Southwest Airlines has announced stricter rules for plus-size passengers, effective January 27, 2026. The policy requires larger passengers who cannot fit in a single seat to purchase a second seat in advance and request a refund after the flight. The refund is subject to certain conditions, such as whether there were other available seats on the plane.

According to a Southwest representative, the policy change is part of their preparations for assigned seating, which differs from their previous open-seating policy. Currently, plus-size passengers are not required to purchase a second seat in advance, but it is recommended. If there is space available on the flight, additional seats are provided at no charge. Refunds are also available after travel.

Under the new policy, plus-size passengers must purchase an extra seat and pay any applicable fees before boarding. Refunds can be requested within 90 days if both seats were in the same fare class and the plane would have taken off with at least one unused seat. If the flight is full but includes passengers with space available passes, a refund can also be obtained.

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance expressed disappointment with the policy change, stating that Southwest was previously a “beacon of hope” for plus-size travelers. Jeff Jenkins, a travel influencer and founder of Chubby Diaries, also expressed concern over the refund policy, as plus-size travelers may not know if the flight was technically full before departure.

Southwest responded to these concerns by stating that they do not publish flight loads before departure for competitive reasons. The airline also received support for the new policy on social media, with some readers calling it fair to avoid discomfort for other passengers. However, others argued that it was discriminatory against larger passengers who have no control over their size.

As a former Customer of Size, one user expressed gratitude for Southwest’s previous compassionate and free extra seat policy, which allowed them to travel for business without burdening their company. They still have compassion for plus-size travelers and acknowledge that the new policy may be difficult for some.