Hey there, fellow traveler! Ever found yourself in that all-too-common predicament: your plans change, and suddenly that exciting flight you booked is now a hurdle you need to clear? Don't fret! If you're wondering how much it costs to cancel a flight on Southwest Airlines, you've come to the right place. Unlike many airlines that hit you with hefty cancellation fees, Southwest often stands out for its remarkably flexible policies. Let's dive in and unravel the mystery together, step by step!
The Southwest Airlines Cancellation Compass: Understanding Your Options
Southwest Airlines has long been known for its customer-friendly approach, particularly when it comes to changes and cancellations. While some airlines might charge you a fixed fee, a percentage of your fare, or even forfeit your entire ticket, Southwest operates on a different philosophy.
The key factor determining what you "lose" (or rather, what you retain as credit) when canceling a Southwest flight largely depends on the fare type you purchased. Let's break down the different fare categories and their associated cancellation implications.
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| How Much Does It Cost To Cancel A Flight On Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Discover Your Fare Type – Your First Clue to Cancellation Costs!
Before you do anything else, it's crucial to identify the type of fare you purchased. This information is readily available in your booking confirmation email or by logging into your Southwest Airlines account.
Wanna Get Away®: This is typically Southwest's lowest-priced fare. While it offers great value, it comes with the most limitations in terms of refunds.
Wanna Get Away Plus®: A newer fare option, offering a bit more flexibility than the standard Wanna Get Away.
Anytime®: As the name suggests, this fare offers significantly more flexibility.
Business Select®: This is Southwest's most premium fare, designed for business travelers and offering the utmost in flexibility and perks.
Basic: Introduced more recently (as of May 28, 2025, for bookings/changes on or after this date), this is Southwest's lowest price point and has the least flexibility.
Action Time: Go grab your booking confirmation email or log into your Southwest account right now! Find your fare type. Got it? Great, let's move on!
Step 2: Unpacking the Cancellation Policies by Fare Type
Now that you know your fare type, let's see what cancellation means for your wallet.
Sub-heading: Cancelling a Wanna Get Away® or Wanna Get Away Plus® Fare
For many travelers, Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares are the go-to for their affordability. The good news? Southwest does not charge a cancellation fee for these fares. The catch (if you can even call it that, as it's quite generous compared to other airlines) is that these fares are non-refundable to your original form of payment.
What you get: If you cancel a Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus fare at least 10 minutes prior to the flight's original scheduled departure time, the value of your ticket will be converted into flight credit (travel funds).
Important Note for Wanna Get Away fares: If these flight credits were issued on or before May 27, 2025, they do not expire. However, for reservations booked and ticketed and/or voluntarily changed on or after May 28, 2025, Basic fare flight credits expire six months from the date the fare was booked and ticketed. Wanna Get Away Plus flight credits expire 12 months from the date the fare was booked and ticketed.
Wanna Get Away Plus: A significant benefit of Wanna Get Away Plus is that the flight credits are transferable to another Rapid Rewards® Member. This is a fantastic perk if your plans change completely and someone else can use the credit!
What you don't get: A direct refund back to your credit card or original payment method (unless Southwest itself cancels the flight – more on that later).
No-Show Policy: This is critical! If you do not cancel your Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus reservation at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time, you will be considered a "no-show," and the value of your funds will be forfeited. Don't let this happen!
Sub-heading: Cancelling an Anytime® or Business Select® Fare
Tip: Reread if it feels confusing.
These fares offer the most flexibility and are fully refundable to your original form of payment, provided you cancel within the specified timeframe.
What you get: If you cancel an Anytime or Business Select fare at least 10 minutes prior to the flight's original scheduled departure time, you are eligible to receive 100% of your ticket value as a refund to your original form of payment.
Alternatively, you can choose to receive the refund as a Transferable Flight Credit™ for future use. These credits, for reservations booked on or after May 28, 2025, generally expire twelve months from the date the fare was booked.
No-Show Policy: If you do not cancel an Anytime or Business Select reservation at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time, the value of your ticket will be refunded in the form of a Transferable Flight Credit™, which will have an expiration date. While better than nothing, it's always best to cancel proactively to get your preferred refund method.
Sub-heading: Cancelling a Basic Fare
The newly introduced Basic fare (for bookings/changes on or after May 28, 2025) is Southwest's most restrictive.
