Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology.
![How to Cancel a Southwest Airlines Flight [Points or Cash Ticket Purchases]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Southwest-Airlines-plane-taking-off.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1420&height=650&fit=crop)
We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.
Canceling a flight is never fun. Most airlines charge hefty change fees and offer little-to-no refund for a canceled flight.
Thankfully, Southwest (my favorite airline for domestic and Caribbean travel) doesn’t charge any change or cancellation fees! Yep, you read that right: no fees!
There’s no catch as long as you understand how it works. Generally, if you cancel a flight that you paid cash for, you will get all of your money back in the form of a flight credit. If you paid for your ticket using Rapid Rewards points, you would get a full points refund.
Southwest Airlines does a lot of things right. No baggage fees, an easy-to-use frequent flyer program, great customer service, and NO change or cancellation fees. If Southwest flies to where I’m going, I always choose Southwest.
The cancellation policy is among the best in the industry. Although it’s generous, it varies just a bit by the type of ticket you purchase.
Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away plus tickets are the lowest price fares that Southwest offers, and probably what most of us book for personal travel. These tickets have slightly tighter rules about flight cancellations than Business Select or Anytime fares, but it’s still a pretty generous policy.
If you cancel a Wanna Get Away/Wanna Get Away plus fare that you purchased with cash (I mean, a credit card!), the entire purchase price will be saved as reusable flight credits (previously called travel funds) for future use.
You can cancel all the way up to 10 minutes before your flight, and thankfully flight credits don’t expire. If you purchased a Wanna Get Away plus fare, your flight credits are transferrable.
If you cancel a Wanna Get Away/Wanna Get Away plus fare that you purchased with Rapid Rewards points, you will receive all of your points back into your Southwest account. Any taxes associated with the ticket ($5.60 each way on domestic flights) will be held as reusable flight credits.
If you don’t cancel your Wanna Get Away/Wanna Get Away plus ticket within 10 minutes of the flight and are a no-show, you will not receive a refund of any kind.
Hot Tip: Make a note of the confirmation number from the canceled flight. You will need this to access any flight credits associated with the ticket.
Business Select and Anytime tickets offer a more generous cancellation policy than Wanna Get Away/Wanna Get Away plus tickets, but these tickets are more expensive. Senior fares also come with the same lax cancellation policy.
If you cancel a Business Select, Anytime, or Senior ticket, 100% of your purchase price will be refunded to your original form of payment. This applies to both cash and Rapid Rewards points tickets.
If you are a no-show for a Business Select, Anytime, or Senior ticket (meaning you didn’t cancel at least 10 minutes before takeoff), the purchase price of your ticket will be converted to flight credits, which can be used for another flight. If you used Rapid Rewards points, all points will be redeposited into your account.
If you make a change to an existing flight, this makes the ticket non-refundable. If you need to make an additional change or cancellation, your purchase price will be held as reusable flight credits instead of being refunded. It’s best to cancel your original flight and re-book a new one to maintain the ticket’s fully refundable status.
Bottom Line: Tickets purchased with Rapid Rewards points are fully refundable. It’s easy to earn lots of Southwest points, even without flying! Don’t forget, in addition to the credit cards that Southwest offers, Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio. Check out the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for a great all-around travel credit card that earns flexible points that can be transferred to Southwest Airlines.
If you purchased your flight with a gift card, it’s considered non-refundable and has slightly different rules than tickets paid for with cash or points.
If you do not take a flight purchased by a gift card, the funds will be held as reusable flight credits.
If you cancel your flight 24 hours or less before takeoff and paid for all or part of it with a Southwest gift card, you will need to contact Southwest Customer Relations at 855-234-4654.
Any taxes paid when booking a Southwest Companion Pass fare are fully refundable to the original form of payment.
Hot Tip: Want to know what the best credit card is? Check out this list of the best credit cards for Southwest Airlines flyers!
1. After you have logged on to your account, click on My Account in the top right-hand corner.
2. In the middle of the next screen, you will see all of your upcoming flights. Choose the flight you want to cancel and click on Cancel Flight.
3. Then, you will be able to confirm the flight you are canceling and select how you want your refund. If your ticket was fully refundable, you will have the option of requesting a refund or holding it as a flight credit for future use. If the ticket was non-refundable (Wanna Get Away tickets), you will be able to request flight credits for future use.
The price listed to the right is the amount being refunded or converted to travel funds. The ticket in the screenshot below is a Companion Fare, so the only money paid was the $11.20 in taxes and fees ($5.60 each way). If you booked a flight with cash, your full ticket price will show here.
