Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy

As a renowned carrier in the USA, Southwest has an easy cancellation policy and effective refund policy, designed with customers in mind. Also, these airlines are very convenient for last-minute travel changes. But if you come and change the flight at the very last moment, it is almost equal to the ticket price because there is no refund in this case. Southwest Airlines does not charge for flight cancellations. As per their refund policy, if you cancel within 24 hours of booking the flight, you can get a full refund.

The refund amount depends on the price and class of the ticket. If the 24-hour period expires on a non-refundable ticket, the price is the same. It is valid for one year, which you can also get on your future airline travel. With Southwest Airlines you get both free ticket change and same-day ticket change benefits. Southwest Airlines cancellation policy gives you access to future airline travel, but you don’t have to go to the same place again, you can choose the destination of your choice. In this article, you can get all the details of the Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy.

Tickets of Various Types

Wanna Get Away?

Wanna Get Away are the tickets that are the cheapest tickets offered by Southwest Airlines. Southwest’s flight cancellation policies for these tickets are slightly stricter than those for Business Select and Anytime. If you have purchased a Wanna Get Away ticket and it is cancelled, the entire amount is kept as reusable travel money to be used in the future. You can use these funds at any time within a year.

You can also cancel the flight 10 minutes before its departure. To cancel your want-getaway tickets and receive a refund, please see the Southwest Cancellation Policy. If you use Rapid Rewards points to purchase the ticket, all of your points will be credited to your account.

Business Class

Business Class is the most costly ticket, but it has a more flexible Southwest cancellation policy than the others. If you cancel a business class ticket, there is good news for you, you will get a complete refund in the original manner of payment. The payout could be in cash or Rapid Rewards points.

Anytime Tickets

This is one of the hassle-free tickets. If a consumer cancels these tickets, he is also entitled to a full refund, regardless of the method of payment used.

NOTE: As per Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy, If you do not notify the airlines of your cancellation at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time for Business ticket or Anytime, the purchase price of your ticket will be converted to travel money that can be used within one year.

Wanna Get Away Plus

Wanna Get Away tickets offer more flexibility and as per southwest refund policy they are considered as class cabin refundable tickets. If a Wanna Get Away ticket purchased in cash is cancelled, the whole price is refunded to the your payment account.

How can I Cancel my Southwest Flight?

Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policies are the most straightforward ones, and the company strives for customer pleasure at all times. Southwest’s Cancellation Policy also allows you to cancel flights either online or over the phone. Southwest flights can be cancelled online (through the website or the Southwest app) or offline (by phone). Passengers are permitted to select their preferred form of flight cancellation. You can even reschedule your Southwest flight if their Southwest cancellation policy allows it. Southwest Airlines provides these options 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Cancellation of Tickets Online
• Cancellation by Phone

1. Cancellation of a Southwest Flight Online:

• Log in to your Southwest Airlines account or use the search box to look for Flight Cancellations.
• Choose “Flight” and then “Manage Reservations” from the drop-down box.
• Fill in the passenger information, such as the confirmation number you received after completing your reservation, as well as your first and last name.
• Select “Cancel Flight” and then “Continue.”
• A pop-up window will appear on the next page to inform you whether or not your flight is eligible for a refund. Your flight will also be cancelled.

1. Cancel a Southwest flight by phone

• Inform the executive of your flight change and provide him with your contact information, including your ticket number and name.
• Remember to ask him if you are qualified for a refund.

Guidelines

Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy provides the following guidelines:

• Southwest Airlines Booking Business class and Anytime tickets are very expensive as compared to others, but they have a more easy southwest cancellation policy than the others.
• According to the Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy, if a customer cancels a Business Select or Anytime ticket, he or she will receive a full refund in the original mode of payment. To cancel Southwest flights, the payment might be in cash or Rapid Rewards points, depending on the policy.
• However, if you do not notify the airlines of your cancellation at least 10 minutes before departure, the purchase price of your ticket will be converted to travel funds that can be utilized within one year.
• If you use Rapid Points to purchase the tickets, those points will be redeposited into your account.
• As per Southwest refund policy, if you made any flight adjustments, the flight would become non-refundable, so it is preferable to cancel the original flight and rebook it to keep the ticket completely refundable.
• Standby travel between cities on the same day is allowed and free of cost.
• If you paid cash for your Southwest flight, you will be refunded in the same manner. It is also convertible into trip funds.
• If you cancel your ticket, your pet will also not get entry into the cabin.
• If you are cancelling your Southwest flight and rebooking on it, The rebooking policy is available on Southwest Airlines’ website. Meanwhile, the airlines will immediately book your flight.
• Before boarding the flight, you must complete a Southwest health declaration.

Southwest Cancellation Policy (As of 2023)

Southwest is now the least risky airline, according to an amendment to their cancellation policy for 2023. In order to provide the best facilities to their flyers, they have included various new features and guidelines in their southwest cancellation policy and southwest refund policy. According to their southwest cancellation policy, you can cancel your flight without paying a fee under certain conditions.

Covid 

There will be no cancellation fees if you or a family member has covid or other coronavirus symptoms, as well as any other health problem, and you are unable to board the airline aircraft. You will receive a full refund regardless of your ticket type.

Weather Problems

If your flight is cancelled or delayed due to bad weather, you will be compensated under Southwest Airlines’ cancellation policy. The following flight will be offered to you by Southwest Airlines, implying that they will rebook a ticket for you.

If you decide not to continue your flight with the airline, you may seek a refund, which will be granted in the original mode of payment.

Following Check-in

Cancellations can be made after checking in for the flight on which you reserved tickets. However, make sure to request that the flight be cancelled at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

Rapid Reward

As per Southwest’s refund policy, If you booked a seat on South West Airlines through Rapid Rewards and are unable to go due to unforeseen circumstances, you can quickly cancel your journey, and the points will be sent back to your SouthWest account.

