Southwest Is Ending a Longstanding Seating Policy for Plus-Size Passengers

For years, Southwest Airlines was praised for their size-inclusive seating policies, which allowed plus-sized passengers to either pay for an extra seat and receive a refund after the flight, or request a free additional seat at the airport. However, that policy is set to change starting Jan. 27, 2026, according to an update on Southwest’s website. 

The change will coincide with the airline’s shift to assigned seating, as it moves away from its current open-seating system and starts implementing seat assignments like other airlines. At present, passengers choose their seats upon boarding and can pay for early boarding to secure a preferred spot.

“To ensure space, we are communicating to Customers who have previously used the extra seat policy that they should purchase it at booking,” Southwest said in a statement regarding the policy change. 

Under the new policy, some passengers may still qualify for a refund on the additional seat but it will no longer be guaranteed. The updated guidelines state: “Customers who encroach upon the neighboring seat(s) should proactively purchase the needed number of seats prior to travel to ensure the additional, adjacent seat is available. The armrest is considered to be the definitive boundary between seats.”

While the Southwest does list seat dimensions on its website, beginning Jan. 27, passengers will no longer be able to request a free additional seat at the gate if they require it. Instead, they will need to purchase the extra seat (priced at whatever the day of fare is) or risk being rebooked on another flight where an adjacent seat is available.

“To avoid the need for purchasing a seat at the last minute or rebooking, we encourage you to purchase your second seat when you make your initial reservation,” the website advises.

To be eligible for a refund on the extra seat after Jan. 27, the following conditions must be met:

• The flight must depart with at least one open seat.
• Both seats must be in the same fare class.
• The refund request must be made within 90 days of travel. 

With seat assignments becoming available at booking, customers should be able to select two adjacent seats. If that isn’t possible during the booking process, Southwest recommends reaching out to customer service right away.

This latest update follows a series of policy changes that have impacted longtime Southwest customers. More recently, the airline ended its popular “two bags fly free” policy earlier this summer, a move that was met with backlash from loyal flyers.