4. Click the yellow Cancel Flight button at the bottom of the screen to complete the cancellation.
Using Southwest flight credits (formerly called travel funds) isn’t difficult since they are listed in your online account.
Once you sign in to your account, they will be listed in the My Account section. Note that here they are still called travel funds — don’t worry though as travel funds and flight credits are the same things.
Flight credits are available to use for flights, taxes, and fees for the originally ticketed passenger only. You can not use flight credits to purchase a ticket for someone else unless they were from a Wanna Get Away plus fare.
1. Search for flights as you normally would, then proceed to the Passenger & Payment Info section.
2. In the Payment Method section, you will notice a small drop-down menu at the top that says Southwest gift cards, flight credits, and Southwest LUV vouchers. Click on this drop-down menu to fill in your flight credit information.
3. You can toggle between the 3 payment methods. Select Flight credits. You will need your confirmation number from the original flight, plus your full name. Click on Apply Funds to continue and finish your purchase as usual.
You can apply up to 3 forms of payment per person for each reservation, so you are allowed to use flight credits from multiple confirmation numbers at the same time.
Bottom Line: Southwest flight credits are issued when you cancel a non-refundable ticket. You must know the confirmation number from the original ticket to access your flight credits.
Southwest Airlines does a lot of things right, including offering a generous cancellation policy.
Depending on what type of fare you purchase, you can either receive a full refund to your original payment method or travel funds that you can use on a future Southwest flight.
Southwest points are easy to earn and easy to use, and flights purchased with Rapid Rewards points are fully refundable! Don’t forget to keep the confirmation number from the flight you need to cancel handy, as you will need this to access your flight credits.
Was this page helpful?
Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure and Forbes Advisor.
Travel is changing fast... Stay on top of all the points strategies, exclusive offers & pivotal news - and lock in huge savings along the way.
We respect your privacy. Please view our privacy policy here.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
73 comments
Brandon Dimicelli
January 10, 2019
Thank you for the concise, useful information!
dan
January 18, 2019
after check in but before a 10-min window before flight time, will pts be deposited to the acct if cancelling? Thx
Katie Seemann
January 26, 2019
Hi Dan,
Yes, in theory that should work. However, I would suggest calling Southwest to double check since that’s a very specific example that they don’t directly address on their website. You can contact SW at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792).
Regina
January 28, 2019
If I cancelled my Wanna Get Away flight but I cannot travel within the year before the travel funds expiration date this February, can I rebook another flight and cancel it it again to “extend” the expiration date?
James Larounis
January 29, 2019
Hi Regina! Thanks so much for reading UpgradedPoints! Your strategy is spot on — book another refundable flight, cancel, and then redeposit the funds. This should extend the expiration date of those funds.
Kimberly
May 13, 2019
Hello mr James, I have the same problem, I canceled my flight and now I have a month to fly somewhere but I work a full time job so unfortunately that’s not gonna happen. I called and asked if there is anything I can do but they said no. They said it is not possible redeem the funds for another flight then cancel it again. Is there a special way to do it? Please help! Thank you so much!
Katie Seemann
May 16, 2019
Hi Kimberly,
Unfortunately you can’t rebook another flight and then cancel to extend the expiration date of your travel funds. The expiration date on these funds is based on the purchase of the original ticket and can’t be changed. I know that can be frustrating, but keep in mind, Southwest has one of the most generous policies regarding cancelling a ticket — most airlines charge hefty fees to change a ticket.
Vanny
May 22, 2019
Hi, i read that it expires one year from the original purchase date. So rebooking and cancelling will not work. However, if you contact Southwest, they can extend the travel fund expiration for ~$100
Stephen Au
May 22, 2019
Hey Vanny,
Great input. Yes, you can’t extend your tickets indefinitely by cycling through cancellations and re-booking. The only way to truly extend the expiration is via the $100 fee to reinstate your travel funds. Thanks for reading.
Mary
September 15, 2019
How long will Southwest extend the travel fund for extra $100. Will they give you another year?
Katie Seemann
September 16, 2019
Hi Mary,
I believe the extension is only for 6 months, however you might want to call Southwest to double check that that’s still their policy.
James Larounis
May 21, 2019
Hi Regina! My apologies for the confusion here — Katie is correct in her reply. I’ve canceled a few Southwest tickets in this practice before, but it looks like that’s not standard procedure for the funds to be renewed, so I’d like to defer to Katie’s response for the best practice in this scenario.
