Ever cancelled a Southwest flight or rebooked for a lower fare, only to be left wondering: "How do I use that Southwest Airlines credit?" You're not alone! Many travelers find themselves with Southwest credit in various forms, and understanding how to effectively apply it to future travel can save you both time and money. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of using your Southwest Airlines credit, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free booking experience.
Let's dive in and unlock the value of your Southwest travel funds!
Understanding Your Southwest Airlines Credit: Not All Credits Are Created Equal!
Before we jump into the "how-to," it's crucial to understand that Southwest Airlines offers different types of credits, each with its own nuances regarding usage and expiration. Knowing which type of credit you have is the first, and arguably most important, step.
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Flight Credits (Travel Funds): These are the most common type of credit, typically issued when you cancel a non-refundable flight or rebook a flight at a lower fare.
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Important Note on Expiration: For flight credits created on or before May 27, 2025, they generally do not expire. However, for credits created on or after May 28, 2025, they will have a specified expiration date (often 6 or 12 months from the original booking date, depending on the fare type). Always check the expiration date associated with your specific credit.
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Non-transferable (mostly): For most fare types (like Basic), flight credits are tied to the original passenger and are not transferable to another person.
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Transferable Flight Credits™: Introduced for specific fare types (Business Select®, Anytime, and Wanna Get Away Plus®), these credits can be transferred once to another Rapid Rewards® Member. This is a fantastic benefit if your plans change and someone else can utilize the credit!
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Southwest LUV Vouchers: These are promotional vouchers issued by Southwest, often as a gesture of goodwill or compensation.
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Expiration: LUV Vouchers do have expiration dates, which are clearly indicated on the voucher itself.
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Specific Usage: They can be used for travel purchased through Southwest.com, but typically cannot be applied toward government-imposed charges and fees (which you'll need to cover with another form of payment).
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Rapid Rewards Points: While not a "credit" in the traditional sense, Rapid Rewards points are a form of currency you earn through flying or using a Southwest Airlines credit card. They are incredibly flexible and can be redeemed for flights, hotels, gift cards, and more. Rapid Rewards points generally do not expire.
Ready to turn that credit into your next adventure? Let's get started!
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| How Do I Use My Southwest Airlines Credit |
Step 1: Discover Your Available Southwest Credit – Let's find out what you've got!
The very first thing you need to do is identify what type of credit you have and its details. This is surprisingly easy!
Sub-heading: For Flight Credits (Travel Funds) Associated with Your Rapid Rewards Account
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Action: Log in to your Rapid Rewards account.
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Where to go: Visit Southwest.com and click on "Log In" in the top right corner. Enter your username and password.
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Why it matters: This is the most straightforward way to see all your associated travel funds.
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Navigation: Once logged in, navigate to "My Account."
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Locate Funds: On the "My Account" page, look for a section related to "Payments" or "My Travel Funds." Click on it.
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Review Details: Here, you'll see a list of your available flight credits, including the confirmation number, original passenger name, and most importantly, the expiration date (if applicable). Make sure to note down the confirmation number(s) as you'll need them later!
Sub-heading: For Flight Credits Not Associated with a Rapid Rewards Account or LUV Vouchers
Tip: Write down what you learned.
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Action: Use the "Check Travel Funds" tool.
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Where to go: On Southwest.com, even without logging in, you can usually find a link to "Check Travel Funds" (often in the footer or under the "Travel" menu).
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What to enter: You'll typically need the confirmation number from the original booking or the LUV Voucher number and its associated security code. You might also need the first and last name of the original passenger.
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Review Details: This will display the details of your credit, including its value and expiration.
Step 2: Planning Your Next Trip with Your Credit – Dream big, but be strategic!
Now that you know what credit you have, it's time for the fun part: planning your next trip! Keep your credit details in mind as you search for flights.
Sub-heading: Consider the Credit Holder and Expiration
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Who can use it? Remember, most Flight Credits are tied to the original passenger. If you have a Transferable Flight Credit, you have more flexibility. Southwest LUV Vouchers can generally be used by anyone who has the voucher number and security code.
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When does it expire? This is paramount. If your credit has an expiration date, prioritize using it for travel that will be completed before that date. Southwest's policy for credits created on or after May 28, 2025, means you'll need to be mindful of this.
Sub-heading: Search for Flights on Southwest.com
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The usual process: Go to Southwest.com and search for flights as you normally would. Enter your origin, destination, dates, and number of passengers.
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No special step (yet): You don't need to indicate that you'll be using a credit during the initial search. Just find the flights that work for you.
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Look for Fares: Browse the available fares (Basic, Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, Business Select) and select the one that suits your travel needs and budget. Remember, different fare types have different benefits and may impact how any new credits are issued if you later cancel or change the flight.
Step 3: Applying Your Southwest Credit at Checkout – The moment of truth!
This is where your preparation pays off. Once you've selected your flights and are proceeding to the payment screen, you'll find the option to apply your credit.
Sub-heading: Navigate to the Payment Screen
QuickTip: A short pause boosts comprehension.
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Review your itinerary: Before proceeding, double-check all your flight details: dates, times, passenger names, and fare types.
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Proceed to payment: Click through the booking process until you reach the "Payment" or "Purchase" screen.
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Sub-heading: Locate the "Apply Travel Funds" Option
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Look for the link: On the payment page, you'll see sections for various payment methods. Look for a link or button that says something like "Apply Travel Funds", "Southwest LUV Voucher", or "Southwest Gift Card."
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Click and enter: Click on this option. A field will appear where you can enter the confirmation number associated with your flight credit or the LUV Voucher number and security code. You'll also likely need to enter the first and last name of the passenger to whom the credit belongs.
