Southwest Cancellation Policy

What is the Cancellation Policy Of Southwest Airlines?

Southwest cancellation policy is easy to understand, but it includes important provisions you should know. The airline doesn’t charge a separate cancellation fee. Also, you won’t need to call airline representatives, since you can cancel reservations by visiting Southwest.com or the Southwest app. 

Here are the important rules and regulations you must be aware of regarding the cancellation guidelines of Southwest Airlines. 

• Remember to cancel your flight tickets at atleast 10 minutes before departure. 
• The Basic and Choice fares of Southwest Airlines are non-refundable. However, passengers do get flight credits after cancellation, if eligible. 
• The Basic fare expires after six months. It is counted from the booking date, not the departure date. 
• The Choice Preferred and Choice Extra fares of Southwest Airlines are refundable. 
•  Transferable flight credits for Choice, Choice Extra, and Choice Preferred are valid for 12 months. The period usually starts on the day of booking. 
• If you fail to cancel the ticket, it will be termed a no-show as per Southwest Airlines cancellation rule. 

Note: Passengers traveling with Southwest Airlines can cancel their flights before departure, without paying a separate cancellation fee. Cancellation rules depend on fare type, but one should cancel at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

Southwest Cancellation Policy For Different Fares

Southwest Airlines has updated its fare classes. Passengers can now choose from four categories: Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra. Cancellation guidelines differ by fare. Take a look at the table to learn about your fare type and the cancellation rules that apply. 

Basic Fare

Basic fare has the most restrictions. Here are the options passengers will get within the basic fare. 

• Non-refundable 
• No cancellation fee
• Cancel 10 minutes before departure
• Flight Credits (only for eligible flights) 
• Flight credits will automatically expire after six months.  

Choice Fare

The choice fare is slightly more flexible than the basic fare. The benefits offered are- 

• No Cancellation fee 
• Non-refundable
• Timely cancellation offers transferable flight credits (subject to expiration within 12 months).
• No change fee is applicable, but fare difference will apply. 

Choice Preferred Fare

Passengers who want to change their plans will find Choice Preferred fares more flexible. 

• Refundable. 
• No cancellation fee.
• Eligible passengers can request a refund to the original payment method.
• You can also choose flight credits instead of a refund to the original method.
  

Choice Extra Fare

The Extra fare choice also provides a refundable flight benefit to passengers.

• Refundable. 
• No cancellation fee.
• Refund to the original payment method.
• One can also choose to get the ticket value as transferable flight credit.
  

What Is The No-Show Policy Of Southwest Airlines? 

If you cancel your Southwest flight, complete the process 10 minutes before boarding time. If you don’t, you’ll forfeit the associated value. Except for reservations entitled to a refund due to flight delays or alterations (3-hour delay for domestic flights and 6-hour delay for international flights), if anyone else fails to cancel within the 10-minute window, their reservation will be automatically canceled. 

Other important no-show rules

Here is a list of things to know about the no-show guidelines under the Southwest flight cancellation policy. 

• The Choice Extra and Choice Preferred travelers will receive transferable flight credit, which must be utilized before the expiration date.
• If you have booked the Basic or Choice tickets, your funds will be forfeited.
• If you booked Basic or Choice using points, all points will be forfeited. 
• For Choice Preferred and Choice Extra booked with points, the points will be transferred back to the passengers’ Rapid Rewards account. 

Does Southwest Airlines Have A 24-Hour Cancellation Policy?

Yes. Under Southwest 24-hour cancellation policy, travelers who cancel within 24 hours of booking have two flexible options. First, they can choose a refund to the original payment method; second, they can choose the applicable flight credit or Transferable flight credit. Canceling a flight ticket within 24 hours of booking is especially helpful for travelers who made a mistake and want to fix it quickly. 

*Expert Tip: Double-check the information, such as the spelling of your name, boarding day, departure time, and destination name, after receiving the confirmation of your booking. This way, you can catch errors immediately and fix them before it’s too late, as per the Southwest Airlines 24 hour cancellation policy. 

