Posted on 08/26/2025 3:59:57 AM PDT by NautiNurse
Southwest Airlines will soon require travelers who don’t fit within the armrests of their seat to pay for an extra one in advance, part of a string of recent changes the carrier is making.
The new rule goes into effect Jan. 27, the same day Southwest starts assigning seats.
Currently, plus-size passengers can either pay for an extra seat in advance with the option of getting that money back later, or they can request a free extra seat at the airport. Under the carrier’s new policy, a refund is still possible but no longer guaranteed.
In a statement Monday, Southwest said it is updating some of its policies as it prepares for assigned seating next year.
“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.
It marks the latest change at Southwest, which had long been known for letting its passengers pick their own seats after boarding the plane, and for letting their bags fly for free, which ended in May. Those perks were key to differentiating the budget carrier from its rivals.
Southwest says it will still refund a second ticket under its new policy for extra seating if the flight isn’t fully booked at the time of departure, and if both of the passenger’s tickets were purchased in the same booking class. The passenger also needs to request the refund within 90 days of the flight.
If a passenger who needs an extra seat doesn’t purchase one ahead of time, they will be required to buy one at the airport, according to the new policy. If the flight is full, the passenger will be rebooked onto a new flight.
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Weight limits for luggage have been around forever. Weight limits on passengers will launch a flurry of lawsuits by the ACLU and NAAFP (National Association for the Advancement of Fat People).
Hey! I resemble that remark!
Good! There’s no excuse to have a 3 foot wide ass
I had the unfortunate experience of sitting beside an excessively large lady on a long flight once. She spilled all into my side. The worst part was she fell asleep and would violently twitch, hitting me. I finally had to push her body over enough so that I could get my elbow on the arm rest, then keep my arm up in a defensive position for the entire flight. Seems like if they don’t have to pay for two seats, I should have been reimbursed for being basically assaulted for hours.
I haven’t flown commercial since 2012, but always considered SWA a refreshing, affordable airline.
That 2012 flight convinced me that I should have taken a Greyhound. The waits, smells, noise and clientele would have been about the same and Greyhound was cheaper.
Now if I have to go anywhere in CONUS I drive myself.
Spirit Airlines would have riots if they implemented this.
As a former mega frequent flyer, have had the same experience many times. Not only is it extremely uncomfortable, it is stressful and exhausting being squished by a stranger for hours.
I’ve \forever\ wondered why airlines, when calling the chattel seating, don’t start with ALL window seats, then middle seats and finally aisle seats.
3 boarding priorities over the normal “we paid more for this privilege” seats.
I HATE flying domestically.
How about a discount for skinny and smaller travelers? The airplanes would be too heavy to take off without them. While the super-hefty travelers get a great deal, since they weigh the airplane down as much as 2x the weight of the average person
There is an excuse for my 34 inch inseam.
But I’d still have to buy a seat with more legroom.
Q for the morbidly obese: Where’s my pity party?!
Interesting idea!
Should be just one extra seat with the primary seat being a window (no exit row), plus the middle seat for spillover. No aisle seat b/c the aisle may not be blocked. I've seen flight attendants struggle to push the refreshment carts past morbidly obese shoulders and hips spilling out into the aisle. Imagine an emergency evacuation, especially if passengers are pinned in their seats, blocked by a morbidly obese passenger in the aisle.
At the checkin desk where you check in your luggage and they make sure the luggage fits in the overhead compartment, they can do a fit test for the passenger. I’m sure after one embarrassing fit test in front of others, the obese passenger will from then on but an extra ticket. And two seats are enough if she brings pillows to sit on.
Fatties can travel by freight train.
I’d be fine with this if they weren’t also making seats smaller.
I can imagine their next idea after this: “Now let’s make our seats smaller!”
I can imagine their next idea after this: “Now let’s make our seats smaller!”
Is Southwest going to have a measuring board like they put up at carnival rides, but it says “if your ass is this wide?”
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