We've all been there – plans change, flights get canceled, or you simply find a better deal. When that happens with Southwest Airlines, one of the first questions that pops into mind is: How long will it take to get my money back? While Southwest is known for its relatively flexible policies, the refund timeline isn't always instant. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Southwest refunds, from eligibility to processing times and how to track your money.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Refund from Southwest Airlines? A Step-by-Step Guide
So, you're wondering about your Southwest refund. Let's break down the process and set your expectations!
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| How Long Does It Take To Get A Refund From Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Determine Your Refund Eligibility – Are You Even Owed a Refund?
Before you start tracking imaginary money, the absolute first thing you need to do is understand if you're eligible for a refund in the first place. Southwest's refund policy isn't a one-size-fits-all, and it largely depends on the type of fare you purchased and the reason for the cancellation or change.
Sub-heading: Understanding Southwest Fare Types and Their Refundability
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Business Select® and Anytime Fares: These are your most flexible options. If you cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes prior to the original scheduled departure of your flight, you are generally eligible to receive 100% of your ticket value as a refund to your original form of payment. If you don't cancel, your funds may be converted into a Transferable Flight Credit™.
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Wanna Get Away Plus® Fares: While generally non-refundable to your original form of payment, if you cancel at least 10 minutes prior to the original scheduled departure, the value will typically be converted to a Transferable Flight Credit™. This credit can be used for future travel and can even be transferred to another Rapid Rewards® Member.
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Wanna Get Away® Fares: These are Southwest's most economical fares and are non-refundable to the original form of payment. If you cancel at least 10 minutes before departure, the value of the ticket will be converted to a flight credit that you can use for future travel.
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Basic Fares: These are the least flexible and are non-refundable. If you cancel at least 10 minutes before departure, any value remaining on the ticket will be converted to a flight credit with a specified expiration date.
Sub-heading: Special Circumstances for Refunds (Even for Non-Refundable Tickets!)
There are crucial exceptions where Southwest will issue a method-of-payment refund, even for non-refundable tickets:
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Southwest-Initiated Flight Cancellation: If Southwest cancels your flight, you are automatically eligible for a full refund to your original form of payment, regardless of the fare type.
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Significant Flight Delay or Schedule Change: If your flight is significantly delayed (generally 3+ hours domestically, 6+ hours internationally) or significantly impacted by a schedule change, and you decide not to travel, you are eligible for a method-of-payment refund. This also applies to any bag fees or unused extras like EarlyBird Check-In®.
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24-Hour Cancellation Policy (The "24-Hour Rule"): If you cancel your reservation within 24 hours of booking and your flight was scheduled at least seven days away, you can choose to receive a method-of-payment refund or hold the value as a flight credit/Transferable Flight Credit™. This is a fantastic consumer protection.
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Extenuating Circumstances: Southwest may also consider refunds for certain extenuating circumstances such as:
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Purchasing an extra seat as a Customer of size or a Customer with a disability.
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Military orders preventing travel.
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Death of an immediate family member, travel companion, or Passenger.
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In these cases, you'll likely need to fill out a form and provide supporting documentation.
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The key takeaway here: Always check your fare type and the reason for your cancellation. This will dictate your refund path.
Step 2: Initiating Your Refund Request – Making It Official
Once you've confirmed your eligibility, it's time to formally request your refund.
QuickTip: Don’t rush through examples.
Sub-heading: Online Cancellation and Refund Process
For most situations, especially if you're eligible for an automatic refund or flight credit, the easiest way to initiate the process is online:
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Visit Southwest.com or use the Southwest Mobile App: Navigate to the "Manage Reservations" or "My Trips" section.
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Locate Your Reservation: Enter your confirmation number, first name, and last name.
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Select "Cancel": Follow the prompts to cancel your flight.
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Choose Your Refund Option (if applicable): If you have a refundable fare (Business Select® or Anytime), you'll typically be given the option to receive a refund to your original form of payment or hold the value as a Transferable Flight Credit™. For non-refundable fares, it will automatically convert to a flight credit or Transferable Flight Credit™.
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Confirm Cancellation: Review the details and confirm the cancellation. You should receive a confirmation email.
Sub-heading: Requesting a Refund for Special Circumstances
If your situation falls under the "special circumstances" (like a Southwest-initiated cancellation/delay where you're seeking a method-of-payment refund for a non-refundable fare, or an extenuating circumstance), you might need to take a slightly different approach:
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Southwest's Refund Request Form: Southwest often has a dedicated online form for requesting refunds under specific conditions. Search their "Help Center" for "Request Ticket Refund" or "Refund Policy" to find it. You may need to provide documentation.
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Contacting Southwest Customer Service: If you're unsure or prefer to speak with someone, you can call Southwest Reservations at 1-800-435-9792. Be prepared with your confirmation number and details of your situation. While calling can be slower, it might be necessary for complex cases.
Step 3: Understanding the Refund Processing Timeline – Patience is a Virtue!
Now for the burning question: how long does it actually take?
Sub-heading: Standard Processing Times
Southwest Airlines generally processes refunds within seven (7) business days. This applies to refunds to your original form of payment, especially for credit card transactions.
Sub-heading: Bank Processing Times
Here's where the variability comes in! While Southwest processes the refund quickly, your bank or credit card company then needs to process it on their end. This can take an additional 7 to 10 business days. In some cases, depending on your individual bank and billing cycle, it might take up to 20 business days for the refund to actually appear on your credit card statement.
QuickTip: Reading regularly builds stronger recall.
Sub-heading: Other Payment Methods
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Cash or Check Payments: If you paid with cash or a check, Southwest will typically issue a refund by check. This process can take longer, generally around 20 calendar days.
