Life happens, and sometimes even the most meticulously planned travel adventures need to be adjusted. Whether it's a sudden change in plans, an unexpected emergency, or simply a change of heart, canceling a flight can feel like a daunting task. But fear not, fellow traveler! If you're wondering how to cancel a reservation on Southwest Airlines, you've come to the right place. Southwest, known for its customer-friendly policies, makes the process relatively straightforward, and this comprehensive guide will walk you through every step.
Ready to reclaim your travel flexibility? Let's dive in!
Step 1: Understanding Southwest's Flexible Cancellation Policy
Before you even think about hitting that "cancel" button, it's crucial to understand Southwest's renowned cancellation policy. This knowledge will empower you to make the best decision for your specific situation and understand what to expect in terms of refunds or travel credits.
Sub-heading: The 10-Minute Rule is Your Best Friend
One of the most generous aspects of Southwest's policy is that you can cancel your flight up to 10 minutes prior to its original scheduled departure time. This gives you a significant window, even for last-minute changes. However, what you receive back (a refund to your original payment method or a travel fund) depends on the fare type you purchased.
Sub-heading: Decoding Southwest's Fare Types and Their Cancellation Benefits
Southwest offers several fare types, each with slightly different cancellation implications:
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Business Select® and Anytime Fares: These are the most flexible and fully refundable. If you cancel at least 10 minutes before departure, you're eligible for a 100% refund to your original form of payment. Alternatively, you can choose to receive a transferable flight credit for future use. If you used a flight credit from a previous reservation to book these fares, the refund will be issued as a transferable flight credit.
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Wanna Get Away Plus® Fares: These fares are generally non-refundable, but they offer a valuable Transferable Flight Credit™. If you cancel, the value of your ticket will be converted into a flight credit that you can use yourself or transfer to another Rapid Rewards Member. For flights booked on or after May 28, 2025, these credits expire 12 months from the original ticketing date.
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Wanna Get Away® Fares: Similar to Wanna Get Away Plus, these fares are also non-refundable. If you cancel, you'll receive a flight credit for future use, but it is not transferable. For flights booked on or after May 28, 2025, these flight credits expire 12 months from the original ticketing date.
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Basic Fares: These are the most restrictive fares. While there's no cancellation fee, the flight credit you receive upon cancellation expires six months from the original ticketing date for flights booked on or after May 28, 2025, and is not transferable.
Remember: If Southwest cancels your flight or significantly delays it (generally 3+ hours domestic, 6+ hours international), you are entitled to a full refund to your original payment method, regardless of your fare type.
QuickTip: Reflect before moving to the next part.
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| How Do I Cancel A Reservation On Southwest Airlines |
Step 2: Choosing Your Cancellation Method
Southwest provides several convenient ways to cancel your reservation, giving you the flexibility to choose the one that suits you best.
Sub-heading: Online Cancellation (Recommended for Most Cases)
The quickest and easiest way to cancel your Southwest flight is directly through their website or mobile app.
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Access Southwest.com or the Southwest App: Open your preferred platform.
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Navigate to "Manage Reservations": On the Southwest.com homepage, look for "Flight" in the header and then click on "Manage Reservations." In the app, you'll usually find a "My Trips" or "Manage Trips" section.
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Retrieve Your Reservation: You'll need your Confirmation Number and the first and last name of one of the passengers on the reservation. Enter these details and click "Search" or "Retrieve."
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Locate the "Cancel" Option: Once your reservation details appear, look for a "Cancel" link or button. It's usually prominently displayed next to your confirmation number.
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Review Cancellation Details: Southwest will present you with a summary of the cancellation, including what kind of credit or refund you're eligible for based on your fare type.
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Confirm Cancellation: If you only have non-refundable funds, you'll likely only see the option to "Hold for future use." If you have refundable funds, you'll see options to "Request a refund" or "Hold for future use as a Travel Fund." Make your selection and click "Cancel flight" to finalize the process for all passengers on that reservation.
