Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy: Ways to Cancel the Reservation & Fees

Canceling a flight booking is something that no one wants. Right? It can totally spoil the mood. The whole process is not only time-consuming but chaotic as well. However, if you have reserved your ticket with Southwest Airlines, then you don’t need to stress out. With Southwest Airlines Cancellation policy, you can easily cancel your travel ticket even at the last moment.

However, if you are flying with this airline for the first time, in such a situation you must read out this comprehensive guide. In this guide, we have included all the essential information that a first-time traveler must know about. So, let’s quickly begin with the basics first and read out the overview of Southwest Cancellation Policy.

Key Highlights of Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy 

If you are traveling on Southwest Airlines for the first time, then you must be aware of the Southwest Airlines flight cancellation policy. Here are some of the key highlights of the cancellation policy:

• Southwest Airlines provides three types of fares to flyers including – Wanna Get Away, Business Select, and Anytime. The Wanna Get Away tickets are non-refundable. However, Business Select and Anytime fares are reusable and refundable. 
• Passengers can use the tickets purchased from Southwest Airlines for up to one year from the date of departure.
• As per the Southwest Airlines cancellation policy, flyers must cancel their flight at least 10 minutes before the departure of their flight. 
• If any flyer cancels their Anytime or Business Select fare, then the traveler is eligible to get a refund in the original form of payment or travel funds.
• If the traveler has reserved a travel ticket with the fare points, then the remaining balance is credited back to the original account. 

Overview of Southwest Airlines 24-Hour Flight Cancellation Policy 

If you are a first-time traveler on Southwest Airlines, then you must be aware of the Southwest Airlines 24 hour cancellation policy. Here are some of the important points about this policy that you must keep in mind while canceling the flight reservation within 24 hours of making the reservation:

• As per the Southwest Airlines 24 hours flight cancellation policy, you can cancel your reservation and receive a full refund from the airline, regardless of your fare type. So, it means even the Wanna Get Away flyers can revoke their flight itinerary without any fees.
• Moreover, you can cancel the reservation through various mediums including the official website of Southwest Airlines or by phone call.
• Furthermore, you are also permitted to cancel a ticket bought partially or fully with a Southwest Gift Card or an LUV Voucher within 24 hours of booking. However, such tickets can be canceled by calling the airline executive only.

What are the Ways to Cancel a Southwest Airlines Flight Ticket?

Canceling a flight ticket is always a chaotic task. However, Southwest Airlines cancellation policy makes it easy for flyers by providing different methods for canceling the reservation. So, you can use any of these methods mentioned below to revoke your flight itinerary:

Cancel the Flight Itinerary Through the Official Website

According to Southwest cancellation policy, the airline allows passengers to cancel their flight online. So, canceling a flight ticket through the official website is one of the most common and simple methods. Here are the quick steps to revoke your flight booking:

• First, go to the official website of Southwest Airlines.
• Next, go to the “Manage Booking’” section and log into your account.
• To log into your manage booking account, enter the confirmation number and last name of the traveler in the required field.
• Next, go to the ‘Cancel Flight’ option to cancel the reservation. Also, if your booking has more than one flyer, then you must select the specific traveler from the reservation.
• Once the cancellation process is complete, the airline will send you a confirmation email.

Use Southwest Airlines Mobile App to Cancel the Travel Ticket

Southwest Airlines also offers the facility to cancel travel tickets using their official mobile app. So, you can follow the given steps to complete the cancellation procedure through the mobile app:

• Begin the cancellation process by installing the official mobile app of Southwest Airlines.
• Once the app is installed, go to the ‘Manage Booking’ section.
• After that, log into your manage booking account with the help of your last name and booking reference code.
• Next, tap on the ‘Retrieve Reservation’ to check your recent booking details.
• Now, click on the “Cancel Flight” option, and you’ll be redirected to a confirmation page.
• Confirm the cancellation and your flight wil lbe revoked.
• Also, you’ll receive a confirmation mail from Southwest Airlines.

Revoke the Flight Ticket by Calling the Airline Representative

Another method through which you can easily cancel your Southwest Airlines flight is by calling the airline representative. It is an offline method that you can use at any time as per your convenience. You can follow the quick the given instructions mentioned below:

• Start the cancellation process by calling the Southwest Airlines agent.
• Once you are connected with the representative, share your last name along with your booking reference number.
• Now, share your reason with the executive regarding the flight cancellation.
• With the help of the details, a representative will revoke your flight itinerary on your behalf. 
• Once the cancellation procedure is done, you’ll get a confirmation message or email on your device.

