Southwest Airlines will replace its open-seating policy with assigned seating for flights on or after Jan. 27, 2026, offering Standard, Preferred and Extra Legroom options. Passengers who require an extra seat because of their size must purchase that seat at booking and pay any fees, though post-flight refunds may be possible under specific conditions. The changes have drawn criticism from advocacy groups and mixed reactions online; travelers should book early and keep documentation if seeking refunds.
Southwest Ends Open Seating on Jan. 27, 2026 — What Travelers Should Know About Assigned Seats and New Rules for Plus-Size Passengers
Southwest changing two longtime policies in 2026: What passengers should know
Starting Jan. 27, 2026, Southwest Airlines will retire its decades-long open-seating model and move to assigned seating for flights departing on or after that date. The carrier is also introducing new requirements for passengers who need an extra seat due to their size.
What’s Changing
Southwest is already assigning seats on itineraries that include flights on or after Jan. 27, 2026. For those trips, customers will choose among three seat categories:
- Standard — Typically toward the rear of the cabin.
- Preferred — Closer to the front, with earlier boarding benefits.
- Extra Legroom — Located at or near exit rows and offering roughly 3–5 inches of additional legroom.
The seat category a passenger selects will determine boarding order and eligibility for other perks. Southwest says the change responds to passenger demand for more choice and paid premium options, and the airline expects minor adjustments to pre-boarding procedures for active-duty military members and families traveling with children.
New Policy for Customers Who Need An Extra Seat
Under the current policy, plus-size passengers were encouraged but not required to buy a second seat in advance; airlines would provide an extra seat on a space-available basis and refunds could be requested after travel. Beginning Jan. 27, however, customers who need an additional seat must purchase it at booking and pay any applicable seat fees before boarding.
Post-flight refunds may still be available, but Southwest says eligibility will depend on several conditions: both seats generally must be in the same fare class, the refund request must be filed within 90 days of travel, and the flight must have departed with at least one unused seat on board. The airline also says a refund could be issued if the flight left fully booked but included passengers traveling on space-available passes (for example, airline employees or other non-paying travelers).
“Our Customers want more choice and greater control over their travel experience,” said Southwest executive Tony Roach in 2025. “Assigned seating unlocks new opportunities for our Customers — including the ability to select Extra Legroom seats — and removes the uncertainty of not knowing where they will sit in the cabin.”
Reactions And Practical Advice
Advocates for plus-size travelers criticized the change. The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance told The New York Times that Southwest had been a rare option for many people who otherwise avoid flying. Travel influencer Jeff Jenkins (founder of Chubby Diaries) said the refund conditions — particularly the requirement that a flight must have left with an empty seat — could leave travelers uncertain about recouping the cost.
Some passengers on social media, meanwhile, supported the policy, arguing that customers who need to buy two seats should do so rather than crowd neighboring passengers for a full flight.
Practical tips for travelers: book any extra seat at the time of purchase to ensure availability; check your itinerary emails for updated seat assignments; and if you believe you qualify for a post-flight refund, keep documentation, confirm fare classes for both seats and submit any claim within 90 days of travel.
How This Compares To Other U.S. Carriers
Even with the new rules, Southwest remains — among the major U.S. carriers (American, Delta and United) — the only one that explicitly offers a post-flight refund option for eligible plus-size passengers. That distinction may factor into travel choices for some customers.
Bottom line: From Jan. 27, 2026, expect assigned seating and paid seat options on Southwest flights on or after that date, and plan to purchase any required extra seat at booking to avoid uncertainty.
