Have you ever booked a flight, only for your plans to suddenly shift? It happens to the best of us! Whether it's an unexpected meeting, a change in vacation dates, or simply a desire for a different travel day, knowing how to modify your flight can save you a lot of stress (and potentially money!). Fortunately, Southwest Airlines is known for its flexible policies, often making flight changes much simpler than with other carriers. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of changing your Southwest Airlines flight date, from understanding their policies to actually making the change online or over the phone.
Navigating Your Travel Plans: How to Change Your Southwest Airlines Flight Date
Southwest Airlines truly stands out in the airline industry for its customer-friendly approach, especially when it comes to changes and cancellations. Unlike many other airlines that hit you with hefty change fees, Southwest has historically offered a no-change-fee policy. While fare differences might apply, the flexibility is a huge advantage for travelers.
Step 1: "Wait, my plans changed! What do I do first?"
Before you do anything, take a deep breath! The good news is that Southwest allows changes up to 10 minutes before your original scheduled departure time. So, unless your flight is literally taking off in the next few minutes, you likely have time to sort things out.
First, assess your situation:
Do you know your new travel date and time? Having this information ready will make the process much smoother.
What fare type did you book? Southwest offers various fare types (e.g., Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, Business Select, Basic). While most allow changes without an airline change fee, the implications for fare differences and refunds can vary.
Are you traveling with a Companion Pass? If so, there's an extra step involved.
Once you have a clear picture, you're ready to proceed!
Step 2: Accessing Your Reservation – Your Digital Gateway
The easiest and most common way to change your Southwest flight date is online or through the Southwest Airlines mobile app.
Sub-heading: Online via Southwest.com
Go to the Official Website: Open your web browser and navigate to Southwest.com.
Log In to Your Account (Recommended): While you can access your reservation without logging in, it's highly recommended to log into your Rapid Rewards account. This automatically links your reservations and makes managing them much easier.
Find "Manage Reservations": On the homepage, look for a section titled "Manage Reservations" or "Change/Cancel Flight." This is usually prominently displayed.
Enter Your Details:
If you're logged in, your upcoming flights should be listed under "My Account" or "My Trips." Simply select the flight you wish to change.
If you're not logged in, you'll need to enter your Confirmation Number, First Name, and Last Name associated with the reservation. Click "Retrieve Flight."
Sub-heading: Using the Southwest Mobile App
Open the App: Launch the Southwest Airlines app on your smartphone or tablet.
Log In: Just like the website, logging into your Rapid Rewards account is best.
Navigate to "My Trips": Tap on the "My Trips" or "View/Manage" section.
Select Your Flight: Choose the specific upcoming flight that you need to change.
Step 3: Initiating the Change – The "Change Flight" Button
Once you've located your reservation, you'll see options to manage it.
Click "Change Flight": Look for a button or link that says "Change Flight." This will typically be displayed next to your flight details.
Select Passengers (if applicable): If your reservation includes multiple passengers, you may be prompted to select which passenger(s) you wish to change. If you only need to change one person's flight, you might need to divide the reservation first. Southwest usually allows you to do this online.
Step 4: Finding Your New Flight – Exploring Options
This is where you'll search for your desired new travel date and time.
Choose New Date/Time/Destination: You'll be presented with options to select a new date, time, and potentially even a new destination (though changing destination may have more significant fare implications).
Browse Available Flights: Southwest will display available flights for your chosen criteria. Pay close attention to the fare types and their corresponding prices or Rapid Rewards points.
If your new flight is cheaper: Southwest will typically refund the difference to your original form of payment (for refundable fares like Anytime or Business Select) or provide a flight credit for future use (for non-refundable fares like Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus).
If your new flight is more expensive: You will be required to pay the fare difference. This can be paid with a credit card, Southwest LUV Voucher, or additional Rapid Rewards points if you booked with points.
Consider Fare Types:
Wanna Get Away & Wanna Get Away Plus: These are Southwest's most economical fares. While you won't pay a change fee, you will pay the fare difference if the new flight is more expensive. If it's cheaper, you'll get a flight credit.
Anytime & Business Select: These fares offer greater flexibility. If you change to a cheaper flight, you'll usually receive a refund to your original form of payment for the difference. You'll still pay the fare difference if the new flight is more expensive.
Basic Fares: As of May 28, 2025, Basic fares cannot be changed directly. If you want to change a Basic fare, you must first upgrade it to a Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, or Business Select fare. This essentially means paying the difference to upgrade, and then you can proceed with changing the flight.
Step 5: Reviewing and Confirming Your Changes
Before finalizing anything, Southwest will provide a summary of your proposed changes.
