Southwest’s ‘Fatties Fly Free’ policy burdens others with higher costs
The Golden Era of Air Travel
The 1990s should have been a golden era for air travel, what with in-flight smoking newly banned and the Twin Towers still standing. Instead, times were tough. A recession meant flying was off the table for many Americans, and thus, airlines were doing whatever they could to get bodies in seats.
To that end, Southwest kicked off a promotion in ’91, offering two seats for the price of one. It was called “Friends Fly Free,” and it was such a hit that the airline company extended the gimmick for the next five years.
Fatties Fly Free
Now it’s 2023, and times are tough again. In the economy, sure. But also for anyone looking to fly Southwest anytime soon. That’s because the airline effectively just kicked off a new promotion courtesy of a bunch of plump TikTokers:
Fatties Fly Free.
“Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines is being celebrated by ‘passengers of size’ on TikTok after they discovered they can request complimentary seats — one or two, depending on needs — to accommodate their girth,” Fox Business reported this week. “Customers whose bodies ‘encroach’ past the armrest are entitled to an extra seat, according to Southwest’s inclusion policy.”
One or two?
So, let me get this straight. Non-obese customers will have to pay extra so our sedentary airborne friends can “encroach” into the second — or third — seat they’re “entitled” to? It doesn’t take a fancy economist to grasp how basic supply and demand work. Any secondary seat reserved at no extra cost for one traveler is one less seat available for a paying customer. Supply goes down. Prices go up. You pay more.
Listen, I’m all for overweight passengers having a little extra elbow room. And Southwest really seems to be onto something there, saying in its “Customer of size” policy: “The armrest is the definitive gauge for a Customer of size. It serves as the boundary between seats. If you’re unable to lower both armrests and/or encroach upon any portion of a seat next to you, you need a second seat.”
Amen. There’s nothing I hate more than waking up from an uncomfortable, 40,000-foot nap to find my seatmate’s sprawling caboose taking up half the seat I paid for.
But that’s just it. I paid for this seat. You paid for that one. And if you can’t contain yourself inside yours, you should foot the bill for the extra space. You can have all the extra seat space you want — aaand you can find the market price for that extra space here.
Unpacking the Policy
Maybe you think that’s rude or unfair or “FATPHOBIC.” After all, airlines make allowances for people who have disabilities or are toting kids around, you might retort. But let’s unpack that. What’s unfair about a mother paying only one fare for herself and her infant? The only reason children under 2 years old fly free is that they’re not allowed to take up any extra seat space. They’re lap-flyers only, confined to the space between the two armrests of the buyer. And airlines take the stipulations pretty seriously. Here’s American Airlines’ rule:
Only 1 infant may be seated in the lap of each ticketed accompanying adult and the infant must be included in the reservation. … The infant must be under 2 years of age for the duration of the trip. If they turn 2 during a trip, they will need their own seat for the remainder of the trip. … If your infant will travel in their own seat, you must buy a ticket.
Southwest is similarly strict, emphasizing that a child younger than 2, “not occupying a seat, may be carried as a Lap Child.” Oh, and make sure you have the infant’s birth certificate or passport handy because the only way to avoid paying a second fare is to prove your baby
How has Southwest Airlines recently addressed the issue of “passengers of size”?
The Golden Era of Air Travel
The 1990s should have been a golden era for air travel, with the newly banned in-flight smoking and the Twin Towers still standing. However, times were tough. Due to a recession, flying was off the table for many Americans, and airlines were doing whatever they could to fill seats.
To attract more passengers, Southwest Airlines launched a promotion in 1991 called “Friends Fly Free,” offering two seats for the price of one. The promotion was such a hit that it was extended for the next five years.
Fast forward to 2023, and times are tough once again, not only in the economy but also for anyone looking to fly Southwest Airlines soon. The airline has effectively launched a new promotion called “Fatties Fly Free,” thanks to a group of overweight TikTokers.
According to a report by Fox Business, “passengers of size” on TikTok discovered that they can request complimentary seats to accommodate their size. Customers whose bodies “encroach” past the armrest are entitled to an extra seat, as per Southwest’s inclusion policy.
So, let’s get this straight. Non-obese customers will have to pay extra so overweight passengers can encroach into the second or third seat they are entitled to? It doesn’t take a fancy economist to understand how basic supply and demand work. Any secondary seat reserved at no extra cost for one traveler means one less seat available for a paying customer. This will ultimately lead to a decrease in supply and an increase in prices.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe overweight passengers should have some extra elbow room. Southwest seems to be onto something by setting a clear boundary with their “Customer of size” policy. The armrest serves as the definitive gauge, and if a passenger is unable to lower both armrests or encroaches upon another seat, they need a second seat.
I understand the importance of comfort during flights, as there is nothing worse than waking up from an uncomfortable nap to find that your seatmate’s sprawling body is taking up half of the seat you paid for. However, it is essential to remember that each seat comes at a cost. If one passenger requires an extra seat, it means another paying customer will have less availability or may have to pay a higher price.
Finding a balance between accommodating overweight passengers and ensuring fairness for all customers is crucial for airlines. Perhaps there are alternative solutions that can be explored, such as offering discounted rates for extra seats or providing specialized seating arrangements.
In conclusion, while it is important to consider the comfort of overweight passengers, it is equally important to ensure fairness for all customers. Airlines need to find a way to strike a balance and avoid creating additional financial burdens for non-obese passengers. This will not only benefit the airlines themselves but also contribute to overall customer satisfaction in the air travel industry.
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