Flying at My Size: Why Airline Policies Matter

The holiday season is fast approaching and I just finalized my travel plans. While I’m happy to get to visit loved ones, I’m sad that it will be my last trip with a guaranteed refund for my additional seat. 

When Southwest Airlines announced plans to move to assigned seating at the end of 2024, my heart sank. For the past decade, their “Customer of Size” policy has made flying possible—and even pleasant—for me. While the policy evolved over time, it’s been the best option available for me because of my size and now this change could mark the end of my ability to travel as often or as easily.

A Difficult History

Traveling while living with obesity has never been easy. For years, Southwest was notorious for forcing larger passengers to buy an extra seat at the gate, often in humiliating ways. Those surprise costs not only caused financial hardship, they also disrupted travel plans for people who had already gone through the stress of preparing to fly. I knew people who were publicly shamed at the airport and for a long time, I avoided Southwest altogether.

That changed one day when I had no choice but to book them for a direct route. As I approached the gate in a wheelchair, the agent came out from behind the desk, greeted me warmly and told me she was going to secure a second seat for me. When I asked if the flight wasn’t full, she said, “It doesn’t matter—I do what I want to do.” That simple act of respect shifted my perspective completely.

A Decade of Positive Experiences

Since then, Southwest has provided me with overwhelmingly positive flying experiences. I can book online like anyone else, check in with the app and print my boarding pass at a kiosk. The difference is that I know I’ll have the space I need. Having that assurance allowed me to focus on the purpose of my trips—most often to Washington, DC, where I’ve traveled every two to three months for more than a decade to advocate for better access to care.

The ability to fly without fear has been life-changing. It didn’t just help me—it helped advance a cause that affects millions. And the refunded cost of the second seat made all the difference. While the policy did require me to have the funds for two seats in advance, (I preferred this over waiting to make the request when I arrived at the airport) at least I had the option. On other airlines, buying an extra seat is so complicated—and so expensive—that it’s often impossible.

Read my tips for flying in Weight Matters Magazine

Why This Matters

People with obesity make up 40% of the U.S. population. We don’t travel alone—we bring our families, friends and colleagues with us. Airlines that treat us with dignity earn not only our loyalty, but also the business of the people we travel with.

Air travel is a basic part of modern life, not a privilege for those who fit into shrinking seats. Yet for people living with obesity, flying still comes with barriers at every step. Most airlines make booking an extra seat complicated—requiring phone calls, extra fees and confusing systems. Some even charge just to speak with an agent. Others don’t allow seat selection online, leaving passengers assigned to the least desirable seats at the back of the plane.

Southwest has shown what’s possible when an airline chooses to prioritize inclusion and accessibility. And although I’m disappointed they are reversing many of the policies that made them my preferred airline, they still make purchasing an extra seat a smoother process than other airlines and their crew are familiar with passengers having two seats. If other airlines want our business, they must do better.

Here are the policies of major airlines for purchasing an additional seat.

Airline policies can change so always check the website to check the policy for purchasing an extra seat. The policy can be referred to as Passenger or Customer of Size, Extra Seat, Extra Space or Special Needs.

What Airlines Could Do Better

Passengers of size are not asking for special treatment. We’re asking for fairness, dignity and accessibility. Airlines could make meaningful improvements with a few simple changes:

• Make booking additional seats seamless online. Don’t force us to call or pay extra fees to complete a booking.
• Price fairly. If one of the two seats is a middle seat, it should be priced accordingly—not at the highest fare class.
• Be transparent. Airlines should clearly identify seats where the armrests don’t lift or where seatbelt extenders aren’t permitted, so we can make informed choices.

If you agree that airlines must treat passengers of size with fairness and dignity, add your voice. Sign the Obesity Action Coalition’s petition here urging airlines to adopt inclusive, accessible travel policies. Together, we can make air travel work for everyone.