Refundability: Basic fares are generally non-refundable, except as allowed by Southwest's 24-hour cancellation policy (see Step 3 for details).
Flight Credit: If you cancel a Basic fare at least 10 minutes prior to the flight's original scheduled departure time, you may be eligible for a flight credit. However, these Basic fare flight credits are not transferable and expire six months from the date the fare was booked and ticketed.
No-Show Policy: Similar to Wanna Get Away, if you do not cancel a Basic fare reservation at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time, any funds will be forfeited.
Sub-heading: What if You Paid with Rapid Rewards Points?
If you booked your flight using Rapid Rewards points, the cancellation policy is equally straightforward and generally favorable:
Anytime or Business Select Reward Travel: If you cancel these reward travel reservations, the points used for booking will be redeposited to the Rapid Rewards account holder who booked the ticket. Any taxes and fees associated with the reward travel reservation will be converted into a Transferable Flight Credit™ for future use.
Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus Reward Travel: If you cancel these reward travel reservations at least 10 minutes prior to departure, the points used for booking will be redeposited to the Rapid Rewards account holder. Any taxes and fees associated with your reward travel will also be returned. However, if you do not cancel at least 10 minutes before departure (no-show), any points used for booking will be forfeited, along with any taxes and fees.
Step 3: The Golden Window – The 24-Hour Rule!
There's a universal rule that trumps all fare types: the 24-Hour Cancellation Policy.
What it means: For any fare type, if you cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking, you are entitled to a full refund to your original form of payment, without any penalty. This applies even to non-refundable fares like Wanna Get Away or Basic.
Why it's great: This is a fantastic consumer protection that allows you to correct booking errors or change your mind shortly after purchasing.
Important: The cancellation must be made within 24 hours of the original booking time.
Step 4: When Southwest Cancels Your Flight – A Different Ballgame!
What happens if Southwest Airlines cancels your flight, not you? This is where Southwest's policy truly shines, regardless of your fare type.
Full Refund: If Southwest cancels your flight, you are entitled to a full refund to your original form of payment, even if you had a non-refundable Wanna Get Away or Basic fare. This is mandated by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Free Rebooking: Alternatively, Southwest will offer to rebook you on the next available flight to your destination at no additional cost, even if the new flight is more expensive.
Travel Credit: You can also choose to receive the value as a flight credit if that's your preference.
In essence, if the cancellation is on Southwest's end, you are never penalized.
Step 5: How to Cancel Your Southwest Flight – A Step-by-Step Guide
Tip: Revisit challenging parts.
Ready to cancel? Here's how to do it efficiently:
Sub-heading: Online or via the Mobile App (Recommended)
This is the easiest and quickest way to cancel your flight.
Access Your Reservation:
Go to Southwest.com and click on "Flight | Hotel | Car" in the main navigation. Then select "Manage Reservations."
Alternatively, open the Southwest Airlines mobile app and tap the three-line menu icon (usually top left or right) to find "My Trips" or "Manage Reservations."
Enter Details: You'll need your Confirmation Number and the First and Last Name of one of the passengers on the reservation.
Locate Your Flight: Once you've entered the details, your reservation should appear.
Initiate Cancellation: Look for the "Cancel Flight" button. This might be prominently displayed or within a "Change/Cancel" option.
Review Details: Southwest will display the details of your cancellation, including what kind of refund or credit you'll receive based on your fare type.
Confirm Cancellation: Carefully review the information and then confirm your cancellation. You should receive a confirmation email shortly after.
Sub-heading: By Phone
If you prefer to speak with someone or encounter issues online, you can call Southwest Airlines Customer Service.
Have Your Information Ready: Before calling, have your Confirmation Number and passenger names readily available.
Dial Southwest: Call 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792).
Follow Prompts: Navigate the automated system to reach a customer service representative who can assist with cancellations.
Explain Your Request: Clearly state that you wish to cancel your flight. The representative will guide you through the process and confirm your refund or credit options.
Sub-heading: At the Airport
While less common for proactive cancellations, you can also cancel your flight at a Southwest Airlines ticket counter at the airport. This is typically used for last-minute cancellations or if you're already at the airport for other reasons.
Step 6: Understanding and Using Your Flight Credits (Travel Funds)
If you cancelled a non-refundable fare (Wanna Get Away, Basic) or chose flight credit for a refundable fare, the value of your ticket will be held as flight credit or travel funds.
