Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy (2026 Guide)
Southwest Airlines has one of the most accommodating cancellation policies available among airlines today. Passengers with Southwest Airlines can cancel their reservation or change their flight without incurring a large number of restrictions unlike other carriers. This is an advantage for travelers who need flexibility in their travel plans.
1: There Are No Cancellation Fees
When you make an airline reservation to fly with Southwest Airlines, one of the most significant benefits is no additional cancelation fees will be charged by Southwest Airlines. You can cancel your reservation without ever being subject to a penalty regardless of the type of fare you purchased for your travel. However, whether you will be refunded your ticket price or receive travel credit for your purchased flight will be determined by the type of ticket you purchased.
2: Southwest Airlines has 24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation Policy
Southwest Airlines will allow you to cancel your reservation for a full refund up to 24 hours from the time your purchase was confirmed. This is true for all fare types as long as your reservation was made no less than 7 calendar days prior to your planned departure. This rule makes it easy to get your money back if your travel plans change shortly after you have purchased your ticket.
3: Refundable and Non-Refundable Fares
Southwest Airlines offers two different types of interest rate fares:
- Business Select and Anytime Fares
- They are fully refundable after cancellation and you will receive your money back on your original method of payment.
- Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus Fares. They are both non-refundable, lower cost tickets.
When You Can Cancel
At any point prior to departure, passengers that travel with Southwest Airlines can cancel their reservations without penalty or booking fee. Passengers can cancel their reservation 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure without any cancel fees. Additionally, there are no cancel fees associated with any fare type, making Southwest Airlines one of the most customer-friendly airlines. If you do not cancel your flight prior to the 10 minutes before scheduled departure window, your booking will be classified as ‘no show’ and you will automatically lose the value of your ticket, which is especially true for lower-cost tickets. To minimize any potential loss due to unexpected changes in travel plans, travelers should always attempt to cancel their ticket as soon as possible.
Refund Process and Timeline
The process of getting a refund from Southwest Airlines is uncomplicated and simple for customers. When you cancel a refundable ticket, the amount you paid will be refunded via the original payment method (credit card, debit card…). If you cancel a non-refundable fare, it would be converted into a Travel Credit that can be used for future travel. After you have canceled, refunds to a credit card typically take between 7 and 10 business days to process, depending on your bank. Travel Credits normally issue immediately after cancellation. You must cancel your reservation prior to departure in order to receive any refund or travel credit, or risk losing the value of your ticket.
