Yes, you can cancel after checking in, but the refund depends on your ticket type and when you cancel

Once you have checked in to a Southwest flight, you can still cancel. Southwest will not charge you a change fee — that is true whether you cancel before boarding, at the gate, or even after the plane has pushed back. The catch is what you get back. If you bought a refundable ticket, you receive the full fare as a credit to your Southwest account. If you bought a non-refundable ticket (the cheaper "Wanna Get Away" fares), you also get a credit, but only for the fare itself — not taxes and fees. Either way, the credit never expires and you can use it for any Southwest flight.

The practical limit is timing. If you cancel after the boarding door closes, you have missed the flight and Southwest treats it as a no-show. You still get a credit, but you lose the ability to move to a later flight on the same day at no extra cost — a benefit you would have if you had cancelled before boarding.

Key Takeaways

  • Southwest charges no change or cancellation fee after you check in, whether you cancel before boarding or at the gate.
  • Refundable tickets return the full fare as a credit; non-refundable tickets return only the fare minus taxes and fees as a credit.
  • Credits are valid indefinitely and can be used for any Southwest flight under your name or transferred to another person.
  • If you cancel after the boarding door closes, you receive a credit but lose the same-day standby option.
  • To cancel after checking in, contact Southwest by phone, through the app, or at the airport ticket counter.

How to cancel after you have checked in

The fastest way is through the Southwest app or website. Log in, find your reservation under "Manage Reservations," and select "Cancel Flight." You will see the credit amount before you confirm. The credit posts to your account within minutes.

If you are at the airport, go to the ticket counter or a gate agent. They can cancel on the spot and print a receipt showing your credit. If you are already at the gate and the door is about to close, tell an agent when ready — they have the authority to cancel you even as boarding is finishing.

You can also call Southwest at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792). Wait times are longer during peak hours, but the agent will cancel and email you a confirmation with your credit amount.

What happens to taxes and fees on non-refundable tickets

Southwest separates the base fare from taxes and government fees. On a refundable ticket, you get all of it back as a credit. On a non-refundable "Wanna Get Away" ticket, you get the base fare back as a credit, but taxes and fees (usually $5 to $15 depending on the route) are kept by Southwest and the government.

This matters most on short flights or sales fares where the base fare is low. A $49 Wanna Get Away ticket with $12 in taxes means you receive a $49 credit and lose the $12. On a $200 ticket, the difference is less noticeable.

Using your credit on a future flight

Your credit appears in your Southwest account under "Travel Funds" once the cancellation processes. You can use it to book a new flight when ready, or hold it for months or years — Southwest credits do not expire. When you book a new flight, the system automatically applies the credit at checkout.

You can also transfer your credit to another person. Go to "Manage Reservations," select the credit, and choose "Share Your Travel Fund." The other person receives a link and can use the credit for their own booking. This is useful if you bought a ticket for someone else and they no longer need it.

If your credit is larger than the new flight costs, the remainder stays in your account for a future trip. If the new flight costs more, you pay the difference.

Same-day standby if you cancel before the boarding door closes

Southwest offers a benefit that many other airlines do not: if you cancel before boarding closes, you can rebook on any other Southwest flight departing the same day to the same destination at no extra charge. This is called same-day standby.

You lose this option if you cancel after the boarding door closes. At that point, you have a credit but you must book a future flight and pay any fare difference if the new flight costs more.

Same-day standby is most useful if you realize you cannot make your flight but another departure later that day works. You do not have to call or go online — just tell a gate agent and they will move you.

Difference between cancelling and not showing up

If you check in but do not board, Southwest treats it as a no-show. You still receive a credit for the fare, but you do not get the same-day standby option. The credit is otherwise identical to a cancellation.

The practical difference is small: both result in a credit, and both mean you cannot fly that flight. The only advantage to cancelling instead of no-showing is that you preserve the same-day standby option if you cancel before the door closes. If you know you will not make the flight, cancelling is the cleaner choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel after the plane has left the gate?

Yes. Once the plane pushes back from the gate, you have missed the flight and it is treated as a no-show, but you still receive a credit. You lose the same-day standby option, so you will need to book a future flight and pay any fare difference if it costs more.

Do I get cash back or only a credit?

Only a credit. Southwest does not issue cash refunds for cancelled flights. The credit is valid indefinitely and can be used for any Southwest flight or transferred to another person. If you paid with a credit card, the credit itself does not go back to your card.

What if I cancel but then want to fly the same route tomorrow?

Use your credit to book the next day's flight. If tomorrow's flight costs more than your credit, you pay the difference. If it costs less, the remaining credit stays in your account. You can book through the app, website, or by calling Southwest.

Can someone else use my credit if I transfer it?

Yes. You can transfer your credit to another person through "Share Your Travel Fund" in your account. They receive a link, accept it, and the credit appears in their Southwest account. They can then book any flight under their name.

What if I cancel a flight I paid for with points?

If you booked with Rapid Rewards points, cancelling returns the points to your account. The same rules explore: no change fee, and the points do not expire. You can use them to book another flight whenever you choose.