Key Takeaways

• New Policy: Starting January 27, 2026, plus size passengers must purchase a second seat in advance.
• Refund Conditions: Refunds for the second seat are available only under specific conditions, making it difficult for travelers.
• Policy Change: Southwest Airlines is moving away from its customer-first approach, implementing assigned seating and extra fees.
• Advocacy Needed: Travelers are encouraged to know their rights and advocate for better policies regarding size inclusivity.

Southwest Airlines, the once-beloved champion of no-frills, no-fees, and actually customer-first service, has officially lost the plot.

Beginning January 27, 2026, plus size passengers will be required to purchase a second seat in advance if they don’t fit between the armrests of one standard seat. That’s right: no more flexibility, no more understanding, no more dignity-first approach. Just a cold, calculated shift that throws accessibility and compassion out the emergency exit.

And in case that wasn’t enough, this massive change lands the same day Southwest scraps its famous open seating policy and switches to assigned seating. Everything we’ve come to appreciate about flying Southwest? Gone. Replaced with the same nickel-and-dime chaos we’ve come to expect from every other airline.

So Now We’re Paying More to Be Accommodated?

Here’s the deal: under the new policy, plus size travelers must pay for two seats when booking. Refunds are technically still available, but now they come with a catch:

• The flight must not be full
• Both seats must be in the same fare class
• Refunds must be requested within 90 days

In other words, you have to hope the flight isn’t full, make sure your tickets are perfectly matched, and remember to chase down your refund later. Otherwise, you’re just out that extra money.

Tell us again how this isn’t a rollback? Because this feels like a straight-up slap in the face to every plus size traveler who trusted Southwest to treat them with basic respect.

“This adds anxiety and financial pressure for travelers who already deal with enough just getting on a plane,” says Jeff Jenkins of Chubby Diaries. “It sends the message that our bodies are a burden to the airline.”

And honestly? He’s right.

Remember When Southwest Got It?

Let’s not forget… Southwest used to be the only airline that made it a little easier to fly while fat. Their Customer of Size policy allowed travelers to request a second seat at the gate or pre-purchase one with a guaranteed refund. It wasn’t perfect, but it acknowledged that bodies come in all sizes and didn’t punish us for needing space.

Now, that flexibility is out the window. Comfort is only guaranteed if you can afford to pay double upfront. And if your flight is full? Good luck getting your money back.

This isn’t “policy modernization.” This is a corporate backslide, and we see right through it.

Also, Let’s Talk About Those Seat Sizes

Southwest’s seats range from 15.5 to 17.8 inches wide. And the new policy says if your body extends beyond the armrests, the literal plastic borders of a seat, you have to book two. No nuance. No grace. Just cold measurements and extra charges.

This means travelers have to assess their body against an airline spec sheet just to board a plane with peace of mind. It’s humiliating. It’s degrading. And it’s unacceptable.

What Happens if You Don’t Book the Extra Seat?

If you don’t pre-purchase a second seat and the flight’s full, you might get pulled from the plane and rebooked on a later one. Which means:

• You could miss your event, your connection, or your whole reason for traveling
• You’ll pay more for “last-minute” changes
• And let’s be real… everyone at the gate will be watching

This is not just inconvenient. It’s hostile. It punishes people for existing in bodies that aren’t built for tiny seats and outdated policies.

What’s Really Going On Here?

Let’s call this what it is: a money grab. Southwest is feeling the pressure from Wall Street and trying to squeeze more profit per passenger. They’re adding fees for red-eyes, legroom, and now size accommodations, all while killing off everything that used to make them different.

Open seating? Gone. Free spirit vibes? Gone. Compassionate policies for plus size travelers? Also gone.

Travel analyst Jason Vaughn summed it up best: “It feels like Southwest is becoming just another airline.” And that’s heartbreaking because they built their name and our loyalty by being better.

Flying with a Partner Airline? Don’t Get Too Comfortable

If your Southwest flight includes a partner carrier (like a codeshare flight), you’ll have to buy a second seat directly through them. And guess what? Those seats are non-refundable. Different airline, different rules, same lack of support.

It’s a mess, and it puts the burden entirely on plus size passengers to figure out a puzzle that was never designed for them in the first place.

Why This Feels Personal

At The Curvy Fashionista, we advocate for size inclusion and equity at every level and travel is no exception. This isn’t just about money or seats. This is about being told, yet again, that our bodies are “too much” and our needs are an inconvenience.

Policies like this remind us that accessibility is still optional in many industries. They tell us that comfort is a luxury, not a right. And we’re not having it.

We’re watching Southwest abandon the very policies that made us loyal. We’re watching them move backward while pretending it’s “progress.” And we’re speaking up.

What You Can Do

• Know your rights and read the fine print before you book
• Demand better by contacting Southwest directly: Contact Southwest
• Support advocates like Jeff Jenkins and other plus size travel experts who are pushing for change
• Share your experiences on social to keep the pressure on

We expected better. And we deserve better.

Southwest’s new policy is a direct hit to everything we’ve appreciated about them: flexibility, fairness, and treating customers like human beings instead of numbers. If they think the plus size community won’t notice or won’t fight back, they’ve got another thing coming.

Because we’re not asking for luxury. We’re asking for respect. And we’ll keep asking loudly… until we get it.