Non-refundable Tickets

As per Southwest’s refund policy, If you bought a non-refundable ticket and no longer need to fly, you can cancel it with the airline; however, you must do it at least 10 minutes before the flight’s departure. You will not receive a refund on the original form, but you will be given travel money to use on your next trip.

Refundable Tickets

As per Southwest’s refund policy, One of the benefits of purchasing a Refundable Tickets is the ease of cancellation and a full refund. You will receive a full refund to your bank account, or you can choose to have it saved as a trip fund.

Cancellation Fees for Southwest

Southwest Airlines will not charge you any additional costs for any cancelled flight if you cancel at least 10 minutes in advance, according to the most recent Southwest Airlines cancellation policy. Southwest Airlines will not charge you any additional costs for any cancelled flight if you cancel at least 10 minutes in advance, according to the most recent Southwest Airlines cancellation fee policy.

Refundable Tickets 

As per Southwest’s refund policy, There will be no cost, and the money will be returned to the original form of payment.

Non-refundable Tickets

If, following Southwest’s cancellation policy, you request a cancellation before the flight’s departure time, there will be no additional charge. The reimbursement will be issued in the form of a Travel fund, which can be used to book a subsequent journey within one year.

Cancellation Policy of 24 Hours

As per Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy, Depending on the regulation, passengers can cancel their ticket bookings if they fail to arrive at the airport on time or if the Southwest Airlines aircraft is delayed. The Southwest Cancellation Policy gives travellers the option to cancel Southwest flights within 24 hours after booking. Furthermore, without having to pay a cancellation fee.

According to Southwest’s cancellation policy, passengers are entitled to a full refund. If the flight is delayed due to reasons beyond Southwest Airlines’ control, travellers are compensated in accordance with their policy. As a result, it is incredibly beneficial for customers to cancel their flight tickets within 24 hours after booking.

Southwest Cancellation Policy For No-Show Passengers

Customers who fail to arrive at the airport on time may cancel their flight up to 10 minutes before the planned departure of the Southwest flight.

Passengers with any time or Business class ticket category are entitled to a flight credit refund. Furthermore, according to the Southwest ticket change policy, it is not permissible for other ticket types.

Flights were paid for with gift cards and a companion pass.

Gift Certificates for Flights

Flights purchased with gift cards have slightly different restrictions than those purchased with cash. Then the Southwest refund policy provides that the cancellation is non-refundable in this scenario. If you cancel a flight purchased with gift cards, the money will be stored as reusable travel funds with an expiration date. Typically, the expiration date is 12 months.

If you paid for all or part of your flight using a Southwest Gift Card and need to cancel it within 24 hours before departure, you can contact Southwest Customer Relations.

Companion Pass

As per Southwest refund policy , If you use the Southwest Companion Pass to book a flight, any taxes paid are 100% refunded to the original mode of payment. The Southwest Airlines Flight Ticket Change or Cancellation Policy allows for this.

Southwest Airlines Refund Policy

According to Southwest Airlines Refund Policy, if travellers cancel their Southwest flight and wish to receive a refund, their return will be determined by the type of ticket booked and whether it was purchased with cash, quick rewards points, or miles.

The following are some policy guidelines:

• If you decide not to travel and you do not cancel your booking 10 minutes before the departure of the flight time, the number of tickets will be transferred to the future flight credit, but if you have any wanna get away flights, that credit will be forfeited by Southwest Airlines, but the ticket is reusable.
• Southwest Business Select and Anytime fares are refundable for up to one year from the date of purchase.
• Southwest compensates customers for oversold flights.
• There will be no compensation for a delayed flight; however, Southwest will do everything possible to place you on another flight at the same time.

Non-Refundable Tickets

If, for any reason, you are not able to board the plane with Southwest Airlines and you have non-refundable wanna-get-away tickets, you may be eligible for a refund from the airline if you file a cancellation request on time. In addition, the return will be in the form of a travel fund, often known as a travel credit to your Southwest account.

Refundable Tickets

If you are unsure about your trip, this is the ideal ticket to purchase. Southwest refundable tickets are available in business class at any time. With these refundable Southwest tickets, you have the option to cancel at any time and receive a full refund. Furthermore, you will receive your refund within 7 days of submitting your refund request.

You will also be able to specify how your money will be repaid.

• In the original payment form.
• In the form of travel credit to be used later.

Booked Using Cash

You must book a Business Select or Anytime ticket if you want a cash refund or your money back. On these booking types, you have the choice of receiving a refund in cash or as travel credit for future usage. Other ticket types will result in a refund as a travel credit.

Rapid Rewards Booking

Tickets purchased using Fast Rewards are fully refundable and are refunded in the form of points. The points will be promptly credited to your Southwest travel account.

How can I Request a Refund from Southwest Airlines?

Passengers can cancel their Southwest flight in three ways: online, offline, or by call, and will receive a refund according to the kind of ticket and payment method used. Here are various ways to get a refund from Southwest Airlines.

Online

Online passengers can obtain a refund for a canceled flight ticket by completing the steps below:

• Go to Southwest Airlines’ website www.southwest.com.
• Select the Manage Bookings option.

• Enter your e-ticket number and the last name of the passenger.

• You may now see your existing trip credits on the next page.

• Fill out the Southwest Airlines refund request form and click the refund option so that Southwest Airlines can initiate the refund.

• Choose a payment method to receive your Southwest refund.

By Calling

Passengers can also contact Southwest Airlines at customer care to apply for a refund, but you must be prepared with your confirmation ticket number, flight date, and destination for further assistance from a Southwest executive and to receive the amount of refund.

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