passengers

PLUS-SIZED passengers will have to pay for two seats when flying with a one of the world’s largest low-cost airlines, from January.

A new rule will come into play in next month requiring customers who cannot fit within the armrests of their seat to buy an extra ticket in advance.

Southwest Airlines flies across the US to 100 destinations in 42 states.

And from January 27, 2026, travellers will need to be aware of its seat changes.

It will require larger passengers who ‘encroach upon the neighbouring seat’ to buy an additional ticket for their journey.

Currently, Southwest Airlines offers plus-size passengers the chance to pay for an extra seat up front and then request a refund on the ticket later, or they can request a free extra seat at the airport.

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But that policy is now changing, with passengers who need two seats required to pay for both of them when booking, with less chance of a refund.

The only situation when the second seat might be approved for a refund is if the flight departs with at least one seat still available, and if both seats have been purchased in the same fare class.

If a passenger in need of an extra seat does not buy one before the flight, they will be required to do so at the airport.

If their flight is already full when they are at the airport, the airline will book them onto a new flight.

Southwest Airlines: “To ensure space, we are communicating to Customers who have previously used the extra seat policy that they should purchase it at booking.”

“Customers who encroach upon the neighboring seat(s) should proactively purchase the needed number of seats prior to travel to ensure the additional, adjacent seat is available.

“The armrest is considered to be the definitive boundary between seats; you may review information about the width of Passenger seats.”

These aren’t the only changes coming on January 27 as on this date, the airline will begin its policy of assigning seats.

Previously, the open seating meant passengers could pick any available seat after boarding.

It worked on a first-come, first-served basis to speed up turnarounds, lower costs, and simplify travel with one cabin class.

Southwest Airlines also recently revealed its new cabin interior with seats that have been made extra comfy.

The airline showed images of its new design in October stating it has listened to travellers and improved facilities like adding USB chargers and entertainment holders.

Now, it has revealed the new design onboard its Boeing 737 MAX 8 – the airline even took passenger feedback into account when creating the new cabin.

It has covered “employee perceptions of color, comfort, and aspirations for the overall onboard experience, and it’s meant to create a cabin environment that feels modern, welcoming, and uniquely Southwest.”

The airline added that its seats “are intuitively designed for ultimate comfort, while maximizing seat width and overall support”.

For more on airlines, Jet2 has made a major change on flights and it’s great news for families.

And new EU rules that could soon make your long-haul flight more expensive.

This year has seen a raft of items banned from cruise ships, and if you’re planning on sailing away in 2026, make sure you don’t have any of these items in your luggage or you could risk having your possessions confiscated

While a cruise can be an excellent way to see the world, stepping on-board one of these giant floating resorts is very different to checking into a hotel. There are cruise etiquette rules to observe, and due to safety regulations and the close proximity to other guests, strict guidelines that passengers will need to follow.

In 2025, many cruise lines announced bans on common travel items, citing either safety concerns or antisocial behaviour. If you haven’t been on a cruise for a while, it’s worth double-checking with your cruise line what is and isn’t allowed in your bag.

Here are some of the items that have been banned in recent months and could end up being confiscated if you bring them on board.

1. Satellite internet

Onboard WiFi can be a big expense on top of the price of your cruise, especially for longer journeys or if you plan to use multiple devices. Some tech-savvy passengers have tried to avoid the cost by bringing devices such as Starlink Mini onboard, which provides internet via a satellite, but cruise companies have not been impressed by this ingenious hack.

Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian are among the cruise lines which banned passenger-owned Starlink devices, although some of their ships use the system to provide WiFi at a cost. Cruise lines have claimed that satellites could cause interference to the ship’s systems and problems with its own WiFi.

2. Travel routers

Many cruise WiFi packages can only be used on one device, leading some passengers to bring routers to use in their cabins, which allows them to connect multiple devices to a single connection. However, some cruise lines are cracking down on what was once a popular money-saving hack. There have been claims that these routers could cause cybersecurity issues on cruises, and many cruise groups on social media are full of passengers complaining that their devices were confiscated when trying to bring them in their luggage.

3. Clack fans

This rather strange ban was implemented by Carnival Cruises in the USA in response to a dance craze. The 2024 song Boots on the Ground by 803Fresh spawned a popular TikTok dance that became a staple on cruises, and involves using a paper clack fan to accompany the beat. However, the American cruise line banned them from nightclubs and indoor dance floors over safety concerns, although they can still be used in spaces such as decks.

4. Bluetooth speakers

If you’re dreaming of sitting out on your balcony blasting your favourite tunes, then you may be disappointed. Many cruise lines have now banned Bluetooth speakers, citing noise levels, annoyance to other passengers, and the possibility of blocking important safety announcements. Celebrity, Carnival and MSC all have speaker bans.

