New Southwest Seating Policy Sparks Discrimination Concerns Among Black Women

The Root ^ | 3/19/26 | Phenix S Halley

[Renkluaf]

Folks aren’t feeling Southwest Airlines new policies, which have been rolling out since last spring. Now, Black women are raising alarms after they claim a new plus size seating policy is causing more harm than good.

[Renkluaf]

Anyone have any suggestions?

[Integrityingovt]

Cut off access to candy and chocolate under the SNAP program. :)

[Paladin2]

Drive if you can.

[Impala64ssa]

What would Sir Mix A Lot say?

[AppyPappy]

Black women claim racism after Southwest Airlines bans “acting like you out yo dam mind”

[frank ballenger]

Ozempic.

Interesting factoid that apparently only black women have weight problems. /S

[Sacajaweau]

Chocolate is good for you. It’s the soda and chips

[LouAvul]

The above excerpted article mentions "plus size." I.e., fat. Obese. And all w/in the context of fat, black women.

The problem is not Southwest. The problem is fat, black women. Suggestions? They should stay home. Or, drive.

[VanShuyten]

“… after they claim a new plus size seating policy…”

That’s ok. Gavin Newsom says they’re too dumb to get a real ID anyway, so they’ll have to ride the dog (if Greyhound still exists).

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Yes. Lose some weight. That applies to all races. Morbidly obese people tend to "overflow" their
seats. Once I was on a 727, assigned to the rear rightmost window seat. A morbidly obese man
was seated in the middle seat, a jet engine above and behind me. Worst flight ever.

Morbidly obese people should be assigned an aisle seat with the middle seat open, and on their tab.

[BobL]

“Anyone have any suggestions?”

...perhaps have them boycott.

[Cowgirl of Justice]

Aisle seat?

You really want them to block the exit of the other passengers in that row in an emergency???

[Responsibility2nd]

Bovine Class Seating would help.

[PGR88]

Most blacks have risen because of the massive Democrat welfare state, massive debt spending, and because they are useful to its political needs

If the US government went bankrupt, the debt spending ended, and the welfare state collapsed, sadly, most blacks would be right back at the bottom. In fact, they would be relatively worse off than even 100 years ago.

[butlerweave]

Next Southwest Airlines will add Cargo planes for the Plus Sizes with a crate and a forklift for seats

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Change the seating to accommodate.
Increase prices.

[TexasGator]

Airline assumptions

Male: 190 pounds in the summer and 195 pounds in the winter.

Female: 179 pounds in the summer and 184 pounds in the winter.

Children: Ages 2-12: 82 pounds in the summer and 87 pounds in the winter.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Yeah, window seat would be better with middle seat open. Good point!

[lee martell]

The policies should be printed online as much as can be done. Before leaving their homes, before paying online, the passenger should be given some way to know if they will likely need to buy Seat #2.

They should be allowed to show up at the airport, all ready to fly, only to get this expense thrown at them at the last minute. Not everyone happens to have a couple extra hundred to toss at the airline.

BMI + Waist Size + Height/Weight ratios = TWO SEATS PLEASE!

[gibsonguy]

The Root? Really? Now we are getting posts from there? Just stop.