Passengers travelling with one major airline will be forced to pay for an extra seat if they "cannot fit within the width of their seat's armrests".

Southwest Airlines is introducing the policy, which is set to come into force from January 27, 2026.

Current rules on the airline dictate that travellers can either pay for a second seat upfront, with a possible refund later, or request a free extra seat at the airport if one is available.

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Refunds will still be possible under the new rules, but only if the flight isn't full and the request is made within 90 days of travel.

If passengers arrive without an extra seat booked, they will either have to buy one at the airport or they will be rebooked onto another flight

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