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4h ago

Southwest Tightens Policy for Plus-Size Flyers, Requiring Extra Seats to Be Bought Upfront

The company frames the change as part of its move to assigned seating with refunds limited to narrowly defined cases.

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A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 airplane prepares to takeoff at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on July 10, 2025.
A Delta Air Lines plane leaves the gate on July 12, 2021, at Logan International Airport in Boston.

Overview

  • Effective Jan. 27, 2026, travelers who cannot fit within a single seat must purchase adjacent seat(s) during booking, coinciding with Southwest’s switch to assigned seating.
  • The airline defines the armrest as the seat boundary and posts seat-width data to guide bookings.
  • Refunds for the additional seat apply only if both seats are in the same fare class, the request is made within 90 days, and the flight departs with at least one open seat or space-available passengers on board.
  • Itineraries involving partner carriers are excluded from Southwest’s refund policy for extra seats, and partner rules may differ.
  • Customers who arrive without having bought the extra seat must purchase one at the airport; if no adjacent seat is available on that flight, they will be rebooked, drawing criticism from plus-size advocates as Southwest pursues a broader revenue overhaul.