Starting January 27, 2026, Southwest Airlines will be implementing a new policy that may require plus-size passengers to purchase an extra seat in advance if they “encroach upon the neighboring seat. ” This change has been met with criticism and concern from both customers and travel experts.

Under the new policy, passengers who need an additional seat will be required to purchase it at the time of booking. Those who do not purchase an extra seat ahead of time will be required to buy one at the airport. This is a significant change from the previous policy, where plus-size passengers could proactively purchase an extra seat and request a refund later, or receive a free extra seat at the airport.

The new mandate states that the second seat is nonrefundable unless the flight is not fully booked at the time of departure and both tickets are booked in the same fare class. In this case, the passenger must request a refund within 90 days of the flight. However, if the flight is fully booked, the passenger will be rebooked onto a different flight.

Critics have been quick to condemn Southwest Airlines for this policy change, as well as other recent changes that have been made in an effort to increase revenue and compete with other carriers. Tigress Osborn, the executive director of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, called the changes “devastating” for plus-size flyers. She stated that Southwest was often seen as a “beacon of hope” for plus-size individuals who may have not otherwise been able to fly, and now that hope is gone.

Travel expert Jason Vaughn, who shares tips for plus-size tourists on his website Fat Travel Tested, believes that this new policy will make the flying experience worse for everyone, not just plus-size passengers. He compared Southwest’s recent changes to Cracker Barrel’s logo makeover, stating that the company has lost its identity and no longer knows who their customer is.

This new seating policy is just one of many recent changes made by Southwest Airlines. In May, the popular “first come first serve” seating policy was replaced with assigned seating, starting on the same day as the plus-size seating policy. Additionally, the decades-old “bags fly free” policy was eliminated, causing concern among critics who believe these policies differentiated Southwest from other carriers.

While Southwest executives have claimed that these changes will bring in more revenue, some have expressed doubt, saying that the airline may lose more in market share than they gain in baggage fees. The future of Southwest Airlines remains uncertain as they continue to make changes in an effort to compete with other carriers in the industry.