My first experience of flying with Southwest Airlines left a lasting impression; one that for years made me vow to never fly the airline again. In September 2015, I was excited to travel from Fort Lauderdale to Chicago Midway to visit my boyfriend. Like many travelers, I approached the ticket counter anticipating the start of a pleasant trip. Instead, the moment quickly changed.  After greeting me, the ticket agent abruptly asked if I could fit into a seat.

The question completely caught me off guard. I had never flown with Southwest before, but I had spent most of my life traveling on other airlines.  As an adult, I had flown both domestically and internationally; to Italy, Spain and Greece, on a variety of carriers. While I occasionally needed a seatbelt extender depending on the aircraft, I had never experienced any difficulty lowering the armrest or fitting into a standard airline seat. Being asked that question at the counter felt humiliating. What began as a joyful trip instantly shifted into embarrassment and anger. At that moment, I decided Southwest would never get my business.

Years later, I learned through a good friend that the airline had made improvements to its policies for passengers of size. Travelers could purchase an extra seat in advance and would receive a refund if the flight was not full. While I still was not eager to fly Southwest again, I appreciated that the company appeared to be acknowledging a need for the change.

However, more recently the policy has shifted again, and reports suggest that gate agents are now making inconsistent judgements about who should be required to purchase a second seat. This is often based on subjective assessments of whether a passenger might “spill over” into another seat. These determinations appear to be made without clear, consistent criteria and sometimes with little discretion, often framed as a safety concern. This approach raises serious concerns about fairness and dignity in the travel experience. No passenger should feel publicly judged or embarrassed while simply trying to board a flight.

Airlines absolutely have a responsibility to ensure safety and comfort for all passengers. However, those responsibilities must be guided by clear, transparent and consistent policies. Rather than relying on subjective decisions at the gate, airlines should establish standardized guidelines that apply equally to everyone.

Southwest and the airline industry more broadly would benefit from partnering with organizations and advocates knowledgeable about the needs of passengers of size.  By doing so, they could develop policies that prioritize safety while also ensuring fairness, respect and nondiscrimination. Air travel should be about connecting people and places, not about leaving someone feeling the way I did that day at the ticket counter more than a decade ago.

Take action now and urge airlines to adopt clear, fair policies for passengers of size. Sign OAC’s petition today and help make air travel more dignified for everyone. Your voice can make a difference.

LaKima Garnett,
Miami, FL