Southwest Airlines will change its seating policy for plus-size passengers beginning January 27, 2026. Passengers who occupy space in an adjacent seat will be required to purchase that neighboring seat. Under the new rule, the second seat will generally be nonrefundable unless the flight departs with at least one open seat and both seats were purchased within the same fare class. Previously, flyers could buy an extra seat in advance and receive a refund later, or request an extra seat at the airport at no charge. The policy change is part of broader shifts including ending open seating and adding checked baggage fees.
Starting January 27, 2026, passengers who take up space in the neighboring seat will have to buy an extra ticket - and it might not be refunded. The current rules allow flyers to buy an extra seat ahead of time and get refunded later -- or request an extra seat at no charge at the airport. Those options made Southwest popular with many plus-size passengers.
But the new rules mean the second seat will be nonrefundable unless the flight departs with at least one open seat -- and both seats are purchased within the same fare class. The move is the latest in a series of changes for Southwest. The carrier has also ended its open seating policy and instituted checked baggage fees.
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