Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy: How to Cancel and Get Your Money Back
What actually happens when you cancel a Southwest flight — refunds, credits, fees, and your options if Southwest cancels on you.
Plans change, and when they do, the first question most travelers ask is simple: can I actually get my money back? With Southwest Airlines, the answer is more reassuring than with most carriers. Southwest has built a reputation on flexible, low-fee travel, and its cancellation policy reflects that.
Here's a clear breakdown of how cancellations work, what you'll get back depending on your fare type, and what to do if Southwest is the one that cancels on you. If you'd rather have someone handle the cancellation call for you, Suvzs's flight change and cancellation assistance team can walk through your options and take care of it.
Can You Cancel a Southwest Flight and Get a Refund?
Yes — and this is where Southwest stands apart from most airlines. Regardless of which ticket type you've booked, Southwest doesn't charge a cancellation fee. The only real requirement is timing: you need to cancel at least 10 minutes before your scheduled departure.
What you actually get back — a refund to your original payment method, flight credit, or Transferable Flight Credit™ — depends on your fare type:
- Business Select® and Anytime tickets: choose between a refund to your original payment method or a Transferable Flight Credit™ you can use on a future booking.
- Wanna Get Away® and Wanna Get Away Plus® tickets: you'll receive flight credit or Transferable Flight Credit™ (depending on the specific fare) rather than a cash refund.
Southwest's 24-Hour Cancellation Rule
If you cancel within 24 hours of booking, you can choose a full refund to your original payment method or hold the value as flight credit — no matter which fare you booked. This lines up with the U.S. Department of Transportation's 24-hour refund rule, which requires airlines to allow a full refund within 24 hours of booking as long as the flight was booked at least seven days before departure.
Are There Any Cancellation Fees?
No — Southwest doesn't charge cancellation fees on any fare type. The one thing to watch is timing. If you miss the 10-minutes-before-departure cutoff, you'll fall under Southwest's no-show policy instead, and Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus tickets in particular won't be eligible for any refund or credit in that case.
Cancelling a Flight Booked With Rapid Rewards Points
Flights booked with Rapid Rewards points are fully refundable, and any points used are returned to your account right away.
Starting in January 2025, Southwest began allowing a combination of cash and Rapid Rewards points on the same booking. If you cancel one of these mixed-payment reservations, your points go back to your account and the cash portion is refunded or credited according to your fare's standard refundability rules.
How to Cancel Your Southwest Flight
Cancelling is straightforward through either the Southwest website or its mobile app. You'll need:
- Your first and last name (or the passenger's name, if cancelling for someone else)
- Your confirmation number
If you'd rather not deal with the site yourself — especially for a multi-passenger or split reservation — our flight change and cancellation team can process it for you over the phone.
Can I Change My Southwest Flight Instead of Cancelling?
Yes, and it's usually simpler than cancelling outright. Southwest doesn't charge a change fee — you'll only owe the difference in fare if your new flight costs more.
Most changes can be made directly through the Southwest website or app under Manage Reservations. If your new flight is cheaper than the original, Southwest refunds the difference to your original payment method (Business Select® and Anytime fares) or issues it as flight credit (other fare types).
What if You Received Flight Credit Instead of a Refund?
If your fare type only qualified for flight credit or Transferable Flight Credit™ rather than a cash refund, that credit is still real value — it just needs to be used on a future Southwest booking rather than returned to your card. If you're not sure how much credit you have, when it expires, or how to apply it toward a new reservation, reach out to our team and we'll help you sort out the details before you book again.
Talk to a real person who can walk you through your refund and credit options.
Contact SuvzsWhat Happens If Southwest Cancels Your Flight?
If Southwest cancels on you, you generally have two paths:
Option 1: Change Your Flight
In most cases, you'll be automatically rebooked on another flight to the same destination, with a new itinerary sent by text or email. If that doesn't happen, you can change your date or time up to 14 days from your original travel date at no extra cost.
Option 2: Cancel Your Reservation
If none of the rebooking options work for you, you can cancel outright and choose a method-of-payment refund, flight credit, or Transferable Flight Credit™. Refunds to your original payment method are typically processed within seven business days. This protection lines up with the DOT's broader airline refund requirements for cancelled or significantly changed flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change or cancel a flight for one traveler on a shared reservation?
You'll need to divide the reservation first, which can usually be done through the Southwest website or app. Once divided, the separated traveler gets a new confirmation number, and you can change or cancel that booking independently.
Can I change a Southwest flight that includes a lap child?
Not through the website or app — this type of change requires calling a Southwest customer service representative directly.
Can I change the name on a Southwest ticket?
Minor corrections, like fixing a typo in your name, can be done through the app or website (you'll need to check in again if you'd already checked in). Name changes due to marriage or a legal name change require contacting Southwest directly with documentation. Southwest tickets can't be transferred to a different person.
Does Southwest charge a fee to cancel my flight?
No. Southwest doesn't charge cancellation fees on any fare type, as long as you cancel at least 10 minutes before scheduled departure.
What happens if I don't cancel in time and miss my flight?
You'll fall under Southwest's no-show policy. For Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares specifically, that generally means no refund or credit at all, so it's worth cancelling as soon as you know you won't be flying.