Southwest Airways, the once-beloved champion of no-frills, no-fees, and in fact customer-first carrier, has formally misplaced the plot.
Starting January 27, 2026, plus dimension passengers will probably be required to buy a 2d seat upfront in the event that they don’t have compatibility between the armrests of 1 usual seat. That’s proper: not more flexibility, not more figuring out, not more dignity-first manner. Only a chilly, calculated shift that throws accessibility and compassion out the emergency go out.
And in case that wasn’t sufficient, this huge alternate lands the similar day Southwest scraps its well-known open seating coverage and switches to assigned seating. The entirety we’ve come to realize about flying Southwest? Long gone. Changed with the similar nickel-and-dime chaos we’ve come to be expecting from each different airline.
So Now We’re Paying Extra to Be Accommodated?
Right here’s the deal: below the brand new coverage, plus dimension vacationers should pay for 2 seats when reserving. Refunds are technically nonetheless to be had, however now they arrive with a catch:
- The flight should now not be complete
- Each seats should be in the similar fare elegance
- Refunds should be asked inside 90 days
In different phrases, it’s important to hope the flight isn’t complete, ensure that your tickets are completely matched, and bear in mind to chase down your refund later. In a different way, you’re simply out that more money.
Let us know once more how this isn’t a rollback? As a result of this looks like a straight-up slap within the face to each plus dimension traveler who relied on Southwest to regard them with fundamental appreciate.
“This provides nervousness and monetary drive for vacationers who already maintain sufficient simply getting on a aircraft,” says Jeff Jenkins of Obese Diaries. “It sends the message that our our bodies are a burden to the airline.”
And in truth? He’s proper.
Take into account When Southwest Were given It?
Let’s now not overlook… Southwest was the best airline that made it a bit of more straightforward to fly whilst fats. Their Buyer of Measurement coverage allowed vacationers to request a 2d seat on the gate or pre-purchase one with a assured refund. It wasn’t best possible, nevertheless it stated that our bodies are available in all sizes and didn’t punish us for wanting house.
Now, that flexibility is out the window. Convenience is best assured if you’ll manage to pay for to pay double prematurely. And in case your flight is complete? Just right success getting your a reimbursement.
This isn’t “coverage modernization.” This can be a company backslide, and we see throughout it.
Additionally, Let’s Communicate About The ones Seat Sizes
Southwest’s seats vary from 15.5 to 17.8 inches extensive. And the brand new coverage says in case your frame extends past the armrests, the literal plastic borders of a sea, it’s important to e-book two. No nuance. No grace. Simply chilly measurements and additional fees.
This implies vacationers must assess their frame in opposition to an airline spec sheet simply to board a aircraft with peace of thoughts. It’s humiliating. It’s degrading. And it’s unacceptable.
What Occurs if You Don’t E book the Further Seat?
If you happen to don’t pre-purchase a 2d seat and the flight’s complete, chances are you’ll get pulled from the aircraft and rebooked on a later one. Which means that:
- You have to leave out your tournament, your connection, or all of your reason why for touring
- You’ll pay extra for “last-minute” adjustments
- And let’s be actual… everybody on the gate will probably be staring at
This isn’t simply inconvenient. It’s opposed. It punishes other folks for current in our bodies that aren’t constructed for tiny seats and out of date insurance policies.
What’s Truly Going On Right here?
Let’s name this what it’s: a cash snatch. Southwest is feeling the drive from Wall Side road and looking to squeeze extra benefit in keeping with passenger. They’re including costs for red-eyes, legroom, and now dimension lodging, all whilst killing off the whole lot that used to cause them to other.
Open seating? Long gone. Unfastened spirit vibes? Long gone. Compassionate insurance policies for plus dimension vacationers? Additionally long past.
Trip analyst Jason Vaughn summed it up absolute best: “It looks like Southwest is turning into simply any other airline.” And that’s heartbreaking, as a result of they constructed their identify and our loyalty by means of being higher.
Flying with a Spouse Airline? Don’t Get Too At ease
In case your Southwest flight features a spouse provider (like a codeshare flight), you’ll have to shop for a 2d seat at once via them. And wager what? The ones seats are non-refundable. Other airline, other regulations, identical loss of improve.
It’s a multitude, and it places the load fully on plus dimension passengers to determine a puzzle that was once by no means designed for them within the first position.
Why This Feels Private
At The Curvy Fashionista, we suggest for dimension inclusion and fairness at each stage and shuttle is not any exception. This isn’t with regards to cash or seats. That is about being informed, another time, that our our bodies are “an excessive amount of” and our wishes are an inconvenience.
Insurance policies like this remind us that accessibility remains to be non-compulsory in lots of industries. They let us know that convenience is a luxurious, now not a proper. And we’re now not having it.
We’re staring at Southwest abandon the very insurance policies that made us unswerving. We’re staring at them transfer backward whilst pretending it’s “development.” And we’re talking up.
What You Can Do
- Know your rights and learn the high-quality print prior to you e-book
- Call for higher by means of contacting Southwest at once: Touch Southwest
- Reinforce advocates like Jeff Jenkins and different plus dimension shuttle mavens who’re pushing for alternate
- Percentage your stories on social to stay the drive on
We anticipated higher. And we deserve higher.
Southwest’s new coverage is an instantaneous hit to the whole lot we’ve liked about them: flexibility, equity, and treating shoppers like human beings as an alternative of numbers. If they believe the plus dimension group gained’t understand or gained’t struggle again, they’ve were given any other factor coming.
As a result of we’re now not requesting luxurious. We’re requesting appreciate. And we’ll stay asking loudly… till we get it.
