Travel plans can change so it’s good to be familiar with the Southwest Airlines cancelation policy and know if you qualify for a refund, flight credit or other solution. Southwest allows customers to cancel many reservations online or through the Southwest app, but the outcome can depend on the fare purchased, when you cancel, and whether Southwest itself canceled or significantly changed your flight.
This guide explains the Southwest flight cancellation policy, including the Southwest 24 hour cancellation policy, cancellation deadlines, Basic fares, and what happens to your money after cancellation.
What Is the Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy?
Southwest Airlines’ current cancelation policy says customers who are not planning to travel must cancel their reservation at least 10 minutes before the original scheduled departure time of the flight. Waiting until after that deadline can result in the reservation being handled under Southwest’s no-show policy.
What happens when you cancel depends on what fare you bought:
- Choice Extra and Choice Preferred: Usually refundable to the original method of payment if canceled at least 10 minutes in advance of departure.
- Choice: Generally non-refundable, but the eligible value can be converted into a Transferable Flight Credit.
- Basic: Non-refundable, but an eligible flight credit may be issued when you cancel at least 10 minutes before departure.
- Within 24 hours of booking: You can choose a refund to the original payment method or an applicable flight credit, subject to Southwest’s 24-hour rules.
Southwest 24 Hour Cancellation Policy
The Southwest 24 hour cancellation policy gives travelers additional flexibility shortly after making a reservation. If you cancel your eligible reservation within 24 hours of booking, Southwest says you can choose between receiving a refund to the original form of payment or keeping the value as a flight credit or Transferable Flight Credit, depending on the fare. This is commonly searched as the Southwest cancellation policy 24 hours or Southwest Airlines 24 hour cancellation policy.
Does Southwest Have a 24-Hour Free Cancellation Rule?
Yes. “Southwest now allows a refund if you cancel within 24 hours. However, the exact result can vary based on the fare and booking circumstances. Southwest’s Basic fare is typically non-refundable and non-changeable except as permitted by its 24-hour cancelation policy.
Tip: If you have just booked a Southwest flight and realize that your plans have changed, checking your reservation promptly is important because the 24-hour window is time-sensitive.
Southwest Cancellation Policy for Different Fares
Understanding your fare type is one of the easiest ways to determine what happens after cancellation.
Basic Fare
Basic is Southwest’s most restrictive fare. It is normally non-refundable and non-changeable unless an applicable exception, such as the 24-hour cancellation policy, applies.
If you cancel a Basic fare at least 10 minutes before the original departure time, you may receive a flight credit if the ticket still has eligible value. Southwest states that Basic fare flight credits generally expire six months from the original purchase date.
Choice Fare
Choice fares are generally non-refundable. When canceled at least 10 minutes before the original departure, the eligible value can generally become a Transferable Flight Credit for future travel.
Choice Preferred and Choice Extra
These fares are generally refundable when canceled at least 10 minutes before the original scheduled departure. Customers can generally choose a refund to the original payment method or, depending on the circumstances, retain the value as an applicable flight credit.
Southwest Cancellation Policy Wanna Get Away
Many travelers still search for the Southwest cancellation policy Wanna Get Away because Wanna Get Away was a familiar Southwest fare name.
Southwest’s current fare structure includes Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra. Therefore, if you have an older reservation or are researching a previous Wanna Get Away booking, check the fare conditions attached to that particular reservation rather than assuming today’s rules automatically apply. Southwest’s current fare information should be used to determine the rules for a new booking.
For eligible non-refundable Southwest fares, canceling before the required deadline can preserve the ticket’s value as a flight credit rather than causing the value to be lost.
How to Cancel a Southwest Flight
You can usually cancel your Southwest reservation online without calling customer service.
Do the following:
- Go to the Southwest website or open the Southwest app.
- Select Manage Reservations.
- Enter your confirmation number and passenger name.
- Open your reservation.
- Select Cancel.
- Review the refund or flight-credit information shown.
- Confirm the cancellation.
Southwest says most flights can be canceled directly through Southwest.com or its app.
If multiple passengers are on the same reservation and only one traveler needs to cancel, Southwest provides a process for dividing the reservation and then canceling the individual traveler’s booking.
How Late Can You Cancel a Southwest Flight?
Under the current Southwest cancellation rules, you should cancel at least 10 minutes before the original scheduled departure time if you do not intend to travel.
If you fail to cancel and do not show up, the reservation can become subject to Southwest’s no-show policy. Depending on the fare, some or all of the value of the ticket may be affected.
So, even if you are close to departure, it can be better to check your reservation and cancel before the 10-minute cutoff rather than simply missing the flight.
What Happens If Southwest Cancels Your Flight?
The Southwest Airlines cancellation policy is different when Southwest cancels your flight.
If Southwest cancels your flight, you may be eligible for re-routing, a change in your flight, a flight credit, or a refund of eligible unused airfare. Southwest states that when a flight is canceled. You choose not to travel, eligible refunds can be made to the original form of payment.
Significant delays or schedule changes can also create refund eligibility. Southwest generally describes significant disruption as a delay or change of three or more hours. For domestic travel or six or more hours for international travel.
Southwest Cancellation and Flight Credits
A flight credit may be issued when you cancel a non-refundable eligible fare instead of receiving money back. The type and expiration of the credit depend on the fare and circumstances. For example, Southwest currently states that Basic fare flight credits generally expire six months from the original purchase date. While certain Transferable Flight Credits have different expiration rules. Always check the expiration date displayed with your specific credit before making another booking.
Summary
Southwest Airlines Cancelation Policy Southwest Airlines Cancelation Policy provides travelers with a few options. But the outcome is mostly reliant on the purchased fare and cancelation time. The Southwest Airlines 24 hour cancellation policy can be particularly useful if you change your mind shortly. After booking, while non-refundable fares may provide a flight credit instead of a cash refund.
Check your specific reservation on Southwest’s website or app before you cancel. Before you finish the process, the cancelation screen should show the correct refund or credit.
If you’re changing your travel plans because you’re considering a different destination. You can also explore our guide to Best Places to Visit in October for ideas and travel inspiration.
