Overview

• Effective January 27, 2026, customers who cannot be safely accommodated within a single seat must purchase an additional adjacent seat before travel.
• Southwest defines a seat by the space between armrests and lists Boeing 737 seat widths of roughly 39 to 45 centimeters to help travelers gauge fit.
• Refunds for the extra seat are offered only if purchased in advance on Southwest’s website in the same fare class, the flight departs with at least one open seat, and the request is filed within about 90 days.
• Itineraries that include partner-operated segments require buying the additional seat directly from the partner carrier, and that purchase is nonrefundable.
• The update replaces a prior practice of post-trip refunds for an extra seat and has drawn criticism from plus-size travel advocates who warn of added cost and anxiety.