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Rapid Rewards Points: If you booked with Rapid Rewards points and cancel, the points will be returned to the Rapid Rewards account holder who booked the ticket immediately or very quickly after cancellation.
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Flight Credits/LUV Vouchers: If your refund results in a flight credit or LUV Voucher, these are generally available for immediate use once the cancellation is confirmed. The expiration date of these credits will vary based on the original fare type and when they were issued. Note that Southwest LUV Vouchers cannot be directly refunded for cash.
Therefore, while Southwest aims for a 7-day processing window, expect the total time to see the money back in your account to be closer to 2-3 weeks.
Step 4: Checking Your Refund Status – Keeping an Eye on Your Money
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It's natural to want to know where your refund stands.
Sub-heading: How to Track Your Refund (or Flight Credit)
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Credit Card Statement: The most straightforward way to track a refund to your original payment method is to monitor your credit card or bank statements. Look for a credit from Southwest Airlines.
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Southwest.com "Check Travel Funds": If your cancellation resulted in a flight credit or Transferable Flight Credit™, you can check its status, balance, and expiration date on Southwest's "Check Travel Funds" page. You'll need the confirmation number and the passenger's first and last name.
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Confirmation Emails: Keep an eye on your email for any communications from Southwest regarding your refund or flight credit.
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Contacting Customer Service (If Necessary): If the expected processing time has passed (e.g., more than 20 business days for a credit card refund) and you still haven't seen your refund, it's time to contact Southwest Customer Service directly at 1-800-435-9792. Be ready with your confirmation number and the date you initiated the refund.
Step 5: What to Do If There's a Delay or Issue – Troubleshooting Your Refund
Sometimes, things don't go as smoothly as planned.
Sub-heading: Common Reasons for Delays
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Incorrect Information: Ensure you provided accurate information during the cancellation or refund request.
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Bank Processing Times: As mentioned, your bank can add significant time to the process.
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High Volume: During peak travel seasons or widespread disruptions, refund processing times might be slightly longer due to high volume.
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Complex Cases: Unique or extenuating circumstances might require more manual review, leading to extended processing times.
Sub-heading: Steps to Take if Your Refund is Delayed
Tip: Reread if it feels confusing.
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Re-check Your Eligibility: Double-check Southwest's refund policy and your fare type to ensure you're indeed eligible for the type of refund you're expecting.
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Review Your Bank/Credit Card Statements: Confirm that the refund hasn't already posted.
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Wait a Few More Days: Give it a little extra time beyond the stated 20 business days, especially if there were recent widespread travel disruptions.
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Contact Southwest Customer Service: If you're well past the expected timeline, call Southwest's customer service. Be polite but firm, and have all your details ready (confirmation number, dates, original payment method).
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Dispute with Your Credit Card Company: As a last resort, if Southwest is unresponsive or unable to provide a satisfactory resolution after a significant delay, you can consider disputing the charge with your credit card company. Most credit card companies offer consumer protection for services not rendered. Be aware that this should only be done after exhausting options with Southwest directly.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to common questions about Southwest Airlines refunds:
How to check my Southwest flight credit balance?
You can check your Southwest flight credit balance by visiting the "Check Travel Funds" section on Southwest.com and entering your confirmation number, first name, and last name.
How to get a full refund from Southwest Airlines?
To get a full refund to your original form of payment, you generally need to have purchased a Business Select® or Anytime fare and cancel at least 10 minutes prior to departure, or your flight must have been canceled or significantly delayed by Southwest, or you canceled within 24 hours of booking (if seven days or more until departure).
How to use a Southwest flight credit for a new booking?
When booking a new flight on Southwest.com, proceed to the payment screen. You will see an option to "Apply Travel Funds." Enter the confirmation number associated with your flight credit to apply its value to your new booking.
How to extend the expiration date of a Southwest flight credit?
For flight credits and Transferable Flight Credits issued after May 28, 2025, they have specified expiration dates (typically 6 or 12 months). Southwest states that the validity of LUV Vouchers will not be extended and any unused value will be forfeited upon expiration, but historically, some customers have had success calling customer service to request a one-time extension for LUV Vouchers.
Tip: Use this post as a starting point for exploration.
How to get a refund for EarlyBird Check-In?
EarlyBird Check-In purchases are generally non-refundable unless your flight is canceled or significantly delayed by Southwest, and you opt to cancel your reservation as a result.
How to transfer a Southwest flight credit to another person?
Wanna Get Away Plus®, Anytime, and Business Select® fares booked and ticketed/changed on or after May 28, 2025, can result in Transferable Flight Credits™, which can be transferred between Rapid Rewards® Members. Basic fare flight credits and older Wanna Get Away credits are typically not transferable.
How to request a refund for a missed Southwest flight?
If you miss your Southwest flight without canceling at least 10 minutes prior to departure, your reservation is subject to their no-show policy, and you will typically forfeit the funds. Refunds are generally not issued for missed flights unless it falls under an extenuating circumstance.
How to get a refund if Southwest cancels my flight?
If Southwest cancels your flight, you are automatically eligible for a full refund to your original form of payment, even for non-refundable tickets. You can typically initiate this online or by contacting customer service.
How to get a refund for a significantly delayed Southwest flight?
If your Southwest flight is significantly delayed (generally 3+ hours domestically, 6+ hours internationally) and you decide not to travel, you are eligible for a method-of-payment refund. You will need to cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes before the new departure time.
How to contact Southwest Airlines for refund inquiries?
You can contact Southwest Airlines for refund inquiries by calling their Reservations line at 1-800-435-9792 or by exploring the "Refund Policy" and "Request Ticket Refund" sections within their online Help Center.
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