DALLAS, June 19 (UPI) -- Southwest Airlines came in for criticism Wednesday for its long-standing policy of charging some larger passengers for two seats.
The rule came under new scrutiny because of a recent memo clarify the policy in connection with an announced change from plastic to paper boarding passes at the Dallas-based airline that services 58 U.S. cities.
Southwest stressed the policy was adopted 20 years ago for the comfort of all its passengers but the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance and several other similar groups took issue.
"They are targeting fat people," said Mary Anne Bodolay, NAAFA executive administrator in Sacramento, Calif. "There are gray areas as to who is going to decide and who is not going to decide if we're too fat to sit in the seats."
Bodolay, who said she stopped flying Southwest, also said the policy causes long lines while airline personnel determine if a person requires two seats. She said the rule is also arbitrary as to how they decide who requires extra room.
Southwest spokeswoman Beth Harbin said the policy was adopted in 1980 for the comfort of all passengers flying the airline.
"If someone requires more than one seat they are to purchase that second seat," she said. "That's to guarantee that the two seats they need are available to them on their flight."
Harbin explained that if it's determined later there were extra seats on the flight the passenger will get a full refund for that second seat.
The policy was adopted because of feedback from customers who complained they were crowded by larger passengers seated next to them, the Southwest official said.
"By far we receive more complaints about that then from the people who are upset by having to purchase the seat," she said. "The policy is there for everyone."
Harbin said the issue seldom arises at Southwest, which flies more than 64 million passengers a year to 58 U.S. cities.
Some other U.S. airlines also charge large passengers for a second seat.
