Southwest Airlines is rolling out a new rule for plus-sized travellers that could make fares significantly more expensive.
Passengers who can’t fit within the armrests of their seat will soon need to book an additional one before they fly.
The rule goes into effect on 27 January 2026 as part of a wider set of changes, including pre-assigned seats.
As it stands, plus-sized travellers have two options if they require extra room: they can either purchase an additional seat upfront and apply for a refund after flying, or request a complimentary seat at the airport.
Under the new policy, refunds will still be possible, but will not be guaranteed. This means passengers may face higher upfront costs, with less certainty about getting that money back.
Southwest confirmed the change in a statement released on Monday: ‘To ensure space, we are communicating to customers who have previously used the extra seat policy that they should purchase it at booking.’
Sign up to The Getaway newsletter
Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here.
For years, Southwest has stood out among US carriers for its traveller-friendly perks and customer-first approach.
The airline built a reputation around open seating at boarding and a generous free baggage allowance — benefits that distinguished it from competitors who piled on fees.
But the perks are gradually disappearing.
The free baggage allowance was discontinued in May, and now the seating policy, once considered one of the more inclusive in the industry, is being tightened.
As mentioned, under the updated rules, Southwest says it will still honour refunds for an additional seat — but only under specific conditions.
Where does Southwest Airlines fly?
Southwest Airlines is an American-based company that serves over 100 destinations in 42 US states.
It also operates routes to Washington DC, Puerto Rico, and 10 Caribbean and Central American countries, including Aruba, the Bahamas, Costa Rica and Mexico.
A refund will only be granted if at least one seat on the flight was empty at departure and if both tickets were purchased in the same booking class. In other words, passengers can no longer assume that an extra seat will automatically qualify for a refund.
And, to get their money back, passengers must also request a refund within 90 days of their flight.
While the policy technically preserves Southwest’s promise of flexibility, in practice it places a greater financial burden on plus-sized passengers, who may now be asked to pay hundreds of dollars up front without the same assurance of reimbursement they once had.
If a plus-sized passenger fails to purchase an extra seat when booking their flight, the new policy requires them to buy one at the airport.
If the flight is fully booked, passengers won’t simply be turned away—they will be rebooked onto the next available flight.
What do people think?
The shift in policy has provoked mixed reactions.
Jason Vaughn, an Orlando-based travel agent who posts theme park reviews and travel tips for plus-size people on social media and his website, Fat Travel Tested, told AP: ‘I think it’s going to make the flying experience worse for everybody.’
Meanwhile, 34-year-old Kaycee Bivens, a travel agent based in South Carolina shared another concern.
‘I have been exclusively flying Southwest because of their customer size policy’, she explained, noting how the changes will impact her clients.
‘If you’re already budgeting and now you’ve got to add $300 to $400 to your budget, that may mean less travelers.’
Bivens suggests that the revised policies could discourage many from booking trips altogether.
Tigress Osborn, chair of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, told the New York Times: ‘Southwest was the only beacon of hope for many fat people who otherwise wouldn’t have been flying. And now that beacon has gone out.’
While Vaughn, Bivens, and Osborn voiced concerns over Southwest’s new direction, others have taken to X to share alternate views.
Nick Sorter wrote: ‘LONG overdue! Nobody should be forced to sit for hours with someone else spilling over on top of them.’
Matt Van Swol added: ‘It was odd that you had to pay extra for weight of your luggage…but someone 600lbs didn’t have to pay extra and you had to squeeze in beside them as if that wasn’t a problem.’
Facing pressure from activist investors demanding a boost in profits and revenue, the airline has channeled this struggle into extra charges for customers despite the previously relaxed nature of Southwest.
Last year, it was suggested that they would introduce charges for extra legroom and that there would be an increase in red-eye flights.
