Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy – Refund Guidelines, Fees, And More [2024]
Southwest Cancellation Policy is not loaded with too many complicated clauses. Moreover, there is not just one single method leading to the cancellation of the flight booking. The introduction of Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy made people not worry about cancellations of their tickets.
So, before jumping on to the methods to cancel the ticket as given in Southwest Cancellation policy, let’s take a look at other aspects of this policy. Read the article till the end so that no major information is left by you and you can also learn about Southwest Baggage Policy their related to baggage allowance.
What is the Rules of Southwest Cancellation Policy
By satisfying all the requirements of these rules, any passenger can make their cancellation on the Southwest Airlines.
The rules are equally applicable to all the tickets when there is a group reservation.
All the tickets of the Southwest Airlines are further divided into refundable and non-refundable tickets.
Everyone can make their cancellation of the ticket through the website if they made the booking from the website.
Southwest Cancellation policy applies to every type of ticket of Southwest airlines.
If the reservation is made for the 7 days before the departure, you can cancel them in the 24 hours period.
You have to contact the airlines to know whether you can step back after check-in on your ticket.
In matter of rebooking a new trip, the airlines will automatically book the next flight after your cancelled flight and you known more Southwest Airlines Flight Change Policy
Southwest 24 hour Cancellation Policy
This variant of Southwest Cancellation policy is called as 24 hour cancellation policy. Under this policy, all the passengers have the right to cancel their flight booking in the period of 24 hour from booking without paying a penny. They also become eligible to receive the full amount of their ticket as refund. There is one more condition that prevails under this section i.e., the departure date must lie after 7 days or more.
Term and condition of Southwest 24 hour cancellation policy are as follows:
Southwest Airlines cancellation is only valid upto 24 hours when the flight booking gets done by the website of Southwest and through calling them.
If the booking in the Southwest Airlines is not cancelled in 24 hours then all the complementary perks and tickets are gone away as well.
It is necessary that you make the reservation in advance, like for 7 days or more.
Non-refundable and non-transferable tickets are only eligible for this purpose per the Southwest Cancellation policy.
Everyone has an option to call the airlines to cancel their flight booking.
In case, you made the cancellation request after the period of 24-hour then you’ll definitely have to pay the cancelation charges.
Factors that Originate the Cancellation of the Flight Booking
Different reasons exist that makes the passenger go for their cancellation of the flight tickets:
Medical emergency or health concerns.
Professional work or meetings.
Any last-minute update in the trip plan.
In case of death of any relative or a family member.
Due to personal issues.
Mood change about the destination.
What is the Process to Cancel the Flight?
Southwest Cancellation policy contains various methods through which anyone can cancel their tickets. People can go ahead with any alternative to cancel their ticket according to their convenience. Let’s discuss each alternative in detail.
1. Southwest Flight Cancellation By Online
A step-by step elaboration of this method is given here:
Begin with the opening of the website of the Southwest in your browser on system.
Look for the option “Select up reservation” and tap on it.
In the next window, there are two boxes asking for the confirmation number of the booking and the last name of the passenger. You can find the confirmation number in your registered email ID.
Now, you can see all of your booking list in front of you.
Choose the booking specifically if they have two or more names joined in one booking. Click on the “cancel” tab.
Then, pay the fees which gets applied as per the Southwest Cancellation policy.
Click on “OK” and then proceed further to finish the process.
When the process gets completed, instantly your mobile phone will receive an alert stating the same. It shows a message that your flight booking is cancelled successfully.
2. Southwest Flight Cancellation By Phone
Jump on the steps stated here one by one to complete the process of cancellation in Southwest Airlines.
Dial the toll-free number of the Southwest Airlines. If you don’t know it, get it from the website.
Ensure that you keep all the details handy about your journey that is necessary to fetch your booking information.
Let them know about the booking for which you want cancellation.
They commence the process on your behalf and ask for any other information if needed.
After completing all the formalities, you have to sort the fee out for cancellation.
Check your refunded value if you are eligible to receive one.
You’ll know automatically by an alert when the cancellation process gets finished.
3. Southwest Flight Cancellation By Airport
You can make the cancellation till 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure. You need to go the airport at the counter of the respective airline and tell them your query. They handle the issue personally, just handover them the details along with the cancellation fee. Now wait as they are processing your request and they’ll let you know when the process gets ended.
Southwest Cancellation Policy for Flights Paid with Companion Pass and Gift Cards
Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy lets you cancel your ticket that you may have booked through Companion Pass or Gift Cards. However, the rules and terms differ for both. Read the following section to know more:
Companion Pass: If you cancel a ticket you purchased with Companion Pass, the taxes paid will be fully refundable and transferred back to the original form of payment.
