US EditionLow-cost airline makes major change impacting flight costs for ‘customers of size’
Southwest Airlines ends open seating, requiring customers of size who encroach on adjacent seats to buy extra seats with refund options if flights are not full.
- Southwest Airlines will end its open seating policy and require travelers who do not fit within their seat armrests to purchase an extra seat starting January 27, 2026.
- This change follows Southwest’s need to update policies ahead of assigned seating and to shift from its current complimentary extra seat offer for plus-size passengers.
- Passengers encouraged to proactively book additional seats will receive refunds if flights are not full, while those who do not pre-purchase must buy seats at the airport or face rebooking if no seats are available.
- Southwest stated customers must request refunds within 90 days of travel and warned the policy differs for flights involving partner carriers requiring separate arrangements.
- The policy shift may affect travelers of all sizes, and a travel agent criticized it, saying Southwest no longer understands its customers, suggesting potential negative impacts on passenger experience.
17 Articles
17 Articles
KIRO host agrees with Southwest Airlines' new plus size policy
Southwest Airlines passengers who don’t fit within the armrests of their seat will have to buy an additional one, The Associated Press reported Monday. Plus-size passengers are currently able to purchase an extra seat and get a refund, but the new rule will make the refund harder to get. “I was surprised that Southwest had this policy in the first place, and I am very sympathetic,” KIRO host Ursula Reutin said on “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIR…
Flying Southwest? A big change could cost plus-size passengers hundreds more
Southwest Airlines is implementing significant changes to its seating policy for plus-size passengers, marking a departure from what many considered one of the most accommodating policies in the industry.Major Policy ShiftStarting Jan. 27, 2026, Southwest will require passengers who need extra space to purchase additional seats upfront rather than receiving automatic refunds for unused seats. Travel agent Monica Bowen said Southwest's current po…
How Southwest Airlines’ new seating policy affects plus-size travelers
Southwest Airlines will soon require travelers who don’t fit within the armrests of their seat to pay for an extra one in advance, part of a string of recent changes the carrier is making. The new rule goes into effect January 27, the same day Southwest starts assigning seats. Currently, plus-size passengers can either pay for an extra seat in advance with the option of getting that money back later, or they can request a free extra seat at the …
‘If you occupy two seats, you pay for two’: Flyers applaud Southwest Airlines for charging plus-size passengers extra
Southwest Airlines’ new rule requiring plus-size passengers to pre-purchase an extra seat has ignited a storm online. Many users backed the move, calling it fair to paying customers and comparing it to overweight baggage fees. Others, however, criticized it as harsh.
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