What New Conditions Are Southwest Airlines Introducing For Passengers, You Need To Know

Published on August 26, 2025

By: Paramita Sarkar

Southwest Airlines has introduced caller conditions for plus-size passengers nether its assigned seating policy, effective January 2026. The airline’s argumentation requires passengers of size to proactively acquisition an further spot to guarantee that some seats are disposable during travel. This marks a important alteration successful nan airline’s attack to accommodating plus-size passengers, particularly successful nan aftermath of its caller seating system.

What Are nan New Refund Conditions for Plus-Size Passengers?

Starting January 27, 2026, Southwest Airlines will instrumentality assigned seating connected its flights, requiring plus-size passengers to acquisition nan basal number of seats anterior to recreation to guarantee additional, adjacent seating. Southwest has emphasized nan value of proactive spot action astatine booking for those who require other space, pinch refund eligibility for passengers who meet circumstantial criteria.

If a plus-size rider buys an other spot and finds that 1 aliases much seats connected nan formation stay empty, they whitethorn suffice for a refund. To person nan refund, nan conditions authorities that both seats purchased must beryllium successful nan aforesaid fare class, and nan petition must beryllium made within 90 days of nan flight. Additionally, refunds will only beryllium approved if nan formation departs pinch astatine slightest 1 spot unoccupied aliases pinch space-available passengers.

Why Is Southwest Airlines Changing Its Policy for Plus-Size Passengers?

The determination to instrumentality these caller rules stems from Southwest Airlines’ preamble of assigned seating, which will return effect connected January 27, 2026. As portion of nan modulation to assigned seating, nan hose is updating galore policies to guarantee a smoother acquisition for some labor and customers. For passengers requiring much space, Southwest Airlines has outlined its expectations that they acquisition an other spot erstwhile booking, which reflects nan airline’s effort to support fairness and accommodate each passengers effectively.

In erstwhile years, Southwest Airlines encouraged plus-size passengers to acquisition a 2nd seat, but pinch less restrictions connected refunds. The hose now intends to standardize nan process and supply clearer guidance for customers of size who request other seating.

How Are Plus-Size Passengers Affected by nan New Policy?

The superior alteration affecting plus-size passengers is nan proactive purchase of further seats earlier traveling. To thief passengers measure whether they request other space, Southwest Airlines provides specifications connected nan spot dimensions for its Boeing 737 aircraft, listing nan spot widths from 15.5 inches astatine nan narrowest to 17.8 inches astatine nan widest. The hose has clarified that nan definitive spot bound is nan armrest, which will service arsenic nan modular measurement for determining whether an further spot is needed.

This argumentation alteration could origin immoderate interest among passengers, peculiarly erstwhile it comes to managing nan uncertainty of whether flights will beryllium sold retired aliases whether further seats will beryllium available. The refund policy is designed to connection reassurance, but nan request to actively show spot readiness whitethorn still create accent for immoderate customers.

When Will nan Policy Take Effect?

Southwest Airlines’ caller seating policy, which includes nan plus-size rider conditions, will return effect starting January 27, 2026. This marks nan opening of assigned seating crossed nan airline’s fleet, which will effect each passengers, including those needing other space. Passengers will beryllium required to book further seats successful beforehand and travel nan recently defined refund conditions should they not require nan other spot during their flight.

Where Will These Policies Be Enforced?

These caller rules will use crossed Southwest Airlines’ network, which operates chiefly wrong nan United States and to respective world destinations. All flights that usage assigned seating, opening successful January 2026, will require nan proactive acquisition of an other spot for passengers who request much space. The hose operates Boeing 737 aircraft connected galore of its routes, and nan spot dimensions for these planes person been made publically disposable connected nan airline’s website to assistance customers successful deciding if they request an further seat.

For passengers flying connected Southwest’s partner carriers, nan argumentation will differ. Plus-size customers will beryllium required to acquisition an further spot straight done nan partner carrier. These seats will beryllium non-refundable, arsenic stated successful Southwest Airlines’ terms.

How Can Passengers Navigate nan New Policy?

To guarantee they meet nan caller requirements, passengers will request to familiarize themselves pinch Southwest’s assigned seating system and extra spot refund policy. Passengers who require further abstraction should proactively acquisition nan basal number of seats erstwhile booking their flight. By doing so, they tin unafraid nan further abstraction they request and besides beryllium eligible for refunds, provided they meet each of nan conditions outlined by nan airline.

In nan lawsuit of cancellations aliases spot readiness changes, Southwest Airlines has urged travelers to cheque pinch nan airline’s customer work aliases their booking portal to process refund requests wrong 90 days from nan day of nan flight. This play ensures that travelers are alert of their eligibility and tin person nan refund promptly if nan conditions are met.

How Will Southwest Airlines Handle Plus-Size Passengers connected Partner Airlines?

For travelers flying connected Southwest Airlines partner carriers, nan hose has group retired that passengers must straight acquisition an further spot done nan partner airline. These further seats will beryllium non-refundable, and passengers should guarantee that they meet nan circumstantial policies of nan partner hose to debar immoderate complications during travel. Southwest Airlines has made it clear that these conditions use solely to its partner carriers, pinch different procedures for handling other spot requests.

Key Points to Remember:

• Effective Date: New policies return effect connected January 27, 2026, pinch assigned seating connected Southwest Airlines flights.
• Refund Eligibility: Passengers whitethorn person refunds for other seats if definite conditions are met, specified arsenic disposable seats connected nan flight.
• Seat Purchase: Plus-size passengers must proactively acquisition nan other spot astatine booking.
• Seat Dimensions: Seat widths scope from 15.5 to 17.8 inches connected Boeing 737 aircraft.
• Partner Airlines: Plus-size passengers walking pinch Southwest’s partner carriers must acquisition an further spot straight done nan partner.

Southwest Airlines’ caller conditions purpose to connection clear guidelines for plus-size passengers while transitioning to assigned seating. The airline’s effort to standardize nan process ensures that each travelers, sloppy of size, tin bask a adjacent and comfortable flying experience.