Southwest plus-size refund policy tightens for 2026
Southwest Airlines is narrowing when plus-size travelers can get money back for a second seat. Beginning January 27, 2026, refunds will be approved only if the flight departs with at least one open seat, both seats were purchased in the same fare class, and the traveler requests the refund within 90 days. The policy shift arrives the same day Southwest ends open seating and moves to assigned seats systemwide. Advocates say the changes add uncertainty and cost for travelers who need extra space.
Key Points
- Why it matters: Refunds for a second seat are no longer near-automatic, raising costs and anxiety for some travelers.
- Travel impact: Refunds require an open seat at departure, same fare class on both seats, and a request within 90 days.
- What's next: Assigned seating begins January 27, 2026, with new fare bundles across Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra.
- Policy source is Southwest's Help Center and customer enhancements pages.
- Advocates warn access and affordability could suffer under the tighter rules.
Snapshot
For travel on or after January 27, 2026, Southwest will refund an extra seat purchased for a "Customer of Size" only if three conditions are met. The flight must push back with at least one open seat, both seats must be in the same fare class, and the traveler must submit a refund request within 90 days of travel. Southwest is also formalizing that customers who cannot be accommodated between two lowered armrests must purchase an additional ticket in advance to ensure adjacent seating. The update coincides with the airline's move to assigned seating and a four-tier fare lineup, replacing its long-standing open seating model. Advocates and frequent travelers say the new hurdles may shift behavior, potentially pushing some to other carriers.
Background
Southwest has long been cited by plus-size advocates for a comparatively accommodating approach. For years, the airline encouraged purchasing two seats in advance, then requesting reimbursement after travel, a practice that reduced seatmate conflicts and provided certainty about space. Under open seating, agents could also issue a seat-reserved document at the gate when space allowed. That broader flexibility changes as Southwest retools its product. The carrier will launch assigned seats on January 27, 2026, introduce Extra Legroom, Preferred, and Standard sections, and sell them within new fare bundles called Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra. With seat assignments, the airline is aligning policies around inventory and fare rules. The tighter refund criteria bring Southwest closer to industry norms while it continues to market choice and predictability to customers.
Latest Developments
Refunds now hinge on open seats, matched fares, and timing
Southwest's Help Center specifies three criteria for post-trip refunds of a second seat bought for a Customer of Size. First, the flight must depart with at least one open seat, including scenarios with non-revenue, space-available travelers. Second, both seats must be purchased in the same fare class, namely Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, or Choice Extra. Third, the request must be filed within 90 days of the travel date. Separate Help Center guidance states customers who cannot be accommodated between two lowered armrests must purchase an additional ticket, with Southwest recommending advance purchase to avoid day-of-travel price spikes. The update trims a policy that previously emphasized broad refundability after travel and greater agent discretion when space was available. Advocates argue the new rules shift uncertainty onto travelers who need extra space.
Assigned seating starts January 27, 2026
Southwest has confirmed that assigned seating will be available to book for flights operating on or after January 27, 2026, ending the A, B, and C open-boarding tradition. Extra Legroom, Preferred, and Standard seats are mapped in the cabin, and benefits vary across the four fare bundles. Basic assigns a Standard seat at check-in, while Choice products permit selection during booking, with additional perks at higher tiers. For a full rundown of how seat selection and boarding groups will work, see our coverage in Southwest Sets Date for Assigned Seating Rollout and Southwest Airlines Sets January 2026 Launch for Assigned Seating. The tighter extra-seat refund rules, paired with assigned seating, suggest a broader move to manage inventory and monetize forward-cabin rows while standardizing exceptions.
Analysis
The new criteria materially change the customer calculus. Historically, Southwest's approach let many plus-size travelers book the space they needed and recover the second fare after the trip, even when flights were full, which helped avoid conflicts and last-minute scrambles. Tying refunds to open seats at departure introduces a variable most travelers cannot control or forecast until the final boarding call. Requiring both seats to match fare class adds another trip-planning detail, and the 90-day deadline creates a firm administrative window. In practice, these constraints are likely to reduce refund approvals and shift more cost risk to the traveler.
From the airline's perspective, assigned seating and fare bundles convert previously fluid cabin space into inventory with defined attributes. That framework generally reduces ad hoc accommodations because each seat has a value in the bundle sold. The open-seat test preserves some flexibility, but it also incentivizes the airline to optimize load factors, which may further limit refund-eligible situations on popular flights. For travelers who regularly need two seats, the most predictable strategy will be purchasing both seats within the same bundle on less-full departures, then filing promptly after travel. For others, comparing total trip costs across airlines, including seat, bag, and change fees, becomes more important. The shift underscores a broader reality in U.S. air travel, where personalization brings choice, but exceptions come with tighter rules.
Final Thoughts
Southwest's move narrows a long-standing accommodation just as it rolls out assigned seating and new fare bundles. Travelers who need extra space will still have a refund path, but only when inventory and timing align. Build in more planning time, target off-peak departures, and keep receipts and confirmation numbers handy to meet the 90-day window. If predictability is paramount, compare seat maps and fare rules across carriers, since policies vary widely. As the industry continues to monetize cabin attributes, transparency and clear pre-trip communication are essential. We will continue tracking traveler impacts as the Southwest plus-size refund policy evolves.