Southwest Cancellation Policy- 24 Hours and 10 Mins or Fees

Southwest Airlines is known for its flexible cancellation policy, offering passengers options with no cancellation fees. However, if you want more information about Southwest cancellation Policy, follow the points below.

• Travelers can cancel their flight up to 10 minutes before departure without fees.
• If you cancel within 24 hours of booking, you can choose to receive a full refund to your original payment method, regardless of the fare.
• For cancellations made after 24 hours of booking but 10 minutes before departure, the original fare will be credited as a flight credit or a Transferable Flight Credit™ (depending on the fare).
• If Southwest cancels your flight, you are entitled to a full refund, even for nonrefundable fares.
• You can also rebook another Southwest flight at no additional cost.

How do I cancel my Southwest Flight Online?

If you seek to cancel the Southwest Airlines flight online, there is an appropriate way to cancel the ticket through the website: by paying or not paying the Southwest flight cancellation fee. To do this,

• Go to Southwest Airlines website 
• Click on "Look Up Reservations" and choose "Manage Reservations."
• Enter your confirmation number (6-letter code) and last name.
• Find the flight you want to cancel. Tap the "Cancel" button next to the desired flight.
• Review the cancellation details and confirm your choice.
• Click or tap "Cancel Reservation" to pay the cancellation fee if needed. 

What is the phone number for Southwest flight cancellation?

The Southwest Airlines flight cancellation number is  1-800-I-FLY-SWA® 1 (800) 435-9792, which helps you easily cancel the flight ticket on call.

Is there a penalty for Cancelling a flight on Southwest?

No, there is no cancellation fee for Southwest Airlines flights! It is one of their major perks, making them a popular choice for travelers who need flexibility. 

1. No cancellation fees: the airline will allow you to cancel your reservation at any time, up to 10 minutes before flying, without any penalties.

2. Apply Fare difference: You might need to pay the price difference depending on the fare you purchased and the new fare you choose when rebooking.

3. Forfeited travel funds: If you cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes before departure, your travel funds may be recovered, and you won't receive a refund.

Do I get a refund if I cancel my Southwest flight?

Whether you get a refund for canceling your Southwest flight depends on when you cancel and the type of fare you purchased:

Within 24 hours of booking:

You can obtain a full refund from the airlines in the original mode of payment.

After 24 hours of booking:

You'll receive a flight credit for the total value of your ticket. This credit can be used for future travel on Southwest Airlines for one year.

You'll forfeit your travel funds and won't receive a refund or credit on a nonrefundable ticket.

Southwest-initiated cancellation: 

If Southwest cancels your flight, you're entitled to a full refund regardless of the fare type. You can also choose to receive flight credit or rebook on another flight.

Method of cancellation: 

If you cancel your flight within 24 hours, you can cancel online or through the Southwest Airlines app. After 24 hours, you must contact Southwest customer service to cancel.

What happens when Southwest cancels a flight?

When Southwest cancel flight, things can get a bit stressful, but they try their best to make things right for you, which is stated below.

Notification:

• Southwest will notify you as soon as possible about the cancellation, usually via email, text, or phone call.
• They will also try to update your reservation with a new flight if available.

Offer Rebooking options:

• In most cases, Southwest will automatically rebook you on the next available flight to your destination. You will receive a notification with your new itinerary.
• If the automatic rebooking doesn't work, you can choose a different flight through their website or app.
• You are always entitled to a full refund to your original form of payment, even if you booked a nonrefundable fare. You can choose this option if you need help with the rebooking options.

Offers compensation: 

If the cancellation is due to weather or other uncontrollable circumstances, you may be eligible for additional compensation, such as travel vouchers or meals.

What is Southwest's 10-minute cancellation policy?

Southwest Airlines' 10-minute cancellation policy offers a lot of flexibility for travelers:

• You are eligible to cancel the Southwest flight without paying no cancellation fees, up to 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
• For Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus (reward travel) fares, the value of your ticket (including taxes and fees) will be refunded to your original payment method.
• If you don't cancel or change your flight at least 10 minutes before departure, you will be considered a no-show and:
• Your points and any associated taxes and fees will be forfeited.
• Your reservation will be canceled, but you will still receive a transferable flight credit for the value of your ticket.

How can you cancel a Southwest flight at the last minute?

