Southwest Airways To Cost Plus-Dimension Passengers For Additional Seat |

Whew! Southwest Airways is shaking issues up, and a few vacationers are usually not right here for it. The airline lengthy praised for its strategy to plus-size passengers, is formally ending its “Buyer of Dimension” coverage. Beginning subsequent month, passengers who want further house will now need to pay upfront for extra seats, a change that would make flying costlier and depart many questioning the airline’s as soon as “customer-first” popularity.

RELATED: No Fly Zone? Flight Cancellations & Delays Worsen Amid Longest Authorities Shutdown In U.S. Historical past

Flying Simply Bought Trickier For Plus-Dimension Passengers

Up to now, plus-size vacationers on Southwest might merely buy an additional seat and request a refund after their flight, giving them flexibility and peace of thoughts. Nonetheless, beginning on January 27, refunds are solely allowed if the flight isn’t offered out, each seats are in the identical fare class, and the refund request is made inside 90 days of journey. Moreover, Southwest’s coverage shift comes alongside two different large adjustments. For one, the airline is abandoning its open-seating mannequin in favor of assigned seating. And, again in Could 2025, they launched baggage charges, ending its long-running “Baggage Fly Free” program.

The transfer places Southwest consistent with American, United, Spirit, and Frontier Airways, all of which require passengers who can’t slot in a normal seat to buy further house. In an official assertion, Southwest defined, “Prospects who encroach upon the neighboring seat(s) ought to proactively buy the wanted variety of seats previous to journey to make sure the extra, adjoining seat is offered.” Journey skilled Jason Vaughn warned, “I feel it’s going to make the flying expertise worse for everyone. They don’t know anymore who their buyer is. They don’t have any id left.”

What Does This Southwest Seat Shakeup Imply?

For vacationers accustomed to Southwest’s flexibility, the adjustments imply budgeting for further seating, navigating new reserving necessities, and coping with potential refund limitations. Loyalty amongst plus-size passengers might shift to opponents like Alaska Airways, which nonetheless maintains its refund coverage for further seats. With January 27, 2026, looming, it’s clear Southwest is redefining what “customer-first” actually means.

‘The Breakfast Membership’ Hosts Stir Controversy

Final week, ‘The Breakfast Membership’ crew went off on Southwest’s new plus-size coverage. Charlamagne joked, “Why don’t they simply make them fly cargo?” earlier than including, “In case you are too large for one seat, then you definitely simply acquired to purchase two seats. Don’t act just like the aircraft is doing one thing to you.” Jess Hilarious fired again about those that can’t afford it, however Charlamagne stored it blunt: “Tall individuals acquired to undergo this, too… stuffing any person who doesn’t match nicely right into a seat just isn’t solely a disservice to them, however to whomever sits subsequent to them.” He ended with a Charlamagne-style punch: “Southwest is making a push to chop prices… you must make a push to chop weight, OK?”