Refund Policy for Southwest Airlines Tickets

In addition to their EVASS business model, they are known for making travel easy for vacationers and business travelers. Southwest Airlines is also known for its customer-friendly policies; the Southwest Airlines refund policy is certainly part of that reputation. While the airline has introduced new fare types, the primary principle is still the same: if you book your Southwest airline ticket, you will be able to get flexibility and value for your Southwest Airlines ticket refund. The important thing to realize is that you know and understand the rules to learn the rules for different types of tickets, so you never lose value from your flight.

Southwest Airlines Refundable Tickets

The first thing to know is that not all tickets for Southwest Airlines are really refundable back to your original form of payment, but they are nearly always convertible into a credit.

Choice Extra (previously Business Select) and Choice Preferred (previously Anytime) tickets are the only Southwest refundable tickets. If you cancel this reservation at least 10 minutes prior to the departure time of the flight, you have the option to be refunded 100% of your ticket price back to your original payment method.

Fares such as Wanna Get Away (now Choice) and the new Basic fares are typically non-refundable to cash. But if you cancel in advance, you still have the value as a Flight Credit to use in the future. The good news is that there are no cancellation charges for any type of fare, provided you cancel at least 10 minutes before departure.

Southwest Airlines Refund Wanna Get Away

If you bought a Wanna Get Away fare (formerly known as Choice), you must understand how the Southwest Airlines refund Wanna Get Away policy works:

No Cash Refund: This is a non-refundable fare to your credit card or cash.

Flight Credit: When you cancel your booking at least 10 minutes prior to departure, the entire value of the ticket is converted into a Flight Credit or Transferable Flight Credit™. This credit can then be utilized by the passenger (transferred to another individual, depending upon the particular fare type) to purchase a future Southwest flight.

Key Tip: You will need to cancel! Failing to cancel at least 10 minutes prior to departure will result in losing those funds according to the no-show policy.

How Do I Get a Refund from Southwest Airlines?

The Southwest Airlines refund request is straightforward and is normally completed online:

Cancel First: Proceed to the “Manage Reservations” area of Southwest.com or the app, locate your reservation, and click on “Cancel Flight.”
Refund Processing: If your Southwest Airlines ticket refund is refundable to the original form of payment (because you booked a Choice Extra ticket or canceled within 24 hours), the amount will be processed for a refund within seven business days.
Flight Credit: If you cancel a non-refundable fare, they will automatically convert the funds to a Flight Credit linked to the passenger Rapid Rewards account for you to use. You will see this credit in the “My Account” area of their website.

Are Tickets from Southwest Airlines Refundable?

The short answer to are Southwest Airlines tickets refundable is sometimes, depending on the fare type and the time you cancel:

Refundable to Cash/Credit Card: Only Choice Extra and Choice Preferred tickets are refundable after the 24-hour window.

24 Hours: All tickets (including non-refundable) can be refunded back to the original payment method if you cancel within 24 hours of booking. This is the one time that almost every Southwest Airlines ticket refundable is eligible for cash back, regardless of the fare purchased.

Southwest Airlines is Modifying its Refund Policy for Plus-Size Travelers

Southwest Airlines is moditying its refund policy for plus-size travelers as part of a broader operational change, including adopting assigned seating.

The Current Policy (Pre-January 2026): Travelers requiring a supplementary seat for safety or convenience may buy one in advance and then be entitled to a full refund for the price of the supplementary seat once travel has been accomplished (if the flight had not sold out). Such a policy provides convenience without extra expense.

The New Policy (Effective January 2026): According to the new policy, passengers are still required to buy the second seat in advance to secure space. Refunds can only be issued under more rigorous circumstances, e.g., in case the flight leaves with a spare seat within the same fare class. This revision aligns the policy to enable buying the additional seat early at the time of booking.

Summary

The Southwest Airlines refund policy is constructed to maintain the value of your transaction. If you require a complete refund of a southeast airlines ticket in cash, or a refundable Flight Credit, their systems safeguard your funds if you do so prior to the 10-minute departure window. Be sure to review your own fare rules when making a reservation to be certain of how your funds will be returned if you must cancel your trip.