(NewsNation) — Southwest Airlines will soon require travelers who don’t fit within the armrests of their seat to pay for an extra one in advance.
The new rule goes into effect Jan. 27, the same day Southwest starts its new policy of assigning seats.
Currently, plus-size passengers can either pay for an extra seat in advance with the option of getting that money back later, or they can request a free extra seat at the airport. Under the carrier’s new policy, a refund is still possible but no longer guaranteed.
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It’s one of the latest of a few changes at Southwest.
The carrier had long been known for letting passengers pick their own seats after boarding the plane, and for letting their bags fly for free, a policy that ended in May.
Southwest says it will still refund a second ticket under its new policy for extra seating if the flight isn’t fully booked at the time of departure and if both of the passenger’s tickets were purchased in the same booking class. The passenger also needs to request the refund within 90 days of the flight.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