How To Cancel a Southwest Flight​? Learn Here

Southwest Airlines provides two options for passengers to cancel their flights. You can complete the process via the Southwest website or the airline’s app. The cancellation process is pretty straightforward. Read the following information beforehand.

Through the Southwest Airlines Website 

Here are the steps to cancel a flight ticket through the website. 

1. Visit the Southwest Airlines website and open the Cancel or Trip Management option. 
2. Once the page opens, you’ll need to enter your reservation information. 
3. After you find the flight you want to cancel, click the cancellation option. 
4. Before confirming the cancellation, review the flight-credit details. 
5. Confirm the cancellation. 
6. Do not delete the cancellation confirmation as it will be useful for travel records. 

Through the Southwest Airlines App

Southwest Airlines flyers can also cancel reservations through the airline’s app. You will need to log in to the app and select the reservation. Then you’ll see the cancellation option and follow the instructions to complete the process. Remember to cancel the ticket 10 minutes before the scheduled departure; otherwise, you will have to face the no-show policy of Southwest Airlines cancellation policy. 

*Note: Passengers who have made special reservations that can not be easily handled online can contact Southwest customer service for guidance.

What Happens If Southwest Airlines Cancels Your Flight?

If Southwest Airlines cancels a flight due to a certain situation, passengers have certain options. Want to know complete information? Here are the necessary details: 

1. Continue with the Travel Plan: If Southwest Airlines cancels your flight, you will be automatically rebooked on the next available flight to your chosen destination. The airline will email or text you to confirm your reservation. 

2. Change the Flight: If you are not rebooked to the next flight, you can rebook to another day or date without an additional fee. However, do so within 14 days by visiting the official website. 

3. Choose Flight Credit: If Southwest Airlines cancels your flight and you no longer want to travel, you may be eligible for flight credit for future trips under the cancellation policy. Please note that you will not be able to claim Southwest canceled flight compensation. 

4. Method of Payment Refund: Southwest Airlines also offers refunds to the passenger’s original method of payment. In this case, you can request a full refund of your unused airfare, which is generally processed within 7 business days. 

What is the Southwest Refund Policy?

The refund policy of Southwest Airlines depends entirely on the fare you have purchased and the circumstances of the cancellation. Choice Preferred and Choice Extra fares are refundable, while Basic and Choice fares are non-refundable. For the circumstances, see the information below. So,  Are Southwest Flights Refundable​?

Yes. Southwest flights are generally refundable. However, the refund factor depends on the fare you have booked for the journey. For more information, see the section below. 

• Choice Preferred and Choice Extra: Passengers flying with Southwest Airlines on Choice Preferred or Choice Extra fares are eligible for a full refund if they cancel. However, they must revoke the flight ticket at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure. Travelers can choose to receive the refund to the original payment method. 

• Basic and Choice Fare: Unlike Choice Preferred and Choice Extra, travelers flying with Basic and Choice fare will not receive a refund. But one can convert the value into flight credit. Therefore, make sure to do it within the deadline.
  

Refund Policy When Southwest Cancel Flight​

If Southwest cancels the flight and you no longer want to travel, you are eligible for a full refund to your original payment method, per the airline’s policy. This also applies to non-refundable tickets. If there is any flight disruption, travelers will also get the baggage fee and additional charges that they have paid before the trip. All these refunds will be received within seven business days. 

Southwest Refund Policy When You Cancel Your Reservation

If you decide to cancel the flight, you will receive a refund based on the fare you booked. Some fares offer a full refund, while others offer flight credits as a refund. Please cancel the flight ticket within the 10-minute cancellation window; otherwise, your reservation will be subject to the no-show policy, per Southwest cancellation policy refund rules. 

Final Thoughts 

Southwest Airlines offers flexibility, as passengers can cancel their flight up to ten minutes before the scheduled departure. There is no separate cancellation fee, and you will be eligible for refunds based on your fare type. However, please note that the flight cancellation and Southwest Airlines refund policy​ are two separate matters. Therefore, review this guidebook thoroughly to understand the procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions