When you book a flight, you often wonder whether you could have booked later at a lower price—especially if you’re purchasing tickets for your entire family. Although most U.S. airlines charge a heavy change fee of USD 150–200, Southwest doesn’t charge a fee. You read that right, Southwest Airlines flight change policy is super-friendly. 

Whether you’re booking your flight with points or by cash/credit card, Southwest Airlines allows you to rebook your flight and take back the difference in fare. Unlike other airlines that offer change fee waivers to elite status members, Southwest allows you to rebook your flight at the best available prices, regardless of what type of fare you’ve purchased. 

Southwest Airlines Flight Change Policy for Wanna Get Away Tickets 

Being the lowest-priced fares offered by Southwest, Wanna Get Away tickets have stricter rules for making flight cancellations than Anytime and Business Select fares. Under the Southwest flight change policy, if you want to change your flight, the same rules apply—you can change your flight all the way up to 10 minutes before departure without being charged any penalty. The value of your ticket will be converted into Travel Funds that you can use within 1 year from the date of purchase of your ticket—without being charged a change fee.

Flight Change Policy for Anytime and Business Select Tickets

Southwest’s flight change policy allows you to make changes to Anytime and Business Select tickets up to 10 minutes before departure without being charged any change fee. 

If you don’t make any changes to an existing flight and no-show for it, the value of your Anytime or Business Select flight ticket will be converted into Travel Funds. You can use the Travel Funds anytime up to 12 months from the date of original purchase. However, if you purchased your ticket with Rapid Rewards points, the points will be redeposited to your account for use later. 

How to change a flight on Southwest Airlines?

You can change your flight by phone or online. 

An illustration of Southwest Change flight button 

To change your Southwest Airlines flight reservations online:

  1. Go to Southwest.com 
  2. Click on the Change/Cancel tab (on top)
  3. Retrieve your flight booking by entering your confirmation # and name (first and last)
    The Change flight tab is selected by default, so leave it as it is
  4. Hit the Search button
  5. Choose the flight you want to change and then click on Select new flights. If you had booked a round-trip, both your departure and return destinations will appear. 
  6. After choosing your flight, make the changes and confirm them

Note: If you had made your booking through a travel agency/website, get in touch with them and ask them to make changes to your flight booking.

Flight Change Policy for Changing International Flight Itineraries

If you want to make changes to an itinerary that includes an international flight, you’ll need to follow the same process as shown above. You will not be charged any change fees, but the fare difference (if any) will apply. 

Southwest Change Flight Policy for Changing Fare Classes

Flight change policy

If you’re changing between fare classes, a few exceptions apply. For example, if you’re changing an Anytime fare to a Business Select fare, the value of your Anytime ticket will be converted into reusable Travel Funds. However, if you’re making same-day changes to your itinerary, you’ll have to pay any additional taxes and fees that apply to your new fare. 

Southwest Airlines Flight Change Policy for Same-Day Changes

If you’re making a same-day change to an international flight booking, you must contact Southwest at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) or request an agent at the airport ticket counter. Remember, you cannot book international flights online within 2 hours of departure. 

Southwest Change Flight Policy for Irregular Operations

Under the Southwest flight change policy, you can make free changes to any international flight affected by extreme weather or similar circumstances that are not within the airline’s control. However, you must call Southwest’s Customer Service by phone at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792).

What are Southwest Change Flight Fees?

Southwest Airlines doesn’t charge any change fee for tickets purchased with cash or points. If you want to cancel a flight booked with Rapid Rewards points, your points will be credited back to your Rapid Rewards account. The government security fee will be converted into Travel Funds. To reuse your points later, remember to save the confirmation number so that you can use them later. 

What is Southwest Airlines Name Change Policy?

Southwest Airlines name change policy does not allow name changes on tickets unless for reasons such as a last name change or name change due to marriage. One way out would be to cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking (even Wanna Get Away tickets can be cancelled for free within 24 hours) and rebook your flight with the correct name.

If you’re changing your name due to marriage, etc., call Customer Relations at 1-855-234-4654 and provide documentary evidence of your old and new names—such as your old and new ID, marriage license, etc.


Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my flight on Southwest Airlines?

Yes, you can change your Southwest Airlines flight booking without penalty, provided you change at least 10 minutes before your flight departs. You can change your booking by phone or online through Southwest.com. To change your flight online, retrieve your flight via the Change/Cancel tab, and follow the prompts to change your flight booking. 

Does southwest airlines charge to change a flight?

Southwest does not charge any fees to change flights. However, you may have to pay the fare difference if your new flight is costlier. If your new flight is cheaper, the fare difference will either be refunded to your original form of payment (if you qualify) or converted into Travel Funds for future use (within 1 year from the date of original booking). 

What is Southwest Airlines flight change policy?

Southwest change flight policy allows all passengers to change their flight for free if they change their flight at least 10 minutes before departure. This applies to all types of tickets, including Wanna Get Away fares.

What’s the meaning of the plus and minus signs when I change my flight on Southwest.com?

When you’re changing a flight, the + (plus) sign next to the price means that your flight is costlier than your original flight and you’ll be charged more. The (minus) sign means that your flight costs less than the flight you had booked earlier and the amount will be refunded either to your original form of payment or credited to your Travel Fund for future use. 

If you see USD 0, it means your new flight costs the same as the original flight and you can change your flight without paying more. 

What is Southwest Airlines change flight policy for Wanna Get Away tickets?

Southwest Airlines change flight policy for Wanna Get Away tickets allows passengers to make changes to their tickets free of charge provided do it at least 10 minutes before their flight’s scheduled departure time.

How many times can I change my Southwest flight?

You can make changes to your Southwest flight as many times as you like. However, if your new flight costs more than the flight you had booked originally, you’ll have to pay the difference in fare. 

What’s the time limit for making a flight change?

Yes, there is. You must change your flight at least 10 minutes before departure. For example, if your flight’s scheduled departure time is 9am, you must change your flight by 8.50am. If you forget to make changes to your flight, the value of your flight ticket will either be converted into Travel Funds (Anytime or Business Select) or forfeited (Wanna Get Away). 

Can I change my flight booking after checking in for my flight?

Yes, even if you’ve checked in, you can change your flight booking right up to 10 minutes before departure. After changing your flight booking, you must remember to check in for your new flight.
If forget to change a Wanna Get Away flight booking, the value of your ticket may be completely forfeited.

How can I request a refund on Southwest?

You can ask for a refund online via Southwest.com or by calling Southwest Customer Service.

Can I change my flight destination on Southwest?

Yes, the Southwest flight change policy allows you to change your flight’s destination to any different location. However, you must pay the fare difference (if any). If the new flight is cheaper, the Travel Funds will be credited to your account. 

Can you change your flight date on southwest airlines

Yes you can change your flight Date and time according to the policy.

3 thoughts on “Southwest Airlines Change Flight Policy”

  • I’d like to change my return flight from April 25th to 24th April. Is it feasible? What will the fare be if I change my flight date?

  • Is it possible to change Business Select tickets up to 10 minutes before departure without incurring a change fee?

  • Is it necessary to pay any additional taxes and fees that apply to your new fare if I make same-day changes to my itinerary?

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