Southwest Airlines allows flight cancellations up to 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Depending on the fare type, cancellations may result in a refund to the original form of payment, a flight credit, or a forfeiture of funds.
Southwest Airlines' cancellation rules are among the most flexible and traveler-friendly in the airline industry. One of the most important rules is that Southwest does not charge cancellation fees for most fare types. Passengers can cancel their reservations up to 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time, and depending on the fare purchased, they can either receive a refund or travel credit. For Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select fares, if canceled on time, the unused value is either refunded or turned into Travel Funds that can be used toward future flights within 12 months of the original purchase date. These Travel Funds are non-transferable unless you booked a Wanna Get Away Plus fare or higher, which allows limited transferability.

Southwest also offers a 24-hour risk-free cancellation policy, meaning that if you cancel within 24 hours of booking and your flight is more than seven days away, you will receive a full refund back to your original form of payment, regardless of fare type. However, for Basic fares, which Southwest has introduced as their lowest-tier option, no changes or cancellations are allowed, and the full value is forfeited if you don’t fly.

For reservations made using Rapid Rewards points, if canceled before departure, all points are returned to your Rapid Rewards account, and any taxes and fees paid are refunded. If you don’t cancel before departure and simply miss your flight, it will be treated as a no-show, and for most non-refundable fares, the funds will be forfeited.

Cancellations can be made through the Southwest website, mobile app, by phone,[1_83 38 45 18 58
or at an airport ticket counter. Overall, Southwest’s cancellation rules are designed to give passengers peace of mind and the flexibility to change their plans without financial penalty, making it one of the most accommodating airlines for travelers.