Need to cancel? With Southwest you almost never lose your money. When you cancel a Southwest flight, Travel Funds usually keep the full value for a future trip — and on refundable fares you can get cash straight back. Southwest charges no cancellation fee on any fare, which makes it one of the most forgiving airlines to cancel with. Here's exactly what you get back.
Want it handled and your Travel Funds tracked correctly? Call +1 (855) 302-0422 (24/7) and our agents will cancel your flight and confirm your refund or funds.
FareDeal is an independent travel agency, not Southwest Airlines, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Southwest. We can cancel your flight, or you can contact the airline directly.
What you get back when you cancel Southwest
Your fare type decides whether you get cash or Travel Funds:
- Wanna Get Away (non-refundable) — value is kept as Travel Funds for a future Southwest flight.
- Anytime / Business Select (refundable) — you can take the refund back to your original form of payment, or keep it as Travel Funds.
- Any fare — there's no cancellation fee.
Policies can change over time, so confirm your fare's rules before cancelling.
Travel Funds vs cash refund
| Southwest fare | What you get | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| Wanna Get Away | Travel Funds | Reusable credit for future flights |
| Wanna Get Away Plus | Travel Funds (often transferable) | Reusable credit |
| Anytime | Cash refund or Travel Funds | Original payment method (your choice) |
| Business Select | Cash refund or Travel Funds | Original payment method (your choice) |
Details vary by fare and change over time — call to confirm yours.
How to cancel a Southwest flight: step by step
- Locate your reservation with your confirmation number and name.
- Check your fare type — refundable fares can return cash.
- Cancel before departure to preserve the value (never no-show).
- Choose refund or Travel Funds if your fare allows cash back.
- Save the confirmation and note any Travel Funds expiration.
Using your Travel Funds later
Travel Funds apply to a future Southwest booking and are tied to the passenger. When you're ready to fly again, you can put them toward a new ticket — and because there's no change fee, you stay flexible. If your plans firm up soon, you might prefer to change instead of cancel; see the Southwest flight change with no fee guide.
If Southwest canceled on you
If the airline canceled your flight, your options are different — you may be owed a rebooking or a refund. Read how to rebook a Southwest flight after a cancellation. And if you booked very recently, the 24-hour flight cancellation rule can return cash directly.
How to make the most of your Travel Funds
Travel Funds are valuable, but only if you actually use them. A few tips to get full value:
- Note any expiration date. Travel Funds policies have changed over the years, so confirm whether and when yours expire.
- Keep your confirmation numbers. You'll need the original details to apply the funds.
- Combine where allowed. Some funds can be pooled toward a single new ticket.
- Match the passenger. Travel Funds are generally tied to the traveler on the original ticket.
- Plan a trip before they lapse — even a flexible future booking beats letting them expire.
If you're juggling multiple credits or unsure what's still valid, our agents can locate and apply them so nothing goes to waste.
Refundable vs non-refundable: which should you book?
If there's any chance you'll cancel, the fare you choose up front changes your refund outcome:
- Wanna Get Away — cheapest, but cancellation gives Travel Funds, not cash.
- Anytime — pricier, fully refundable to your card, and earns more rapid rewards points.
- Business Select — most flexible, refundable, with premium boarding included.
For uncertain plans, paying a bit more for a refundable fare can be worth it. We'll help you weigh the cost against the flexibility before you book.
Cancelling shouldn't cost you your money. Call +1 (855) 302-0422 (24/7) and an agent will cancel your Southwest flight and make sure every dollar is preserved as a refund or Travel Funds. For the general process, see how to cancel a flight and get a refund.