Southwest updates plus-size customer policy ahead of assigned seating rollout

From January 27, 2026 onward, those who do not buy an extra seat in advance but need one on the day of travel will be required to pay for it at whatever fare is available that day.

Southwest defines a passenger’s seat by the width between armrests; anyone requiring more room than that must secure a second seat. If no adjacent seats are available on a sold-out flight, affected passengers may be rebooked on another flight with availability.

The new policy maintains Southwest’s practice of offering refunds under certain conditions: both seats must be purchased in the same fare class and there must be at least one empty seat on board (or passengers traveling on space-available passes). Refund requests now need to be submitted within 90 days of travel—a new deadline not present in previous versions of this policy.

A Southwest spokesperson told The Points Guy: "We are heavily encouraging customers to book in advance if they need a second seat, to avoid having to purchase it at the gate," adding that last-minute fares tend to be higher.

Despite these changes, industry observers note that Southwest's approach remains among the more flexible compared with other U.S. carriers since many eligible travelers can still receive refunds for purchasing additional seating.