Larissa
December 31, 2019
Absolutely false. The new reservation would take on the same expiration as the original travel funds.
Jarrod West
January 02, 2020
Hi Larissa,
Correct, this was clarified in the following comments by Katie, Stephen, and James. Thanks for reading!
Jo-Anne
April 01, 2019
Hi. I have purchased a same-day round trip ticket for April 3rd and I need to cancel the return trip for some reasons. I already emailed Southwest’s customer service but it will take 48 hours to get a reply. I am concerned because they might not cancel the return trip anymore. Kindly advise.
Erin Miller
April 01, 2019
Hi Jo-Anne, you can cancel a Southwest flight up to 10 minutes before your flight so you have some time… I would follow the instructions in the “How To Cancel Your Southwest Flight” section above. Basically, log-in online and cancel it yourself – again, there are steps and photos above that walk you through it.
If you’re having trouble with this, we recommend calling SWA’s reservation line directly (1-800-435-9792) vs waiting for an e-mail.
Lastly, please be advised we are not Southwest Airlines so we cannot cancel your flight for you. Hope this information helps!
Larry A Myers
April 06, 2019
Senior fares do NOT get a refund to your credit card. I just found that out the hard way. Instead SW keeps the money in your so-called Travel Funds. Sucks.
Katie Seemann
April 08, 2019
Hi Larry,
According to the Southwest website, senior fares are refundable:
“Travelers 65 years of age or over may get details on fares, limitations, and any restrictions regarding reservations on Southwest.com from a Southwest Airlines Customer Representative or a travel agent. Fares are subject to change until tickets are purchased, but Senior Fares are refundable. Please see details below for tips on how to make your travel experience on Southwest Airlines even easier.”
I would suggest giving Southwest a call to see if you can get a refund instead of travel funds.
Kenneth Demus
April 24, 2019
I would like the phone number for customer relations.
Andrew Kunesh
April 24, 2019
Hey Kenneth! We found this customer service number on Southwest’s website: 1 (800) 435-9792.
Karen
April 29, 2019
Hi! Thank you for this great article! Do I need to TRAVEL within 12 months or just PURCHASE within 12 months (travel date beyond 12 months)?
Katie Seemann
May 01, 2019
Hi Karen,
Are you referring to SW Travel Funds? If so, you need to TRAVEL by their expiration date. For example, if your funds expire on Dec 1, you need to complete your flights by that day, not just purchase another ticket by that day.
BP
May 21, 2019
If I book a ticket for another person using my RapidRewards points, and then cancel it, would those points go back to my account or to the account of the person for whom I bought the ticket?
Jarrod West
May 21, 2019
Hi BP!
The Southwest Rapid Rewards points will be returned to the account of the person who initially made the booking. So if you used your own points to book a flight for someone else, the points will be returned back to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account.
Kris
April 06, 2023
Would the same apply if I paid with a southwest gift card through my rewards account? If I booked for someone else and had to cancel.
Jarrod West
April 06, 2023
Hi Kris,
The funds should be returned back to your gift card.
Melissa
July 14, 2019
I have a refund voucher that said it expires on Aug. 16. I’m trying to book a flight to fly ON Aug.16, which is what I understand is the expiration day and I need to fly by. But it’s saying when I go to add the voucher refund, that it’s passed the expiration date and now saying Aug. 15. I have an email from them from when I cancelled saying Aug. 16 is expiration date too.
Does this mean that Aug. 16 isn’t included as an option to fly, and must fly BEFORE the expiration date of Aug. 16 (so Aug. 15 is latest date to fly by?)
Katie Seemann
July 15, 2019
Hi Melissa,
I have always understood that the expiration date is the last day to fly (not the day before) so if it says Aug 16 I would think you could fly that day.
Is any part of your trip after Aug 16? Are you trying to book a flight that leaves on Aug 16 and comes back later? That would be one reason it’s not working. The whole trip needs to be before the expiration date to qualify.
If not and you are still having trouble, I would suggest calling Southwest to see if they can help you.
Brittany
January 28, 2021
Their expiration date is actually the day prior to what is listed. Basically, your travel funds expire when the day changes to the date listed. Dealing with them now.
TW
July 23, 2019
If I bought an Anytime ticket and paid with gift card, will I get all credit back to the gift card after canceling the flight?
Stephen Au
July 23, 2019
Hi TW,
You should be able to get all the credit back to your account. However, please double check with Southwest Airlines directly.
GMW
August 12, 2019
If the canceled reservation (bought by me with a credit card) includes a second person, do all the travel funds go back to my account for use by me, or can only the second person use their share of the travel funds? Thanks.
