Southwest Airlines has revised its policy regarding passengers who may require additional seating, following recent backlash over how the rules were being applied.
Under the updated guidance, airline staff may still recommend that passengers who cannot comfortably fit in one seat purchase an extra seat in advance. However, it is no longer a strict requirement. Instead, if a passenger needs more space and adjacent seats are available at the time of boarding, they may be provided an additional seat at no extra cost.
If no adjacent seats are available on a full flight, affected passengers may be rebooked onto a later flight where seating can be accommodated.
The policy change follows public criticism of earlier rules that allowed staff to make discretionary “fit” assessments at the airport, which some passengers argued lacked consistency. Southwest has stated that the updated approach is intended to create a more predictable and consistent boarding experience.
The airline also reaffirmed that the armrest is considered the official boundary between seats, and that additional seating may be required for safety or comfort reasons depending on the situation.
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