Southwest Airlines to Require Plus-Size Passengers to Book Extra Seat

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00:00Southwest Airlines to require plus-size passengers to book extra seat.

00:05Starting in January next year, Southwest Airlines will drastically change how plus-size travelers

00:11fly.

00:12The airline plans to implement a new policy that requires plus-size passengers who cannot

00:18fit within their seats' armrests to purchase an extra ticket before boarding.

00:24This marks a significant departure from Southwest's long-standing customer-friendly approach that

00:29made it a preferred choice among larger passengers.

00:36The existing policy allows travelers to purchase an extra seat in advance and receive a refund

00:42or request, one for free at the airport if necessary.

00:46The new policy lets plus-size travelers buy an extra seat up front with potential refunds

00:52or request an additional seat if available, ending traditional policies that favored them.

00:59Southwest will still offer refunds for extra seats under specific conditions.

01:06Passengers must buy both seats in the same fare class and request refunds within 90 days of

01:12travel.

01:14Refunds apply only if at least one seat is empty at departure.

01:18Passengers without pre-purchase seats face higher airport tariffs and may be re-booked if flights

01:23are full.

01:28The January 27th, 2026 effective date gives plus-size travelers limited time to adjust.

01:36New seating categories, standard, preferred, extra legroom, carry varied pricing.

01:41Implementing these with assigned seating marks, Southwest's most significant operational shift, reflecting

01:47broader industry revenue and standardization trends.

01:50cessors .

01:51Celebration Taxes

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