Cancel the Trip with Southwest Airlines at the Airport

If any of the above-mentioned methods don’t work for you, then no worries. You can simply go to the nearest departure airport to cancel your trip. You can follow the given steps to cancel your flight reservation by visiting the airport:

• Firstly, go to your nearest departure airport.
• Next, connect with the Southwest Airlines executive. 
• Once you are connected with the representative, share your booking reference code along with your last name. 
• Also,  share your reason for canceling the flight itinerary.
• After that, the agent will explain the whole process for flight cancellation.
• If you are eligible, then the executive will cancel the ticket and will initiate the refund process as well.

Does Southwest Airlines Charge Flight Cancellation Fees?

Southwest Airlines has a unique Flight cancellation policy. According to this policy, the airline does not charge any flight cancellation fees from its flyers. So, flyers can revoke their flight itinerary at any time for free. However, it is essential to cancel the ticket at least 10 minutes before the departure of your flight.

In addition, here is a quick snapshot of Southwest Airlines cancellation policy:

Fare Type	Cancellation Fees
Wanna Get Away	Free
Anytime	Free
Business Select	Free

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Q. Can I cancel and get a refund with Southwest?

Ans. Yes, you can cancel the flight and get a refund with Southwest Airlines. However, to get a refund, you must purchase a refundable ticket as the airline does not provide refunds on non-refundable fare types.

Q. Can I cancel my Southwest flight without penalty?

Ans. Yes, you can cancel your Southwest flight without any penalty. Southwest Airlines permits the flyers to cancel their flight without paying any cancellation penalty.

Q. What is the Southwest Airlines cancellation policy?

Ans.  As per Southwest Airlines, flight cancellation policy, the airline permits all passengers to cancel their flight by paying cancellation charges. However, travelers can skip paying the cancellation fees by canceling the flight within 24 hours of reservation.

Q. How much does it cost to cancel a Southwest Airlines flight?

Ans.  As per the Southwest cancellation rule, there are no such fees for canceling a flight reservation. Therefore, you can easily revoke your flight free of cost.

Q. Do I lose my money if I cancel a Southwest flight?

Ans.  No, you’ll not lose any money if you cancel a Southwest Airlines flight. So, if you cancel your reservation, then you are eligible to get a full refund to your original form of refund. 

Q. What happens if you cancel a non-refundable flight?

Ans.  Southwest Airlines suggests canceling the non-refundable flight reservation at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure. So, if you cancel your non-refundable ticket, then you are eligible to get transferable flight credits for the value of the unused funds.

Q. What happens if you cancel a Southwest flight?

Ans.  If you cancel your flight on Southwest Airlines, then the airline provides a specific amount as a refund. However, the refund amount will depend on your fare type.

Q. How long do you have to cancel a flight for a full refund?

Ans.  If you are traveling on Southwest Airlines, then you must cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes before the flight departs. The airline offers a full refund to flyers who cancel their bookings before the scheduled departure.

Q. What are the valid reasons to cancel a flight on Southwest Airlines?

Ans. There are several reasons due to which a passenger cancels their flight. These reasons include:

• Injury or Illness.
• Demise of a close one
• Natural Disaster
• Financial Default of the Travel Company
• Residence Damage
• Jury Duty or Military Deployment.

Q. How can I cancel my flight with Southwest Airlines?

Ans. Southwest Airlines offers both online as well as offline methods through which you can easily revoke your flight itinerary. So, you can either go to the official website or connect with the airline executive to cancel your Southwest Airlines ticket.

Q. Does Southwest Airlines have a 24-hour flight cancellation policy?

Ans.  Yes, Southwest Airlines has a 24-hours flight cancellation policy. This policy permits the passengers to cancel their reservation within 24 hours of purchasing the travel ticket for free.

Q. Does the time duration matter for canceling a flight with Southwest Airlines?

Ans.  No, time duration does nit matter for canceling a flight with Southwest Airlines. However, you must ensure to cancel the reservation 10 minutes before the departure of the flight in order to receive a full refund.

Q. How will I get to know that my Southwest flight is canceled?

Ans. You can check the flight status by visiting the official website of Southwest Airlines or through the mobile app. Also, if your flight gets delayed, then the airline will send a text or an email regarding the change in your booking.

Q. How much time does Southwest Airlines take to provide a refund to the passengers?

Ans. The refund policy of Southwest Airlines states that the airline will provide the refund to the flyers within 20 working days after receiving the refund. Moreover, the refund for the tickets purchased with an exchanged ticket will be converted in the for of travel credits.

Q. Can I cancel my Southwest Airlines flight online?

Ans. Yes, you can cancel your Southwest Airlines flight online. To cancel your reservation online, you can use the manage booking feature. All you need to do is log into your manage booking account using your credentials and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the cancellation charges.