Southwest Airlines changes rules for plus-size passengers

Southwest Airlines is changing its seating argumentation for plus-size passengers.

Starting January 27, 2026, passengers who instrumentality up abstraction successful the neighboring spot volition person to bargain an other summons - and it mightiness not beryllium refunded.

The existent rules let flyers to bargain an other spot up of clip and get refunded later -- oregon petition an other spot astatine nary complaint astatine the airport.

Those options made Southwest fashionable with galore plus-size passengers.

But the new rules mean the 2nd spot volition beryllium nonrefundable unless the formation departs with astatine slightest 1 unfastened spot -- and some seats are purchased wrong the aforesaid fare class.

The determination is the latest successful a bid of changes for Southwest.

The bearer has besides ended its open seating policy and instituted checked baggage fees.