Southwest Airlines does not offer refunds for most ticket purchases, but you get a travel credit instead

When you buy a Southwest Airlines ticket and need to cancel, Southwest will not return your money. Instead, the airline converts your ticket price into a travel credit that you can use toward any future Southwest flight. The credit stays valid for one year from the original ticket purchase date. This policy applies whether you cancel the flight yourself or Southwest cancels it due to weather or mechanical issues.

The main exception is if Southwest cancels your flight and you choose not to rebook. In that case, Southwest will refund the original payment method — but only if you request it within 30 days of the cancellation. If you rebook on a different Southwest flight instead, you receive a travel credit for the difference if the new ticket costs less.

A few other situations result in actual refunds rather than credits. If you purchased a refundable ticket through a third-party travel site or credit card protection plan, that provider — not Southwest — handles the refund. If you paid with a credit card and dispute the charge, your card issuer may reverse it, but this is separate from Southwest's policy.

Key Takeaways

  • Southwest converts cancelled ticket purchases into travel credits valid for one year, not refunds to your original payment method.
  • Travel credits can be used by you or transferred to another person, but they expire 12 months after the original ticket date.
  • If Southwest cancels your flight, you can request a refund to your original payment method within 30 days instead of accepting a credit.
  • Third-party travel sites and credit card protection plans have their own refund policies separate from Southwest's ticket policy.
  • Changing your flight to a cheaper option results in a travel credit for the price difference, not a cash refund.

What counts as a Southwest travel credit and how long it lasts

A travel credit is a dollar amount tied to your Southwest account that you can spend on any future ticket, seat upgrades, or baggage fees. When you cancel a ticket, Southwest issues the credit in the amount you paid, minus any change fees if applicable. You receive a confirmation email with a confirmation number for the credit.

The credit remains valid for exactly one year from the date you originally purchased the ticket — not from the date you cancelled it. If you do not use the credit by that date, it expires and Southwest does not restore it. You can check your available credits by logging into your Southwest account online or calling Southwest customer service at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA.

You can transfer a travel credit to another person by providing Southwest with their name and confirmation number. The recipient does not need to be the original ticket holder. This makes credits useful if you purchased a ticket for someone else or want to give a credit as a gift.

When Southwest will issue a refund instead of a credit

Southwest refunds money to your original payment method only when the airline cancels your flight and you choose not to rebook. You must request the refund within 30 days of the cancellation. After 30 days, Southwest will not process a refund — you will have only the travel credit option remaining.

If Southwest cancels your flight and you rebook on a different Southwest flight at no additional cost, you receive no refund or credit. If the new flight costs less, Southwest issues a travel credit for the difference. If the new flight costs more, you pay the difference out of pocket.

Weather events, mechanical problems, crew scheduling issues, and other operational reasons all fall under Southwest's cancellation policy. Overbooking does not — if you are bumped from an overbooked flight, Southwest must rebook you on the next available flight at no cost, and you do not receive a refund unless you decline the rebooking.

How to cancel a Southwest ticket and receive your travel credit

You can cancel a Southwest ticket online through your account, by phone, or at the airport. The fastest method is online: log into Southwest.com, go to "Manage Reservations," enter your confirmation number and name, select the flight, and choose "Cancel Flight." Southwest will when ready issue a travel credit to your account.

If you cancel by phone, call 1-800-I-FLY-SWA and provide your confirmation number. A representative will process the cancellation and confirm your travel credit amount. Cancellations at the airport ticket counter take longer but work the same way.

You will receive a confirmation email showing the credit amount, the confirmation number, and the expiration date. Keep this email for your records. If you do not see the credit in your account within a few hours, contact Southwest customer service with your confirmation number.

Travel credits versus refundable tickets from third-party sites

If you purchased your Southwest ticket through a travel website like Expedia, Kayak, or Costco Travel, that site's refund policy may differ from Southwest's policy. Some third-party sites offer refundable tickets, meaning you can get money back instead of a travel credit. However, you must cancel through the third-party site, not through Southwest directly.

Check your original booking confirmation email to see which company issued your ticket. If it shows a third-party site, contact that site's customer service to cancel and request a refund. Southwest will not process a refund for a ticket you did not purchase directly from them, even if the third-party site promised one.

Credit card companies sometimes offer trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance as a cardholder benefit. If your card includes this protection, you may be able to file a claim for a refund even if Southwest and the ticket seller both deny one. Check your card's benefits guide or call the card issuer to learn what is covered.

What happens if you change your flight instead of cancelling

Changing a Southwest flight is different from cancelling. When you change to a different flight, Southwest compares the price of your original ticket to the price of the new ticket. If the new ticket costs less, you receive a travel credit for the difference. If it costs more, you pay the difference. If both tickets cost the same, no credit or charge applies.

You can change a Southwest flight online, by phone, or at the airport with no change fee — this is one of Southwest's standard policies. The change must be to another Southwest flight on any date within one year of your original ticket date. You cannot change to a different airline.

If you change your flight multiple times, each change is evaluated separately. A credit from one change does not carry over to the next change; instead, Southwest applies it to the new ticket price and issues a new credit if the new ticket is cheaper.

How to use or transfer a Southwest travel credit

To use a travel credit, log into your Southwest account and search for a flight. During checkout, Southwest will automatically explore any available credits to reduce the ticket price. If your credit is larger than the ticket cost, the remaining balance stays in your account for future use.

To transfer a credit to someone else, go to "Manage Reservations" on Southwest.com and select the credit you want to transfer. Enter the recipient's name and email address. Southwest will send them a notification with instructions to claim the credit. The recipient can then use it to book any Southwest flight.

You can also call Southwest at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA to use or transfer a credit if you prefer not to do it online. A representative can explore credits to a new booking or process a transfer to another person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if I bought a Southwest ticket with points instead of money?

No. If you purchased a ticket using Southwest Rapid Rewards points, cancelling the ticket returns the points to your account rather than refunding cash. The points remain valid for one year and can be used to book another flight or purchase other rewards through the Southwest program.

What if Southwest loses my luggage — do I get a refund?

Luggage claims are separate from ticket refunds. If Southwest loses or damages your bag, you file a claim with Southwest's baggage department, not through the ticket cancellation process. Southwest will compensate you for the contents up to a limit set by federal law, but this is not a ticket refund.

Do I lose my travel credit if I don't use it within a year?

Yes. Southwest travel credits expire exactly one year after the original ticket purchase date. After that date, the credit is gone and cannot be recovered. Set a reminder on your phone or calendar to use the credit before it expires.

Can I sell my Southwest travel credit to someone else?

No. Southwest does not allow you to sell travel credits for cash or transfer them to a third party for payment. You can only transfer a credit to another person to use for their own Southwest flight booking. Attempting to sell credits violates Southwest's terms of service.

If Southwest cancels my flight, do I have to accept a travel credit or can I insist on a refund?

You can choose a refund if Southwest cancels your flight, but you must request it within 30 days. If you rebook on another Southwest flight instead, you receive a credit for any price difference. After 30 days, Southwest will only offer a travel credit, not a refund.