What is the Southwest Airlines Refund Policy?

Whether a sudden change in your travel plan or any other unforeseen circumstances, canceling a flight ticket can be daunting. However, if you are traveling with Southwest, you can cancel your booking without any hassle. Moreover, Southwest Airlines refund policy is simple and lets you get your money back quickly. This great airline is well renowned for its customer-centric approach. Furthermore, it believes in providing the utmost flexibility to you. So, let’s proceed further and check out the refund policy of the airline in detail.

Does Southwest have 24 hour cancellation?

Yes, Southwest does have a 24-hour cancellation policy that states when flyers cancel their bookings within a day of the initial reservation, they are eligible for a full refund. The Southwest Airlines 24 hour cancellation has been introduced for the convenience of flyers. Each passenger is eligible to request a full refund on flight cancellation within this time frame. 

Can I get a refund for the Southwest flight?

Yes, you can easily get a refund on cancelling your flight booking. As mentioned, the airline has a 24-hour cancellation policy. According to this policy, you can avail a full refund upon cancelling your flight booking within a day of the original reservation. Moreover, if you have refundable fares, you can cancel your booking anytime for a full refund from Southwest Airlines. The airline will process your refund request in the original payment method. However, you must cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes prior to the flight departure.

Southwest Airlines refund policy - Based on different fare types

The refund policy of the airline is different for different fare types. Therefore, you need to check out the policy in detail to get all the required information. 

First of all, you should know that some of the fares of the airline are refundable, while others are non-refundable. Let’s dig into the detailed information.

Business Select/Anytime tickets 

Anytime tickets or Business Select are refundable fares, and you will get a full refund on cancelling these tickets. Once you cancel the booking, you can easily make a Southwest refund request to get your money back. If you cancel these fares, you have two options; you can either hold the value of your ticket or receive a full refund. If you choose to hold the value of the reservation, it will be converted into flight credits. One can easily use these credits for future reservations.

Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus tickets

These tickets are non-refundable, and you can only avail a full refund on cancelling your reservation within 24 hours of the initial booking process. After that, the value of your ticket will transfer to a flight credit (depending upon the fare you have purchased). You can use the value of these travel credits for future bookings with Southwest. 

What are the different methods to receive a refund from Southwest?

With Southwest Airlines, you will get a refund in the original payment method you used to make a booking. Book refundable flight tickets if you are not sure of your travel plan because Southwest refunding ticket holders will receive a full refund on cancelling their bookings. 

Here are the different ways of receiving a refund from the airline. 

Credit card

If you have paid for the booking with a credit card, you will receive a refund in the same account. Moreover, Southwest will process the refund no later than seven business days when the refund request is made.

Cash

For cash payments, Southwest will issue a check. Moreover, it will process the refund no later than 20 business days from the refund request. However, this is applicable only to domestic travel. For international travel, the refund policy is different. You should connect with the airline representatives to ask about the Southwest Airlines refund policy for international travel.

Points

Did you use points to make a Southwest booking? If you cancel your reservation, the points will go back to your Rapid Rewards account. Moreover, any fees or taxes paid with another method will be processed as a refund or transferable flight credit.

Southwest LUV Vouchers or Southwest gift card

If you have used Southwest LUV Vouchers or gift cards to make a booking, then you need to contact the airline agents for cancellation made within 24 hours of reservation. However, if you cancel the booking after 24 hours, the airline will refund the voucher or gift card as flight credits.

Flight credit

If you use the flight credit from the previous reservation to book a new flight, then you will receive them as transferable flight credit upon cancellation.

These are the different method-of-payment refund; you will receive the refund as per the method you have used to make a booking with the airline.

Can I request a refund for unused airfare?

Yes, you can request a refund for the unused airfare by using the email option. Go to the official website of the airline or install the mobile app. After that, find out the “Email Us” option and submit the appropriate information. The airline executives will check your refund eligibility. If you are eligible, Southwest will initiate your refund in the shortest span of time. 

Will I get a refund if Southwest Airlines cancels my flight?

Did Southwest cancel your flight? Don’t you wish to fly on an alternative flight? Yes, there is no need to worry because the airline allows you to claim your refund if it cancels your flight. 

You are entitled to a full refund for the unused portion of the itinerary. 

Even if you have non-refundable tickets, you can easily get your refund from the airline.

Moreover, you can ask for a refund if you have purchased any extras and paid the bag fee.

Call 1-800-435-9792 to request a refund in the original form of payment. Moreover, you can also use the email option on the app or the official site to get your refund from the airline.

However, if you don't contact the airline for a refund, it will send the flight credit. This simply means that you are entitled to a refund from Southwest Airlines upon request only.

How to request a refund from Southwest Airlines?

Do you want to request a refund from the airline? Well, one needs to implement some simple steps on the official site of Southwest. Moreover, you can even connect with airline executives to claim your refund from the airline. Firstly, you need to cancel your booking to claim a refund from the airline.

Here are the steps to make a Southwest refund request online.

Firstly, go to Southwest Airlines official site.

After that, navigate to the “Manage Flight Reservation” page.

Now, enter your confirmation code, first name, and last name in the given fields.

Lastly, click on the “Search” option to retrieve your Southwest booking details.

Now, find the “Cancel Flight” option on the new page, and follow the prompts to confirm the flight cancellation in no time.

After that, you will find the “Request a Refund” option if you are eligible for it. 

Follow the displayed instructions to initiate your refund request.

If you don’t request a refund while canceling your booking, you will find the link in the email received from the airline. Click on that link to request your refund.

Can you cancel a Southwest flight within 24 hours?

Yes, one can easily cancel the Southwest flight within 24 hours of the departure. Moreover, you will get a full refund upon the flight cancellation within this time period. Either visit the official site or connect with Southwest executives to cancel your flight and request a refund from the airline. 

Summing it up

Ready to cancel your flight with Southwest and get your refund? Check out the Southwest Airlines refund policy to clear all your doubts regarding the refund policy of the airline. Check out the above-mentioned steps to learn the steps of requesting your refund. Moreover, you will receive a refund from the airline in the original payment method. So go ahead, request the refund from Southwest, and receive it in no time.

FAQs- Southwest Airlines Refund Policy