Southwest Airlines needs no introduction when it comes to implementing transparent policies for passengers. No matter what your concern is, they have a separate set of guidelines for every issue. Whether it’s related to the name change, fare rules and regulations, or Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy, you will find a section specifically designed for every concern. If you’re someone who tends to fly regularly with them, then a thorough understanding of the basic guidelines will benefit you in the long run. Henceforth, go through the upcoming sections of this content where we have highlighted the fundamental aspects of cancellation policies for your reference.
How Does Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy Work?
The cancellation policies are framed according to different fare types. Kindly check your fare type and read all these policies carefully before you proceed to cancel your flight via any of the available platforms.
Refundable Ticket
- Business Select and Anytime are refundable tickets.
- Passengers have the liberty to cancel their flight until 10 minutes before the scheduled flight departure.
- Get a complete refund to the original source of payment.
- Ask for flight credit if you don’t want a refund for a cancelled reservation.
Non-Refundable Ticket
- Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away are non-refundable tickets.
- You won’t receive a cash refund.
- The unused portion of your ticket will be converted into flight credit, which is applicable to future flights.
Other Important Policies
- Southwest doesn’t charge any additional fee for flight change or cancellation if you request it 10 minutes prior to the original departure.
- You must pay the difference in fare if you request to rebook or reschedule a cancelled reservation.
- You have the complete liberty to use fare tickets for one year from the original date of purchase.
- If you cancel a flight booked with fare points, you will instantly receive the points in your source account.
- As per the Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy, the refund amount will be reflected within two billing cycles if you cancel your Southwest flight via the official website.
- Make sure to adhere to the cancellation timing ( 10 minutes before the flight departure ) if you wish to keep your funds intact or receive them in the form of eCredit.
What is Southwest 24-Hour Flight Cancellation Policy?
Gone through the generic policies? But did you know that Southwest also has a 24-Hour cancellation policy for their passengers? Well, it’s a different guideline which has been framed to make flight cancellation feasible for everyone. For more information, go through the below mentioned pointers.
- Cancel your flight within 24 hours of purchasing a reservation and get a complete refund in your original mode of payment.
- If required, you can call at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) and request the airline representative to convert your reservation amount into flight credit (transferable and non-transferable).
Does Southwest Allow To Cancel Flight Booked With Reward Points?
For a variety of reasons, such as buying a new reservation, using a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card, or purchasing an exotic vacation package, Southwest offers rapid rewards to passengers. These points can be used in combination with cash to book a flight itinerary for your next vacation. If you didn’t know, Southwest has incorporated this policy since January 2025.
However, if you used only rapid reward points for buying a flight ticket but eventually ended up cancelling it, then be rest assured. It’s because your reward points will be transferred back to you. These guidelines are applicable to all fare types. Moreover, if you use any other payment mode, then the refund will get processed in the original mode of payment.
How Should I Cancel A Flight With Southwest?
Mostly, passengers cancel their flights due to an emergency situation or a change in their travel plans. You might be thinking that cancelling a flight is a complex procedure, isn’t it? However, that’s not the case with Southwest. They have designed seamless policies and procedures that allow you to cancel your flight hassle-free.
Phone Call
- Kindly call up at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) for flight cancellation.
- Provide your 12-digit confirmation number and complete name.
- Inquire about the refund type and eligibility criteria.
- Now, request the agent to cancel your reservation.
- Let the agent guide you through the cancellation process
- Upon confirmation, you will receive a notification via email
- If you purchased a refundable ticket, it will take two billing cycles for the refund amount to get reflected in your source account
Official Website
- Go to the official website (southwest.com) on a suitable web browser
- Locate the “Flight” option at the top of the homepage
- Click on the “Manage Reservation” from the available options
- Input your 12 Digit PNR number, first and last name correctly
- Select the applicable mode to receive a refund or request for eCredit
- Lastly, tap on the “Cancel Flight” option
- Go to your inbox and check for confirmation mail
Airport Ticket Counter
- Find a Southwest Airlines counter after reaching the airport
- Be ready to share your accurate travel information
- Ask about the refund process and criteria
- Address a justified reason for cancelling your flight
- Allow the agent to cancel your flight
- Get final confirmation via text message and email
Does Southwest Charge Any Fee For Flight Cancellation?
Did you know that Southwest doesn’t charge a single penny for flight cancellation? Yes, you heard it right, fellow passengers. This is what sets them apart from other international airlines. To make the best use of this policy, you need to call the airline executive or navigate through the official website 10 minutes before your original flight departs.
Those who have purchased Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus tickets will simply receive flight credit for cancelling a flight. However, if you’ve purchased a refundable ticket like Business Select or Anytime, you can ask for a full refund or flight credit as per your travel requirements.
Does Southwest Offer Refund If I Cancel My Flight?
Getting a refund is no longer a challenging procedure. However, it might take 7-12 business days for the refund amount to get reflected in your original mode of payment. You simply have to adhere to the policies and reach out to the designated authorities for a refund. Here are the major pointers in relevance to refund, you must know.
- Refunds are initiated for every fare type.
- If you paid online, the refund will be processed into the source account.
- Travelers will get a refund only for the unused portion of the ticket.
Can I Claim Compensation For Canceled Flight Southwest?
When it comes to compensation, you need to find out the prominent reason due to which Southwest Airlines canceled your flight. If you’re eligible then only you can seek compensation for the canceled reservation. Make sure to compile all the mandatory documents before you request for compensation. Subsequently, read these basic principles before you step for compensation.
- A passenger can request for compensation if their scheduled flight gets delayed due to 3 hours or more.
- The compensation amount is dependent on the total flight distance.
- For flights less than 1500 km, you will get 325 USD as compensation.
- Compensation is offered in case of medical emergencies, government-imposed travel restrictions, terrible weather, unpredictable emergencies, airline bankruptcy, riots, airport strikes, etc.
- If you’re flying on a flight between 1500-3500 km, you will get a compensation amount worth 475 USD
- 725 USD is the compensation amount for flights flying higher than 3500 km.
How Late Southwest Allows To Cancel A Flight?
Whenever you head for a flight cancellation, make sure you do it within 24 hours of reservation or 10 minutes before the original departure. By doing so, you can claim a refund or travel credit, depending on your fare type. Although, make sure to provide a valid reason for cancelling a flight. Once your request is processed, you will receive a refund or credit according to the fare type chosen by you.
What Should I Do If My Flight Gets Canceled By Southwest?
An unexpected scenario might come up when Southwest cancels your flight. This could be due to drastic weather changes, mechanical negligence or crew shortage. According to the Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy, here are the immediate solutions you should follow to tackle this situation effortlessly.
- Check Your Flight Status: Even if your flight gets cancelled, you must keep checking the status for future updates.
- Contact Southwest Airlines Representative: Notify about your issue immediately if your flight gets canceled without any prior information
- Get Access To Automatic Rebooking Facility: Under such circumstances, Southwest will accommodate you on another flight for free.
- Ask For Southwest LUV Voucher: A form of compensation provided by Southwest for flight cancellation or disrupted travel plans.
Conclusion
Amongst the passengers, Southwest is extremely popular for cost-effective fare prices. Secondly, they are also widely appreciated for not charging any fee for missed flights, flight changes or flight cancellations. We completely understand that in today’s scenario, an emergency situation can arise where you want to cancel your scheduled reservation. With Southwest Airlines, you can cancel it stress-free. Just go through the mentioned policies and communicate with a flight specialist before you take any decision.
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