How Much Does It Cost to Change a Flight with Southwest?
How much does it cost to change? For assistance, +1-888-760-1051 to understand Southwest’s no-fee change policy and how fare differences affect your final cost.
One of the biggest advantages of flying with Southwest Airlines is its generous policy regarding flight changes. Unlike many other carriers, Southwest does not charge traditional change fees. This means that, generally, you won’t pay a separate penalty just for modifying your flight. However, while there’s no fee to make a change, costs can still arise depending on the difference in fare between your original flight and your new one.
When you change your flight, the most important financial factor is the fare difference between the flight you originally booked and the one you’re changing to. If the new flight is more expensive, you will need to pay the extra amount. If the new flight is cheaper, Southwest issues the difference back to you—but how you receive that credit depends on the type of ticket you purchased.
For Wanna Get Away® fares, which are the most budget-friendly, any savings from changing to a less expensive flight are returned to you in the form of “travel funds.” These travel funds can be used for future bookings, but generally remain in your Rapid Rewards account or in Southwest’s system under your name. These funds are valid for a limited period, so it’s important to check their expiration date and use them before they lapse.
If you hold an Anytime® or Business Select® fare, the fare difference is handled a little differently. Anytime and Business Select fares are more flexible and typically refundable, meaning if you change to a cheaper flight, you might be eligible for a refund instead of travel funds. It also makes rebooking easier, since these fare types are not tied to travel credit constraints and often come with added flexibility.
In addition, Southwest offers a Same-Day Change option for some fare classes. This feature allows passengers to switch to a different flight on the same day of travel. While there is no standard change fee, you might still need to pay a fare difference if the new flight costs more than your original booking.
If you booked using Rapid Rewards points, you can still change your flight without a change fee. The points are re-deposited into your Rapid Rewards account if you cancel or switch the award ticket. In some cases, there may be a fare difference in terms of how many points are required for the new flight; you would need to pay the additional points if the new flight is “costlier” in point terms.
- a 6.8 mi running route in Houston, Texas
Route Location
Start Lat/Lng: (29.760031, -95.373038)
City: Houston
Country Name: the United States
Country Code: US
State Code: TX
State Name: Texas
Postal Code:
Route Stats
Activity: Running
Distance: 6.8 mi
Max Elevation: 60.379999999999995 meters
Elevation Gain / Total Ascent: 51 meters
Data Source: fitness:RE
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