We often plan for a journey on Southwest with due care. Still, we have to cancel it sometime for unexpected reasons. In those circumstances, Southwest Airlines cancellation policy helps you. It includes the guidelines by the airlines for passengers struggling with cancelled flights. Accordingly, passengers can revoke their flight for a fee or without charges depending on various factors.
Therefore, it has become important to know everything about how the cancellation process works on Qatar Airways in advance. So, the below article includes every information for your help.
Does Southwest Airlines Have a 24 Hour Cancellation Policy?
Southwest has a 24 hour cancellation rule to revoke air tickets. As per that if a passenger revokes their tickets in 24 hours of reserving it, the airline provides a full refund. However, at least seven days should be there before flight departure. Furthermore, Southwest Airlines can refund the money in the original payment method. You can opt for Transferable Flight Credit to reserve a ticket in future.
What is Southwest Airlines Flight Cancellation Policy?
Southwest allows its passengers to cancel their air ticket when plan changes. However, they have to check Southwest flight cancellation policy and act accordingly.
- Southwest Airlines allows full refund for cancelling air tickets in 24 hours after booking.
- Also, seven days should be there in flight departure.
- Southwest 24 hour cancellation policy applies on all fare types.
- In any case, passengers should cancel their ticket 10 minutes before departure. After that, the airline does not allow it.
- If you cancel your ticket 24 hours and 10 minutes before the flight, the airline will issue only flight credit for non refundable tickets.
- For cancelling a refundable ticket (Business Select / Anytime), Southwest Airlines allows full refund to the original method. However, you can opt to get the refund as flight credit.
- On the contrary, you will receive only flight credit for revoking a non refundable ticket including Wanna Get Away / Wanna Get Away Plus.
- If Southwest Airlines revokes flight, it will either provide rebooking without charges or a full refund.
The airline allows the revocation of a flight ticket till ten minutes before departure.
For detailed Southwest flight cancellation policy, visit its website or call its agent.
Southwest Airlines Award Ticket Cancellation Policy
Southwest cancellation rules for award tickets is quite flexible. If you revoked a flight booked using Rapid Rewards points, get it added back to your account on ticket cancellation. Beside that, if you have paid any taxes and fees with points, then get it either in future credit or back to original payment method.
It is important to cancel your award ticket 10 minutes before departure. Otherwise, airline will not refund any money or future credit for the same.
How Do I Cancel A Southwest Airlines Flight?
Want to revoke your Southwest flight ticket ; however, not finding ways to do it? Southwest Airlines provides cancellation both through its website or its representative. Check out the information below for more detailed information.
Cancellation Through Southwest Website
- Visit Southwest Airlines website www.southwest.com.
- Click on the “Flight Cancellation” button on the main page.
- A page named “Cancel Flight Reservation” will open.
- Enter details like confirmation number, first name, and last name to continue.
- Further, your flight trips will appear on the screen.
- Choose any of them and click on the “Cancel Flight” option.
- Lastly, find the confirmation in your email.
Contact Southwest Phone Number
You can also cancel through Southwest customer service when you find online methods difficult.
- Call on Southwest Airlines customer service phone number at 1-800-435-9792 to cancel or change a reservation.
- Then, follow the IVR guidelines.
- Select prompt as per command.
- Soon, you will connect to a Southwest agent.
- Ask the person to cancel your flight ticket.
- Further, the representative will explain the cancellation guidelines.
- Accordingly, proceed for cancellation.
- Pay for cancellation fee, if applicable, on your flight.
- At last, a Southwest representative will share the canceled flight details in your email.
How Much Does Southwest Charge for a Flight Cancellation?
As per Southwest Airlines flight cancellation policy, you do not have to pay a cancellation fee. However, it applies only when you complete it till 10 minutes prior departure. Unfortunately, Southwest Airlines will not return any amount if you cancel your time after the deadline. So, we can say Southwest cancellation fee is either $0 or equal to ticket amount depending on the circumstances. However, no fee is applicable when an airline revokes a ticket.
Lastly, contact Southwest agents at 1-800-435-9792 for more information.
What is Southwest Refund Policy for Ticket Cancellation?
Southwest Airlines has a policy to issue refunds for revoked flight tickets. Therefore, consider the Southwest refund policy mentioned below before revoking the ticket.
- Cancel ticket in 24 hours of reserving it and receive a full refund.
- Also, make sure a minimum of seven days before flight departure.
- Southwest Airlines allows full refund to the original method for refundable tickets even if canceled after 24 hours.
- However, it must be done ten minutes before the flight.
- The airline provides only flight credit when you revoke a non refundable ticket after 24 hours end from reservation.
- However, Southwest will consider you a no-show when you do not revoke a ticket 10 minutes prior to departure.
- The points will be added back to your rapid reward account if you made a booking using Southwest rewards.
- Southwest Airlines will provide a full refund when it cancels your flight ticket.
- The time Southwest will take to process the refund depends on the payment method, such as
Credit Card: 7 to 10 working days
Cash: 20 calendar days
How to Request a Refund for a Cancelled Southwest Flight?
Southwest Airlines entertains cancellation through its website or via its agent.
Ask for a Refund through Website
- Visit Southwest Airlines official website.
- Enter login details like booking number and last and first name.
