When it comes to airlines, the Southwest cancellation policy is the friendliest out there. Here is what you need to know about the Southwest cancellation policy.
What Is the Southwest Cancellation Policy?
If you book a cheap fare, the Wanna Get Away fares, here is what the details are:
- If you cancel within 24 hours of booking, the amount of the ticket goes back to the original form of payment
- If you cancel any other time, the ticket (if paid for with credit card, etc) amount goes to a Southwest credit that is valid one year from the original date of purchase
- You must cancel 10 minutes before departure
If you book the ticket with points, the points will go back into your account and will be eligible for use on any other flight. The points are subject to the normal expiration policy of Southwest and do not expire like the credit above.
How to Change a Southwest Ticket
Read More: Why Southwest Sales Are Important
If the price has dropped, you simply select to change the flight, enter the reservation and look at the same dates and flights again.
Once you go through and confirm, you will receive a refund of the difference in miles and the cash for the taxes will be transferred for the new ticket.
If you are changing a Southwest ticket paid with currency, the difference in fare will be issued as a Southwest voucher for us within 1 year of the date of the issue of the original ticket.
That’s it!
Southwest has the best cancellation policy around and it makes for one of the main reasons to book with Southwest.
what happens to taxes and fees if you cancel an award ticket?
IF you simply cancel, the taxes and fees go back to the original form of payment. If you change an award ticket and then cancel it later, it will be a travel voucher. Will include in the post. Thanks!
Hey Charlie, came upon this thread of yours and I have a question. If I buy a SW ticket for Oct with my US real time mobile reward and decided to cancel with 24 hrs, will I get the points back or will the refund be back into my Flex credit card as a credit?
We are cancelling an upcoming round trip from MCO to SAT. We understand that the $$ will be deposited in a fund for use within one year of the actual purchase? or planned travel date? If future reservations do not use all funds, must remainder be used within the original one year window? Any ideas for making sure we don’t lose the funds already spent?