Cruising Altitude is a weekly column about air travel. Have a suggestion for a future topic? Fill out the form or email me at the address at the bottom of this page.
When Southwest Airlines announced last month that it was tightening restrictions on how and when it would provide refunds for additional seats purchased by plus-size passengers, advocates for travelers who have come to rely on the policy were frustrated.
The airline’s new policy, which will go into effect on Jan. 27, will only make refunds available to plus-size passengers if there’s at least one empty seat on their flight, both seats were purchased in the same fare class, and the traveler requests the refund within 90 days of their departure. Previously, the airline placed fewer conditions on its refund policy.
Before you clog my inbox with comments about how you disagree with even Southwest’s more restrictive policy, I just want to say: I don’t want to hear it. Being fat is not a moral failing for which people should be punished. While the airlines are undeniably cramming us all in regardless of our waist size, for passengers who truly don’t fit in a standard economy seat, policies like Southwest’s help not only them but their fellow travelers be safer and more comfortable onboard, and that’s a good thing.
