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Southwest to Require Second Seat for Passengers Who Exceed Armrest Boundary Starting Jan. 27, 2026

The carrier now treats the armrest as the boundary for requiring an extra seat.

Overview

  • The change ends Southwest’s prior practice of offering a free extra seat at the airport or issuing post‑flight refunds when space allowed.
  • Refunds for the additional seat will be granted only in limited circumstances, typically when the flight is not full.
  • Eligibility details include purchasing both seats in the same fare class and submitting any refund request within 90 days of travel.
  • Passengers who arrive without a required second seat may be rebooked if no adjacent space is available on their original flight.
  • American and United already enforce similar policies, while Canada’s domestic flights follow a “one person, one price” rule that bars extra charges.