Do you have credits sitting with Southwest Airlines and wondering how to finally use them to jet off on your next adventure? You're in the right place! Southwest's credit system can sometimes feel like a puzzle with different types of funds and varying rules. But don't fret! This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of understanding and utilizing your Southwest credits, ensuring you get the most out of your travel funds.
Understanding Your Southwest Credits: Not All Credits Are Created Equal!
Before we dive into the "how-to," it's crucial to understand the different types of credits Southwest Airlines offers. This will help you identify what you have and how best to use it.
Flight Credits (formerly Travel Funds): These are the most common type of credit. You typically receive these if you cancel a non-refundable flight or change a flight to a lower-priced itinerary. Flight credits are generally tied to the original passenger's name and, for credits created on or after May 28, 2025, will have a specified expiration date based on the fare purchased (e.g., 6 months for Basic fares, 12 months for Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select fares). However, flight credits created on or before May 27, 2025, do not expire!
Southwest LUV Vouchers: These are often issued as compensation for things like flight delays, missed baggage, or volunteering to be bumped from a flight. LUV Vouchers have an expiration date (typically 6 months to a year from the issue date) and cannot be used to cover taxes and fees directly for international flights (though there's a workaround, which we'll discuss!). They are generally transferable.
Transferable Flight Credit™: This is a fantastic benefit for those who booked Wanna Get Away Plus®, Anytime, or Business Select® fares. If you cancel a flight booked with these fares, the resulting credit is transferable once between Rapid Rewards® Members. Similar to regular flight credits, those created on or before May 27, 2025, do not expire, while those created on or after May 28, 2025, have a specified expiration date (12 months from the original booking date).
Knowing which type of credit you possess is the first critical step towards a smooth redemption process.
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| How To Use Available Credits On Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Discover and Verify Your Available Credits
Ready to find those hidden gems in your Southwest account? Let's start by locating and confirming your available credits.
QuickTip: Reading carefully once is better than rushing twice.
Sub-heading 1.1: Logging into Your Rapid Rewards Account
The easiest and most comprehensive way to check your credits is through your Rapid Rewards account.
Visit Southwest.com: Go to the official Southwest Airlines website.
Log In: Click on "Log In" at the top right corner of the page and enter your Rapid Rewards number or username and password.
Navigate to My Account: Once logged in, select "My Account" from the menu options (usually at the top for desktop, or scroll down to "My Travel Funds" for mobile and the Southwest® app).
Find "Payment" or "My Travel Funds": Within your account, look for a "Payment" tab or section. This is where your available flight credits associated with your name and account number should be listed, along with their corresponding expiration dates (if applicable).
Sub-heading 1.2: Checking Travel Funds Without a Rapid Rewards Account
What if your credit isn't linked to your Rapid Rewards account or you don't have one? No problem!
Go to the "Check Travel Funds" Page: On Southwest.com, you can often find a link to "Check Travel Funds" in the footer or by searching the help center.
Enter Required Information: You'll typically need the first name, last name, and the original confirmation number associated with the canceled flight or credit.
LUV Vouchers: For LUV Vouchers, you'll need the voucher number and security code. These are usually provided in the email where you received the voucher. LUV Vouchers are not typically tied to your Rapid Rewards account directly.
Tip: Take notes for easier recall later.
Sub-heading 1.3: Understanding Expiration Dates
Pay close attention to expiration dates! As of May 28, 2025, Southwest implemented new policies regarding flight credit expiration.
Credits Created BEFORE May 28, 2025: These are golden! Flight credits created from reservations booked or changed on or before May 27, 2025, do not expire.
Credits Created ON or AFTER May 28, 2025: These credits will have a specified expiration date.
Basic Fares: Flight credits expire six months from the date the fare was purchased and ticketed.
Wanna Get Away Plus®, Anytime, and Business Select® Fares: Transferable Flight Credits™ expire twelve months from the date the fare was purchased and ticketed.
LUV Vouchers: Generally expire one year after being issued. You must book AND complete travel by this date.
It's essential to note these dates to avoid losing your valuable credits.
Step 2: Planning Your Flight with Available Credits
Now that you know what you have, it's time for the exciting part: planning your next flight!
Tip: Keep your attention on the main thread.
Sub-heading 2.1: Searching for Flights
Go to Southwest.com: Start a new flight search as you normally would.
Enter Your Travel Details: Input your departure and arrival cities, dates, and number of passengers.
Consider the Low Fare Calendar: If your travel dates are flexible, utilize Southwest's "Low Fare Calendar" to find the best deals, which can help you stretch your credit further.
Sub-heading 2.2: Matching Passenger Names (for Flight Credits)
This is a crucial point for Flight Credits:
Flight Credits (formerly Travel Funds) are generally tied to the original passenger's name. This means if John Doe had a flight credit, only John Doe can use that credit to book a new flight for himself.
You cannot use a flight credit issued to one person to book a flight for another person unless it's a Transferable Flight Credit™ from a Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, or Business Select fare.
Step 3: Applying Your Credits at Checkout
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This is where your credits come to life!
QuickTip: If you skimmed, go back for detail.
Proceed to Payment: After selecting your desired flight(s), you'll reach the payment screen.
Look for "Apply Travel Funds" or "Apply LUV Voucher": On the payment page, you'll see options to apply various forms of payment.
For Flight Credits, select "Apply Travel Funds" or a similar option. You'll then be prompted to enter the confirmation number from the original canceled flight.
