offers plus-size passengers up to 2 extra seats for free
Daniel Knighton via Getty Images
- Southwest's policy for plus-size travelers has been praised on TikTok.
- It says people whose bodies "encroach" past the armrest are entitled to up to two extra seats for free.
- It recommends passengers book in advance then receive a refund, but they can also talk to the gate agent.
Southwest Airlines is offering plus-size passengers up to two extra seats for free, in a policy being praised by TikTok influencers.
People whose bodies "encroach" past the armrest are entitled to an extra seat without having to pay more, according to the policy, which is listed on Southwest's website.
The policy says customers "have the option of purchasing just one seat and then discussing your seating needs with the Customer Service Agent at the departure gate."
"If it's determined that a second (or third) seat is needed, you'll be accommodated with a complimentary additional seat," it adds.
With up to three seats available, that means plus-size passengers could have a whole row to themselves. And the airline would potentially move other passengers to accommodate them.
However, Southwest recommends that passengers do book an extra seat in advance so that it can "adequately plan for the number of occupied seats onboard."
They can then contact Southwest "for a refund of the cost of additional seating after travel."
While the policy has recently gained praise on TikTok after plus-size passengers went viral showing how it worked, it has been in place for many years, according to the airline.
In a video with 900,000 views posted to TikTok, a customer named Kimmy tells the gate agent, "I'm hoping to use your customer-of-size policy today," before being handed and extra ticket.
Another TikToker who posts about plus-size travel, Jaelynn Chaney, told Fox Business: "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," she added. "And so, it's not just about physical accessibility. It's also about financial accessibility."
Southwest did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment, sent outside US working hours.