Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy

If you are someone who likes comfort in budget while flying, then Southwest Airlines wouldn’t be new for you. This airline has a distinct name in the aviation industry because it offers more than what a passenger has paid for. Given its popularity, you must be well aware of its policy. One of the most important policies is about Southwest flight cancellation, because you know when a situation arises, you have to cancel your ticket. In such a case, you should be aware of whether there is any cancellation fee, and when and how you will get your refund. That’s why this blog is on the Southwest Airlines Flight Cancellation Policy .

Southwest Airlines Flight Cancellation Policy: Detailed Analysis

Like any other airline, Southwest Airlines also offers a free 24-hour window to cancel your flight ticket. After the end of the period, rules may differ according to the tickets.
In case you have booked 2 or more tickets together and want to cancel an individual’s ticket, then you have to separate the tickets first.
You need to cancel your flight ticket at least 10 minutes before your departure time to avoid a no-show.
If you have “Business Select” or “Anytime Ticket”, then you will get transferable flight credit, even if you cancel when it is less than 10 minutes of your departure.
In case of an Award ticket (Tickets booked by using reward points) Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus, canceling it when it is less than 10 minutes before departure will cost you a loss of reward points along with tax and fees.
According to the Southwest flight cancellation policy, Wanna Get Away Fares and Wanna Get Away Plus Fares are reusable but not refundable.

What is the Southwest Cancellation Policy Fee?

According to Southwest Airlines’ cancellation policy, customers are not penalized if they decide to cancel their ticket at any point before departure. You will receive a complete refund, less a $75 administrative charge, though, if you cancel after 24 hours and no one else wishes to take the seat. You will get a complete refund, less a $150 cancellation charge if someone else takes your spot.

What is the Southwest Cancellation Refund Policy?

You’re in luck if you decide to change your mind about your flight reservation! Any flight can be canceled within 24 hours after booking. The best part? There is no fee, and you will get your money back using the same payment method you used.
Please be aware that there are no refunds for Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus tickets. You can still earn future travel credits, though, so you may use that amount for a different flight in the future.
However, if you purchased Anytime or Business Select tickets, you’re in a better position. You will receive a complete, hassle-free refund in the form of your initial payment for either of those options. Thus, pick carefully depending on your goals and always make sure to verify the details of your fare kind!

Fare Type	Refund Eligibility	Refund Method	Notes
All Fares (within 24 hrs of booking)	Fully refundable	Original form of payment	No cancellation fee
Wanna Get Away	Non-refundable after 24 hours	Future travel credit	Credit can be used for a future flight
Wanna Get Away Plus	Non-refundable after 24 hours	Future travel credit	Credit value retained for future use
Anytime	Refundable	Original form of payment or travel credit	Can choose refund or future flight credit
Business Select	Refundable	Original form of payment or travel credit	Best option for flexibility and full refund

What are the Steps to Cancel Southwest Airlines Flight Tickets?

Search for the Southwest Airlines official website then navigate to the “manage my travel”/ “my trips” menu.
Enter your last name and PNR to retrieve your flight information.
You can change or cancel the flight schedule after the information is displayed on the screen.
If a cancellation charge is required, you will be requested to pay it.
After examining all the conditions, and when you ask for the cancellation, the cancellation may be free of cost.
You will receive the details in your email as soon as the payment is completed.

Alternative Way to Cancel your Southwest Airlines Flight

Other than cancelling your Southwest flight ticket from the official website, you can use other methods as well. You can call your airline’s customer service team, or if you don’t get hold of them, then you can reach out to us anytime.

Pick your phone and dial +1-855-956-2158 .
Once you get hold of the customer service team, inform them about your issue.
Provide them with accurate details of your flight ticket so they can retrieve it.
Confirm with the agent which ticket you want to cancel, and pay the fee if applicable.
Get the confirmation mail.

What is the Southwest Airlines No-Show Policy?

Southwest Airlines allows every passenger to cancel their flight ticket at least 10 minutes before their scheduled departure, but if you fail to do so, it will count as a no-show. Take note that no-show has penalties too. If you have a refundable ticket like a Business Select or Anytime fare, then your refund will get transformed into credit points.

You should be aware, though, that Southwest’s No-Show policy will take effect if you are a “No-Show,” meaning you do not cancel your Wanna Get Away ticket within that 10-minute window. In this instance, the money that was not spent on your reservation will regrettably be lost.

Ticket Type	Canceled Less Than 10 Minutes Before Departure	Refund/Credit Policy
Business Select	Allowed	Full transferable flight credit is issued
Anytime	Allowed	Full transferable flight credit is issued
Wanna Get Away (Award Ticket)	Not Allowed	Forfeiture of reward points and taxes
Wanna Get Away Plus (Award Ticket)	Not Allowed	Forfeiture of reward points and taxes

How to change my Southwest Airlines Flight Ticket?

If Southwest Airlines cancels your flight for any reason that is not in their control, then you will get two major options. Either you can cancel your ticket or change it accordingly. With the Flight change option, you can easily edit passengers’ info for Southwest Airlines. Here are the steps that you need to follow for this:

Head over to the Southwest Airlines official website and hit the “Manage My Booking” page.
Fill in all the required information to get access to your flight tickets.
Select the ticket you want to change and edit the passengers’ info for the Southwest Airlines flight ticket.
Double-check all the corrections and pay the fee if applicable, and hit the submit button.

Conclusion

Southwest Airlines has the most generous cancellation policy without any doubt. The best part is that their travel credits don’t expire. So, if you want to cancel your flight ticket, just give us a call!