armrest

Southwest Airlines has announced that it is changing its policy for passengers who cannot fit within the armrests of their seat in a move that has split opinion

A major US airline will soon require travellers who cannot fit within the armrests of their seat to purchase an additional one in advance.

The new rule—part of a series of recent changes Southwest Airlines is implementing—takes effect on January 27, the same day it begins assigning seats. It has proved particularly controversial. While some love the idea and see it as a fair one, others have argued it will make things worse for all passengers.

At present, plus-size passengers can either purchase an extra seat beforehand with the possibility of receiving that money back later, or they can request a complimentary additional seat at the airport. Under the carrier’s updated policy, a refund remains possible but is no longer guaranteed.

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In a statement on Monday, Southwest said it is revising some of its policies as it prepares for assigned seating next year.

“To ensure space, we are communicating to Customers who have previously used the extra seat policy that they should purchase it at booking,” the statement said.

It represents the latest modification at Southwest, which had long been recognised for allowing its passengers to choose their own seats after boarding the aircraft, and for permitting their bags to fly for free, which ended in May. Those benefits were crucial to distinguishing the budget carrier from its competitors.

Southwest says it will still reimburse a second ticket under its new policy for extra seating if the flight isn’t fully booked at the time of departure, and if both of the passengers’ tickets were bought in the same booking class.

The passenger also needs to request the refund within 90 days of the flight. Under the new policy, passengers who require an extra seat but fail to purchase one in advance will be obliged to buy one at the airport.

If the flight is fully booked, they will be rebooked onto another flight.

Jason Vaughn, an Orlando-based travel agent who shares theme park reviews and travel advice for plus-size individuals on social media and his website, Fat Travel Tested, believes this change will affect travellers of all sizes. He said that Southwest’s current policy made flying more comfortable for plus-size passengers while ensuring everyone had enough room in their seats.

“I think it’s going to make the flying experience worse for everybody,” he commented on the new rule.

Vaughn described the change as another disappointment for loyal Southwest customers like himself, comparing it to the recent logo change by Cracker Barrel that upset some of the restaurant’s fans.

“They have no idea anymore who their customer is,” he said about the airline. “They have no identity left.”

On the Southwest Airlines subreddit, some criticised the policy, arguing that it would penalise those with different sized bodies. One person wrote: “I have broad shoulders. My issue with seats has nothing to do with me being fat or lazy. Seat size, aisle size, foot space, it’s all shrinking. Be careful, you cheer this too much you may find youself kicked off for not being small enough.”

Others were more positive about the policy. “It’s fair. Being way overweight and encroaching on others, especially on long flights, is just awful for everyone,” one person contributed to the discussion. Another added: “Now let’s do the same for men who spread their legs and feet into others’ footwells and space too.”

The airline has been struggling recently and is facing pressure from activist investors to increase profits and revenue. Last year, it announced plans to charge customers extra for additional legroom and offer overnight flights.

Tom Pike, 28, from Hackney, London had been on holiday in Menorca with a friend earlier this month when he came across an extremely small armrest on his Jet2 flight home

A holidaymaker was left in stitches on board a Jet2 flight back to the UK from Spain after he was given “the world’s smallest armrest”.

Tom Pike could not believe what he was seeing when he took his seat on the Menorca to London Stansted Airport flight on Sunday, August 10. The 28-year-old, who was perched next to the window, buckled his seatbelt and went to get comfy but immediately noticed the size of the armrest on his right hand side.

The passenger was left puzzled at the size of the armrest, with Tom reacting by simply bursting into laughter. Along with his friend Isabella Michel, the pair concluded that they had never seen one “this small” before.

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In hilarious footage captured on board the flight, which was due to last two and a half hours, Tom attempted to use the “1.5-inch” armrest. The holidaymaker, who paid £200 for the flight, flipped the armrest down – but it made little to no difference.

Tom’s arm engulfs the armrest with it essentially only big enough for his elbow. “Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday,” Isabella can be heard saying in the footage, in reference to the company’s well-known slogan.

Fortunately for the pair they had a whole row of three seats to themselves on the flight back home. This allowed Tom to move into the middle seat and make use of the extra space.

“I have never had one this small before,” Tom, a financial services worker from Hackney, north London, told Luxury Travel Daily. “It was maybe 1.5 inches long.

“We immediately burst into laughter. I didn’t make a complaint on the flight; luckily, I was able to move to the middle seat. I can think of a lot that beats a Jet2 holiday.”

Jet2 has been in the headlines quite a bit in recent months, largely due to the virality of its ads. To the soundtrack of Jess Glynne’s hit song Hold My Hand, potential customers are told “nothing beats a Jet2 holiday” and that phrase has gained lots of momentum this summer.

So much so that the sound has featured as part of a number of spoof remakes, including one posted by the White House promoting deportation. The video shows people being handcuffed and escorted on to a plane, alongside the caption: “When ICE books you a one-way Jet2 holiday to deportation. Nothing beats it!”

Jet2 responded by saying it does not endose the video, while Glynne said the social media post made her feel “sick”. A spokesperson for Jet2. said: “Our branding has become something of a viral phenomenon this summer and we are pleased to see how many people have used it in good humour.

“This has put a smile on many people’s faces, just like our holidays do. We are of course aware of a post from the White House social media account. This is not endorsed by us in any way, and we are very disappointed to see our brand being used to promote government policy such as this.”