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Southwest Airlines·None
Southwest refund rules: refundable vs non-refundable fares, travel credit validity, and when US DOT rules entitle you to cash back instead of a voucher.
Key Travel Facts & Insights
Anytime and Business Select fares refund in full to the original form of payment at any time before departure.
Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus cancel to flight credit for the full amount paid, with no cancellation penalty.
Southwest flight credits from most fares no longer expire, a change from the previous 12-month rule. Wanna Get Away Plus credits are transferable to another traveller, which no other US carrier offers.
Cancellation or significant delay by Southwest entitles you to a cash refund rather than credit if you decline the rebooking, under DOT rules.
Southwest's no-show policy is strict: fail to cancel at least 10 minutes before departure and the funds on non-refundable fares are forfeited entirely. Cancelling takes 30 seconds in the app and preserves the full value.
The Southwest app handles changes, cancellations and credits cleanly. Because there is no change fee, self-service rebooking is genuinely usable rather than a route to a penalty.
Submit through the Customer Service form on southwest.com. Escalate unresolved matters to the US DOT.
Anytime and Business Select fares refund in full to the original form of payment at any time before departure. Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus cancel to flight credit for the full amount paid, with no cancellation penalty.
Southwest flight credits from most fares no longer expire, a change from the previous 12-month rule. Wanna Get Away Plus credits are transferable to another traveller, which no other US carrier offers.
Cancellation or significant delay by Southwest entitles you to a cash refund rather than credit if you decline the rebooking, under DOT rules.
Fare rules, baggage allowances and change policies differ by route and fare brand. Our consultants confirm the exact terms attached to your itinerary before you pay — and handle the change or refund if plans move.