Southwest will rebook you on the next available flight at no extra charge

If you miss a Southwest flight, you are not charged a rebooking fee. Southwest's policy allows you to fly on the next available flight to your destination at no cost, as long as you contact the airline before your original flight departs. This applies whether you miss the flight because of traffic, a connection delay, or any other reason — the airline does not penalize you financially for the missed flight itself.

The key is timing: you must reach Southwest before your scheduled departure time. If you call or visit the ticket counter after your flight has already left, you can still be rebooked, but the process becomes more complicated and may involve waiting longer for an available seat.

Key Takeaways

  • Contact Southwest when ready if you realize you will miss your flight — call 1-800-I-FLY-SWA or go to the airport ticket counter before departure time.
  • You will be rebooked on the next available Southwest flight to your destination at no rebooking fee, regardless of the reason you missed your original flight.
  • If you miss your flight and do not rebook, your ticket remains valid for one year from the original booking date and can be used for a future flight.
  • Standby flights are offered based on seat availability, so rebooking time depends on how full upcoming flights are and how flexible you can be with your destination.
  • If you miss a connecting flight because your first flight was delayed, Southwest treats this differently — contact the crew or gate agent before landing to request a rebooking.

How to rebook if you miss your flight

Call Southwest's reservations line at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) as soon as you know you will miss your flight. Have your confirmation number ready. The agent will search for the next available flight to your destination and place you on standby for that flight or a later one, depending on availability.

If you are already at the airport, go directly to the Southwest ticket counter instead of calling. A gate agent can rebook you faster than a phone line, especially during busy travel times. Bring your ID and your original booking confirmation.

Southwest does not may provide you will get on the very next flight — rebooking depends on how many empty seats are available. During peak travel times, you may wait several hours or even until the next day. The airline will place you on the first flight with available seats, and you will be notified of your new flight time before you leave the counter or hang up the phone.

What happens to your original ticket

Your Southwest ticket does not expire when you miss a flight. Instead, the ticket remains valid for one year from the original booking date. You can use it to book a new flight at any time within that year, either by calling reservations or through Southwest's website.

If you do not rebook when ready after missing your flight, you will need to contact Southwest later to use your ticket. The airline will not automatically hold a seat for you — you must actively rebook. If you wait weeks or months to rebook, seat availability may be limited, especially on popular routes or travel dates.

Missing a connecting flight because of a delay

If you miss your connecting flight because your first flight was delayed, the situation is different. Southwest considers this a missed connection caused by the airline, not by you. In this case, inform the flight crew or gate agent of your connection before you land. They can contact the connecting flight to hold it or rebook you on the next available flight.

If the crew cannot hold your connecting flight, you will be rebooked automatically at no charge. Southwest will also provide meal vouchers or hotel accommodations if the delay is significant enough that you cannot reach your destination the same day. Keep your boarding passes and any receipts — you may need them to request reimbursement for meals or lodging.

Fees and charges you might face

Southwest does not charge a rebooking fee when you miss a flight. However, if you need to change your destination or travel date while rebooking, you may owe the difference in fare. For example, if your original ticket was for a flight to Denver but you now want to fly to Las Vegas, you pay the price difference if the new route costs more.

If you booked a non-refundable fare and decide not to rebook at all, you cannot get a cash refund. Your ticket remains valid as a credit toward a future flight for one year. Some fares purchased through third-party travel websites may have different rules — check your original booking confirmation to see what terms explore.

What to do if you are running late

If you are on your way to the airport and realize you will not make it in time, call Southwest when ready rather than rushing. The airline can begin the rebooking process while you are still in transit. Arriving at the airport after your flight has departed makes rebooking slower because the agent must manually search for available flights instead of doing it over the phone.

Southwest closes check-in 10 minutes before domestic flight departures and 15 minutes before international departures. If you arrive after check-in closes, you have missed the flight and must rebook. There is no grace period, even if you are at the airport.

Standby flights and seat availability

When you rebook after missing a flight, you are placed on standby for the next available flight. This means you are not may provide a seat until the flight is confirmed. Southwest will call your name or text you when a seat opens up. During slow travel periods, standby flights often confirm within an hour or two. During holidays or peak summer travel, you may wait much longer.

You can ask to be placed on standby for multiple flights in the same day if you are flexible. For example, if you miss a morning flight to Chicago, you can request standby for the noon flight, the 2 p.m. flight, and the 4 p.m. flight. The airline will confirm you on whichever flight has an available seat first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my money if I miss a Southwest flight?

No. Your ticket remains valid for one year from the original booking date. You can rebook on any Southwest flight to the same destination at no rebooking fee. If you never rebook, the ticket value does not expire — you can use it anytime within the year.

Can I get a refund instead of rebooking?

Southwest does not offer cash refunds for missed flights. Your ticket converts to a credit that you can use for a future flight. The credit is valid for one year. If you purchased a refundable fare through a third-party website, check your original booking terms — some sites have different policies.

What if there are no available flights for several days?

Southwest will rebook you on the first available flight, even if it is days away. If the delay is significant, ask the agent whether you may have access to for meal vouchers or hotel accommodations. These are typically provided when a missed connection or airline delay requires an overnight stay.

Will I lose my boarding position if I rebook?

Your boarding position resets when you rebook. You will receive a new boarding number for your new flight based on when you checked in for that flight. If you check in online 24 hours before the new flight, you may get an earlier boarding position than if you check in at the airport.

What if I miss my flight because of a family emergency?

Southwest does not require a reason to rebook you — the policy is the same regardless of why you missed the flight. You will be rebooked on the next available flight at no charge. If you need to change your destination because of the emergency, you may owe a fare difference, but there is no rebooking penalty.