Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy - Flight Cancelation Rules

There are times when you can not fly at the supposed time at all. The only option you have is to cancel your flight as you aren’t sure about when you can re-plan a trip. If you have travel plans with Southwest Airlines, you can terminate a reservation without any trouble. Southwest allows customers to cancel their flight bookings with full or partial refunds in a few simple steps.

So, if your current situation urges you to cancel your plans, worry not and head to the Southwest website. You can even call the airline for help if necessary. For more details, read below the complete details regarding Southwest Airline’s cancellation rules and policy.

What is Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy? 

Before canceling your Southwest Airlines booking, you must understand the airline’s flight cancellation policy. The airline’s rules play a major role in helping you cancel your tickets and get new bookings later when you can fly again. Let’s have a look at the basic rules:

• You can cancel your flights up to 10 minutes before departure and get a refund.

• Based on factors like, 

  •  Time of cancellation

  • Route

  • Fare type, etc.

• Southwest offers you refunds to your original mode of payment or as future travel credits.

• Cash bookings often convert into travel funds upon cancellation, which you get in your Rapid Rewards account.

• A customer with a rapid rewards account can transfer his wanna get away plus business select and anytime fare tickets to someone else.

Apart from these basic rules, Southwest also has a 24-hour policy. You can call the Southwest Airlines flight cancellation phone number “800-435-9792” or +1-888-985-0043 (toll-free) at any time of the day for more information.

Southwest Airlines 24 Hours Cancellation Policy

According to Southwest Airlines 24-hour flight cancellation policy, you have a risk-free period within one day of booking means 24 hours after booking to cancel. However, some conditions apply,

• You must cancel the reservation within 24 hours of the time of booking.

• The travel should be at least a week later from the time of booking/cancellation.

Under this policy, you can cancel any booking fare and get a full refund to your preferred form of payment. The airline will also assist you with further concerns if necessary.

How To Cancel My Southwest Airlines Flight Bookings?

If you need to cancel your Southwest flight booking due to any circumstance, follow the simple steps below:

1. Online Southwest Flight Cancellation:

• Visit Southwest Airlines' official website or its app.

•  Click on the "Manage Reservations" option.

•  The airline will redirect you to a new page.

• Click on the "Cancel flight" link.

•  It will redirect you to the Cancel Flight Reservation page.

• Enter your booking confirmation number, first name, and last name in the fields provided.

• Click the "Continue" button.

• Follow the instructions to cancel your reservation successfully. 

Make sure to follow these steps carefully to avoid any inconvenience while requesting cancellations on Southwest Airlines.

2. Offline Southwest Flight Cancellation:

The online method is fast and precise, but sometimes, you can’t understand the entire process. So, you can cancel your Southwest flight reservation by calling 800-435-9792 or +1-888-985-0043 (toll-free) for assistance. You can check the Contact Us option on the airline’s website and cancel your booking by calling the general customer service number. Follow the below steps for a smooth cancellation process:

• Dial 800-435-9792.

• Listen to the IVR instructions and follow them.

• Once a live executive connects, request your booking cancellation.

• Share the required details.

• Get the options from the agents

• Confirm ticket cancellation

If you need any assistance with the flight cancellation process, please contact the airline's customer care representatives.

Can I Cancel my Rapid Rewards Booking for a Refund?

Yes, if you want to cancel your Southwest Rapid Rewards Bookings, follow these steps:

• Go to the My Account page and find your flight reservation.

• Enter the required flight details.

• Check the refundable amount or travel balance.

• Click on the Cancel button.

This way, you can confirm cancellations of your tickets and get a proper refund from the airline. In case of rapid rewards, you get the same transferred to your account wallet.

Will I Get a Refund if Southwest Airlines Cancels My Flight?

Yes. If Southwest cancels your flight, you are entitled to a full refund, regardless of your fare type. This is because Southwest offers generous compensation for flights that are canceled due to technical issues, weather disruptions, or other reasons. 

• If the airline cancels your flight, they will provide you with airport meal vouchers

• When there is a delay of 3 or more hours, they will also arrange overnight accommodation and transportation. 

However, these compensations are provided only if the situation is within the airline's control. If the situation was beyond their control, you might not receive such compensation. Call the Southwest Airlines customer service team beforehand to get the best options from the airline.

How to Request a Compensation for a Canceled Southwest Flight?

If your Southwest flight is canceled, you are entitled to a full refund if you choose not to take another flight. If you incur additional expenses due to the cancellation, you can request compensation from the airline. To do this:

• Go to the "Email Us" page on the Southwest website.

• Submit your receipts.

• Choose from the options: Complaint, Comment/Question, or Compliment.

• Select "Travel Disruption" and then "Expense Reimbursement Request."

Remember that Southwest provides elite status and Companion Pass benefits to travelers in the event of flight cancellations due to weather crises. So, make sure to take quick action for the best options. To know your options, call the Southwest Airlines cancellations team at  800-435-9792 or +1-888-985-0043 (toll-free) and receive immediate help.

Final Say

You can easily cancel and refund your Southwest flight with these simple options. For more details, speak to a Southwest agent and enjoy easy cancellations with proper refunds. You can also consult an expert for more information from our team and get help instantly by skipping wait on hold.