Southwest Airlines is changing its seating policy for plus-size passengers.
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.