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Receive Confirmation: You'll see a confirmation page with a new cancellation confirmation number. It's highly recommended to keep a record of this number for your reference. You should also receive an email confirmation.
Sub-heading: Cancelling by Phone
If you encounter any issues online, have a complex itinerary, or prefer speaking to a representative, you can always cancel by phone.
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Call Southwest Customer Service: The main customer service number is 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792).
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Be Prepared with Information: Have your Confirmation Number and passenger names ready.
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Explain Your Request: Clearly state that you wish to cancel your flight reservation.
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Follow Agent's Instructions: The representative will guide you through the process and confirm the cancellation details.
Sub-heading: Cancelling at the Airport
While less common for simple cancellations, if you are already at the airport and need to cancel a flight, you can speak to a Southwest Customer Service Agent at the ticket counter or departure gate. They can assist you with the cancellation process.
Tip: Reading in chunks improves focus.
Step 3: Handling Multi-Passenger Reservations
If your reservation includes multiple passengers and you only need to cancel for some of them, Southwest has a specific process for this.
Sub-heading: Dividing the Reservation Online
Southwest allows you to divide a reservation online without needing to call.
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Access "Manage Reservations": Follow the steps in Step 2 to pull up your multi-passenger reservation.
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Look for "Divide Reservation" or Similar: Within the reservation details, there should be an option to "Divide Reservation" or "Change number of people flying."
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Select Passengers to Separate: Choose the passenger(s) you wish to remove from the original reservation.
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Confirm Division: Once divided, the separated passenger(s) will receive a new confirmation number.
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Cancel the Divided Reservation: You can then use the new confirmation number to cancel the flight for the specific traveler(s) you separated, following the steps in Step 2.
Note: For reservations with a lap child, it's generally recommended to call Southwest Customer Service to make changes or cancellations.
Step 4: Understanding and Using Your Travel Funds
If your cancellation resulted in a flight credit or transferable flight credit, it's important to know how to locate and utilize these funds for future travel.
Sub-heading: Locating Your Travel Funds
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Log In to Your Rapid Rewards Account: If you're a Rapid Rewards member and your travel funds are associated with your account, log in on Southwest.com.
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Navigate to "My Account" or "My Travel Funds": On the desktop site, select "My Account" from the menu options at the top. On the mobile app, scroll down to "My Travel Funds" at the bottom of the page.
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Check "Payment" Section: Within your account, select "Payment" from the menu options. Any available flight credits associated with your name and account should be listed, along with their expiration dates.
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Use the "Check Travel Funds" Tool: If you're not a Rapid Rewards member or the funds aren't appearing, you can often find a "Check Travel Funds" tool on Southwest's website. You'll typically need the original confirmation number and the passenger's name.
QuickTip: Look for repeated words — they signal importance.
Sub-heading: Applying Travel Funds to a New Booking
When booking a new flight on Southwest.com:
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Proceed to the Payment Page: After selecting your new flights, continue to the payment section during the booking process.
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Select "Southwest Travel Funds" or "LUV Voucher": You'll see an option to apply travel funds.
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Enter Confirmation Number/Voucher Details: Input the confirmation number of your canceled flight or the LUV Voucher number.
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Apply Funds: The system will apply the available credit to your new booking. If the new flight is more expensive, you'll pay the difference. If it's less, the remaining balance will typically remain as a travel fund (subject to expiration dates).
Important: Travel funds are generally tied to the original passenger's name, unless it's a Transferable Flight Credit™ from a Wanna Get Away Plus®, Anytime, or Business Select fare.
Step 5: What Happens If You Don't Cancel (No-Show Policy)
Southwest has a "no-show" policy that is important to be aware of. If you do not travel and do not change or cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure, your reservation will be subject to this policy.
Sub-heading: Consequences of a No-Show
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Forfeiture of Funds: For non-refundable fares (Wanna Get Away, Basic), if you no-show, you will generally forfeit the entire value of your ticket.
