Plus-sized female travellers were told they had to buy a second seat due to their weight under US airline’s new policy

Plus-size female passengers have criticized a major US airline for a ‘discriminatory’ new policy requiring ‘plus-size’ customers to proactively purchase an extra seat if they cannot fit into the armrests.

As of January 2026, Southwest Airlines has implemented a ‘Customer Size’ policy, which defines a single seat as the space between two lowered armrests.

Passengers who cannot fit comfortably within the defined limit will need to purchase two seats in advance.

Those arriving at the airport without a pre-booked second seat may be redirected to a later flight or be forced to pay on the spot for a seat that is often hundreds more expensive than advance bookings.

Now, just weeks after the new policy came into force, many flyers have shared on social media their ’embarrassment’ at being asked by check-in and gate staff to purchase an extra seat before boarding their flights.

American traveler Erika, who writes @erikawithak27 on TikTok, called out the airline company. video After experiencing what staff called “predatory” behavior while flying to Las Vegas with a friend in February.

The hairdresser, who arrived at the airport without a pre-flight reservation, explained that she set out to check in as usual to drop off her luggage, but was stunned when a representative asked if she ‘wanted to try’ purchasing an extra seat.

Erika, who rejected the manager’s offer and defined herself as ‘plus size’, asked if she was chosen specifically because of her weight.

The representative said the request was ‘for the safety and comfort of other passengers’.

He said: ‘Just looking at me… what is the process for deciding this? ‘You have no idea if I can fit in this seat.’

A supervisor was eventually called to assist the agent, and Erika claimed she was given strict instructions to purchase an extra seat if she wanted to fly.

After a tense back and forth, he eventually paid $176 (£131) for the additional space.

He has since requested a refund and filed a formal complaint with Southwest.

The content creator called the policy ‘absolutely disgusting, discriminatory and predatory’ and also suggested the airline was targeting ‘a vulnerable group of people’ who may already be ‘too nervous to fly’.

Erika’s experience was echoed by fellow Southwest passenger Grace Simpson, who described the ‘worst flying experience’ of her life: video Posted on TikTok page @graceplattesimpson.

She claimed she nearly burst into tears after being ‘pulled aside’ at the gate while waiting for her connecting flight to San Diego in February.

Southwest Airlines has come under fire for its new ‘Large Customer’ policy that requires plus-size passengers to purchase extra seating if they can’t fit between the armrests

A Southwestern supervisor reportedly approached the passenger and claimed he had been ‘marked as a Major Customer’ before demanding he purchase an extra seat.

He declined the request, adding that he had ‘never spoken’ to any airline about his weight and had never been asked to purchase another seat.

He noted: ‘Moments like this make me want to crawl under a rock and live there forever. I’ve already lost 100 pounds and I think that motivates me to keep going. But even after losing 100 pounds, I’m not immune to it. This still seems to be happening.’

After her experience, Grace said Southwest’s new policy “really discriminates” against “great people.”

He added: ‘If an airline is to strictly enforce such a policy there should be clear parameters and guidelines on how a large-bodied person is classified.’

Both videos received thousands of mixed responses from viewers; While many accepted the airline’s new rule, others questioned the airline’s approach to women of certain sizes.

One person wrote: ‘Why are only women targeted? Didn’t I see any men making these videos?’ Another added: ‘Would they treat a six-foot-five muscular man the same way? That’s the real question.’

But one viewer denied the claim: ‘If you’re moving to the next seat then yes you need to buy an extra seat. I’m not sure why this is controversial.’

Another shared: ‘I’m sorry dear but it was incredibly stressful being on the other end of this situation and having to share my seat with someone so much bigger than theirs. ‘I had a full-blown panic attack because that person was literally coming at me.’

A third said: ‘As awful as this policy is, couldn’t it be a turning point in the life of someone who makes a positive and healthy change because they can’t fit into a seat?

‘Can’t you take this negative situation and realize that it’s time to make a change for yourself? If you’re close to being accused of needing two seats, it’s time to do something right for yourself.’

The airline says less than 0.25 percent of passengers have requested extra seats and insists the update is part of a broader revamp, but it appears the impact is already being felt for the plus-size community.

A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines said: ‘We began communicating changes to our policy – consistent with industry standards – almost a year ago and have continued to reiterate these changes directly to Customers throughout the summer.

‘Our policy is well described on our website and includes instructions on how to reserve a second seat when booking.’