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Apply Multiple Credits (if needed): Southwest typically allows you to use up to three forms of payment per booking. This means you can combine multiple flight credits, or use a credit plus a gift card and a credit card, for example. If you're using multiple flight credits, you'll enter them one by one.
Sub-heading: Handle Remaining Balance
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Credit covers full fare: If your credit covers the entire cost of the flight (including taxes and fees), great! You're almost done.
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Remaining balance: If there's a remaining balance after applying your credit, you'll need to pay the difference using another accepted form of payment, such as a credit card or a Southwest gift card.
Sub-heading: Finalize Your Booking
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Review everything: Before hitting "Purchase" or "Complete Booking," take one final look at all the details, including the applied credit amount and any remaining balance paid.
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Confirm: Once you're satisfied, confirm your purchase. You'll receive a confirmation email with your new itinerary.
Step 4: What if Your Credit Expires Soon? – Don't let it go to waste!
If you have a flight credit with an impending expiration date (especially those issued on or after May 28, 2025), you have a few options to consider.
Sub-heading: Book Any Future Travel
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The "Travel Bank" Strategy: The most common strategy to extend the life of a credit (especially those with earlier "no expiration" policies, which can still be used to book flights that then follow the new expiration rules if cancelled) is to book any flight for the future, even if your plans aren't set. The key is that the flight must be completed by the credit's expiration date.
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Be Mindful of New Credits: If you book a new flight with an expiring credit and later cancel that new flight, any new credit issued will then be subject to the current expiration policies (e.g., 6 or 12 months from the original ticketing date of the new booking).
Tip: Read slowly to catch the finer details.
Sub-heading: Consider Transferable Flight Credits
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Gift an Adventure: If your credit is a Transferable Flight Credit™, this is an excellent opportunity to help out a friend or family member who has upcoming travel plans.
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How to Transfer: You'll typically log into your Rapid Rewards account, go to "My Account," then "View Travel Funds," and select the option to "Transfer to someone else." You'll need the recipient's full name, email address, and Rapid Rewards account number. Once transferred, it cannot be reversed.
Sub-heading: Contact Southwest Customer Service
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For Complex Situations: If you're encountering issues or have unique circumstances (e.g., a significantly disrupted flight that resulted in the credit), it's always worth contacting Southwest Customer Service directly. While they may not be able to extend all credits, they can sometimes offer assistance or clarify specific policies.
Step 5: Post-Booking Considerations – Keeping your travel flexible!
You've successfully used your credit! Now, a few tips for managing your new booking.
Sub-heading: Monitor for Fare Drops
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Southwest's Awesome Policy: One of Southwest's most beloved policies is that if the fare for your exact flight drops after you've booked it, you can rebook at the lower price and receive the difference back as a new flight credit.
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How to do it: Simply go to "Change/Cancel" on your reservation on Southwest.com, select "Change Flight," search for the same flight, and if the price is lower, select it. The difference will be issued as a new flight credit. Be aware of the new credit's expiration policy!
Sub-heading: Changes and Cancellations
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Understand the Impact: If you need to change or cancel a flight booked with a credit, understand that the new credit issued will be subject to the current expiration policies based on the original booking date of that new reservation.
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Check the Fare Type: The type of fare you booked (Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, Business Select) will determine the flexibility of any new credit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
QuickTip: Read actively, not passively.
Here are 10 common questions about using Southwest Airlines credit, with quick answers:
How to check my Southwest flight credit balance? You can check your Southwest flight credit balance by logging into your Rapid Rewards account and navigating to "My Account" then "My Travel Funds" or by using the "Check Travel Funds" tool on Southwest.com with your confirmation number and name.
How to apply multiple Southwest credits to one flight? Southwest allows you to apply up to three forms of payment per booking. On the payment screen, select "Apply Travel Funds" and enter the confirmation number and name for each credit, up to three.
How to use a Southwest LUV Voucher? To use a Southwest LUV Voucher, enter its voucher number and security code on the payment screen during booking, similar to how you would apply a flight credit. Remember, LUV Vouchers may not cover government-imposed taxes and fees.
How to transfer a Southwest flight credit to another person? Only "Transferable Flight Credits™" (from Business Select, Anytime, or Wanna Get Away Plus fares) can be transferred. Log into your Rapid Rewards account, go to "My Account" > "View Travel Funds" > "Transfer to someone else," and provide the recipient's Rapid Rewards details.
How to avoid my Southwest flight credit from expiring? For credits issued on or after May 28, 2025, the best way to use them is to book and complete travel by their expiration date. For certain older credits that were "non-expiring," applying them to a new booking and then canceling that new booking will result in a new credit that does have an expiration date based on the new booking's original ticketing date.
How to use Southwest credit for taxes and fees on a points booking? Yes, if you cancel a Rapid Rewards points booking, any taxes and fees paid in cash are typically converted into a flight credit (which might be a Transferable Flight Credit™ depending on fare type), which you can then use towards future travel, including taxes and fees on a new booking.
How to combine Southwest gift cards with flight credits? You can combine Southwest gift cards with flight credits, as both count as separate forms of payment. Southwest allows up to three forms of payment per transaction.
How to find the expiration date of my Southwest credit? The expiration date for your Southwest credit will be listed when you view your travel funds in your Rapid Rewards account or through the "Check Travel Funds" tool on Southwest.com.
How to get a refund instead of Southwest credit? Southwest generally issues refunds to the original form of payment only for refundable fares (like Business Select or Anytime fares, if you cancel before the flight). For non-refundable fares (like Wanna Get Away or Basic), cancellations typically result in a flight credit.
How to book a Southwest flight over the phone using a credit? Yes, you can book a Southwest flight over the phone using your credit. Call Southwest Airlines Customer Service at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) and provide your credit details to the representative.
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