Southwest Airlines will soon require travelers who do not fit within the armrests of their seats to pay extra for another seat.
The latest change will come into effect starting next year, but the news is not sitting well with too many people who feel it’s absolutely ridiculous for them to be sending some extra funds.
The news is a part of a string of recent changes that the airline is making and will start from January 27, 2026. This is the same day that Southwest will begin assigning seats.
Currently, plus-size passengers can either pay for the extra seat in advance with the option of getting those funds back later, or they can request a free extra seat at the airport. Under the carrier’s latest policy, a refund would still be possible but no longer guaranteed. In the latest statement that was issued, Southwest shared more about how it’s updating some of these policies as it begins assigning seating next year.
‘To ensure space, we are communicating to customers who have previously used this extra seat policy that they should purchase it at the time of booking,’ – the statement mentioned.
The statement marks the latest change at Southwest, which had long been known for letting passengers pick their own seats after boarding the plane, and for letting their bags fly for free, which ended in May. Those perks were key to differentiating the budget carrier from its rivals.