US carrier Southwest Airlines is to strictly enforce a long held, but rarely used, policy of charging obesce passengers for two seats .

Spokeswoman Christine Turneabe-Connelly said ticket agents will have to make a judgement at the gate as to whether a traveller needs two seats.

But she said stricter enforcement was necessary to meet a growing number of complaints from slimmer passengers who complain their space is encroached upon.

In the past, the ticket agents had discretion as to whether to charge an extra fare.

Generally, if the arm rest cannot go down, or if a seat belt extension is required, the passenger is considered oversized.

Story filed: 18:34 Wednesday 19th June 2002