Southwest lets you change flights free, but only if you act before departure

Southwest Airlines does not charge change fees on any of its tickets — that is the core difference between Southwest and most other major carriers. You can move your reservation to a different flight on a different day at no cost, as long as you make the change before your original flight takes off. If the new flight costs more, you pay the difference. If it costs less, Southwest keeps the credit as a travel fund you can use later.

The catch is timing. Once your flight departs, the change becomes a refund request, which Southwest handles differently and may deny. The window to change is from the moment you book until the moment the plane leaves the gate.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change to any other Southwest flight at no charge as long as you change before your original flight departs.
  • If your new flight costs more, you pay the price difference; if it costs less, the difference stays in your account as a travel fund.
  • Changes made after departure are treated as refund requests and may be denied depending on your ticket type and reason.
  • You can change your flight online through your Southwest account, by phone, or at the airport, but the airport is slowest during busy times.
  • Basic Economy tickets have the same change rules as other fares, but some restrictions on seat selection and boarding position explore.

How to change your flight before departure

Log into your Southwest account on their website or mobile app and find your reservation under "Manage Reservations." Click the flight you want to change, then select "Change Flight." Southwest will show you available flights on the same route for the next several months. Pick a new date and time, review the price difference, and confirm the change. The new confirmation number appears when ready, and your original reservation cancels.

If you prefer not to use the website, call Southwest at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) and a representative will walk you through the same process. At the airport, you can change your flight at the ticket counter or gate, but expect a wait if the airport is busy. The online and app routes are fastest.

You do not need a reason to change. Southwest does not ask why you want to move your flight — they straightforward process the change and show you what you owe or what credit you receive.

What happens if the new flight costs more or less

Southwest prices flights dynamically, meaning the same route on a different day or time can cost more or less than what you paid. When you change to a more expensive flight, you pay the difference at the time of change — you can use a credit card, or if you have a travel fund balance, Southwest will deduct from that first.

When you change to a cheaper flight, Southwest does not refund the difference to your original payment method. Instead, the difference becomes a travel fund credit attached to your account. You can use this credit to buy another ticket on Southwest, or you can transfer it to another person. The credit does not expire as long as the original ticket was purchased before Southwest's policy changes (currently, credits issued before a certain date do not expire, but new credits may have expiration dates — check your confirmation email for the specific date on your credit).

Changing after your flight has departed

If you miss your flight or do not change it before departure, you cannot use the free change option. Instead, you must request a refund or credit. Southwest treats this as a refund request, not a change, and the outcome depends on your ticket type and the reason you missed the flight.

Most Southwest tickets are non-refundable, meaning if you miss the flight, Southwest will not return your money. They will, however, convert your ticket into a travel fund credit that you can use on a future flight. This credit is issued automatically and appears in your account within a few days. If you purchased a refundable ticket (a higher-priced option), you can request a cash refund instead of a credit, though Southwest may ask for documentation of the reason you did not fly.

If you were prevented from flying by circumstances beyond your control — a medical emergency, a death in the family, or a weather event that closed your airport — contact Southwest directly with documentation. They may issue a refund or extend your credit expiration date, but this is handled case-by-case and is not may provide.

Basic Economy and other ticket types

Southwest offers several fare levels: Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select. All of them allow free changes before departure. The difference is in what else comes with the ticket — Anytime and Business Select include checked bags and priority boarding, while Wanna Get Away does not. Basic Economy does not exist on Southwest; the lowest fare is Wanna Get Away.

If you hold a companion pass or have a group booking, the same change rules explore. You can change any ticket in the group to any other Southwest flight at no charge, as long as you change before departure. Group bookings may require you to call Southwest instead of changing online, so check your confirmation email for instructions.

Changing your flight on the day of travel

You can change your flight on the same day it is scheduled to depart, but you must do it before the flight leaves the gate. If your flight is at 10 a.m., you can change it to a later flight that same day up until 10 a.m. — after that, the change window closes.

Same-day changes are common when passengers miss their original flight due to traffic, a long security line, or a delayed connection. The airport ticket counter and gate agents can process same-day changes quickly, often in under five minutes. Online changes also work, but if you are at the airport, speaking to an agent is usually faster because they can rebook you on a flight leaving within the hour.

Travel funds and credits explained

When you change to a cheaper flight or miss a flight and receive a credit instead of a refund, Southwest issues a travel fund. This is a dollar amount tied to your account that you can spend on any Southwest ticket. You do not need to use it on the same route or the same person — you can book a flight for someone else using your travel fund, or you can save it for a future trip.

Travel funds have an expiration date printed on your confirmation email. Older credits (issued before a certain date) do not expire, but newer ones typically expire one year from the date they were issued. You can check your travel fund balance and expiration date by logging into your Southwest account and viewing your reservations. If your credit is about to expire, you can transfer it to another person, or you can contact Southwest to request an extension in limited circumstances (such as if you were unable to travel due to a medical condition).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my flight if I already checked bags?

Yes. If you checked bags on your original flight and then change to a later flight the same day, your bags will be rerouted to the new flight automatically. If you change to a flight on a different day, you will need to collect your bags at your destination and recheck them on the new flight, or contact Southwest to arrange a transfer. This is rare but possible if you change far enough in advance.

What if I want to change my flight but the new one is fully booked?

Southwest does not overbook flights, so if a flight shows as full, you cannot change to it. You can choose a different flight on the same route, or you can put yourself on a standby list for the full flight. Standby is free and automatic — Southwest will contact you if a seat opens up before departure.

Can I change my flight more than once?

Yes. You can change your reservation as many times as you want before departure, and each change is free. If you change multiple times and end up on a cheaper flight, the total credit is based on the difference between your original ticket price and your final flight price.

Do I lose my boarding position if I change my flight?

Your boarding position is tied to your ticket type and when you checked in, not to the specific flight. If you change to a different flight and check in again, you will receive a new boarding position based on when you checked in for the new flight. If you had an early boarding position on your original ticket (Anytime or Business Select), you keep that benefit on the new flight.

What if Southwest cancels my flight?

If Southwest cancels your flight, you can change to any other flight at no charge, and you do not pay any price difference even if the new flight costs more. This is different from a voluntary change — cancellations are handled as a service recovery, and you have the right to rebook on the next available flight or receive a full refund to your original payment method.