Have you ever had that feeling? You canceled a Southwest flight, or perhaps changed your itinerary to a cheaper one, and you know there's some valuable credit floating out there, waiting to be used. But where is it? How do you find it? And what exactly is Southwest credit anyway? Don't worry, you're not alone! Many travelers find the various forms of Southwest credit a little confusing. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about finding and understanding your Southwest flight credits, step by step.
The Quest for Your Southwest Credit: A Step-by-Step Guide
Let's embark on this journey to reclaim your well-deserved Southwest credit!
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| How To Find My Credit On Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Are You a Rapid Rewards Member? The Easiest Path
First things first, let's establish your starting point. Are you a Rapid Rewards member? If you are, congratulations! You've already got the easiest path to finding your credit. If not, don't fret; we'll cover other options too.
Sub-heading: Why Rapid Rewards Makes it Simple
Being a Rapid Rewards member means your flight credits are typically associated with your account, making them much easier to track. Southwest prioritizes keeping your travel funds linked to your loyalty profile.
Step 2: Accessing Your Credit Online (The Preferred Method)
The official Southwest Airlines website is your best friend when it comes to managing your travel funds.
Sub-heading: For Rapid Rewards Members (The Login Route)
Head to Southwest.com: Open your web browser and navigate to the official Southwest Airlines website:
www.southwest.com Log In to Your Account: In the top right corner of the homepage, you'll see a "Log in" option. Click on it and enter your Rapid Rewards username and password.
Navigate to "My Account": Once logged in, click on "My Account" from the menu options at the top of the page (if you're on a desktop). If you're on a mobile device or using the Southwest® app, you might need to scroll down to "My Travel Funds" at the bottom of the page.
Find "Payment": Within your account dashboard, look for a section or tab labeled "Payment." Click on it.
View Available Flight Credits: Any available flight credits associated with your name and Rapid Rewards account number should be listed here, along with their corresponding expiration dates. It's crucial to pay attention to these dates!
Sub-heading: For Non-Rapid Rewards Members or Unassociated Credits (The "Check Travel Funds" Route)
Tip: Reading carefully reduces re-reading.
What if you're not a Rapid Rewards member, or you have a flight credit that isn't showing up in your account? Southwest has a dedicated tool for this!
Go to Southwest.com: Again, start at
www.southwest.com Locate "Check Travel Funds": You can typically find a link to "Check Travel Funds" in the footer of the website or by searching the help center.
Enter Required Information: You'll need a few pieces of information to retrieve your credit:
Full Passenger Name: As it appeared on the original booking.
Original Confirmation Number: This is key! This is the confirmation number of the flight that was canceled or changed, resulting in the credit.
Booking Email: The email address used for the original booking.
Retrieve Your Credit: After entering the details, the system should display any available flight credit linked to that specific confirmation number.
Step 3: Understanding Southwest Credit Types
Southwest has a few different forms of "credit," and understanding the distinctions is vital for proper usage and to avoid confusion.
Sub-heading: Flight Credits (Formerly "Travel Funds")
This is the most common type of credit you'll encounter.
What they are: These are funds you receive when you cancel a non-refundable flight or change to a cheaper itinerary. They exist digitally and are tied to the original itinerary's confirmation number (unless associated with a Rapid Rewards account).
Expiration:
Prior to July 28, 2022: Flight credits created on or before May 27, 2025 (and unexpired) do not expire. This is a fantastic policy change that benefits many!
On or After July 28, 2022: Flight credits created on or after May 28, 2025 will have a specified expiration date based on the fare type and original booking date.
Wanna Get Away Plus®, Anytime, or Business Select® fares: Generally expire 12 months from the date the original reservation was booked. If booked with a LUV Voucher or another flight credit, the new credit will adopt the earliest expiration date of the forms of payment used or 12 months from the original booking date, whichever comes first.
Basic Fares: Typically expire six months from the date the original reservation was booked.
Disrupted Flights: If your flight was significantly disrupted (e.g., major delay, cancellation by Southwest) and you chose a flight credit, it may be valid for five years from the date of the original booking or cancellation, depending on the fare. It may take up to 48 hours for this extended expiration to reflect in the system.
Usage: Can be applied toward the purchase of new flights on Southwest.com, through the mobile app, by phone, or at a ticket counter. Each passenger can use up to three forms of payment per booking.
Sub-heading: Transferable Flight Credit™ (Specific to Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select Fares)
This is a newer, incredibly flexible option!
What they are: If you cancel a Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, or Business Select fare, you may receive a Transferable Flight Credit. The key here is transferability!
Expiration: Follows similar expiration rules to regular Flight Credits (generally 12 months from original booking for Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select fares).
Usage: Can be used by anyone with a Rapid Rewards account, as long as you transfer it to them. This is a game-changer for sharing travel funds.
Sub-heading: Southwest LUV Vouchers®
These are distinct from flight credits and usually given as compensation.
What they are: LUV Vouchers are typically issued as compensation for various situations, such as significant flight delays, bumped flights, or mishandled baggage. They often come with a specific voucher number and security code.
Expiration: LUV Vouchers do have expiration dates, typically six months to one year from the issue date. You must complete travel by the expiration date.
Usage: Can be applied toward the flight portion of your trip. Important: LUV Vouchers generally cannot be used to cover taxes and fees (like government-imposed segment fees, excise taxes, Passenger Facility Charges, or September 11th Security Fees). You'll need another form of payment for those. You can use up to two LUV Vouchers per passenger on each reservation.
