Starting January 27, 2026, US airline Southwest Airlines will charge overweight passengers for two extra seats. Previously, the airline offered a free extra seat to passengers who couldn’t fit in a single seat. Passengers who don’t fold down the two armrests between their seats are classified as “Plus-Size,” and these passengers are now required to purchase a second seat at the time of booking.

Overweight Passengers Will Be Charged More

Overweight passengers who don’t purchase two seats when purchasing their tickets will be forced to purchase a second seat at the airport. If the flight is fully booked and the passenger can’t get the second seat, they will be reassigned to the next flight. Passengers who are forced to purchase two seats will be able to request a refund within 90 days of the flight, provided the flight is not full and both seats are in the same fare class.

Southwest is also making a radical change affecting all passengers. Starting January 27, 2026, the free seat selection system will be discontinued, and seat selection will become a fee.

Southwest Airlines isn’t the only airline to charge extra fees for “plus-size” passengers. In the US, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines also charge extra fees for passengers whose armrests are too wide to fold.

In Canada, a policy called “One Person, One Fare” is in effect, unlike the controversial practice in the US. This practice charges passengers only one ticket, with the second seat provided free of charge. In Europe, while there’s no clear policy, various airlines like Lufthansa, Air France, and British Airways may charge extra fees. In Turkey, overweight passengers are not charged any extra fees.