Attention Southwest flyers! Have you ever wondered exactly how long you have to use those Southwest Airlines credits? It's a fantastic question, and the answer, like a perfectly timed Southwest boarding group, isn't always straightforward. With recent changes, understanding your credit's lifespan is more important than ever. Don't let your hard-earned travel funds vanish into thin air! This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know, step-by-step.
The Evolving Landscape of Southwest Airlines Credit Expiration
Southwest Airlines has long been lauded for its customer-friendly policies, including the historical "no expiration" rule on flight credits. However, things have changed. As of May 28, 2025, Southwest introduced new fare types and a revised policy regarding flight credit expiration. It's crucial to differentiate between credits issued before and on or after this date, as their expiration rules vary significantly.
Step 1: Identify Your Type of Southwest Credit – The Crucial First Step!
Before we delve into expiration dates, you need to know what kind of credit you possess. Southwest primarily deals with two main types:
Flight Credits (Travel Funds): These are the most common and are typically issued when you cancel a non-refundable flight or change to a lower-priced itinerary. They are usually tied to a specific Passenger's name.
Southwest LUV Vouchers: These are often issued as a goodwill gesture, compensation for an inconvenience, or as part of a promotion. They have distinct voucher numbers and security codes.
Knowing which one you have is paramount because their expiration rules can differ!
Step 2: Understanding Flight Credit Expiration Dates
This is where the recent changes come into play. The expiration of your flight credit now largely depends on when it was issued or when the original reservation was booked/changed.
Sub-heading: Flight Credits Issued On or Before May 27, 2025
Good news! Any flight credits that were unexpired on, or created on or before, May 27, 2025, do not expire. This was a highly appreciated policy change introduced by Southwest previously, and they are honoring it for these existing credits.
What this means for you: If you have flight credits from a cancellation that happened before this date, you generally don't need to worry about them expiring. You might see a placeholder expiration date like "12/31/2040" in your account, which essentially signifies "no expiration."
Important Caveat: While these credits don't expire, if you use them to book a new reservation on or after May 28, 2025, and then cancel that new reservation, any new flight credit issued from that cancellation will follow the new expiration rules (detailed below). So, use them wisely!
Sub-heading: Flight Credits Issued On or After May 28, 2025
For flight credits generated from reservations booked, ticketed, or voluntarily changed on or after May 28, 2025, there are specified expiration dates. This is a significant shift.
Basic Fares: If your original flight was a "Basic" fare (Southwest's new lowest price point introduced on May 28, 2025), any flight credit issued from its cancellation will expire six months from the date you originally purchased that Basic fare.
Example: You bought a Basic fare on June 1, 2025. You cancel it on July 15, 2025. Your flight credit will expire on December 1, 2025 (six months from the purchase date).
Wanna Get Away Plus®, Anytime, and Business Select® Fares (and future "Choice" fares): For these higher fare classes, flight credits (which may be Transferable Flight Credits for Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select) will expire 12 months from the date you originally purchased the reservation.
Example: You booked a Wanna Get Away Plus fare on June 1, 2025. You cancel it on July 15, 2025. Your flight credit will expire on June 1, 2026 (12 months from the original purchase date).
Significantly Disrupted Flights: If your flight was significantly disrupted by Southwest (e.g., major delays or cancellations due to airline fault) and you choose a flight credit, this credit may be valid for five years from the date you originally booked the reservation or from the cancellation date, depending on the specific circumstances and fare type. This is an exception for extraordinary situations.
Sub-heading: What if I Used a LUV Voucher or Existing Flight Credit for a New Booking?
If you booked a new reservation using a Southwest LUV Voucher or an existing flight credit, and then cancel that new reservation, the expiration date of the newly issued credit will typically adopt the earliest expiration date of the funds used to book it. For instance, if you used a LUV Voucher with a 6-month expiration and a flight credit with no expiration, the new credit might carry the LUV Voucher's expiration. Always double-check your new credit's details!
Step 3: Understanding Southwest LUV Voucher Expiration Dates
Southwest LUV Vouchers are a bit different from flight credits.
General Rule: Southwest LUV Vouchers typically have an expiration date of 6 months to 1 year from their date of issue.
Travel Completion: It's crucial to note that all travel purchased with a LUV Voucher must be completed by the voucher's expiration date. This isn't just about booking the flight; you must have actually flown by that date.
Cannot Cover Taxes & Fees: Unlike flight credits, LUV Vouchers generally cannot be applied toward government-imposed taxes and fees. You'll need another form of payment (like a credit card) for those. This is a key distinction!
Transferability: LUV Vouchers are generally transferable.
Step 4: How to Check Your Southwest Credit Balance and Expiration
Knowing your credit's details is vital. Southwest provides easy ways to do this:
Sub-heading: For Flight Credits (Travel Funds) Associated with Your Rapid Rewards Account
Login to Your Account: Go to Southwest.com and log in to your Rapid Rewards account.
Navigate to My Account: From the menu options (usually at the top for desktop or scroll down for mobile), select "My Account."
Find Payment/My Travel Funds: Look for a section like "Payment" or "My Travel Funds." Any available flight credits associated with your name and account number should be listed there, along with their corresponding expiration dates.
Sub-heading: For Flight Credits Not Associated with a Rapid Rewards Account or LUV Vouchers
Use the "Check Travel Funds" Page: Southwest has a dedicated "Check Travel Funds" page on their website.