- Then, go to the “Manage my Bookings” section.
- Choose a flight for which you need to request a refund.
- Click on the “Request a refund” option.
- Agree on all the refund conditions on Southwest.
- The airline will check your eligibility and
- Accordingly, process the refund.
Through Phone
You may also request a refund through phone. Follow the below process for more detailed steps.
- Dial Southwest Airlines customer service at 1-800-435-9792.
- Follow IVR guidelines to connect with an agent.
- Request for a refund.
- The agent will share Southwest conditions to offer a refund.
- Airline process refund when you qualify.
Does Southwest Have to Compensate for Delayed Flights?
Southwest Airlines only reimburse passengers when there is a significant delay. Airline usually consider delays over three hours for domestic and over six hours for international flights as significant. In that case passenger left with the following options:
Cancel your booking till 10 minutes left for departure, if you have dropped the travel plan.
If new itinerary does not suit your requirement, rebook another flight.
However, if delay is not significant, it is necessary to revoke your booking 10 minutes before flight. Otherwise, airline will consider you a no show
How Do You Get Compensated for Southwest Delayed or Cancelled flights?
Southwest Airlines has a unique way to provide compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. It offers compensation by reverting back the ticket amount or flight credit based on circumstances. However, it is possible only when there is a significant delay.
Once airline ensures that flight was significantly delayed, it offers a complete ticket amount back even if you have a non refundable ticket. However, before that airline tries its best to accommodate you on another available flight. If you do not like the alternative flight, rebook another flight.
What to do If Southwest Airlines Cancels Your Flight?
If Southwest revokes flight, then it provides the following options:
Option 1: Change Flight
- Southwest Airlines automatically book your ticket on another flight.
- If new flight does not suit your needs, Southwest allows you to choose any flight date that falls in 14 days from original departure. Airline does not charge a fee for it.
- You can adjust the date through “rebook” section by logging in to your account on Southwest website.
Option 2: Cancel Flight for Flight Credit
- If you drop your plan to travel, you may choose to receive flight credit or Transferable Flight Credit. Flight credits do not have validity, giving you enough time to use them. Transferable Flight Credit can be transferred only once among Rapid Rewards Members.
- Cancel your ticket ten minutes before flight. If not cancelled, no show will be applicable.
Option 3: Cancel Flight and Get Refund
- You can opt to cancel your ticket for refund to original method of payment.
- It can take around seven days to Southwest in processing the refund.
- Revoke your flight ticket till ten minutes left for flight departure.
How Do I Rebook a Cancelled Flight on Southwest Airlines?
Southwest Airlines automatically rebook the flight if it cancels your ticket. However, if the new flight does not fulfill your requirement , contact its team at 800-435-9792 or with gate authority if you have reached the airport. Southwest Airlines also provides option to adjust your travel date to a day that falls within 14 days without additional cost.
You can also book another flight as back up with other airline. Further, you can revoke it in 24 hours of booking without charges, if Southwest has better option.
Lastly, contact Southwest Airlines representative at 800-435-9792 if you do not get the rebooking. The airline agent will help you in every possible way.
Note: Find your flight status at Southwest Airlines website by entering the requested details. Once you enter the departure, arrival and journey date, flight status will appear on the screen.
Conclusion
Southwest Airlines understands its passengers’ concern when they revoke their flight ticket. Therefore, Southwest Airlines cancellation policy offers them flexibility to cancel their air ticket till ten minutes before flight. Passengers can avail this facility whenever they have change in their travel plans. The above information will help them easily cancel their flight ticket. However, you can also call at 1-800-435-9792 for more help.
FAQs
Can I Get a Full Refund for Southwest Flight cancellation in 24 Hours?
You will receive full refund for revoking a Southwest ticket in 24 hours when seven days are left in departure.
How much money will I lose when I cancel Southwest air tickets?
The amount of money you will lose for Southwest flight depends on the point of cancellation. Southwest Airlines provides a full refund for flight cancellation till ten minutes before departure. After that, no amount is payable.
Do I get refund for non refundable ticket cancellation, 24 hours after reservation on Southwest?
Yes. You can receive only flight credit for revoking non refundable ticket, 24 hours after Southwest reservation.
Can I cancel my Southwest flight and get a refund?
Yes. You can revoke Southwest flight and receive refund or credit based on fare type. Get full refund if the ticket is revoked in 24 hours of making a booking.
Is there a penalty for canceling a Southwest flight?
No. Southwest Airlines does not charge for revoking a ticket ten minutes before flight. After that, the airline does not allow cancellation.
How much is a cancellation fee for a Southwest flight?
Southwest Airlines does not ask for cancellation charges if you cancel it ten minutes before the flight. After that, the entire ticket amount will be taken as cancellation cost.
How late can I cancel a Southwest flight?
You can revoke a Southwest flight till ten minutes before flight departure.
Where do I contact Southwest Airlines for flight cancellation?
You can contact Southwest Airlines representatives at 1-800-435-9792 to cancel the flight ticket.
How long does it take for Southwest Airlines to refund?
Southwest Airlines can take between 7 to 20 days in processing the refund.
How much does Southwest flight have to be delayed for compensation?
Southwest flight should be delayed for over three hours for domestic flights and over six hours for international.