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Refund for Business Select/Anytime (with conditions): While Business Select and Anytime fares are refundable, if you no-show, the funds may be converted into a transferable flight credit rather than a direct refund to your original payment method. Always cancel proactively to ensure you get the intended refund or credit.
Step 6: Special Circumstances and Considerations
Sub-heading: Southwest-Initiated Flight Changes or Cancellations
Tip: Don’t just glance — focus.
If Southwest cancels your flight or makes a significant schedule change (e.g., 3+ hour domestic delay, 6+ hour international delay), you have more options:
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Free Rebooking: You can typically rebook on another Southwest flight to your destination at no additional cost.
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Full Refund: You are entitled to a full refund to your original form of payment, even for non-refundable tickets. This includes any additional fees paid (e.g., EarlyBird Check-In).
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Flight Credit: You can also choose to receive a flight credit, which in these cases, may be valid for a longer period (e.g., five years from the original booking date for significantly disrupted flights).
To request a refund in these situations, contact Southwest Customer Service. Do not simply accept a flight credit if you prefer a refund to your original payment method.
Sub-heading: Partner Itineraries
If your reservation includes flights with a partner airline (e.g., codeshare flights), you must contact the partner carrier directly to make changes or cancellations, as their fare rules will apply.
Sub-heading: Travel Insurance and Credit Card Benefits
If you purchased travel insurance or booked your flight with a credit card that offers trip cancellation benefits, review your policy. These can provide reimbursement for non-refundable expenses in certain covered situations (e.g., illness, unexpected events).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common questions related to canceling Southwest Airlines reservations, with quick answers:
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How to cancel a Southwest flight within 24 hours of booking?
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You can cancel any Southwest flight within 24 hours of booking for a full refund to your original payment method, provided the flight was booked at least seven days prior to departure.
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How to get a refund from Southwest Airlines after canceling a flight?
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Refunds to your original payment method are generally only available for Business Select and Anytime fares when canceled at least 10 minutes prior to departure. If Southwest cancels your flight, you are also eligible for a refund regardless of fare type. Non-refundable fares typically receive flight credits.
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How to use Southwest travel funds after a cancellation?
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Log in to your Rapid Rewards account (if applicable) or use the "Check Travel Funds" tool on Southwest.com with your original confirmation number. During a new booking, select "Southwest Travel Funds" or "LUV Voucher" on the payment page and enter your details.
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How to check the expiration date of Southwest flight credits?
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Log in to your Rapid Rewards account and go to "My Account" -> "Payment" to see associated flight credits and their expiration dates. For flights booked on or after May 28, 2025, Basic fares expire in 6 months, and Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select fares expire in 12 months from the original ticketing date.
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How to transfer Southwest flight credits to another person?
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Only Transferable Flight Credits™ (from Wanna Get Away Plus®, Anytime, or Business Select fares booked on or after May 28, 2025) can be transferred to another Rapid Rewards member. Other flight credits are generally non-transferable.
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How to cancel a Southwest reservation for only one person on a multi-passenger booking?
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You must first "divide the reservation" online, separating the passenger you wish to cancel. This will generate a new confirmation number for them, which you can then use to cancel their specific portion of the trip.
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How to cancel a Southwest flight if it was booked with Rapid Rewards points?
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If you cancel a flight booked with Rapid Rewards points at least 10 minutes before departure, the points will be returned to the Rapid Rewards account holder who booked the ticket.
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How to avoid the Southwest no-show policy?
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Always cancel your flight at least 10 minutes prior to its original scheduled departure time to avoid forfeiting your funds or having them converted in a less favorable way.
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How to change a Southwest flight instead of canceling?
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You can change your flight online or via the app up to 10 minutes before departure. Fare differences may apply, depending on your fare type and the new flight. Basic fares typically require an upgrade to a higher fare type to change.
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How to cancel an international Southwest flight?
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The process is generally the same as domestic flights via the website or app. However, if Southwest significantly delays an international flight (6+ hours), you are entitled to a refund if you choose to cancel.
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