Southwest Airlines Change Concerns Overweight Travelers

An expert on plus-size travel believes a major Southwest Airlines policy change is going to make things "worse" for travelers. The policy will go into place in January 2026.

Jason Vaughn, an Orlando-based travel agent who posts travel advice for plus-size travelers, believes the new policy is "going to make the flying experience worse for everybody," according to Fox10 Phoenix.

What will the policy change do? It means that overweight passengers will need to purchase an extra seat at booking time, not at the airport, and a refund is only possible if it meets certain conditions, Fox10 explained, adding that now they have the option to get a free extra seat at the airport.

• Southwest calls plus-sized passengers "customers of size." A statement on its website explains, "We’ve had a long-standing policy designed to meet the seating needs of Customers who require more than one seat." However, that policy is changing.
• According to Southwest, flights with open seating departing on or before January 26, 2026, will need to abide by the new policy. "Customers who encroach upon the neighboring seat(s) should proactively purchase the needed number of seats prior to travel to ensure the additional seat is available," Southwest wrote.

Southwest explained: "The armrest is considered to be the definitive boundary between seats; you may review information about the width of Passenger seats. In addition, Southwest may determine, in its sole discretion, that an additional seat is necessary for safety purposes."

The airline continued: "Southwest will refund the extra seat purchased upon request once travel is complete. After travel is complete, please request your refund. An additional seat purchased by a Customer traveling on an itinerary that includes a partner carrier is non-refundable."

However, the airline now lists conditions for the refund. They are:

• The flight(s) "must depart with at least one open seat (or with Passengers traveling on space available passes)," Southwest says.
• Both seats "should be purchased in the same fare class (i.e., Choice, Choice Preferred, Choice Extra, or Basic)," it adds.
• The refund request "must be made within 90 days of your date of travel."

The Expert Believes That the Change Will Reduce Comfort for All Southwest Passengers

Vaughn posted a YouTube video to address the change. He explained the difference.

"Traditionally, you've been able to go, you buy a second seat, you get refunded if you're a plus-size person. They've now said you don't get refunded if it's a full flight. This is the change," Vaughn explained in the YouTube video.

"Southwest already ruined their brand in my eyes when they got rid of the free bags. I'm sorry, Southwest, you're no longer special," Vaughn said. "They've made market decisions."

"Again, it's a market decision...Nobody has a guarantee of comfort anymore," Vaughn alleged. He added that he doesn't "feel entitled to a second seat," but believes that plus-sized people will factor the new policy into their decisions when they buy airplane tickets.

Vaughn also says in the video that the current policy helped all travelers by making sure everyone is comfortable in their seats. "If you're skinny, this isn't a win for you," he added. "You need market solutions."

People thanked Vaughn for the video in his comment section on YouTube. "I hate this new policy, I'm scared I have to get more then 2 seats," wrote one person.

"Why can’t they just have some expensive seats that are 22 inches instead of 17 inches? Over a certain weight you would have to have a second seat, but a lot of moderately fat people really don’t need that, just a longer belt and a couple of inches," another person wrote.

"I've always flown southwest, but I don't fly often, usually drive lol. The free seat option if available day of flight was nice. At least there is seat belt extenders still lol," another person contended.

Southwest Airlines Explained the Change in Detail

Southwest told Fox10 that it is communicating with passengers about the change. "To ensure space, we are communicating to Customers who have previously used the extra seat policy that they should purchase it at booking," the airline said.

According to Fox10, Southwest says it will "still refund a second ticket under its new policy for extra seating if the flight isn’t fully booked at the time of departure, and if both of the passenger’s tickets were purchased in the same booking class."

The passenger "also needs to request the refund within 90 days of the flight," the airline explained to Fox10.

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