Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy 2026: Fees, Refunds & 24-Hour Rule Explained

Planning a trip is always uncertain. Life goes on, plans change, things go wrong, and there is simply a necessity to cancel a flight. The good news? Southwest Airlines has maintained the most traveler friendly cancellation policy in the industry. It can be said at this point, though, that by 2026 the picture has shifted significantly and that when you come to the year 2026, when you might be flying with Southwest, there are some changes that you should be aware of.

This guide covers everything about the Southwest Airlines cancellation policy in simple, plain English, including fees, refunds, travel funds, and the 24-hour rule.

Does Southwest Charge Cancellation Fees?

In 2026, Southwest Airlines continues to impose no cancellation fee on any type of fare. That's the good news.

But this is what has changed: there is a sweeping policy rewrite that becomes effective May 28, 2025, that fundamentally changes the after-you-cancel scenario. The new fare structure in the airline will dictate whether you get a cash refund, a transference flight credit, or a limited non-transferable credit with a limited expiration period.

Therefore, although you will not be charged a penalty fee when you cancel, it will all depend on the fare you have booked, whether you will end up incurring a loss or not.

Understanding the New Southwest Fare Types in 2026

Flights after January 27, 2026, were given new names: Business Select was renamed Choice Extra, Anytime was renamed Choice Preferred, Wanna Get Away Plus changed to Choice, and Wanna Get Away to Basic. Seating was also introduced, bringing the 50 or so years of open boarding to an end.

Here's a quick breakdown of each fare and what happens when you cancel:

1. Basic Fare (formerly Wanna Get Away)

This is the most affordable fare Southwest offers, but it comes with the most restrictions.

• Refund type: Non-transferable flight credit only (no cash refund)
• Basic fare flight credits expire 6 months from the date the fare was booked and ticketed.
• Only if you cancel within 24 hours of booking and the flight is at least 7 days away do you get a full cash refund.
• Flight changes are allowed only with a fare upgrade to Choice, Choice Preferred, or Choice Extra fare.

2. Choice Fare (formerly Wanna Get Away Plus)

A step up from Basic, this fare gives you more flexibility.

• Refund type: Transferable Flight Credit (not a cash refund)
• A Transferable Flight Credit created from Choice reservations expires 12 months from the date the fare was booked and ticketed. Transferable Flight Credits can be transferred between Rapid Rewards Members, but only one transfer is permitted.

3. Choice Preferred Fare (formerly Anytime)

This is a fully refundable fare,  a significant upgrade in flexibility.

• Refund type: Full cash refund to your original payment method
• Cancel at least 10 minutes before departure and you receive a 100% refund to your original form of payment, credit card, debit card, or cash.
• Flight credits from this fare are also transferable and valid for 12 months.

4. Choice Extra Fare (formerly Business Select)

The top-tier fare with the most benefits and the most flexibility.

• Refund type: Full cash refund to your original payment method
• Same 100% refund rules apply as Choice Preferred when canceled at least 10 minutes before departure.
• Comes with extra perks like priority boarding and bonus Rapid Rewards points.

The Southwest 24-Hour Cancellation Policy

One of the most crucial rules to be familiar with is the Southwest 24-hour cancellation policy, in the case when you have recently purchased a ticket, but you changed your mind.

When you change your mind after you have booked, you can get a full refund or flight credit when you cancel within the next 24 hours. This is applicable to all types of fares.

The most important condition: the flight should be at least 7 days (168 hours) since the time of departure. This regulation is in line with the U.S. Department of Transportation standard of 24-hour refund requirement that is applicable to any airline company that operates in the United States.

Therefore, in the event that you purchase a ticket today and decide within 24 hours that you have to cancel, and you have at least a week to go, then you can get a full refund whether you bought a ticket at a low fare or not. This is one of such significant windows to keep in mind in case you have booked a Basic fare as this is the only case when a Basic fare traveler is entitled to a cash refund.

What Happens If You're a No-Show?

This is where the business begins. Unless you change or cancel your booking at least ten (10) minutes before the original scheduled departure time of the first flight then your booking will be canceled as a no-show and all of the unused funds will be lost.

