Gate card: Alaska Airlines (AS)

The airline's policy: “Customers of size seating guidelines (second seat policy)”

Alaska (and Hawaiian) require any customer who cannot comfortably fit in one seat with the armrests in the down position to purchase an additional seat. The armrest is the 'definitive boundary' between seats (typically 17 inches in coach). The second seat is priced the same as the first when bought at the same time. If every flight in each direction departs with at least one open seat, the second-seat cost is refunded after travel. If you arrive without a pre-purchased second seat, you must buy one before boarding; if it is determined onboard that you need a second seat, you must deplane and rebook two seats on the next available flight.

Refunds: Refund of the second seat if all Alaska Airlines flights in each direction departed with an open seat available. Request via the online feedback form or Guest CARE post-flight support with name, travel dates, flight info and ticket number; must be requested within 90 days of travel. Customers who buy a second seat without meeting the policy criteria are ineligible for the refund.