Can Southwest Flights Become Available Again

How to change or cancel your Southwest flight

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At that place are a number of reasons our readers (and the MMS team!) love to fly Southwest – their generous free checked baggage policy and the Southwest Companion Pass, to name a few. Simply the airline's policies surrounding flight changes and cancellations is at the top of our list. It makes it less stressful to book an upcoming flight knowing you lot won't be hit with huge fees.

Southwest has also made some policy exceptions due to the coronavirus pandemic. Here's what you need to know.

Changing or canceling a flight on Southwest with no fees could save you thousands of points. (Bruno Ismael Silva Alves/Shutterstock)

Southwest's COVID-19 changes

Allow's look at each stride you lot need to take to modify or cancel a flight on Southwest and the details of these temporary changes.

Flight changes

Southwest's alter and cancellation policies are notoriously customer friendly. Even prior to COVID, you could change a flight without paying a fee (aside from any deviation in fare).

But their policy changes since the pandemic accept fabricated it fifty-fifty easier to save on your side by side Southwest flight. Hither are the details near how to get Southwest to requite you a cheap fare (Hint: It requires booking and so changing your flight — and you'll have to book when the appropriate promo is available).

Flight cancellations

As a result of COVID, Southwest has extended the expiration date of any travel funds, which normally expire one twelvemonth from the date of purchase.

The validity of any existing travel funds that were set up to elapse between March 1 and Sept. 7, 2020, was extended until Sept. 7, 2022. And any new credits issued as of Sept. viii, 2020, can be used up to i yr from the original purchase date.

In addition, those with travel funds that have an expiration date of Sept. 7, 2022, tin convert those funds into Southwest Points at the same rate yous would exist able to purchase a ticket with points today. You lot must request the conversion past Dec. 15, 2020, and the conversion is non-reversible.

We haven't heard annihilation nigh whether or non Southwest plans to brand adjustments in regards to the Companion Pass, but sign-up for our newsletter and we'll let yous know if annihilation changes.

What are Southwest'southward fees and penalties?

Flying changes

Southwest makes a large deal virtually not charging its customers change fees. Some airlines charge as much as $150. It's peculiarly family-friendly to have the congenital-in flexibility of knowing you can change your flight when you're traveling with kids. I can't tell you how many times my kids accept gotten ill right before a trip.

If yous volume with Southwest points and demand to abolish, no problem. Your points are instantly credited to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account. Just, because you had to pay the ~$6 mandatory government security fee with cash/credit, that refund will come in the class of travel funds. Be sure y'all note the confirmation number and the person's name for each set up of travel funds so you tin reuse them after. We'll hash out how to redeem travel funds below.

Flight cancellations

If you want to abolish your flight, whether or not you will get a total refund depends on the type of fare you purchased. Most travelers endeavor to volume Wanna Get Away fares because they're the cheapest, but a Wanna Become Away fare is the just fares type that is non fully refundable if y'all paid in cash or with a credit carte du jour.

The type of refund y'all receive depends on the fare you purchased.

Although yous will not get cash back or a credit to your card with Wanna Get Abroad fares, you will receive what Southwest calls "Travel Funds." These funds, which include taxes and fees, tin can exist used toward whatever purchase with Southwest, but they come with an expiration date that is typically i yr from the date issued.

You can alter or cancel a flight up to 10 minutes prior to your departure fourth dimension and receive either a total refund for refundable fares or travel funds for Wanna Become Away fares.

How to alter or cancel your Southwest flying

Step ane.  Sign in to your Southwest account

It'southward like shooting fish in a barrel to change or cancel a flying on Southwest. To starting time, go to Southwest.com and click "Log in" at the pinnacle right.

Enter your account number or username and your case-sensitive password.

Step 2.  Manage your reservation

Afterward yous log in, click the "Flying" tab and you'll see a dropdown card. From there, you lot can click "Manage Reservations" and yous'll be able to click through to either the change or cancel reservation screen.

Alternatively, if yous're trying to change a flight, y'all can click "Change Flight" and skip the side by side step.

Step 3.  Select your cocky-service option

Next, click either "Change reservation" or "Cancel reservation."

Regardless of which y'all cull, you'll be asked to enter your confirmation number, first and last name. Then click "Continue."

Step 4.  Consummate the change or cancelation

From there, you'll be able to either change or cancel your flight.

FAQ about changing and canceling Southwest flights

Tin you modify or abolish a flying on the aforementioned day?

Information technology depends on what type of fare you lot booked. If you booked a refundable fare, you lot have up until 10 minutes earlier your flight's scheduled deviation to cancel your fare. In comparison, nonrefundable fares demand to exist canceled at least 24 hours before departure.

