Frontier May Require Extra Berth For Fliers Of Girth

The airline considers joining others, such as Southwest, in asking that large passengers purchase two seats if needed to ensure their comfort and that of seatmates.

Author: Kelly Yamanouchi
Source: Denver Post

Airlines are dealing with a weighty problem as more large passengers put the squeeze on their smaller seatmates.

Southwest Airlines has long had a policy for "customers of size," asking large customers to buy a second seat if needed. Other airlines have similar policies.

Now, Denver-based Frontier Airlines is also considering such a policy.

Like hospitals, hotels and entertainment venues, airlines are being forced to deal with the growing American girth.

"We have seen a rise in the number of complaints from the passengers," said Frontier spokesman Joe Hodas. "Previously, we could arrange it so that (customers of size) could have that empty seat next to them. As our planes become more and more full, that becomes more difficult to do."

Frontier hopes to have its policy in effect in the next few months. It has not yet been approved by officers of the company.

United Airlines doesn't have a similar policy.

"We believe in letting our customers determine if they would be more comfortable purchasing an additional seat," said United spokeswoman Jean Medina.

Southwest Airlines has had guidelines since 1980 for "customers of size" - those who can't lower their armrests or who "compromise any portion of adjacent seating."

"It was something that was developed primarily for the comfort and safety of all of our passengers," said Southwest spokeswoman Brandy King.

The policy doesn't just apply to overweight passengers, but to anyone who can't fit comfortably into one seat. Southwest requires those "customers of size" to book as many seats as they actually fill. A seat is about 17 inches wide on Southwest and about 18 inches wide on Frontier.

If the flight does not oversell, Southwest will refund the price of the additional seat. Most of the second tickets are refunded, King said.

"It doesn't make money for us. It actually ends up costing us money with the number of refunds that we process," she said. "We hear from more customers that are in favor of the policy because their seats have been infringed upon than we do from passengers that are upset."

The policy has drawn some opposition. Southwest passenger Nadine Thompson sued the airline when it used the policy, claiming it had discriminated against her based on her race. A jury ruled against her.

On airlines that offer business-class or first-class sections, large passengers can buy tickets for those wider seats, said David Stempler, president of the Potomac, Md.-based Air Travelers Association. Passengers on airlines that don't have first- or business-class seats - including Frontier and Southwest - don't have that option.

"I represent people on both sides of the armrest," said Stempler, adding that he has received complaints from passengers large and small. He thinks it's better to have a policy and to enforce it.

Hodas said Frontier's policy will also help the airline "look out for the best interests" of large passengers by trying to ensure that they are booked next to an empty seat.

Airlines aren't the only ones grappling with growing girth. Invesco Field at Mile High was built with 19-inch seats, 1 inch wider than those at the old Mile High Stadium. Movie theater seats also have grown from 18 inches wide to 22-24 inches in newer multiplexes.

Americans' average weight grew by 10 pounds in the 1990s, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.