Jarrod West
August 12, 2019
Hi GMW,
All of the travel funds will be returned to you since it was purchased with your credit card.
Thanks for reading!
Dice
August 15, 2019
Hi, I have Wanna get away ticket. If cancel it, can I add another person when I rebook with travel funds? My understanding, it that it’s okay but funds will be only applied to the initial person, right?
Katie Seemann
August 15, 2019
Hi Dice,
Yes, you’re correct. When you re-book, it can be for 2 people, but your travel funds will only apply to your ticket.
DD
August 15, 2019
Great! Thank you!
TJohnson
September 06, 2019
I just went through this. I bought six tickets on my cc. The travel funds did not all come back to me. They were dispersed among all six of us.
James Blunt
September 16, 2019
If I purchased a flight on Southwest using Chase points and booked thru the Chase travel booking portal and then had to cancel due to a change in plans, do the points go into my Rapid Rewards account or become travel funds, or are the points simply lost with my only recourse the flight insurance/canceled trip benefit from the Chase card?
It’s of benefit for me to book thru Chase as their points convert from 1 to 1.5 points.
Jarrod West
September 16, 2019
Hi James,
When you book through the Chase Portal and need to cancel, Chase adopts the cancellation policy of the airline you booked with. In this case, you will receive a travel fund equal to the value of your ticket.
Thanks for reading!
Fareed Mohamed
November 15, 2019
Great Airlines. Continue superior customer service and please do not change your value for Southwest customers. We are devoted to you for your appreciation of us. Thank you, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES!!!
Jennifer McClure
November 19, 2019
I am wondering about the taxes and fees on international flights booked with points. ($87 RT) If we end up cancelling, I know the points will be refunded but will the full $87 be available as travel funds?
Jarrod West
November 19, 2019
Hi Jennifer,
Yes, the taxes and fees will be held as reusable travel funds.
CT
December 05, 2019
Just call the airline. When they start to give you the “run around,” just call your bank and file a claim for “services not rendered,” a charge-back. It is too difficult and expensive for most of these “airlines,” or whatever they call themselves, to litigate and find a solution. Usually, they just give up, because they are overbooked, then it really doesn’t matter. Air travel is a consumer product, which fall under most jurisdiction’s consumer protection laws. Some of my trips were inadequate, and/or unsatisfactory and i was given a refund for the “lack of, or services not rendered.”
phyllis
December 21, 2019
If I purchase a Southwest airlines ticket for someone and use my credit card and they cancel can vouchers for another flight to be given to me since I use my credit card
Catherine Luther
December 22, 2019
Hi Phyllis,
Southwest states “Travel funds from unused or cancelled flight reservations have to be used by the originally ticketed passenger on those reservations.” So as the credit card holder, the vouchers would not be allocated to you but to the actual passenger that cancelled.
Tracy
February 06, 2020
If I cancel a trip how long does it take for my points to go back in my account?
Jarrod West
February 07, 2020
Hi Tracy,
Generally, the points are redeposited back into your account immediately.
Marc
March 01, 2020
If I bought Wanna Get Away tickets but need a full refund since we need to cancel the flight and I don’t want travel credit can I upgrade my tickets to Business Select or Anytime tickets can I get a full refund then for the tickets purchased? And with Business and Anytime tickets can you get a refund at anytime or is there a time restriction for when to get a full refund on those tickets?
Katie Seemann
March 02, 2020
Hi Marc,
That’s an interesting idea. As long as you purchased your tickets with cash vs Rapid Rewards points, you should be able to upgrade to Business Select or Anytime tickets with no problem. You then should be able to receive a full refund. I couldn’t find anything official that indicated this wouldn’t work. Be cautious, however — there is a chance that they would only refund the different between the 2 tickets and give you a travel credit for the original price. I don’t think that would happen, but there is a chance it could. As long as you cancel at least 10 minutes before your flight you should be able to get a full refund (but, obviously don’t wait that long if you know you need to cancel).
Please come back and let us know if this little “trick” works!! Thanks for reading.
mary
February 17, 2021
Did it work? I want to try the same thing.
Mercedes
March 01, 2020
If I have to cancel my flight how do I also cancel the companion pass flight? Also, will I get a refund for the Early Bird check-in?
Katie Seemann
March 02, 2020
Hi Mercedes,
If you cancel a flight that has a Companion Pass ticket attached to it, your companion’s ticket will be automatically canceled. Unfortunately, you won’t get a refund for any EarlyBird Check-In charges.
