Southwest Airlines has a policy that lets you cancel your flight bookings within a day of making them. You won't have to pay any fees to do this. This rule applies to all types of fares they offer such as Wanna Get Away Anytime, and Business Select.
How Does the 24-hour Cancellation Policy Work?
Here's how it works:
- Get your ticket on Southwest Airlines' website or using their phone app.
- You have the option to cancel your booking within a day of making it. You can do this online or by getting in touch with Southwest Airlines' customer support team.
- You'll receive a full refund of your ticket price, including any taxes and fees.
- The 24-hour clock starts ticking from the time you book your flight, not from the time you receive your confirmation email.
- Important Exceptions to the 24-hour Cancellation Policy
Southwest’s 24 hour cancellation policy is pretty cool, but there are some exceptions:
- Same day bookings: If you book on the day of travel, the 24 hour policy doesn’t apply.
- International flights: The 24 hour policy only applies to domestic flights within the US. If you’re booking an international flight, you’ll need to check the airline’s international cancellation policy.
- Group bookings: Group bookings are not eligible for the 24 hour policy.
How to Cancel Your Flight Within 24 Hours
Canceling your flight within 24 hours is easy:
- Log in to your Southwest Airlines account on their website or mobile app.
- Find your reservation and click on “Cancel” or “Change” next to your flight details.
- Follow the prompts to confirm your cancellation.
- You’ll get an email confirming your cancellation and refund.
What Happens After the 24 hour Cancellation Window?
If you need to cancel your flight after the 24 hour window, you’ll be charged Southwest’s standard cancellation fees. Those fees vary depending on the fare type and time of cancellation.
- Wanna Get Away fares: You’ll lose the fare value and any remaining balance will be a travel credit.
- Anytime and Business Select fares: You’ll be charged a cancellation fee which varies depending on the fare type and time of cancellation.
Conclusion
Southwest Airlines’ 24-hour cancellation policy is cool. Now you know the policy and the exceptions. So if you need to cancel your flight within 24 hours, you won’t be charged a cancellation fee. Happy flying!
