(NEXSTAR) – Southwest Airlines is putting stricter rules on a longstanding policy for plus-size passengers.

Beginning on Jan. 27, 2026, larger passengers who cannot be accommodated in a single plane seat will be required to purchase a second seat ahead of time, and then request a refund after the flight. Eligibility for a refund also depends on whether a number of specific conditions are met for the flight, including whether there were other unused seats on the plane.

“We are updating many policies as we prepare our operation, Employees, and Customers for assigned seating on January 27, 2026. To ensure space, we are communicating to Customers who have previously used the extra seat policy they should purchase it at booking,” a representative for Southwest wrote in a statement shared with

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