Over a year into Southwest's time under Elliott Investment Management, the Dallas -based carrier has made the long-awaited announcement that its plus-sized customers have not been looking forward to. As of January 27, 2026, it's changing its policy on how passengers can be reimbursed for booking a second seat on their flights , coinciding with Southwest's shift towards assigned seating.

Under Southwest's long-running "Customer of Size" policy, passengers who require an extra seat must purchase it prior to departure, but could then request a refund for the extra seat. In essence, passengers paid to reserve the extra seat but would end up paying for just one seat, a practice that had been around for decades. However, Southwest is changing, and as the carrier is evolving its business p

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