You can cancel a Southwest flight up to 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time, which is their famous "no-fee, anytime" cancellation policy. It applies to all Southwest flights and fares, making it incredibly convenient for last-minute changes.

Within 10 minutes of departure:

1. No fees are charged.
2. Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus, Full reimbursement to your original payment method (including taxes and fees).
3. Anytime and Business Select, Refund in the form of a Transferable Flight Credit for the value of your ticket.

After 10 minutes of departure:

1. No show is considered a "no-cancellation."
2. Forfeit all points used and associated taxes and fees.
3. Anytime and Business Select: Reservation canceled, but still receive a Transferable Flight Credit for the value of your ticket.

Can I cancel a Southwest flight booked with points?

Yes, you can cancel a Southwest flight booked with points, and the process is just as flexible as canceling a flight paid for with cash. 

• Anytime up to 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
• No fees are charged for canceling within this window.
• All points used for the booking will be automatically refunded to your Rapid Rewards account. You'll also receive a refund of any associated taxes and fees to your original mode of payment.
• You'll receive a Transferable Flight Credit for the value of your ticket, which you can use on future Southwest flights.

What happens if you cancel a nonrefundable Southwest flight?

The outcome of canceling a nonrefundable Southwest flight depends on several factors, primarily the timing of the cancellation and the type of fare you purchased:

Within 24 hours of booking:

A full refund (including taxes and fees) applies regardless of the fare type in the original payment or credit form.

After 24 hours of booking:

• More than 10 minutes before departure, you'll receive a Transferable Flight Credit for the value of your ticket, which can be used for future flights.
• Within 10 minutes of departure (no-show), you'll forfeit all points and associated taxes and fees.
• Any time before departure, you'll receive a Transferable Flight Credit for the value of your ticket.

Weather-related cancellations: 

Southwest may offer additional flexibility for cancellations due to weather, such as waiving the 24-hour window for full refunds.

Does Southwest give refunds for medical reasons?

Southwest Airlines may offer refunds for medical reasons, but it depends on various factors, including:

Ticket fare type:

Nonrefundable tickets typically convert to Travel Funds valid for one year if canceled due to a medical emergency, documented with appropriate medical documentation. 

Evidence of medical emergency:

Southwest requires documented proof of the medical emergency, such as a doctor's note or hospital discharge papers.

Cancellation timing:

Cancelling closer to the departure time might be less likely to qualify for a full refund, even with medical documentation.

Are Southwest flights 100% refundable?

While not all Southwest flights are guaranteed 100% refundable, many fare options offer full refunds under certain conditions. Always check the fare rules and cancellation policy of your specific ticket when booking because Southwest flights are 100% refundable depending on the specific fare type you purchase and the timing of your cancellation.

Frequently Asked Question

How late can you cancel a Southwest flight ticket?

The time limit for flight cancellation and changes:

Well, Yes, Southwest Airlines allows you to cancel your flight ticket 10 minutes before your scheduled departure time. For example, suppose your scheduled flight timing is 9 am; then, you can easily change your existing reservations until 8:50 am.

How can I cancel the SouthWest flight bought with points?

Any booking made with the SouthWest flight with points can be canceled easily with all the points re-deposited in your SouthWest account if the cancellation is made before 10 minutes of the flight.

How can I cancel a Southwest flight without penalty?

There are many airlines out there that charge for any flight cancellation, but the positive point about SouthWest Airlines is that Southwest's cancellation policy is very flexible and doesn’t require you to pay a heavy penalty at the time of cancellation of any reservation done in SouthWest.

When can I cancel a Southwest flight?

The answer to this question is that you can cancel the ticket at SouthWest up to 10 minutes before the flight but if you do not cancel the reservation of the flight within 10 minutes then you will get no reimbursement against your canceled ticket.

When do my SouthWest travel funds Expire?

If you cancel a reservation made on SouthWest Airlines, then you will get all the money back which is known as travel funds of SouthWest flights which expire in a period of one year from the date of purchase made for making the reservation of flight.

Does Southwest Airlines provide a refund if there is a price drop?

If the passengers have purchased the anytime or business select fare, then they will receive a refund of the difference from the flight ticket. In case you have a wanna getaway, then you will receive the travel credit for the difference. There can be an exception, and that is the passengers will receive a refund of the difference in the flight ticket within 24 hours of the date of purchase.