Southwest refunds depend on the ticket type you bought, not on why you need to cancel

Southwest Airlines refunds work differently than most other carriers. If you bought a Wanna Get Away ticket — Southwest's lowest fare — you cannot get cash back if you cancel. You get a travel credit instead, valid for one year from your original flight date. If you bought a Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, or Business Select ticket, you can request a cash refund if you cancel before your flight departs.

The reason matters only for one thing: whether Southwest will waive the change fee. If you cancel because of a schedule change Southwest made, a weather event, or a mechanical issue on the plane, you pay nothing to cancel and get your money back (or credit, depending on your ticket type). If you cancel for any other reason — you changed your mind, got sick, missed your flight — you lose the fare difference if you rebook, but you still get the refund or credit depending on your ticket type.

Southwest does not refund the taxes and fees portion of your ticket to a credit card. Those go back to you as cash within 20 business days of cancellation, regardless of ticket type. The base fare — the part that varies by route and demand — follows the ticket type rules.

Key Takeaways

  • Wanna Get Away tickets cannot be refunded as cash; you receive a travel credit valid for one year instead.
  • Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select tickets can be refunded as cash if you cancel before departure.
  • Taxes and fees are always refunded as cash within 20 business days, regardless of ticket type.
  • If Southwest cancels your flight or changes the schedule significantly, you get a full refund or credit with no cancellation fee, regardless of ticket type.
  • Travel credits do not expire and can be transferred to another person, but only the original ticket holder can request the refund or credit.

How to request a refund or credit from Southwest

Log into your Southwest account on southwest.com using your confirmation number and name. Go to "Manage Reservations," find your flight, and select "Cancel Flight." Southwest will show you what you will receive — either a refund or a credit — before you confirm the cancellation. You can also call Southwest at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) and a representative will process the cancellation over the phone.

If you cancel online, the credit or refund processes automatically. Cash refunds appear in your original payment method within 20 business days. Travel credits post to your Southwest account when ready and are tied to your name; you can give the confirmation number to another person to use the credit, but you cannot transfer the credit itself to someone else's account.

If your flight was cancelled by Southwest or you missed your flight, you still need to request the refund or credit through the same process. Southwest does not automatically refund or rebook you; you must initiate the cancellation yourself.

What happens if Southwest changes your flight time or route

If Southwest moves your departure time by more than one hour, or changes your route significantly, you have the right to a full refund regardless of ticket type. You also have the right to rebook on another Southwest flight at no charge. You do not have to choose one or the other — you can rebook and then cancel later if the new flight does not work for you.

A "significant" schedule change means different things depending on the length of your flight. For flights under two hours, a change of 60 minutes or more qualifies. For flights two to four hours, 120 minutes or more. For flights over four hours, 180 minutes or more. Southwest will notify you by email or phone if your flight changes, but you should check your reservation after booking to catch any changes Southwest makes before sending notice.

Travel credits versus cash refunds: what you can do with each

A travel credit is a voucher that holds the dollar amount of your ticket. You can use it to book any Southwest flight for any date, as long as you book before the credit expires one year from your original flight date. You do not have to use it all at once; you can split a credit across multiple bookings. If your new flight costs less than your credit, the remaining balance stays in your account. If it costs more, you pay the difference.

A cash refund returns the base fare to your original payment method — the credit card, debit card, or bank account you used to buy the ticket. Refunds take 20 business days to appear. You cannot use a refund to book a new flight; you have to pay for the new ticket separately. If you paid with a credit card, the refund goes back to that card. If you paid with a debit card, it goes back to that debit card. If you paid with a gift card or in person at a Southwest ticket counter, Southwest mails a check.

When you cannot get a refund or credit

If you bought a Wanna Get Away ticket and cancel for any reason other than a Southwest schedule change or cancellation, you lose the fare. You do not get a credit or refund of the base fare. You do get the taxes and fees back as cash. This is the trade-off for buying the lowest-priced ticket.

If you do not cancel before your flight departs — for example, you miss your flight or straightforward do not show up — Southwest treats it as a no-show. You lose the fare on a Wanna Get Away ticket. On higher-fare tickets, you can still request a refund or credit after the flight departs, but you have to contact Southwest directly; you cannot process it online. Southwest may ask why you did not fly, but they will still refund or credit you if your ticket type allows it.

Refunds for flights cancelled by Southwest or due to weather

If Southwest cancels your flight, you have two options: rebook on another Southwest flight at no charge, or request a cash refund. You get the cash refund regardless of ticket type — even Wanna Get Away tickets. You do not lose any money. Southwest will contact you by email or phone, but you do not have to wait for them to rebook you; you can rebook yourself when ready through your account or by calling.

Weather events are treated differently. If weather prevents your flight from departing, Southwest considers it an act of nature, not a cancellation. You can rebook on another Southwest flight at no charge, but you cannot request a cash refund — you get a travel credit instead. This applies to all ticket types. The distinction matters: a cancelled flight (mechanical issue, crew problem, overbooking) gives you a refund; a weather delay or cancellation gives you a credit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if I bought my ticket more than 24 hours ago and changed my mind?

It depends on your ticket type. Wanna Get Away tickets cannot be refunded as cash; you get a travel credit instead. Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select tickets can be refunded as cash. There is no 24-hour window for refunds on Southwest — the ticket type is what determines whether you get cash or a credit.

What if I booked through a third-party website like Kayak or Expedia?

You must request the refund or credit through the website where you booked, not through Southwest directly. That website will then contact Southwest on your behalf. This can take longer — sometimes several weeks — because the third party has to process the request before Southwest does. You can also contact Southwest directly with your confirmation number, and they will tell you the status, but they cannot process the refund without the third party's involvement.

Do travel credits expire?

Travel credits are valid for one year from the date of your original flight, not from the date you received the credit. After one year, the credit is gone and Southwest will not refund it. You can use the credit on any date within that year, and you can split it across multiple bookings.

Can I transfer my travel credit to someone else?

Yes, but only the original ticket holder can request the credit. Once it is in your Southwest account, you can give the confirmation number to another person and they can use it to book a flight in their own name. The credit itself stays tied to your account, but the other person can spend it.

What if Southwest refunded me but I want to rebook instead?

You cannot undo a refund once it has been processed. If you received a cash refund and want to fly Southwest again, you have to buy a new ticket. If you received a travel credit and want to use it, you can book a new flight with that credit before it expires.