That is, you just fail to turn up and never canceled your ticket, all you lose is everything, not a dime in the form of a refund, or an airplane credit. This is applicable to all types of fares. That is why even with a refundable Choice Preferred or Choice Extra ticket, not canceling before that 10-minute deadline will leave you with no money.

Always cancel your flight at least 10 minutes prior to the time of departure, though you can not make it at the last moment.

What About Rapid Rewards Points?

In case you have used Rapid Rewards points to make your Southwest flight, canceling is easy. In case of cancellation of a Basic or Choice fare that you used with Rapid Rewards points, you will get all your points back to your Southwest account. There will be no taxes connected with the ticket, which will be stored in the form of reusable flight credits.

This renders the bookings of points particularly flexible, as you are never denied your points provided that you cancel within the 10 minutes before the departure deadline.

When Southwest Cancels Your Flight

It is sometimes the airline that cancels the flight, not the flight you are on. In such an instance, the regulations are far more generous.

In case your flight is delayed by 30 minutes or cancelled, Southwest will strive to inform you of the change in the flight status within 30 minutes of them knowing about the delay or cancellation. Your booking will notify you through email or text depending on your choice of preference.

In case of a cancellation of a flight by Southwest, you are usually guaranteed of a full refund of your initial payment method, irrespective of the type of fare, or you can opt to reschedule the Southwest flight to the next flight with no extra charge.

How to Cancel a Southwest Airlines Flight

Canceling your Southwest flight is simple. You just have to follow certain steps that we have mentioned below:Here are the ways you can do it:

Online or via the App:

1. Go to Southwest.com or open the Southwest Airlines app
2. Click on "Manage Reservations"
3. Enter your confirmation number and name
4. Select the flight you want to cancel
5. Follow the prompts to complete the cancellation

By Phone: Call Southwest Airlines customer service directly. Have your confirmation number ready.

At the Airport: Head to any Southwest ticket counter and a customer service agent can process your cancellation in person.

Flight Credits: What You Need to Know

In case of cancellation leading to a flight credit (instead of a cash refund) it follows as follows:

• Flight credits given out on or after May 28, 2025 will have an expiration date based on your type of fare. The basic fares have typical expiration of six months, with Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, and Choice fares with Transferable Flight Credit having an expiration of 12 months.
• The Transferable Flight Credits may be transferred between the Rapid Rewards Members, though this may only be transferred once.
• In order to redeem flight credits, you will require your initial confirmation number of the canceled flight.

Never lose your confirmation code, you will use it to redeem any credits in future.

Southwest Cancellation Policy at a Glance

Here is a quick look in case you have missed some vital information.

Fare Type	Cash Refund?	Credit Type	Credit Expiry
Basic	Only within 24 hrs of booking (7+ days out)	Non-transferable	6 months
Choice	No	Transferable	12 months
Choice Preferred	Yes	Transferable	12 months
Choice Extra	Yes	Transferable	12 months

Final Tips for Navigating the Southwest Cancellation Policy

Here are some tips you must carry with you before booking the flight.

• Always cancel prior to the 10-minute deadline: Even a last-minute cancellation will save your money, which would be entirely lost otherwise.
• Take advantage of the 24-hour window: You can never be sure about a Basic fare booking, so you should make a fast decision to remain within the refund window.
• Think about upgrading flexible travel: In case of unpredictable travel plans, a Choice Preferred fare or Choice Extra fare can provide peace of mind with a full refund of cash.
• Monitor your flight credit expiry dates: The new policy on expiry dates of credits implies that they are not everlasting and you should be careful of using them before they run out.
• Book directly: Southwest can have other limitations that complicate cancellations in third-party bookings.

No cancellation fees on all fare types still make Southwest Airlines unique among the U.S. carriers. Although the 20252026 policy redesign has added some nuance to the refunds and credits, the fundamental idea is the same: you will not be punished when you cancel. With as much as you know what your fare type is and you do it earlier than the 10-minute departure deadline, you have ample time to schedule your travel arrangements without losing money.