Last updated: 31 October 2026.
What you receive depends on your fare bundle and whether Southwest disrupted your trip.
24 hoursfull refund after booking if booked a week or more ahead
10 minlatest to cancel before departure to keep a flight credit
7 business daystarget for credit-card refunds
5 yearsvalidity of a flight credit if Southwest cancels
If you cancel
- Basic
- Non-refundable; remaining value becomes a flight credit (6 months)
- Choice
- Non-refundable; turned into a Transferable Flight Credit lasting 12 months
- Choice Preferred
- Refundable to the original payment method, or kept as a Transferable Flight Credit
- Choice Extra
- Refundable, or kept as a Transferable Flight Credit
- No cancel fee on any fare. For round trips with a Basic segment, cancelling is allowed only if both segments are cancelled or the other conditions in the fare rules are met.
- 24-hour rule: cancel an unchanged booking within 24 hours for a full refund if it was made at least a week before the flight; you can choose a refund or a credit.
- Cancel later than that and the no-show policy applies, which can forfeit points and funds.
If Southwest disrupts the flight
- When Southwest cancels, badly delays or reschedules (broadly 3 hours domestic, 6 hours international) and you choose not to fly, you can get your money back by the original payment method, even on non-refundable tickets, together with bag fees and unused extras such as Extra Legroom seats or Priority Boarding, processed in seven business days.
- A flight credit taken after a Southwest cancellation is valid for five years.
- For delays or cancellations within the airline's control of three hours or more, Southwest rebooks you at no cost, provides meal vouchers on request, arranges a hotel for an unscheduled overnight stay, and may grant a LUV Voucher worth USD 75 or more if you arrive three hours or more late (request within one year).
Timing
- Card refunds take about seven business days to process, then up to 10 business days more at the card company, so expect them on one or two statements. Cash purchases are refunded by cheque within 20 calendar days.
- Getaways by Southwest packages and partner itineraries follow their own refund policies.
Questions travellers ask us
Can I cancel for free?
Yes: there is no cancel fee, and a 24-hour full refund when booked a week or more ahead.
Which fares are refundable?
Choice Preferred and Choice Extra.
How long does a card refund take?
Seven business days to process, then the card issuer's posting time.
Baggage Allowance is an independent information site and is not part of Southwest Airlines. Check the airline's own pages before you travel.
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