Southwest Airlines' cancellation rules are some of the most flexible in the industry, making it easy for travelers to adjust or cancel their plans without heavy penalties. Here are the key rules:

No Cancellation Fees (Except Basic Fare):
Southwest does not charge any cancellation fees for most fare types, including Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select. You can cancel up to 10 minutes before departure and receive the full value of your ticket.

Basic Fare Restrictions:
If you purchased a Basic fare, it is non-refundable and non-changeable. If you don’t fly, you lose the full value of the ticket.

Refund vs. Travel Credit:

For refundable fares (like Anytime and Business Select), you can cancel and get a full refund back to your original payment method.

For non-refundable fares (like Wanna Get Away), cancellations result in Travel Funds, which are valid for 12 months from the original purchase date and can be used toward future Southwest flights.

24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation:
If you cancel within 24 hours of booking and your flight is more than 7 days away, you’re entitled to a full refund to your original payment method, regardless of fare type.[1_83 38 45 18 58

Points Bookings:
If you booked using Rapid Rewards points, cancellations are fully refundable, and all points go back into your account. Any taxes and fees paid are refunded to your original form of payment.

No-Shows:
If you don’t cancel a non-refundable ticket before departure (a no-show), you forfeit the entire value of the fare. Refundable tickets can still be refunded even after a no-show.

How to Cancel:
You can cancel flights easily online, via the Southwest app, by calling customer service, [1_83 38 45 18 58 or at the airport.

Southwest’s cancellation policy prioritizes traveler flexibility and eliminates most of the financial stress that comes with changing travel plans.