How to Find Them: These funds are typically tied to the original confirmation number or your Rapid Rewards account. You can check your available travel funds by logging into your Southwest account and navigating to "My Account" and then "Payment" or "My Travel Funds."
Using Them for Future Travel: When booking a new flight on Southwest.com or the mobile app, you'll see an option to "Apply Travel Funds" or "Apply LUV Vouchers" in the payment section. You'll usually need the original confirmation number associated with the credit.
Expiration Dates:
Flight credits from reservations booked on or before May 27, 2025, do not expire.
For reservations booked and ticketed and/or voluntarily changed on or after May 28, 2025:
Basic fare flight credits expire six months from the date the fare was booked and ticketed.
Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select Transferable Flight Credits expire twelve months from the date the fare was booked and ticketed.
Step 7: Consider Alternatives to Cancellation
Sometimes, canceling isn't your only option. Southwest offers flexibility for changes too!
Tip: Check back if you skimmed too fast.
Same-Day Change/Standby: If you need to change your flight on the same day of travel, Southwest allows this without a fee for Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select fares (as of May 28, 2025). A-List Preferred and A-List Members may also qualify. For Wanna Get Away fares, a fare difference may apply for same-day changes. Basic fares require an upgrade to a higher fare to make a same-day change. You can also list for same-day standby.
Changing Your Flight: For changes prior to the day of travel, Southwest generally does not charge a change fee. However, if the new flight is more expensive, you will need to pay the difference in fare. If the new flight is cheaper, you will receive the difference as a flight credit (travel funds). Basic fares generally cannot be changed; you'd need to upgrade to a Wanna Get Away Plus or higher fare first.
By understanding these nuances, you can make the most informed decision about your Southwest flight!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to cancel a Southwest flight online?
To cancel a Southwest flight online, go to Southwest.com, click "Manage Reservations," enter your confirmation number and name, and select the "Cancel Flight" option. Follow the prompts to confirm.
How to get a refund from Southwest Airlines?
You can get a refund from Southwest if you cancel an Anytime or Business Select fare at least 10 minutes before departure, or if you cancel any fare type within 24 hours of booking. Additionally, if Southwest Airlines cancels your flight, you are eligible for a full refund to your original payment method.
How to use Southwest travel funds for a new flight?
To use Southwest travel funds, book a new flight on Southwest.com. During the payment step, look for the option to "Apply Travel Funds" or "Apply LUV Vouchers." Enter the original confirmation number associated with your travel funds to redeem them.
How to check the expiration date of Southwest flight credits?
For flight credits issued on or before May 27, 2025, they do not expire. For those issued on or after May 28, 2025, Basic fare credits expire in six months, and Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select credits expire in twelve months from the original booking date. You can also check your Rapid Rewards account under "My Travel Funds" for specific expiration details.
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How to change a Southwest flight instead of canceling?
To change a Southwest flight, go to "Manage Reservations" online or in the app, select your flight, and choose the "Change Flight" option. You'll select a new flight and pay any difference in fare, but Southwest does not charge a change fee itself (excluding Basic fares which require an upgrade to change).
How to cancel a Southwest flight booked with Rapid Rewards points?
To cancel a Southwest flight booked with points, simply cancel the reservation online or via the app. For Anytime or Business Select fares, the points will be redeposited to your Rapid Rewards account. For Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus fares, points are also redeposited if you cancel at least 10 minutes before departure.
How to contact Southwest customer service for flight cancellations?
You can contact Southwest customer service for flight cancellations by calling 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792). Have your confirmation number and passenger names ready.
How to avoid losing money if you miss a Southwest flight?
To avoid losing money, you must cancel your Southwest flight at least 10 minutes prior to its original scheduled departure time. If you do not cancel and are a "no-show," the value of Wanna Get Away and Basic fares will be forfeited, while Anytime and Business Select fares will convert to a transferable flight credit.
How to tell if your Southwest flight credit is transferable?
As of May 28, 2025, Transferable Flight Credits™ are issued for Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select fares if you cancel or if there's a no-show. These can be transferred between Rapid Rewards Members. Basic fare flight credits are not transferable.
How to rebook a Southwest flight if the airline cancels it?
If Southwest Airlines cancels your flight, they will typically offer free rebooking on the next available flight to your destination. You can accept this rebooking, request a full refund, or opt for travel credit. Check your email for notifications or contact Southwest customer service.
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