Southwest Extra Seat Policy Update: 5 Things You Need to Know About the Airline's New Accommodation Rules
- Southwest will now provide a free extra seat for customers who need more personal space, but only if they pre-request it through a new online portal instead of at the gate.
- Travelers must self-identify as needing the accommodation at booking, eliminating the awkward 'customer of size' boarding process that previously caused delays.
- The policy now explicitly bans employees from asking passengers to purchase second seats, shifting responsibility to voluntary pre-booking to reduce public complaints.
- Medical documentation is no longer required for the extra seat, but the request must be made at least 48 hours before departure to guarantee availability.
- Empty seats adjacent to requesting passengers will be blocked, but if the flight is oversold, the airline can downgrade the accommodation to a single seat without refunds.