If you've traveled much in commercial airlines, you'll have seen it. You're in your seat, that seat which you (or your employer) paid for, assuming that your occupation of that seat is from armrest to armrest. That's kind of the deal, right?
Then down the aisle comes a "plus-sized" passenger, which in normal terms we would describe as "grossly obese." They try to squeeze into the seat next to you, heaving and sweating, overflowing into a third, a half, of your seat. I've had that happen; I've asked to be reseated, but that's not always an option. Well, Southwest Airlines is now the latest to demand these people buy extra seats in accordance with their extra girth: Two seats, or even three if necessary.
That's one heck of a good idea.
Beginning on Jan. 27, 2026, larger passengers who cannot be accommodated in a single plane seat will be required to purchase a second seat ahead of time, and then request a refund after the flight. Eligibility for a refund also depends on whether a number of specific conditions are met for the flight, including whether there were other unused seats on the plane.
“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,” a representative for Southwest wrote in a statement shared with Nexstar.
We have to pay extra for bags over a certain weight. We are expected (well, technically) to abide by size restrictions for carry-on bags. But until recently, airlines haven't engaged in the issue of morbidly obese people taking up a portion of someone else's seat.
Look, airline seats are already far from comfortable. I'm a pretty big guy myself, and am carrying a little extra, like a lot of guys my age - but I nevertheless fit in an airline seat. It may be a bit tight and a tad uncomfortable, but I fit, and it helps that the person next to me is usually my wife, who is, to be candid, tiny. But there's a big difference between a guy who's big but within normal specs, and some of the people you see who really ought to be considering bariatric surgery rather than jet-setting around.
Of course, the usual suspects are upset.
Advocates for plus-size travelers are disappointed by the policy change, with one group — the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance — telling The New York Times that Southwest had been a “beacon of hope for many fat people who otherwise wouldn’t have been flying.” Jeff Jenkins, a travel influencer and the founder of Chubby Diaries, also said in a statement to USA Today that the stipulations of the refund policy (specifically the requirement that the plane must depart with at least one unused seat) would be worrisome for plus-size travelers, as they might not know whether the flight was technically full prior to departure.
We also shouldn't be encouraging "fat acceptance." There is nothing attractive or healthy about being obese.
Read More: Obese 'Influencer' Whines About Lack of Services From Airlines
But in a commercial aircraft? It's not only unhealthy, but it's also bothersome to other passengers. Worse: It could actually be dangerous. What if there's an emergency? What if the plane needs to be evacuated in a rush, for example, if it's on fire? Do we force the people who have to squeeze down the aisle to wait until the other passengers are out? Or are we supposed to wait until the obese negotiate their way down the aisle, squeezing between the seats on either side?
There are people, candidly, who should not be allowed on commercial airliners for safety reasons.
This is a good move on the part of Southwest. But, as is so often the case in these affairs, it may not go far enough.
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