Story perspectives

Southwest Airlines Introduces Assigned Seating and Refund Changes

8/23/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Starting January 27, 2026, Southwest Airlines will introduce assigned seating and new refund policies for plus-sized passengers.
Passengers requiring extra seats must buy both in the same fare class and request refunds within 90 days.
These changes aim to standardize policies and enhance clarity for travelers based on customer feedback.
Southwest is among the last major U.S. airlines to implement assigned seating, affecting over 130 million passengers yearly.

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Story summary

Starting January 27, 2026, Southwest Airlines will introduce assigned seating and new refund policies for plus-sized passengers.
Passengers requiring extra seats must buy both in the same fare class and request refunds within 90 days.
These changes aim to standardize policies and enhance clarity for travelers based on customer feedback.
Southwest is among the last major U.S. airlines to implement assigned seating, affecting over 130 million passengers yearly.