I don’t think average sized people understand the stress that comes with flying. When I know I have to fly, I’m worried from the time I buy the tickets until the time I’m buckled in my seat. So many scenarios go through my head. Are they going to stop me from flying if they think I’m too big, or force me to buy an extra ticket? What if I can’t get the seatbelt to buckle? Am I going to have to ask for a seat belt extension?
I’ve experienced all of these. When traveling for work once, I had to purchase a second ticket before they would let me on the plane. I paid for my own ticket. I couldn’t do my job without flying, and I wasn’t going to find out what my company would think if my ticket cost was always doubled.
Since then, I nearly always check the airline’s policy on large passengers. These policies are normally called their ‘persons of size’ or ‘passengers of size’ policy, but you could also see it called the extra seat policy or extra space policy. It always takes some digging to find it on each airline’s website, so I thought it would be helpful to have it in one place.
I’ve created the table below summarizing the ‘passenger of size’ policies for the top 10 US airlines in the US.
| NAME | DETERMINING FACTOR | ENCOURAGED TO PRE-PURCHASE? | SECOND SEAT RATE | IMPORTANT NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines Group | "Needs extra space outside a single seat to travel safely" | YES | Prepurchase: Same as original At Gate: Current Rate | If unavailable, can buy seats on new flight at the same rate May be offered a seat in a higher class at cost |
| Delta Air Lines Group | "Impedes on another passenger" | YES | Prepurchase: Same as original At Gate: Current Rate | Does not require a second seat if an extender is needed Does not require a second seat if unable to lower armrests |
| Southwest Airlines | "Encroach upon any part of the neighboring seat(s)" | YES | Prepurchase: Same as original At Gate: Current Rate | Purchasing ahead ensures a second seat is reserved Can contact the company for a refund after travel If you prefer not to purchase an additional seat in advance , you have the option of purchasing just one seat and then discussing your seating needs with the Customer Service Agent at the departure gate. If it’s determined that a second (or third) seat is needed, you’ll be accommodated with a complimentary additional seat. |
| United Airlines | "Fit comfortably in their seat" 1. can't buckle your seatbelt even with an extender 2. seat armrests don't stay down when your seated 3. encroach upon the space of the seat next to you | YES | Prepurchase: Same as original At Gate: Current Rate | If an extra seat is unavailable, you'll need to change flights Will give hotel and food vouchers |
| Alaska Airlines | "cannot comfortably fit within one seat" with the armrests down | YES | Prepurchase: Same as original At Gate: Current Rate | Prepurchase allows to adequately plan reservations Refund available if flights are not full (within 90 days) If it is determined onboard that you require a second seat, you will need to deplane and rebook two seats on the next available flight. A seatbelt extension is not a viable substitution if a passenger cannot travel comfortably with the armrests in a down position |
| Spirit Airlines | "encroaches on an adjacent seat area" and/or "unable to sit in a single seat with the armrests lowered" | YES | Prepurchase: Same as original At Gate: Current Rate | BIG FRONT SEATS are larger seats in the front of the plane and can be purchased for a charge if available. |
| JetBlue Airways | Customers decision unless there are safety concerns | YES | Prepurchase: Same as original At Gate: Current Rate | Extra seats would cost the same as the seat you are sitting in, based on the fare option you select |
| Frontier Airlines | "unable to lower both armrests and/or who compromise any portion of adjacent seat or aisle" | YES | Prepurchase: Same as original At Gate: Current Rate | Should book two seats prior to travel Armrest is definitive boundary between seats UPFRONT has extra comfort and legroom PLUS an empty middle seat |
| Allegiant Air | "unable to lower the armrest and/or compromise any portion of adjacent seat(s)" | YES | Prepurchase: Same as original At Gate: Current Rate | If on the date of travel, a passenger of size requests a second ticket, the agent will be unable to sell a second ticket unless two seats are available side-by-side. In the event the flight is sold out and an extra seat is unavailable, the passenger of size shall be denied travel in the interest of safety. |
