FILE-A traveler walks past a Southwest Airlines airplane as it taxies from a gate at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on October 11, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Southwest Airlines has a new policy starting next year that will require passengers who don’t fit within the armrests of their seats to pay for an extra one ahead of their flight.
In a statement by Southwest provided to the Associated Press, the company said it is updating some of its policies as it prepares for assigned seating next year.
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"To ensure space, we are communicating to customers who have previously used the extra seat policy that they should purchase it at booking," the statement said.
How does this Southwest seating policy work?
Why you should care:
The Dallas-based airliner’s new rule starts Jan. 27, the same day Southwest starts assigning seats.
Under the current rule, plus-size passengers have the choice to either pay for an additional seat in advance with the option of a refund later, or travelers can ask for a free extra seat at the airport. However, under the new Southwest policy, a refund is still available but may not be guaranteed.
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Under the new seat policy, Southwest will issue a refund for a second ticket for extra seating if the flight isn't fully booked at the time it's scheduled to leave. And if both passengers' tickets were bought in the same booking class. The traveler also needs to request a refund within 90 days of the flight.
According to the new policy, a passenger who needs an extra seat doesn't buy one ahead of time, they will be required to purchase one at the airport. If a Southwest flight is full, the traveler will be rebooked onto a new flight.
This is the latest change from Southwest after it announced in July that passengers traveling will fly in assigned seats starting on Jan. 27, 2026, which will conclude the airliner’s open seating policy.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by a Southwest company release and the Associated Press, which cites a statement from Southwest on the new policy change. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.