Travel plans can change at a moment’s notice for any number of reasons, so knowing about the Southwest Airlines cancellation policy is very important. The cancellation policy is designed to be convenient and easy to follow for those travellers who have an unexpected schedule change, family emergency, etc., or just want to change their itinerary. If you need help cancelling your flight, you can call Southwest Airlines Representatives at 1 (800) 435-9792 and we will walk you through the entire cancellation process. We have included this guide with all of the important information related to the Southwest Airlines cancellation policy, such as information on refunds, cancellation timelines and more.
Southwest’s Golden Rule: Cancel 10 mins Before Scheduled Departure
The reservation must be cancelled at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time to avoid the charges under no-show policy. If you do not fly on your reservation and do not cancel, it will be subject to our no-show policy.
And if the no-show policy applies, you will lose everything associated with your ticket for most ticket types. Always set a reminder to cancel your flight, even if you have to do this last minute.
What is the No Show Policy?
Make sure to complete your cancellation process at least 10 minutes before the flight’s departure. If you cancel after this time, it will fall under Southwest Airlines’ “No Show” policy. In this case, the airline will retain all your ticket funds and will not process any refunds.
Southwest 24-Hour Cancellation Policy
Regardless of the type of fare you choose (Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, or Choice Extra), this policy allows:
Cancelling a Reservation within Flexible Timeframes: Customers making flight reservations directly with Southwest Airlines may cancel their bookings anytime until 24 hours. In this case you receive a full refund to the original payment method if the flight departs more than seven days after the booking has occurred. The 24-hour cancellation window is very important to allow customers additional time to confirm travel plans.
How to Cancel a Flight on Southwest Airlines
- Cancellations via online windows:
The Southwest Airlines website or through the mobile app (if you have installed it) under the Manage Reservation section.
To cancel any reservation online:
- Visit: Southwest Airlines
- Select Manage Reservations
- Complete all fields on the form to find your reservation. Please provide both your confirmation number as well as the last name of the traveller.
- Option of selecting either a refund (if eligible) or travel credit is given after you choose the flight to cancel.
- Cancelling through App:
- To cancel through Mobile App, please Sign-In to your account or enter flight details and follow the prompts.
- For cancellations made via telephone, please call Southwest Airlines Customer Service: 1-800-435-9792.
- The customer service representative will be able to assist you with your refund options, travel funds, etc.
3. Cancel In Person at the Airport
Another way for travellers to cancel the ticket is at the airport. Passengers can go to their nearest Southwest Airlines customer service area and request a cancellation form. The customer service agent can assist you with completing the cancellation. The option above will work for clients who live near the airport and have enough time to complete this process prior to their flight.
What happens when Southwest Airlines cancels its flights?
There may be many reasons that the airline decided to cancel your flight. Typically, if Southwest has cancelled your flight, they will automatically re-book your remaining travel itinerary based on the next available flights. In this case, you need to know some of the rights passengers have in relation to flight cancellations, including:
If it does not satisfy you with the next available flight, you can cancel or change your reservation through the Southwest website.
In case Southwest cancels your flight, as per the policy of compensation for cancellations; the option to either cancel your flight and receive a full refund to the payment method you used, or to receive a credit for the full amount towards a Transferable Flight Credit when booking another trip with Southwest Airlines.
- You will receive a refund for all amounts paid, including any baggage fees or additional services you purchased before the cancellation.
- In the event of involuntary cancellations, you can request a change to the date and time of your original reservation up to two weeks from the date of the original booking without incurring any additional fees.
If you didn’t cancel your Reservation or travelled. What are the next steps?
Depending on the type of fare you purchased, if you fail to cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes prior to the flight’s originally scheduled departure time:
Choice Extra (previously Business Select) or Choice Preferred (previously Anytime) fare
You will receive the fund in form of a Transferable Flight Credit. Transferable Flight Credits generated from reservations that were booked and ticketed and/or voluntarily modified on or after May 28, 2025, will have a designated expiration date. You must complete all the travels before this expiration date.
Basic (previously Wanna Get Away®) or Choice (previously Wanna Get Away Plus®) fare
The funds will be lost.
Southwest Cancellation Fees
No cancellation fees apply at Southwest. All fare categories are eligible for cancellation without incurring a fee. If a reservation is not cancelled at least 10 minutes before the originally scheduled departure, travel funds may be forfeited.
Fee Refundable, provided that you cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes before the original scheduled departure of your flight, you will be eligible to receive a full refund of your ticket value to your original payment method. A Southwest flight credit from a prior reservation that is used for a Choice Preferred fare will be refunded as a Transferable Flight Credit.
For trips booked using Rapid Rewards points, if cancelled, the Rapid Rewards account holder who made the booking will receive the points back.
Concluding Remarks
Southwest Airlines has a great cancellation policy in the airline industry. They have no cancellation fees, they have some refundable fares available, and they offer travel credits easy to obtain, allowing you to change your travel according to your needs. If you booked with cash or points, Southwest will provide you with options that are right for you. To proceed with the cancellation or refund process, you can always reach a Southwest Representatives at 1 (800) 435-9792.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Southwest Airlines impose a fee for cancelling a flight?
No, Southwest Airlines does not impose any cancellation or change fees across all its fare categories.
What is the deadline for cancelling a Southwest flight?
For avoiding the no-show penalty, cancel your flight reservation at least 10 minutes before the originally scheduled departure time.
How can I cancel a Southwest flight online?
You can conveniently cancel your flight online by visiting the “Manage Reservations” area on Southwest.com or via the Southwest app. To access your reservation, you will require your confirmation number and name.
