How does standby work with airlines??

How does the fat guy rule work with airlines?

• Is it a weight issue? A bmi measurement? Is it concrete or a judgment call? How will I know ahead of time?

• Answer:

  The policy varies with the airline. When it's enforced it's a judgement call and it's up to the ticket agent or gate agent. There's no way for you to know if you'll need to buy a second seat until you show up at the airport. Here's a look at how a few different airlines deal with the "customer of size:" Southwest: Passengers should plan on purchasing an extra seat or risk being asked to do so at the airport by staff. If the flight is not sold out, the passenger may claim a refund. American: Passengers over 250 pounds should recognize that there may be limitations to the service that the airline can provide. However, it does not require that you purchase an extra seat automatically. United: No policy whatsoever. Midwest: Like Southwest, passengers are encouraged to know their needs in advance. If staff determine that two seats are required, the seat will be sold at the lowest possible fare, with a refund available if there is one or more open seats on the flight. Air France: Passengers with "high body mass" may receive a 25 percent discount on an extra seat, knowing that if they choose to not buy the seat, they may risk not being able to fly. JetBlue: You are required to buy a second seat, and there are no refunds. Delta: The airline "works to accommodate" passengers with special needs. Upon request and availability, it will try to make sure the next seat is unoccupied. However, if the plane is full, you will most likely be asked to leave the flight and buy a second seat on the next available flight. (You can actually count on this being a fairly typical practice on most airlines.)