Charles
March 12, 2020
I canceled a flight I had and only got half of my money back? Why is that?
Michael McHugh
March 13, 2020
Hi Charles,
Have you called Southwest Airlines to ask? We recommend that you contact the airline first and then circle back with any follow up questions.
michael garner
April 03, 2020
If Southwest canceled our flight, which messes up our whole trip, and we booked a “wanna get away” fare, will our money be refunded? How do we cancel the return flight as well?
Jarrod West
April 04, 2020
Hi Michael,
Yes, if Southwest canceled your flight, per US DOT you are required by law to receive a full refund for the ticket. As for canceling your return ticket, you can do that via your Southwest account on the Southwest website, or by calling them at 1-(800)-435-9792. Keep in mind that, since your return flight was not canceled by Southwest, that the funds for that fare will likely be issued as a LUV credit good for a future flight with Southwest.
Georgetta Dankert
May 29, 2020
I purchased 5 wanna get away tickets for two adults and three minor grandchildren. The event was canceled due to COVID19 outbreak so I need to cancel flights. My question is will the reusable vouchers be issued in the minor children name or revert to the adults. The children are ages 14, 11 and 7. Thank you.
Jarrod West
June 02, 2020
Hi Georgetta,
Southwest vouchers can be used by anyone, but if they issue you travel funds then they can only be used by the original passenger.
Tami
July 05, 2020
I just canceled my flight to California. Do I have to use my travel funds to travel to fly anywhere in the U.S.? Also, I am assuming that when I am ready to book a new flight that if the ticket price is more than I had originally paid I will need to pay the difference. Is that correct?
Jarrod West
July 06, 2020
Hi Tami,
You can use your Southwest travel funds on any Southwest ticket, no matter what the destination is. Yes, you’re correct that if the ticket cost exceeds the value of your travel vouchers then you will need to pay the difference.
Thanks for reading!
Nicole
August 23, 2020
Katie,
Southwest travel funds’ expiration dates will be extended to September 7, 2022
(There are some restrictions)
LINK
https://www.southwest.com/Coronavirus/
Ryan
August 26, 2020
I’ve spoken directly with SW customer service on this matter and, YES, one can cancel after check-in in advance of 10 minutes prior to flight time.
Tamara
September 17, 2020
I have 3 $100 travel vouches that expire in December but won’t be able to go on the flight I booked with them. If I cancel the flight will I lose those funds?
Katie Seemann
September 17, 2020
Hi Tamara,
You won’t technically lose them because you’re canceling your flight, but you’ll only be able to re-use them for a flight that occurs before they expire in December. Sometimes if you call Southwest after your Travel Funds expire they can re-instate them for a fee. Good Luck!
Jason G
December 10, 2020
Southwest is now giving less than 25% credit back if you cancel a non-refundable flight in a timely manner. Do not buy tickets from southwest and expect to get anything back, even in credit, if you cancel.
DJ
February 22, 2021
Are fees for award flights still refundable? Last time I tried to cancel a flight, I was not given an option to have the $5.60 fee refunded.
Jarrod West
February 22, 2021
Hi DJ,
Yes, the award fees for your flight should be refunded to you. If you did not receive a refund I could contact Southwest.
Mike
May 05, 2021
I have a question I am hoping someone knows the answer to. I have travel funds that are expiring very soon, lets say 5/7/21. Since the expiration date is 5/7, I need to book a flight by that date to utilize my travel fund. I know cancelling my flight will force my travel funds won’t reset or extend my expiration date and that it will revert back to the 5/7 expiration date. My question is if I book this flight, instead of cancelling, would I be able to “CHANGE” my flight to a later date (delaying my flight past the expiration date), thus allowing me to still utilize my travel fund, but at a date after my expiration. Let me know! Much appreciated.
Jarrod West
May 05, 2021
Hi Mike,
Yes, in this instance you should be able to change your flight to another date without issue. If there is a difference in price for the date you change to then you will need to pay the difference of course.
Master
June 29, 2021
How late can I cancel my flight online after checked in? Is it anytime before I checked bags?
Jarrod West
June 30, 2021
You can change or cancel your flight up until 10 minutes before your scheduled departure time.
Kris
April 06, 2023
If I book a ticket for another person using a southwest gift card from my rewards account and then cancel it, would those points go back to my account or to the account of the person for whom I bought the ticket go?
Jarrod West
April 06, 2023
Hi Kris,
The funds should be returned back to your gift card.
Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!
Email needed if you'd like comment updates. It will NOT be published.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.