Southwest Airlines is trending on TikTok, and it’s not because of funny safety announcement or a passenger fight. This time, the airline is going viral for accommodating its plus-sized passengers.
TikTok users are celebrating Southwest Airlines for creating a safe space for “passengers of size” who can request a complimentary seat depending on their needs. While this has long been a part of the airline’s policy, a recent viral video showed that many were unaware of it.
A TikTok video posted by @kimmystyled — a plus-sized solo traveler and beginner aerialist — showed users how to request Southwest’s customer-of-size accommodation at the airport. The video has received more than 900,000 views already, with users commenting how great and easy the process is and praising the “body acceptance at Southwest.”
“We’ve had a long-standing policy for more than 30 years designed to meet the seating needs of Customers who require more than one seat and protect the comfort and safety of everyone onboard,” Southwest Airlines notes on its website.
According to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity has increased among those aged 20 and older from 10% to 42% — all while airplanes have reduced legroom and seat widths over the past decade.
Here’s how to get a second seat based on Southwest’s policy:
- Purchase two seats in advance and ask for a refund at the ticket counter, or
- Purchase one seat before boarding the plane and approach the ticket counter for another.
“Fat people deserve to travel for pleasure just like everyone else, and we also need to remember that air travel is for work, for family obligations, and for other responsibilities, too,” explained Tigress Osborn, executive director of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, to CNBC. “Our taxes help support this industry, and we deserve to be accommodated safely and comfortably, with access to accessible seating at all price levels.”
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