Gift Cards: Tickets purchased with Gift Cards are considered non-refundable and differ from the terms of tickets bought through cash or points. Your funds will be considered reusable flight credits if you fail to take the flight you had booked through a gift card. You need to get in touch with Southwest Customer Care at +1-833-714-2120 if you cancel your booked flight 24 hours or less than that before the scheduled departure if you paid for it with a Southwest gift card.
Cancellation Fees For Southwest
Southwest Airlines offers a very flexible Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy. They do not charge any change or cancellation fees for their flyers. However, you must cancel your booked ticket at least 10 minutes before departure. There are three types of tickets, and they all have different Cancellation Policies. Please read below to learn more about them.
Wanna Get Away Tickets: Since these are the cheapest tickets that Southwest Airlines offer, the cancellation policy is slightly tighter for these tickets. Wanna Get Away tickets bought through cash will be converted into reusable travel funds that can be used in the future.
Business Select: Being the most expensive Southwest Airlines ticket, they give passengers the most generous Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy. Upon canceling a Business Select ticket, the passenger will get a 100% refund of the fare.
Anytime Tickets: These tickets are very accommodating. If a flyer cancels an Anytime Ticket, they can receive 100% refund in the original mode of payment.
Southwest Cancellation Policy in Covid 19
Southwest always ensures the safety and comfort of the passengers first. They know that government made some restrictions on the traveling part. Below given are those restrictions:
Flights cancellation.
Have to be in quarantine when came to or flying to other place.
RT-PCR test upon arrival or departure of the flights.
Screening of the temperature on landing and boarding.
Depending on those conditions, the airlines make such alterations for their passengers:
No cancellation charge or change fees by the Southwest Airlines.
Non-refundable tickets of the Southwest Airlines is transferable for future travel but only as per the rule. The rule is to make the alteration 10 minutes prior from the scheduled departure and you can apply this change on the same day as well.
Anytime and business travel fares also come in the domain of cancellation and can get transferred for any date in future.
Southwest Airlines Refund Policy
A description of Southwest refund policy is highlighted here:
Cancelling a ticket through the official website gives you the right to apply for the refund from the website also.
According to the Southwest cancellation policy, the refunded amount will be sent to that person only whose name appears on the ticket.
If a passenger is eligible for the refund after the cancellation then the refund amount will get credit back into their account in 7 business days. It will get transferred directly to the original source through which they earlier made the payment.
People who made the cancellation in the 24 hours risk free period from any valid source are eligible to get refund. They also have the privilege to convert it in credit that can get used in future to pay another flight fare. It remains valid till one year from the date of booking.
The refund will only be given on the part of the ticket that remains unused till now.
How can I get a Refund on Southwest Airlines?
Southwest Refund Policy allows the guests to cancel their booked ticket in three ways. The refund would be based on the ticket fare type that the passenger holds and their mode of payment.
By Online:
Search for the official website of Southwest Airlines. Select the Manage Booking option. Provide your last name and e-ticket number. On the following page, you will see your existing travel credits. There you will see a refund option, click on it and fill out the form. Lastly, select the mode of payment through which you would want to claim a refund. That’s it, and your Southwest Airlines Refund request has been submitted.
Via Call:
Passengers can contact Southwest Airlines at +1-833-714-2120 and apply for a refund. Keep your ticket details handy so you can provide the details the customer service official asks for, and the process can be quick.
By Offline:
You can directly travel to the airport and find Southwest Airlines location. Request the assistance provider to apply for a refund for your booked ticket. Provide the ticket details like last name, e-ticket number, destination, and more, and your refund request will be initiated.
In a Nutshell
Southwest Airlines always strive hard to care for their passengers first. It is their utmost priority. They make the cancellation process so simple and easy by including various methods through which cancellation is performed. But there are some rules laid down under this policy. Everyone must adhere to these rules if they want their flight booking to get cancelled.
If you have missed your flight due to some urgent work and failed to reach the airport in time, then the No-Show policy will apply to you. The Southwest Airlines Cancellation policy states different rules for both refundable and non-refundable fares. In most cases, the Airlines will not charge you a fee if you miss your flight. Regarding Business and Anytime tickets, the ticket value would be transferred back to you as flight credit.
Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy is now one of the most flexible policies. The Airlines have laid out various conditions under which you can cancel your flight without paying any cancellation fee. These include Bad Weather, Covid-19, Non-refundable tickets, Refundable Tickets, Rapid Rewards, and After Check-in. To know more, visit the official website.
Southwest Airlines Refund Policy states different refund rules for Refundable and Non-refundable tickets. If you hold a non-refundable ticket and cancel it within the appropriate time, you will get a travel fund/credit refund. Regarding refundable tickets, you may request a full refund anytime.
Refundable tickets are those tickets that allow you to receive a full refund on your canceled ticket if you are unable to fly. Regarding non-refundable tickets, you may receive a fraction of a refund or none, depending on when you cancel your flight. To know more, read the Southwest Airlines Refund Policy.