Step 4: What if You Can't Find Your Confirmation Number?
Sometimes, that crucial confirmation number gets lost in the abyss of old emails. Don't despair!
QuickTip: Read again with fresh eyes.
Sub-heading: Searching Your Email
Keywords: Search your email inbox (including spam/junk folders) for emails from "Southwest Airlines" or "Southwest" with keywords like "confirmation," "itinerary," "booking," or "cancellation."
Date Range: Try to remember the approximate date you booked or canceled the original flight and narrow your search.
Sub-heading: Contacting Southwest Customer Service
If you've exhausted your online search and email sleuthing, it's time to call in the experts.
Southwest Airlines General Questions: 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792).
Rapid Rewards Customer Service: 1-800-445-5764.
When you call, be prepared with as much information as possible:
The full name of the passenger(s) on the original booking.
The email address used for the booking.
The approximate travel dates of the original flight.
Any partial confirmation numbers you might have.
Southwest agents can often retrieve flight credits using your name and email, even without the confirmation number.
Step 5: Using Your Southwest Credit for a New Booking
Once you've found your credit, it's time to put it to good use!
Sub-heading: Online Booking
Search for a New Flight: Go to Southwest.com and search for the flight you wish to book, just as you normally would.
Proceed to Payment Screen: Select your desired flights and continue through the booking process until you reach the "Payment" section.
Apply Travel Funds/Flight Credit/LUV Voucher: On the payment page, you'll see options to apply "Southwest LUV Vouchers" or "Flight Credit."
For Flight Credits, you'll typically enter the original confirmation number from the canceled flight.
For LUV Vouchers, you'll enter the voucher number and security code.
Confirm and Book: The system will apply the credit, and you can then pay any remaining balance with another form of payment (up to three forms of payment total per passenger, though this can be limited depending on the type of credit used).
Sub-heading: Important Considerations When Using Credit
Passenger Specificity: Generally, flight credits are tied to the original passenger and can only be used by that person, unless it's a Transferable Flight Credit™.
Earliest Expiration Date Rule: If you use multiple forms of payment, especially if one is a LUV Voucher or an older flight credit with a specific expiration, the earliest expiration date of all payments applied to the new reservation will govern the new ticket's validity.
Taxes and Fees: Remember that LUV Vouchers usually don't cover taxes and fees, so factor that into your payment plan. Flight Credits do cover taxes and fees.
Partial Usage: If your flight credit is more than the cost of your new flight, the remaining balance will be held as a new flight credit under the original confirmation number (or your Rapid Rewards account if associated). Its expiration date will revert to the original credit's expiration date.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
QuickTip: Skip distractions — focus on the words.
Here are 10 common questions about Southwest Airlines credit, answered concisely:
How to check my Southwest flight credit expiration date?
Log into your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com, go to "My Account" then "Payment." Your available flight credits and their expiration dates will be listed there. Alternatively, use the "Check Travel Funds" tool with your original confirmation number.
How to use a Southwest LUV Voucher?
When booking a new flight online, proceed to the payment screen. Select "Apply LUV Vouchers" and enter your voucher number and security code. Remember, LUV Vouchers usually don't cover taxes and fees.
How to transfer Southwest credit to another person?
Only Transferable Flight Credits™ (from Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, or Business Select fares) can be transferred. To do so, the credit must be associated with your Rapid Rewards account, and you'll typically transfer it through your account settings to another Rapid Rewards member. Basic fare flight credits are generally not transferable.
How to redeem Southwest points instead of flight credit?
Southwest Rapid Rewards points are a separate form of currency. You redeem them by selecting the "Points" option when searching for flights on Southwest.com, instead of "Dollars." You cannot directly convert flight credit to Rapid Rewards points or vice versa.
How to find my old Southwest confirmation number?
Search your email inbox for emails from Southwest Airlines, especially around the time you booked or canceled the original flight. Look for keywords like "confirmation," "itinerary," or the flight details. If that fails, contact Southwest Customer Service with your full name and email address.
Tip: Make mental notes as you go.
How to use multiple Southwest credits for one booking?
You can use up to three forms of payment per passenger on a single booking. This can include a combination of flight credits, LUV Vouchers, gift cards, and credit cards. However, if using LUV Vouchers, you'll need another form of payment for taxes/fees, which would then limit you to two LUV Vouchers plus the third payment method.
How to understand the different types of Southwest credit?
Southwest primarily has "Flight Credits" (formerly Travel Funds, which are non-refundable funds from cancelled flights tied to the original passenger) and "LUV Vouchers" (compensation vouchers that may have an expiration and don't cover taxes/fees). "Transferable Flight Credit™" is a specific type of flight credit from higher fare classes that can be transferred.
How to ensure my Southwest credit doesn't expire?
For flight credits created before May 28, 2025, they generally do not expire. For credits created on or after May 28, 2025, their expiration depends on the fare type and original booking date (typically 6 or 12 months). The best way to ensure usage is to book and complete travel before the stated expiration date.
How to apply Southwest credit if I change a flight to a cheaper one?
If you change your flight to a cheaper one, the fare difference will automatically be issued as a new flight credit, usually linked to the original confirmation number or your Rapid Rewards account. The expiration date of this new credit will generally revert to the original credit's expiration date or be based on the original booking date of the ticket that generated the credit.
How to contact Southwest Customer Service for credit inquiries?
You can reach Southwest Customer Service for general questions, including credit inquiries, at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792). For Rapid Rewards specific inquiries, call 1-800-445-5764. Be prepared with your name and original booking details.
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