Southwest Airlines change and cancellation policy (2026)

Policy checked against Southwest Airlines's own pages on November 1, 2026 by the Fos Travel Deals travel desk. Sources are listed at the end.

We are not Southwest Airlines. Fos Travel Deals is an independent travel agency. We can change only tickets we issued; for a ticket you bought from Southwest or another website, use Southwest's My Trips or contact the seller. We can book you a new flight.

Southwest's four fare bundles

Southwest now sells four bundles, and the one you pick decides how flexible the ticket is. All four share one rule that matters more than anything else on this page: cancel at least 10 minutes before the original departure, or your funds and points may be forfeited.

Changing a Basic fare

Basic is Southwest's cheapest bundle. Seats are assigned at check-in, you board last, and the fare is non-refundable except under the 24-hour cancellation policy. To change the flight you upgrade the fare to Choice, Choice Preferred or Choice Extra. Cancelling instead gets you a flight credit that expires 6 months from the date you booked.

Watch round trips that mix fares. If either leg is Basic, Southwest allows a cancellation only when both legs are cancelled or the Basic leg is upgraded.

Changing a Choice, Choice Preferred or Choice Extra fare

On these fares you pay only the difference in fare when you change an upcoming flight. If you cancel a Choice fare, the value becomes a Transferable Flight Credit that lasts 12 months from booking and can be transferred once to another Rapid Rewards member. Choice Preferred and Choice Extra are refundable: cancel in time and you get 100% of the ticket value back to the original form of payment.

Same-day change and standby

Choice and higher fares include free same-day change and same-day standby; you pay only any government taxes and fees, and those are refunded if they don't apply. Make the change or join the list at least 10 minutes before your original flight. In the app or on mobile web, do it at least 60 minutes before a new domestic flight or 90 minutes before an international one. Your original seat and boarding group aren't guaranteed on the new flight.

Bags and seats when you change

Checked bag fees now apply to Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares; Choice Extra includes two free checked bags. Seats bought separately can't be cancelled on their own. If you cancel the flight, the seat becomes flight credit, and a seat refunds to your card only when you exchange it for a more expensive one.

Your refund rights if Southwest cancels or changes your flight

Whatever the airline's own policy says, U.S. Department of Transportation rules give you a refund, not just a credit, when the airline cancels your flight or makes a significant change and you choose not to travel. A significant change includes departing 3 or more hours earlier or arriving 3 or more hours later on a domestic trip (6 hours internationally), a different origin or destination airport, more connections, or a downgrade to a lower class.

If you bought directly from the airline, the refund is automatic once you decline the rebooking or credit: within 7 business days for card purchases and 20 business days for cash.

The DOT 24-hour rule applies to tickets bought at least seven days before departure: the airline must either let you cancel for a full refund within 24 hours or let you hold the fare for 24 hours without paying.

Bought your ticket from a travel agency or website?

If you booked Southwest through a travel agency, contact the agency first. Southwest's fare rules note that business customers booked through travel agencies may need a Southwest agent at the airport for same-day changes.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Southwest: Fare types and benefits
• Southwest: Delays, cancellations and schedule revisions
• U.S. DOT: Refunds

Other airline policy guides

Last checked November 1, 2026. Airlines change these rules without notice; Southwest's own website is the final word for a ticket it issued.