Southwest Airlines is kicking off the new year with some big changes for passengers. The airline is rolling out new rules, including assigned seating and a new policy for plus-size customers.
Starting January 27, Southwest is enforcing its “plus-size customer” policy. This change was announced back in August 2025 but is now in effect. The airline wants to make sure everyone has enough space on their flights.
According to the new policy, if a passenger needs extra room and spills into the neighboring seat(s), they should buy the extra seat before traveling. The armrest is the clear boundary between seats. If someone shows up without reserving the space they need, they will have to buy an additional seat and pay the fees. If the flight is full, they will be rebooked on another flight with available seats.
Even with these new rules, Southwest will still offer refunds for plus-size customers, but only if certain conditions are met. The airline stated they are updating many policies to prepare for assigned seating, which started today. They encourage customers who have used the extra seat policy in the past to purchase it when booking their tickets.
For more details on the new policy, check out Southwest’s website.
