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Southwest Airlines·None
Change a Southwest booking: change fees, fare difference rules, same-day change and standby, the 24-hour rule, and what happens if you no-show.
Key Travel Facts & Insights
No change fee on any Southwest fare except Basic — this is the carrier's signature policy and it long predates the industry-wide move away from change fees. You pay only the fare difference, and if the new fare is cheaper you keep the difference as flight credit.
Same-day change and same-day standby are free on Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime and Business Select fares.
Cancel within 24 hours of booking for a refund to the original form of payment on any fare, including Basic.
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.
Basic — Non-changeable and non-refundable outside the 24-hour window, and boards last — the one Southwest fare that behaves like a traditional Basic Economy ticket. Wanna Get Away Plus — Fare difference still applies on a change. Anytime — Materially more expensive than Wanna Get Away fares. Business Select — There is no separate premium cabin — the seat is the same.
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.
No change fee on any Southwest fare except Basic — this is the carrier's signature policy and it long predates the industry-wide move away from change fees. You pay only the fare difference, and if the new fare is cheaper you keep the difference as flight credit.
Cancel within 24 hours of booking for a refund to the original form of payment on any fare, including Basic.
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.
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.