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5. Upside down pineapple stickers

According to Australian news outlet Cruise Passenger, upside-down pineapples, often used as a symbol that couples are interested in swinging, will no longer be allowed on cruises run by Carnival. When asked about the stickers, Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald wrote: “Thank you for mentioning that, those are definitely no longer allowed on the ships and they will be removed from any cabin door.”

Their guidelines for passengers wanting to decorate their stateroom door also state: “Items displayed during the cruise should not contain any message that may be considered offensive or contain nudity, profanity, sexual innuendos/suggestions.”

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

A PLAN to expand one UK airport has been approved – meaning it could become the second busiest in the country.

In 2024, the airport saw almost 30million passengers, but with the new plans could see 20million more.

The airport in question is London Stansted in Essex which has plans for more flights, but no structural changes.

London Stansted could rise to become the UK’s second busiest airport, rather than the fourth, after councillors agreed to increase its annual passenger numbers to 51million.

The owner, Manchester Airports Group’s, latest plan is to increase passenger capacity at the airport to between 48 and 51million people per year by 2040.

In comparison, London Gatwick sees between 40 to 43million passengers each year.

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While you might think that the airport would need an additional runway, there are no plans to build one.

There won’t be a second runway, or exceed the airport’s limit of 274,000 flights a year.

The way it will increase its passengers is by accommodating larger planes.

On December 17, 2025, Uttlesford District Council’s Planning Committee ruled in favour of the application.

The airport currently serves flight across 40 countries, and is already working on an expansion costing a £1.1billion.

This work that started in 2025 is expected to be finished in two to three years and includes more seating areas and new shops, bars and restaurants.

It also includes a larger security hall, more check-in desks and a new baggage reclaim carousel.

Another London airport preparing for expansion is the busiest in the country; London Heathrow.

The £33billion plan for Heathrow Airport to create a third runway was given the green light earlier this year.

And ministers backed plans from the airports owners that would see the M25 moved to make way for the addition.

The Heathrow proposals involve building a 3,500-metre runway and a new M25 tunnel and bridges to be built 130 metres west of the existing motorway.

It is estimated to cost £33 billion, including £1.5 billion on re-routing the M25.

This would see nearby villages like Longford and Harmondsworth demolished.

It will see Heathrow’s capacity increase to 756,000 flights and 150million passengers per year.

For more on airports, here are two major UK airports to be much easier to travel to – after thousands caught out with strict £100 fines.

Plus, this mega £27billion airport set to open in 2032 as ‘Heathrow and Dubai rival’ reveals new name.

A court in Germany has ruled in favour of Ryanair and issued a series of rulings against claims company Flightright, prohibiting the firm from claiming customers encounter “hurdles” when contacting the airline’s customer service

Ryanair has won a won a key court battle against a claims company that passengers turn to get compensation for delayed and cancelled flights.

The firm called Flightright encouraged flyers to use their services when taking any sort of action against the low cost airline. But now a court in Germany has ruled in favour of Ryanair and issued a series of rulings against Flightright. The court has legally prohibited Flightright from claiming that customers encounter “hurdles” when contacting the airline’s customer service.

Experts said this ruling marks a significant point in the dispute between the Irish low-cost carrier and companies specialising in enforcing compensation claims under EU Regulation 261.

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Earlier this week the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court in the German city if Hamburg banned Flightright from telling passengers to ignore Ryanair entirely. Judges also ordered the company to admit it always puts a 14 percent “lawyer surcharge” on top of its advertised fee.

A huge £210,000 fine will hit every future breach of the ruling. Ryanair accused Flightright of misleading advertising and profiting from the misery of delayed travellers.

The airline says platforms like Flightright routinely take up to a whopping 40 percent of a €250 EU compensation payout meant for passengers. Ryanair’s marketing chief Dara Brady welcomed the verdict and told passengers to cut out greedy middlemen.

He said customers who go direct will receive 100 percent of their payout under EU Regulation 261.

He claimed Ryanair offered “a simple, transparent system that avoids rip-off fees”. EU rules promise €250 for delays on flights up to 1,500 kilometres and a tasty €600 for longer flights delayed more than three hours.

The verdict piled onto a list of previous legal defeats suffered by Flightright. Claims companies are controversial because they cherry-pick “easy wins” they can cash in on. They collect hefty commissions for filing paperwork while posing as consumer champions.

Industry insiders say Ryanair is less complicated than many rivals when it comes to issuing refunds. Ryanair is using this to humiliate companies that portray it as hostile to customers.

Travellers who refuse to deal with airlines directly can use Germany’s free arbitration service, which claims 80 to 90 percent success without fees. The ruling exposes the claims-industry model as a profit hunt fuelled by delay payouts, not public service.

On Flightright’s website, it claimed: “No one enjoys flight delays, but it’s important to know that you have rights! If your flight began in the EU, or landed in the EU with a European airline, you could be eligible to claim up to £520, depending on flight distance and delay length, no matter the ticket cost.

“The only conditions are that the airline must be responsible for the cause of the delay, and you must have reached the final airport in your trip with a delay of at least three hours.