Southwest to Require Extra Seat for Plus-Size Flyers in 2026

(UNITED STATES) Southwest Airlines will require certain travelers to buy an extra seat starting January 27, 2026, a major shift that ends the carrier’s long-running, more flexible approach for plus-size passengers.

Under the new rules, anyone who cannot fit within the armrests of a single seat must purchase a second seat during booking. A refund for that extra seat is possible only if the flight departs with at least one open seat and both tickets were bought in the same fare class. Refund requests must be submitted within 90 days.

The change arrives the same day Southwest moves from open seating to assigned seats, and it follows the airline’s 2025 move to add checked bag fees and charge for more legroom—steps aimed at boosting revenue in the United States 🇺🇸 market. Advocates say the policy will raise costs and cut comfort, while Southwest says it’s part of broader policy updates.

Policy Changes Overview

Southwest’s policy update marks a clear break from its older, more accommodating rules for plus-size passengers. For years, the airline stood out by allowing travelers who needed more room to request a free extra seat at the airport, or to buy a second seat in advance with a guaranteed refund later. That approach earned praise from many customers who felt seen and treated with respect during what can be a stressful part of travel.

Starting January 27, 2026, the policy changes in several important ways:

• Requirement at booking: If a passenger cannot fit within the armrests of one seat, they must buy an extra seat when booking.
• Refund conditions: A refund for the extra seat is available only if the flight leaves with at least one open seat and both seats were purchased in the same fare class.
• Deadline: The traveler must request the refund within 90 days of the flight.
• Assigned seating: On the same date, Southwest will begin assigned seats, ending open seating across its network.
• Current policy until Jan. 27, 2026: Travelers can still ask for a free extra seat at the airport or purchase a second seat in advance and seek a refund later.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the new approach brings Southwest closer to policies common at other large U.S. carriers, which usually require passengers who need more room to pay for a second seat with limited chances of getting that money back. The difference is especially sharp for travelers who depended on the old “Customer of Size” framework at Southwest that made it easier to fly without paying more when space was available.

Impact on Travelers and Industry Context

The most immediate effect is financial. On full flights, plus-size passengers who need an extra seat will have to pay for it, and a refund will not be available if the plane departs with no open seats. That shifts a larger share of risk and cost to those travelers, many of whom already plan routes, times, and budgets carefully to make flying work.

Advocates emphasize that flying should be safe and dignified for everyone, and they worry the new rules will discourage some from traveling at all. Travel agent Jason Vaughn, who focuses on plus-size travel, warns the change will reduce comfort and fairness for affected travelers and could also create stress for nearby passengers.

Assigned seating may help crew planning, but it does not alter the core fact: an extra seat now must be paid for up front in most cases.

How other airlines compare

• American, Delta, United: Typically require plus-size passengers who cannot fit into one seat to purchase an extra seat, with refunds rare or not offered.
• JetBlue, Alaska: Have similar stricter policies.
• Southwest (prior to 2026): Was a rare exception with a more flexible stance.

VisaVerge.com reports that Southwest’s old policy was a rare case of flexibility in a sector known for strict seat rules. The 2026 shift ends that distinction and signals alignment with industry norms.

Revenue and broader trends

Southwest’s policy shift arrives as the airline faces pressure to improve revenue. The carrier ended its “bags fly free” approach in May 2025 and introduced checked baggage fees and charges for more legroom. Company statements frame the latest change as part of broader policy and systems updates while Southwest modernizes, including the move to assigned seating.

Industry watchers note a wider trend: airlines increasingly rely on fees and add-ons. Requiring an extra seat purchase—paired with tighter refund rules—adds a new fee pressure point for a specific group of travelers.

Refund and Eligibility Details

To be eligible for a possible refund later, plus-size passengers must:

• Book two seats in the same fare class.
• Confirm the flight departs with an open seat.
• Request the refund within 90 days.

If any part of that chain breaks—e.g., the flight departs full—refunds won’t be issued. The 90-day window is another key detail; missing it means the extra-seat cost remains with the traveler.

Important: If seats are purchased in different fare classes, a refund will likely be denied even if an open seat exists on departure.

Boarding Experience and Practical Effects

Southwest’s switch to assigned seats may reshape the boarding experience. With open seating gone, gate agents and crews will no longer manage seating informally in the same way. For many years, Southwest staff used the open-seating model to help plus-size passengers find space discreetly, including holding adjacent seats when possible.

Assigned seating could add predictability, but the refund policy—not seating charts—will determine whether travelers get their money back for a second seat.

Consumer protection context: The U.S. Department of Transportation oversees air travel consumer rights and accepts complaints on airline practices. Official information on air travel consumer rules is available at the DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection page: U.S. Department of Transportation Aviation Consumer Protection.

Frequently Asked Practical Questions

• What if someone doesn’t buy an extra seat but later realizes they need one?
  • The expectation is to make that decision at booking. Waiting increases the risk that the flight will be full and a refund won’t be possible later.
• How do fare classes affect refunds?
  • Both seats must be in the same fare class for a refund to be considered. Mixing fare types could block a refund, even if an open seat is available.
• What about connections?
  • The refund conditions apply to each flight leg. If one leg is full, that part of the trip may not qualify for a refund, even if another segment has open seats.

Booking Steps and Timing for 2026 Travel

Here’s how the process will work for trips on or after January 27, 2026:

1. At booking, a traveler who cannot fit within the armrests of one seat buys two seats in the same fare class.
2. Before the flight, Southwest communicates that buying the extra seat at booking is needed to have the space guaranteed.
3. At departure, if at least one seat is open, the traveler may seek a refund for the extra seat.
4. The refund request must be filed within 90 days. If the flight is full or the seats were not in the same fare class, a refund won’t be issued.

Until that date, Southwest’s current rules remain: a traveler can still request a free extra seat at the airport or buy one in advance and seek a refund after. That short window—between now and late January 2026—may matter for people planning holiday travel or early 2026 trips.

Likely Effects and Next Steps

For plus-size passengers who fly often, the change may affect decisions about when and how to travel. Early morning or midweek flights sometimes have more open seats, increasing the chance of a refund, though that varies by route and season.

Airlines rarely roll back fees once implemented. Industry analysts say Southwest’s pivot puts it in step with legacy carriers and may reduce ad hoc special handling at the airport. But it also removes a policy many travelers saw as fair and humane.

Southwest says it is updating policies across the board, with investors pushing for better results. Advocates urge the airline to protect dignity and comfort while ensuring safety for all. The months ahead will reveal how assigned seats and the new refund rules perform on full flights and whether the booking process remains clear for those who need an extra seat.