Southwest Airlines Cancellation & Change Policy (2026)

Last updated: May 1, 2026

Quick Answer

Southwest Airlines offers free cancellation within 24 hours of booking. After that, Main Cabin and above: no fee — wanna get away: travel credit. wanna get away plus: transferable credit. Basic Economy: n/a.

24-Hour Free Cancellation

Full refund to original payment within 24 hours. However, Southwest's standard policy is already extremely flexible — all fares can be cancelled anytime for credit.

Change Fees by Fare Class

Fare Class	Change Fee
basic Economy	N/A — Southwest has no Basic Economy
main Cabin	No fee ever (fare difference applies or credit issued)
premium	No fee (Business Select: fare difference or refund)
business	No fee — full refund to original payment

Cancellation Fees & Refund Type

Fare Class	Cancellation Policy
basic Economy	N/A
main Cabin	No fee — Wanna Get Away: travel credit. Wanna Get Away Plus: transferable credit
premium	No fee — Anytime: full refund to original payment
business	No fee — Business Select: full refund to original payment

How Refunds Work

Anytime & Business Select: refund to original payment. Wanna Get Away: travel funds (valid 1 year). Wanna Get Away Plus: transferable travel funds.

Same-Day Flight Change

Free for all fare types. No fee, no fare difference on same-day standby.

No-Show Policy

Ticket value preserved as travel funds. No penalty — just cancel before departure to retain credit.

How to Cancel Your Southwest Airlines Flight

1Online at southwest.com → My Account → Manage Reservations → Cancel
2Southwest app → My Trips → Cancel
3Call 800-435-9792 (24/7)
4At Southwest ticket counter

Expert Tips

💡 Southwest is the most flexible US airline — no change or cancellation fees ever

💡 Always cancel before departure to preserve your travel funds

💡 Wanna Get Away Plus credits are transferable to other passengers

💡 Business Select and Anytime fares get full refunds (not just credit)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel a Southwest Airlines flight for free?▼

Yes — Full refund to original payment within 24 hours. However, Southwest's standard policy is already extremely flexible — all fares can be cancelled anytime for credit. No fee — Wanna Get Away: travel credit. Wanna Get Away Plus: transferable credit

What is Southwest Airlines's change fee?▼

Main Cabin: No fee ever (fare difference applies or credit issued). Basic Economy: N/A — Southwest has no Basic Economy.

How do I get a refund from Southwest Airlines?▼

Anytime & Business Select: refund to original payment. Wanna Get Away: travel funds (valid 1 year). Wanna Get Away Plus: transferable travel funds.

What happens if I no-show on Southwest Airlines?▼

Ticket value preserved as travel funds. No penalty — just cancel before departure to retain credit.

More Southwest Airlines Guides

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Southwest Airlines Cancellation & Change Policy (2026)

24-Hour Free Cancellation

Change Fees by Fare Class

Cancellation Fees & Refund Type

How Refunds Work

Same-Day Flight Change

No-Show Policy

How to Cancel Your Southwest Airlines Flight

Expert Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

More Southwest Airlines Guides

Cheapest Flights in the USA — Book Cheap Airfare Online

Why Camli Finds Cheaper Flights

How Consolidator Fares Work

Popular Flight Routes

Trust & Credentials

Frequently Asked Questions