Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy

Last-minute cancellations are always bumpy. A passenger always worries about the cancellation process and how long it would take to cancel. However, Southwest Airlines has flexible policies. Southwest 24 hour cancellation policy is easy to understand and charges no extra fee. It is one of those airlines that keeps customers first. 

+1-800-865-1848
Southwest booking cancellation

Table of content

    If you have a Southwest ticket and fretting about the cancellation policy, this post will walk you through every essential cancellation rule. Let’s start with the rules and regulations of Southwest Airlines.

    Southwest Airlines Flight Cancellation Policy Highlights

    Passengers must know about these rules before heading for Southwest 24 hour cancellation. It will help them follow airline policy accordingly. Here are the following highlights from the Southwest cancellation policy:

    • There are three types of fares in Southwest Airlines- Wanna Get Away, Business Select, and Anytime. Therefore, if you cancel a flight, Wanna Get Away ticket can be reusable but not refundable. On the other hand, Business select and Anytime fares are fully refundable and reusable.
    • The Southwest tickets can be used for up to one year from the date of purchase. 
    • According to Southwest Airlines cancellation policy, the ticket must get canceled at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure. All flight fares are refundable and reusable, considering they get revoked following the policy.
    • In the case of Business select and Anytime fares, the passengers opt to receive the refund in the original form of payment or travel funds. 
    • If a passenger has booked the ticket with the fare points, the remaining balance will get credited back to the original account. Other taxes and fees will get qualified for a Southwest flight refund.

    Southwest Airlines 24-hour Cancellation Policy

    Sometimes, a passenger cancels the flight within 24 hours of purchase for numerous reasons. As per Southwest 24 hour cancellation, a customer can cancel a ticket within 24 hours of booking through any method. The refund will get credited to your original payment method or travel funds, as the case may be. 

    A passenger will receive a refund only if the ticket gets canceled within 24 hours of the purchase and not a day later. A traveler can also cancel the ticket booked with a Southwest Gift Card or a LUV voucher within 24 hours of reservation. Such tickets can only get canceled by contacting Southwest Customer Relations. 

    You can also change your Southwest flight ticket within 24 hours of booking and get a full refund.

    Don’t want to cancel your flight? Don’t tremble because there is Southwest flight change policy 24 hours in effect. This policy allows travelers to make changes to their flight up to 10 minutes before the expected departure time. Flight modifications can be made via the Southwest app or website.

    Southwest Airlines Covid-19 Policy

    Southwest Airlines understand that the government has issued various mandates and travel restrictions due to the covid-19 pandemic outbreak. Such restrictions are potential quarantine, flight cancellations, temperature tests, covid tests upon arrival and departure, and more. If any such scenario happens, the Southwest Airlines cancellation policy offers flexibility and allows you to

    • Do not pay any cancellation fee and change fees.
    • Use travel funds up to one year from the original purchase date.
    • Change travel funds that expire on September 7, 2022, into Rapid reward points.
    • Use Rapid reward points anytime, as they never expire.

    How to Cancel Southwest Airlines Flight Ticket?

    A passenger often believes that ticket cancellation is a chaotic task. But Southwest Airlines offers flexible methods for canceling a flight ticket. You can use any of the following modes at your convenience:

    Method 1 - Southwest Airlines Ticket Cancellation Online

    Ticket cancellation through online mode is the most simple yet effective method. A passenger can use it by following a few steps. Here is the step-by-step procedure for ticket cancellation through the website:

    • Browse the Southwest website or download its application.
    • Navigate “Look Up Reservation” in the menu.
    • Passengers who have purchased flights via Rapid Rewards can revoke or change their Southwest ticket by logging into their account.
    • Fill in the confirmation number and the passenger’s name in the required field.
    • You will find the travel funds and flight refund balance attached to your booking.
    • If you have a Southwest refund, you can either choose to receive a refund or convert it into travel funds.
    • Click on the “Cancel Flight” option to cancel the ticket. If your ticket has more than one passenger, you can select the specific passenger from the booking.
    • According to the Southwest Airlines cancellation policy, the air ticket refund will reflect in the account statement within one or two billing cycles.

    Method 2 - Southwest Airlines Ticket Cancellation over the Phone

    A customer can cancel the ticket by calling the customer representative. It is an offline method that passengers can use anytime at their convenience. The calling method will have the following steps:

    • Ring the Southwest Airlines cancellation phone number at +1-800-435-9792.
    • Provide the booking reference number and passenger name to the airline agent.
    • Tell the travel expert to cancel the reservation.
    • Keep a close eye on the Travel funds or refundable value.
    • The refund amount may take one to two billing cycles to reflect on the account statement.

    Method 3 - Southwest Airlines Ticket Cancellation at the Airport

    A passenger can cancel a ticket at the airport if he requests cancellation at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure. The customer must reach the airport counter and ask the airline representative to cancel the ticket. To make a request, you must have the passenger’s name, booking reference number, and other necessary details. 

    The agent will ask you the reason for your cancellation and guide you through the cancellation process. You need to follow the instructions carefully for Southwest 24 hour cancellation.

    Note: In case of confusion or anything regarding these methods, you can contact us at +1-800-865-1848. We will help you cancel in simple steps. 

    To avoid the cancellation hassle, you must first identify where you are getting things wrong. Read the Southwest name change policy to learn how to amend errors in your name on your airline ticket. Our policy allows you to correct up to three characters in your misspelled name. You will save time by not having to reschedule your flights.

