US airline Southwest changes seating rules, raising costs for plus-size flyers

Southwest Airlines will soon require passengers who encroach on neighboring seats to buy an additional ticket in advance, ending a long-standing policy that had made the carrier a preferred choice for plus-size travelers. The change will take effect from January 27 next year.

Until now, customers needing more space could either purchase a second seat in advance and later claim a refund, or request one at the airport at no charge. Under the new rules, refunds will be given only if the flight departs with at least one empty seat and both seats are booked under the same fare class.

The airline, which recently announced other major shifts such as ending open seating and introducing checked baggage fees, said the adjustment aligns its policies more closely with those of larger competitors. These changes have unsettled many frequent flyers.

Advocates for plus-size passengers expressed disappointment. Tigress Osborn, executive director of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, told the New York Times, “Southwest was the only beacon of hope for many fat people who otherwise wouldn’t have been flying. And now that beacon has gone out.”

Travel agent Kaycee Bivens, who runs the Plus Size Passport brand in South Carolina, told NYT the new rule will add significant costs for her clients. “If you’re already budgeting and now you’ve got to add $300 to $400 to your budget, that may mean less travelers,” she said.

Osborn noted that while Southwest’s revised policy remains more flexible than those at Delta, American Airlines, or JetBlue, the decision still represents a setback. “This was not just an industry leader but an example to other industries that accommodating people in the body they have today is an important business practice,” she said.