Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy And Refund Process

Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy And Refund Process


Whenever you purchase a flight ticket, it is always expedient to know what you can do should your journey have unexpected twists. The Southwest Airlines cancellation policy is reputed as one of the most flexible and customer friendly in the industry which gives reassurance to travelers who are booking their ticket. Some last minute schedule change, emergency, or just a change of mind, Southwest has you covered having easy to read rules and provisions of how to go about making the modification to your reservation or outright cancel your reservation with little hassles or fees unlike most other carriers.


Knowledge of Fare Types and their Flexibility

There are three Southwest fare categories, namely: Wanna Get Away, Anytime and Business Select. All of them have their cancellation and refund policies:

  • The Wanna Get Away fare is non-refundable yet it is not complete waste. During your travel, you may cancel at least 10 minutes before the time you were supposed to move and get a travel credit (also referred to as flight credit) that you can utilize in your next trip in the next 12 months.
  • Fares under Business Select or the Anytime fares are fully refundable. In case you cancel you have only two options; you can request either your full fare to be refunded to your primary source of payment or you can decide to hang on to the money as the flight credit to be used in the future.

This three-tier model enables the passenger to select the level of flexibility which he or she requires depending on the nature of travel and the budget.


The 24 Hour Cancellation Rule

Similarly to other airlines, Southwest complies with a 24-hour rule that is stipulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. This enables the passengers to cancel a flight within 24 hours of its booking without any penalty application — irrespective of the type of fare. This complete repayment is done to the mode you paid with, and the customer who is not fully sure about his plans will have a risk-free booking option.


The Procedure of Cancelling a Southwest Flight

The Southwest company eases the cancellation process to an unimaginable extent. There are the following methods of cancelling your flight:

  • Online: Click on “Manage Reservations” on your Southwest.com agreement account and pick the schedule you wish to cancel.
  • Mobile App: Southwest Airlines because with the use of the Southwest Airlines app you can simply access your booking and cancel it within a several taps.
  • Customer Service: You can call the customer support of Southwest in case you would like your problem solved by a customer care representative.

After cancellation, you will receive confirmation emails, and any flight credits of refundable tickets will be credited in nearest time.


Flight Credits and Refund Processing

Refunds of refundable fares are done within 7 working days in case payment is made by credit or debit card. In non-refundable fares, your travel funds (flight credits) will be linked to a confirmation number together with the name of the passenger. These are also applicable to future reservations and remain good within 12 months of the time of initial reservation.


Because of the new updates as of today, Southwest has made flight credits transferable in extreme situations in some cases, giving more flexibility to those travelers who are no longer eligible to utilize the credit.


No Hidden Fee or Change Charges

Among the most impressive things in the policy of Southwest is the promise of waiving change fee. Southwest does not require payment of an extra penalty like many other airlines would in case you want to change your flight details (date or destination). If the new ticket is higher, it is really the difference of the fares which you will have to pay.

This price and policy transparency have resulted in a following of customers and secured Southwest as customer-focused carrier.


Final Thoughts

You can save yourself some cash and anxiety, should you know how to get by the incidences and accidents of cancellation policies. Southwest Airlines are flexible and fair in their approach and hence easy to book confidently. This is a huge benefit whether travelling to and from a business trip or a leisure thing to know that you are not fully stuck to your plan and change or cancel without being hit by the heavy penalties.


The current article is made possible by Aeroflyticket, a reliable travel companion that provides extensive advice on the airline policies, booking tickets, and refunding procedures. 


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