Southwest Airlines has made a U-turn on its passenger policy, which was widely criticised for being discriminatory. The airline had announced plans to charge customers an extra fee if they had a larger seatmate, sparking accusations of charging a 'fat tax'. The policy was set to be introduced in the coming weeks, but the airline has now decided to reverse its decision. The move is seen as a victory for consumer rights groups and passengers who were opposed to the policy.
The policy was introduced as a way to incentivise passengers to book seats that were a better fit for their size, rather than booking seats that were too small. However, critics argued that the policy was discriminatory and singled out passengers based on their weight. The airline has said that it will no longer charge customers extra for having larger seatmates, and will instead work to find other solutions to the problem.
The decision has been welcomed by consumer rights groups, who have been campaigning against the policy. 'This is a victory for passengers and a victory for common sense,' said a spokesperson for the group. 'Southwest Airlines has listened to the concerns of its customers and has made the right decision.'
The policy was also opposed by the UK's Labour Party, who argued that it was discriminatory and unfair. 'This policy was a classic example of a 'fat tax', and it's right that Southwest Airlines has U-turned,' said a spokesperson for the party. 'We will continue to fight for the rights of all passengers.'
The move is seen as a significant victory for consumer rights groups, and has been welcomed by passengers across the UK. The airline has said that it will continue to work to find solutions to the problem of passengers booking seats that are too small, but has ruled out charging customers extra for having larger seatmates.