That said, if y'all did book a nonrefundable (i.e. Wanna Get Away) fare, you can reuse the fare as long as you lot cancel your reservation at least ten minutes prior to departure (which will upshot in available Travel Funds) and consummate your travel within one year of the original date you purchased your ticket.

Can a flying exist changed to another location?

Yes, y'all can modify your flight to another location. But yous'll exist responsible for any deviation in fare. On the flip side, you'll get a credit, in the form of Travel Funds, if the new ticket costs less.

Can it be changed for an indefinite amount of times?

Yep, a Southwest ticket tin can be changed an indefinite number of times. Just be aware that you'll be responsible for any difference in fare. So, if your original ticket only cost $200 and the ticket you want costs $300, y'all'll have to pony upwardly the extra $100.

Also, if you're rebooking using Travel Funds, one time the funds are used to make a purchase, the expiration date of the travel funds will then follow our normal ticketing rules and will elapse 12 months from the original purchase date.

Do you get your rewards back if the flying was booked with points?

Yes. If you book a ticket with points and then cancel information technology, your points will be refunded to the business relationship from which they were booked. Yous'll also get a refund for any taxes and fees you may take paid for using cash.

Tips for managing a Southwest flight

After you enter your confirmation number and name, Southwest will observe your reservation. Review the data to brand 100% certain this is the flight and reservation you desire to alter or cancel. If you're canceling your flight, you will exist asked if yous'd like a refund credited back to your card or if you lot'd similar a Southwest credit in the form of travel funds.

If you have a refundable Southwest fare (which includes Business concern Select or Anytime fares) and desire to change your flight, y'all should cancel the ticket first, request a refund (which y'all will be prompted to do online or can do by phone) and and then book your new reservation. Irresolute your refundable reservation turns a refundable fare into a nonrefundable fare, according to Southwest.

If you abolish a non-refundable ticket, you lot will not get a refund on your carte. Instead, y'all'll receive a credit in the form of Southwest Travel Funds. The Travel Funds expire ane year subsequently they are issued unless in that location are travel funds from an older ticket associated with this reservation — the new reservation inherits the primeval expiration date from whatever of those funds. The expiration date volition be in the confirmation email y'all receive.

If you lot're changing your flying reservation, y'all'll be able to search for alternate flights, review the new flights and prices and finally, purchase the ticket yous desire.

How to redeem travel funds

Yous will get travel funds if you cancel a not-refundable reservation that you paid for in cash or credit. Yous volition get travel funds for the ~$6 security fee portion of a canceled nonrefundable ticket booked with Southwest points. These funds are smashing to use in the future on tickets booked with points to cover the cost of the security fee for the same person.

To redeem travel funds when booking a flying on Southwest, y'all'll see an choice for using them on the purchase page. You must have the confirmation number of the funds and the name of the person they are associated with. You tin but redeem them for that same person.

Again, they expire within one year of the date of outcome, but you volition receive an email that clearly states the expiration appointment.

Ways to earn Southwest points

There are a diverseness of ways to earn Southwest points, but the fastest way to rack upward points is by earning a nice welcome bonus from Southwest credit cards:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Menu
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business concern Credit Menu
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Functioning Concern Credit Card

Currently, the three personal cards have the following welcome bonus:

• Earn xl,000 bonus points after spending $i,000 on purchases in the first three months.

Yous tin can but hold one Southwest personal credit card at a fourth dimension, but you tin can accept one or more than business organisation Southwest cards, in addition to a personal card. And when you agree a Southwest credit card, your points volition never expire.

If you need help deciding among the cards, read our Southwest credit card comparison guide. Once you've racked up some points, you lot'll desire to dig into the ways to redeem points on the carrier's dynamic award chart.

Bottom line

The ability to change or cancel a reservation with Southwest is a huge benefit when unforeseen circumstances forcefulness you to change travel plans or when you find a fare at a lower cash or points price.

It's a simple process that can be completed online in just a few steps, and could potentially save you thousands of points.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Utilise At present

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Bill of fare

• Earn forty,000 bonus points after spending $i,000 on purchases in the kickoff three months.

• seven,500 anniversary points each twelvemonth.

• Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.

• Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.

• Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.

• $75 Southwest® travel credit each year.

• 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.

• No foreign transaction fees.

Intro Apr on purchases

N/A

Regular APR

16.24% – 23.24% Variable

Balance Transfer Fee

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater.

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee $149

Other

Credit Needed Excellent / Good

Issuer Chase

Card Type Visa

Meghan Hunter is an editor for One thousand thousand Mile Secrets. She covers points, miles, credit cards, airlines, hotels and general travel. Her work has as well appeared in The Points Guy.

Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets squad. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These oasis't been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit carte du jour issuers which we oftentimes write well-nigh. And that's just how nosotros like it! :)

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