Airline sparks outrage with controversial new plus-size seating rule

An airline has sparked fury online among plus-sized activists after announcing a controversial new seating rule.

Southwest Airlines has announced that travelers who struggle to squeeze into a single seat on their aircraft may have to fork out for an additional seat.

The budget airliner stated the new policy rolls out on January 27, when the company also plans to assign passengers to seats, abandoning its long-held quirky boarding ritual that has allowed travelers to pick their own after stepping foot onto the plane.

Southwest has also been a preferred way to travel for plus-size fliers since they can either pay for an extra seat in advance and reclaim the money back, or request a free extra seat while at the airport.

Now, however, that appears to be coming to an end with the company issuing a statement on Monday (August 25) that anyone who requires an extra seat will need to pay for it in advance - and there's no longer a guarantee of a refund.

Fans of the airline have considered it a top favorite for its plus-size friendly rules (Getty Images)

"To ensure space, we are communicating to Customers who have previously used the extra seat policy that they should purchase it at booking," the statement said, reports AP.

Southwest says it will be able to refund for a second seat providing the flight isn't fully booked at the time of departure and providing both tickets were purchased within the same booking.

The traveler also needs to log their refund request within 90 days of the flight.

The new policy states that those who don't book an extra seat in advance will be required to purchase one at the airport instead, which will be priced as a 'walk-up fare', most likely different from the cost of their pre-booked seat.

If that's not possible and the flight is full, they will then be rebooked onto another flight.

The move has already rumbled some body positivity and plus-sized advocacy groups, such as Tigress Osborn, executive director of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, who told The Washington Post that it could price larger travelers out of the luxury.

"They can’t afford to take that gamble," Osborn said. "We are hearing from a lot of people about how this will literally mean they cannot travel by air anymore."

Passengers who require an additional seat will need to fork out extra for it (Getty Stock Image)

Jason Vaughn, a travel agent from Orlando who posts travel tips for plus-size people on his website, Fat Travel Tested, added: "I think it’s going to make the flying experience worse for everybody."

"They have no idea anymore who their customer is," he said of the airline. "They have no identity left."

Another Southwest Airlines fan, Corinne Fay, who writes in the fashion newsletter Big Undies, said the new policy even made her 'feel like crying because it'll make my life a lot harder'.

"We’re talking about the difference between spending $400 versus $800 or even more," she added.

However, discussing the topic on Reddit, dozens of others said they didn't see the problem with the policy.

"If you need two seats to fly, then you need to pay for two seats. Why is that controversial?" wrote one.

"Controversial, but I think you should also pay accordingly if you weight the equivalent of two people," a second suggested. "Additional luggage is charged per kg, so why shouldn’t people be charged for every kg over, say 100kg?"

A third weighed in: "Good. Airlines for years have charged tall people like me extra for more leg room."

Southwest Airlines said in a statement to UNILAD: "We are updating many policies as we prepare our operation, Employees, and Customers for assigned seating on January 27, 2026. To ensure space, we are communicating to Customers who have previously used the extra seat policy they should purchase it at booking."