Southwest reinstates free second seats for plus-size flyers when available
LUV•Southwest Airlines now allows plus-size passengers to request a free second seat when adjacent seats are available, reversing its requirement for advance purchase. Customers who pre-book an extra seat can request a refund within 90 days if the flight departs with an empty adjacent seat; otherwise they will be rebooked.
1. Policy Reversal
In June 2026, Southwest Airlines reversed its January requirement for plus-size passengers to pre-purchase a second seat, empowering airport agents to allocate a complimentary adjacent seat when available. If no adjacent seat exists, travelers are rebooked on the next flight with open seating.
2. Advance Purchase and Refund Terms
Despite restoring gate requests, Southwest continues to recommend advance purchase of an extra seat. Passengers who pre-book can request a refund within 90 days of travel if the flight departs with at least one adjacent empty seat; no refunds are granted on fully booked flights.
3. Operational and Customer Impact
The policy aims to reduce gate conflicts and improve the travel experience for customers of size, though increased rebooking may affect on-time performance and load factors. Southwest may incur additional operational costs due to seat allocation logistics and passenger reassignments.
4. Industry Comparison
Other major carriers maintain similar customer-of-size policies, generally requiring extra-seat advance purchases and rebooking customers when adjacent seats are unavailable. Some airlines also provide hotel or meal vouchers for passengers facing extended delays after rebooking.