    Southwest Airlines Cancellation Compensation Policy

    A Southwest Airlines passenger is entitled to receive compensation if the flight gets delayed at least three hours or more before the scheduled departure. A flier will get the following compensation:

    Flight Distance

    Compensation Amount (USD)

    Less than 1500 Km

    325

    Between 1500 Km and 3500 Km

    475

    More than 3500 Km

    725

     

    However, not every passenger gets the compensation. A passenger will get the payment under the following circumstances:

    • Southwest Airlines will pay compensation in the case of health emergencies like the host country has put travel restrictions.
    • If a flight gets canceled due to bad weather, the passenger will receive compensation.
    • A flier will get compensation for the canceled flight in the case of a medical emergency.
    • In case of a state of emergency or riots, Southwest Airlines will give compensation.
    • According to the Southwest 24 hour cancellation policy, passengers will receive compensation in case of airport strikes, airline bankruptcy, etc. 

    Southwest Airlines Vacation Package Cancellation

    At times, your plans may get canceled for numerous reasons. In such a case, you must immediately notify the airline and cancel your flight ticket. Here are the vital highlights from the Southwest Airlines vacation packages cancellation policy:

    • If there is no added travel insurance to your vacation package, you will get a refund in your travel credit.
    • A passenger will get a refund in travel credit if the vacation package includes Wanna Getaway Fare. In this case, the flight must be canceled at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure. 
    • If a passenger cancels any hotel or car rental reservation, it will be subject to supplier’s penalties. 
    • According to the Southwest cancellation policy, there is no charges for cancellation done within the specified time. 

    Southwest Airlines Refund Policy

    A passenger gets a refund on a Southwest 24 hour cancellation policy in a few circumstances. To get a valid refund, a traveler must fall under the following conditions:

    • A traveler will not get a refund on a Southwest airlines cancellation. A Wanna Get Away fare can be usable but not refundable, while Anytime and Business select fares are fully refundable and reusable. 
    • The passenger will get a refund on the unused portion of the ticket.
    • A refund that does not carry any restrictions will get into the future travel funds and can be used within 12 months from the date of issuance.
    • An original ticket refund will get credited to the original form of payment.

    A passenger may get a 100% refund on non-refundable tickets at the time of Southwest 24 hour cancellation. In this case, the ticket must be canceled within 24 hours of the booking. The refund amount will either get credited back to the original form of payment or choose to get it in the form of Travel funds for future travel. 

    Southwest Airlines Cancellation Fee

    Sometimes, a passenger has to pay an amount as cancellation charges for canceling the flight before the scheduled departure. The cancellation fee varies depending on several factors, such as fare picked, booking class, time of cancellation, and other factors specified by the airline. Southwest doesn’t charge any cancellation fee, while other airlines charges around $200. 

    Having flown Southwest airlines frequently, you should be aware of Southwest airlines reservation policy. Understanding flight reservation regulations and constraints allows you to get amazing deals. You can also obtain full reservation information by dialing +1-800-865-1848 from the convenience of your own dwelling. 

     

     

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Q1. Does Southwest Airlines charge any cancellation fee?

    No. Southwest Airlines does not charge any cancellation fee for canceling flight tickets.

    Q2. Can I cancel my flight over the phone?

    Yes. You can cancel your Southwest Airlines ticket by dialing the customer service number. The Southwest agent will get you through the cancellation process.

    Q3. Can I get a refund on my non-refundable ticket?

    Yes. You can get a 100% refund on the Southwest non-refundable ticket if you have requested cancellation within 24 hours of booking.

    Q4. Can I cancel my flight after check-in?

    Yes. You can cancel the flight after check-in only if you have requested a cancellation at least 10 minutes before the departure time.

    Q5. How soon before can I cancel my Southwest flight?

    According to the Southwest cancellation policy, you can request cancellation at least 10 minutes before the departure and within 24 hours of the booking.

    Q6. What do Southwest Airlines Covid-19 restrictions include?

    The reasons for restrictions under Southwest can be flight cancellations, covid tests upon arrival and departures, potential quarantines, and temperature tests.

    Q7. What are the circumstances under which a passenger can get canceled flight compensation?

    Southwest Airlines provide compensation in case of health emergencies, weather cancellations, airport strikes, airline bankruptcy, riots or state emergency, and more.

    Q8. Do I get the refund if the airline cancel my flight?

    Yes, you are entitled to a full refund through your original mode of payment if Southwest cancels the flight (not you). No matter if you booked a non-refundable (Wanna Get Away) ticket, you will likely have to ask their representatives for refund.

    Q9. Can I get my money back if I cancel my flight?

    Yes, compensation or a refund for an itinerary cancellation is available from Southwest Airlines. According to Southwest Airlines refund policy, you can cancel your airline ticket and receive a refund depending on your fare type.

    Q10. How much time the airline will take to refund if I cancel my flight?

    You may contact Southwest airlines official flight cancellation number - 1-800-435-9792. This is customer service phone line accessible 24/7 hours a day. You may call when it's most convenient for you. However, if you are unable to reach them, additional Southwest airlines cancellation phone number: +1-800-865-1848 is available.

    Related Post Cancellation Policy

    United Airlines Cancellation Policy

    A passenger always worries when it comes to canceling a flight. The reasons for flight cancellation can vary from person to person. But the hass [...]

    Read More

    Alaska Airlines Cancellation Policy

    No matter how excited you are about your trip, there is always scope for fickle moments when you may have to cancel your flight. In such unfortu [...]

    Read More

    Delta Airlines Cancellation Policy

    Canceling a flight has been a hassling task. You go through long and puzzling processes. However, Delta Airlines cancellation policy is flexible [...]

    Read More
    Phone calling icon