For Southwest LUV Vouchers, select "Apply LUV Vouchers" and enter your voucher number and security code.
For Transferable Flight Credit™, you'll apply it similarly to a regular flight credit using the associated confirmation number.
Apply Funds One at a Time: If you have multiple flight credits or LUV Vouchers, you'll generally apply them one by one.
Understand Payment Limits: Southwest allows a maximum of three forms of payment per passenger per booking.
If you're using multiple flight credits, each one counts as a form of payment.
If your total cost exceeds the value of your credits, you'll need to pay the remaining balance with a credit card or another accepted payment method. In this scenario, you might only be able to use two flight credits to leave room for the credit card.
LUV Vouchers cannot cover taxes and fees directly. If your fare is, say, $100 and the taxes are $20, a $100 LUV voucher will only cover the $100 fare, leaving you to pay the $20 taxes with another payment method.
Sub-heading 3.1: Handling Remaining Balances
If your credits cover the full cost: Congratulations! You're all set.
If a balance remains: You'll be prompted to provide an additional form of payment, such as a credit card, to cover the difference.
Sub-heading 3.2: Confirming Your Booking
After successfully applying your credits and any additional payment, make sure you receive a confirmation email for your new booking. Keep this confirmation number handy!
Pro Tips for Maximizing Your Southwest Credits
Consolidate Credits (Before May 28, 2025!): If you have multiple small, non-expiring flight credits created before May 28, 2025, and you're looking to make them transferable or just easier to manage, you could consider booking a Wanna Get Away Plus fare (or higher) with those credits, and then cancel that new booking. The resulting credit from the canceled Wanna Get Away Plus fare will be a single, larger Transferable Flight Credit™ that also does not expire (if the original credits didn't expire). However, this strategy is only effective for credits created before May 28, 2025, as new credits will have expiration dates.
Using LUV Vouchers for Taxes/Fees (Workaround): Since LUV Vouchers don't directly cover taxes and fees, you can use a workaround. Book a Wanna Get Away Plus fare (or higher) with your LUV Voucher. Then, cancel that flight. The resulting credit will be a Transferable Flight Credit™ which can be used to cover taxes and fees on a future booking. Be mindful of the expiration date of the original LUV Voucher, as the new credit will adopt it.
Stay Organized: Keep a record of your confirmation numbers, the type of credit, the original passenger's name, and any expiration dates. This will save you a lot of hassle.
Call Southwest if Needed: If you encounter any issues, have complex scenarios (like combining multiple credits across different original bookings), or simply prefer speaking to someone, don't hesitate to call Southwest Airlines customer service. They can often assist with applying funds or clarifying policies.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about using Southwest Airlines credits:
How to check the balance of my Southwest travel funds?
Log into your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com, go to "My Account," then "Payment" or "My Travel Funds." Alternatively, use the "Check Travel Funds" page on Southwest.com with your original confirmation number and passenger name.
How to use multiple Southwest flight credits for one booking?
You can apply up to three forms of payment per passenger per reservation. When on the payment screen, apply each flight credit one by one using their respective confirmation numbers. If the total exceeds your credits, you'll need a third form of payment for the remainder.
How to use a Southwest LUV Voucher online?
During the payment step of your flight booking on Southwest.com, select "Apply LUV Vouchers" and enter the voucher number and security code found in your LUV Voucher email.
How to transfer Southwest flight credits to another person?
Only Transferable Flight Credits™ (from Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, or Business Select fares) can be transferred once between Rapid Rewards Members. Regular Flight Credits are tied to the original passenger. To transfer a Transferable Flight Credit, log into the Rapid Rewards account that holds the credit and follow the instructions to initiate the transfer.
How to extend the expiration date of Southwest travel funds?
For flight credits created on or after May 28, 2025, they have a fixed expiration. For LUV Vouchers, some agents might offer a one-time 6-month extension by calling customer service. Otherwise, the general rule is to use them before they expire.
How to apply Southwest credits for taxes and fees?
Flight Credits (formerly Travel Funds) and Transferable Flight Credits™ can be used to cover taxes and fees. However, Southwest LUV Vouchers generally cannot directly cover taxes and fees. A workaround is to convert a LUV Voucher into a Transferable Flight Credit by booking and canceling a Wanna Get Away Plus fare.
How to find the confirmation number for an old Southwest flight credit?
If the credit is linked to your Rapid Rewards account, it should be listed under "My Account" > "Payment" or "My Travel Funds." If not, you can try using the "Check Travel Funds" tool on Southwest.com by providing the original passenger's name and email, or by calling Southwest customer service.
How to use Southwest flight credits for a flight that costs less than the credit amount?
If you book a flight that costs less than your flight credit, the remaining balance will be issued as a new flight credit with the same expiration date as the original credit (or a new expiration date based on the new fare booked, if the credit was created on or after May 28, 2025).
How to use Southwest credits when booking on the mobile app?
Yes, you can apply flight credits, LUV Vouchers, and Transferable Flight Credits™ when booking through the Southwest mobile app. The process is similar to the website, with options to apply funds on the payment screen.
How to combine multiple small Southwest flight credits into one larger credit?
For credits created before May 28, 2025, you can book a Wanna Get Away Plus (or higher) fare with your existing credits and then cancel that new reservation. The resulting credit will be a single, larger, non-expiring Transferable Flight Credit™. This strategy will not result in non-expiring credits for funds created on or after May 28, 2025.
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