The famous American airline «Southwest Airlines» sparked a wide controversy among passengers after announcing that overweight passengers would be required to book and purchase an additional seat ticket for travel, a step considered shocking and controversial, especially after the company previously allowed obtaining the additional seat for free when needed.
The new decision will be implemented starting from January 27, 2026, and includes preventing the refund of the cost of the second seat in most cases, requiring overweight passengers to plan ahead and purchase two seats when booking the ticket, which doubles the costs and makes the travel experience more complicated.
The old policy allowed passengers to pre-purchase the additional seat with the possibility of a refund later, or request it upon arrival without paying extra. Now, the refund is only possible if the traveler leaves the flight with one empty seat and both seats are within the same booking category.
The new decision caused widespread anger, as described by the National Association for the Advancement of Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) as a "painful hit" that increases travel costs and restricts freedom of movement. Executive Director Tigress Osborn said that the new decision reduces the opportunities for free travel for larger-sized individuals and exacerbates their sense of embarrassment during flights.
The changes did not stop there, as Southwest abolished the open seating system that allowed passengers to choose their seats upon boarding, further aggravating loyal customers who were accustomed to greater flexibility during travel. The company confirmed in an official statement that it would notify previous passengers of these changes; to ensure compliance with the new rules.