Enter Details: You'll typically need to provide the confirmation number from the original reservation (for flight credits) or the voucher number and security code (for LUV Vouchers), along with the Passenger's first and last name. This will display the balance and expiration information.
Step 5: How to Use Your Southwest Credit – A Step-by-Step Redemption Guide
Once you've confirmed your credit's validity, using it is straightforward.
Sub-heading: Using Flight Credits (Travel Funds)
Search for Your Flight: Go to Southwest.com and search for the flight you wish to book, as you normally would.
Proceed to Payment: Once you've selected your flights and entered Passenger details, proceed to the "Payment method" section.
Apply Travel Funds: Look for an option to "Apply Travel Funds," "Vouchers," or "Gift Cards." Click on it to expand the section.
Enter Confirmation Number & Name: Enter the confirmation number associated with your flight credit and the first and last name of the Passenger to whom the credit belongs.
Review and Apply: The credit amount will be applied to your booking. If there's a remaining balance, you'll need another form of payment.
Complete Purchase: Finalize your booking.
Sub-heading: Using Southwest LUV Vouchers
Search for Your Flight: Similar to flight credits, search for your desired flight on Southwest.com.
Proceed to Payment: Navigate to the "Payment method" section during the booking process.
Apply LUV Vouchers: Click on the option to "Apply LUV Vouchers."
Enter Voucher Details: Input the LUV Voucher number and its associated security code.
Cover Taxes & Fees Separately: Remember, LUV Vouchers generally do not cover taxes and fees. You will need to provide another form of payment (e.g., a credit card) for these charges.
Complete Purchase: Review your total and complete the purchase. Ensure your travel is completed by the LUV Voucher's expiration date.
Step 6: Maximizing Your Credit's Value and Avoiding Forfeiture
Book Before Expiration: The golden rule is to book your flight before the credit expires. For LUV Vouchers, ensure your travel is completed by the expiration date.
Consider "Converting" LUV Vouchers: Some savvy travelers previously found a workaround for LUV Vouchers: book a flight with a LUV Voucher, then cancel it within 24 hours (or if it's a refundable fare type). The refunded funds might then become a flight credit on your account, potentially adopting the "no expiration" rule if issued before May 28, 2025, or the new flight credit expiration rules. However, with the new policy changes as of May 28, 2025, this strategy for extending expiration might be less effective or even negate the "no expiration" benefit for older credits if you're not careful. Always double-check the resulting credit's expiration details immediately after cancellation.
Combine Payments: Southwest allows you to use up to three forms of payment per passenger per booking. This means you can combine multiple flight credits, LUV Vouchers (up to two per passenger, plus another form of payment for taxes/fees), or a mix of credits and a credit card.
Don't Be a No-Show: If you don't cancel a non-refundable flight at least 10 minutes prior to its scheduled departure, you may forfeit your travel funds. Always cancel if you can't make the flight!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - How to...
Here are 10 common "How to" questions regarding Southwest Airlines credit:
How to check the expiration date of my Southwest flight credit?
Login to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com, go to "My Account," then "Payment" or "My Travel Funds." Alternatively, use the "Check Travel Funds" page with your confirmation number and name.
How to use multiple Southwest flight credits for one booking?
During the payment step of your booking, click on "Apply Travel Funds." You can enter multiple confirmation numbers and names for different flight credits, up to three forms of payment per passenger.
How to use a Southwest LUV Voucher online?
After selecting your flight, proceed to the payment page. Choose "Apply LUV Vouchers" and enter your voucher number and security code. You'll need another payment method for taxes and fees.
How to know if my Southwest flight credit expires?
Check the issue date of your original flight cancellation. If it was on or before May 27, 2025, it likely doesn't expire (unless used and re-canceled under the new policy). If issued on or after May 28, 2025, its expiration depends on the fare type (6 months for Basic, 12 months for Wanna Get Away Plus/Anytime/Business Select from original purchase date).
How to extend the expiration of a Southwest LUV Voucher?
Officially, LUV Vouchers have a set expiration. While some past strategies involved booking and canceling to convert to flight credits, with the new policy effective May 28, 2025, this might not extend the effective expiration or could even result in a new, shorter expiration. Southwest occasionally offers promotions for extensions, but it's not guaranteed.
How to transfer a Southwest flight credit to another person?
Generally, Basic fare flight credits are not transferable. Transferable Flight Credits (from Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select fares) can be transferred once between Rapid Rewards Members. You'll typically manage this within your "My Account" section.
How to get a refund for an expired Southwest credit?
Unfortunately, expired Southwest flight credits and LUV Vouchers generally have no cash value and are not refundable once they've passed their expiration date. The key is to use them before they expire.
How to use a Southwest credit to pay for taxes and fees?
Flight credits (Travel Funds) can be used to cover taxes and fees. However, Southwest LUV Vouchers typically cannot be used for taxes and fees; you'll need a different form of payment for those charges.
How to find the security code for my Southwest LUV Voucher?
The security code for a Southwest LUV Voucher is usually printed directly on the voucher itself, often near the voucher number. If you received it via email, it should be included in the email.
How to avoid forfeiting my Southwest flight credit if I can't travel?
Always cancel your non-refundable Southwest flight at least 10 minutes prior to its scheduled departure. This will convert your paid fare into a flight credit (subject to new expiration rules if booked/changed on or after May 28, 2025), preventing forfeiture.
