Plus format Southwest Airlines passengers are confronted with potentially expensive rule changes (copy)

From January 27, 2026, on the same day that Southwest is offered to offer assigned seats on flights, customers who “penetrate the adjacent seat (s)” must buy the number of seats they need before they travel if they want to secure the chair next to them, the airline said on its website.

However, the airline, which is head office at Dallas Love Field, may not offer those customers a refund, as it has done in the past. Southwest said that in order to get customers of great size a refund, three conditions must be met: the flight must deviate from at least one open seat or with passengers flying with available space, both seats must be purchased in the same tariff class and the reimbursement request must be made within 90 days after the travel date.

Earlier, passengers who needed it could book an extra seat on a southwestern flight and a refund after they travel or arrive at the airport, request an extra seat at the gate and if there was room, one is offered without extra costs. Southwest also no longer offers a pre-boarding to plus-size passengers, instead demanding that they go on board in their assigned group.

It is the newest radical change that has eliminated several popular long -term policy, because the courier wants to generate income. Other changes have been charged for checked luggage, the introduction of new types and offering assigned seats and premium seats, similar to other large carriers.

When the new policy comes into force, Southwest passengers who appear at the airport and need an extra seat are required to buy one at the rate for that day. If there is no available, they will be turned on a different flight.

Plus-size passengers who buy rates that do not allow them to select assigned seats must contact Southwest ‘as quickly as possible’ after booking, so that the airline can help them. Southwest said it will not allocate seats to other members of the party of a passenger such as the rate that does not include.

In a statement regarding the change, Chris Perry, a spokesperson for Southwest,: “We update many policy measures while we prepare our operation, employees and customers for assigned seats on January 27, 2026. To guarantee the space, we communicate to customers who have previously used the extra sitting policy that they have to buy when booking.”