Review Details Carefully: Double-check the new flight date, time, origin, destination, and the fare difference (if any).
Acknowledge Terms: You may need to acknowledge Southwest's policies regarding changes, refunds, and flight credits.
Confirm Changes: Once you're satisfied, click the "Confirm Changes" or "Make These Changes" button. You will be prompted for payment if there's a fare difference.
Step 6: Receiving Your New Confirmation
After successful completion, you'll receive a new confirmation.
New Confirmation Number: You'll get a new confirmation number for your updated itinerary.
Email Confirmation: Southwest will send an email to the address on file with your new flight details. Save this email!
Important Considerations & Pro Tips
Companion Pass Holders: If you're traveling with a Companion Pass, you must cancel your Companion's reservation first, then change your flight, and then rebook your Companion on the new flight (ensuring a seat is available for them).
Same-Day Change/Standby: On the day of travel, Southwest offers "Same-Day Change" (for a confirmed seat) and "Same-Day Standby" (to get on a waitlist).
For Business Select, Anytime, and Wanna Get Away Plus fares: Same-Day Change is typically included.
For Wanna Get Away fares: You can make a same-day change, but a fare difference may apply.
A-List and A-List Preferred Members: Have more flexibility with same-day changes and standby, even on Basic fares for standby.
Crucially, you must make these changes or request standby at least 10 minutes prior to your original flight's scheduled departure. For standby via the app/mobile web, it's 30 minutes.
Flight Credits:
Flight credits created on or before May 27, 2025, do not expire.
Flight credits created on or after May 28, 2025, will have a specified expiration date based on the fare type. Basic fares typically expire in six months, while other fares generally expire 12 months from the original booking date.
Keep track of your confirmation numbers for any flight credits you receive.
No-Show Policy: If you don't travel and don't change or cancel your flight at least 10 minutes prior to departure, your reservation will be subject to Southwest's no-show policy, and your funds or points may be forfeited.
Calling Southwest: If you encounter any issues online, or have a complex situation (like a partner itinerary or a group booking), don't hesitate to call Southwest Customer Service at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792). They can often assist with changes that might not be available through the online portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Changing a flight can bring up many questions. Here are 10 common FAQs to help you further:
How to change my Southwest flight without a fee?
Southwest Airlines does not charge a change fee for most fare types (Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, Business Select). However, you will be responsible for any fare difference if your new flight is more expensive. Basic fares require an upgrade before they can be changed.
How to change a Southwest flight with a Companion Pass?
You must first cancel your Companion's reservation linked to your original flight. Then, proceed to change your flight. Once your flight is successfully changed, you can rebook your Companion on the new flight, provided there is an available seat for them.
How to change a Southwest flight if the new flight is cheaper?
If your new flight costs less, Southwest will typically issue the difference as a flight credit for future use for non-refundable fares (Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus). For refundable fares (Anytime, Business Select), the difference will be refunded to your original form of payment.
How to perform a same-day change on Southwest Airlines?
You can make a same-day confirmed change via Southwest.com, the mobile app, or at the airport, usually up to 10 minutes before your original flight. This allows you to switch to an earlier or later flight on the same day between the same origin and destination. Eligibility and potential fare differences depend on your fare type and Rapid Rewards A-List status.
How to use a flight credit to change a Southwest flight?
When changing your flight and there's a fare difference, on the payment screen, you'll see an option to "Apply Travel Funds" or "Use Flight Credit." Enter the confirmation number of your flight credit there.
How to check the expiration date of my Southwest flight credit?
You can view your available flight credits and their expiration dates by logging into your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com or the mobile app, navigating to "My Account," and then selecting "Payment" or "My Travel Funds."
How to change a Southwest Basic fare flight?
Basic fares cannot be directly changed. You must first upgrade your Basic fare to a Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, or Business Select fare. After the upgrade, you can then proceed with changing the flight date.
How to change a Southwest flight if I booked through a travel agency?
If you booked your Southwest flight through a third-party travel agency, you typically need to contact that travel agency directly to make any changes to your reservation. Southwest may not be able to directly modify bookings made through external partners.
How to change a Southwest flight for only one person in a multi-person reservation?
To change a flight for a specific traveler on a reservation with two or more travelers, you must first divide the reservation. Southwest usually allows you to do this online. After dividing, you'll receive a new confirmation number for the separated passenger(s), and you can then change their individual reservation.
How to change a Southwest flight if there's a major schedule change by Southwest?
If Southwest significantly changes your flight schedule (e.g., a delay of three hours or more domestically), and the new itinerary doesn't work for you, you are generally eligible for a refund to your original form of payment, even for non-refundable tickets. You can also choose to rebook to a new flight.
