Southwest will rebook you on the next available flight at no extra cost, or refund your ticket price in full
When Southwest cancels your flight, you have two choices: take a seat on another Southwest flight to your destination, or get your money back. Southwest does not charge change fees, so either option costs you nothing beyond what you already paid. The airline will contact you by email and text message with the cancellation notice and your rebooking options.
If you choose the rebooking, Southwest will place you on the next available flight with open seats. That flight might leave the same day, the next day, or later, depending on how full the schedule is and where you are trying to go. If you choose the refund, Southwest processes it back to your original payment method within 7 to 10 business days.
Key Takeaways
- Southwest will automatically rebook you on the next available flight to your destination at no charge, or you can request a full refund of your ticket price.
- You will receive cancellation notice and rebooking options by email and text message, usually within a few hours of the cancellation decision.
- If the rebooking puts you on a flight more than two hours after your original departure time, you may be may have access to to compensation under Department of Transportation rules.
- Southwest does not provide hotel rooms, meals, or ground transportation for cancellations, even if you are stranded overnight.
- If you booked through a travel website or credit card travel portal, contact that company first — they sometimes offer protections Southwest itself does not.
How to request a refund instead of rebooking
You do not have to accept the rebooking. Log into your Southwest account on southwest.com, find the cancelled flight, and select "Refund" instead of "Rebook." You can also call Southwest at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) and ask a representative to process the refund over the phone. Either way, the money goes back to the card or account you used to buy the ticket.
If you paid with a credit card, the refund appears as a credit on your next statement, not as cash back to your bank account. If you paid with a Southwest gift card, the refund amount is added back to that gift card. Processing takes 7 to 10 business days after you request it.
When you may be owed compensation beyond the refund
The Department of Transportation requires airlines to compensate passengers when a flight is cancelled and the rebooking delay is significant. If Southwest rebooks you on a flight that departs more than two hours after your original departure time (or three hours for flights over 1,500 miles), you may receive $400 to $800 depending on the flight distance. This compensation is separate from your ticket refund.
However, Southwest does not have to pay compensation if the cancellation was caused by weather, a security threat, or an air traffic control decision — events the airline cannot control. Mechanical failures, crew scheduling problems, and fuel issues do count as airline responsibility, so compensation may explore. You will need to contact Southwest directly to request it; the airline does not offer it automatically.
To file a claim, call 1-800-I-FLY-SWA and explain the cancellation date and your original flight number. Have your confirmation number ready. Southwest will review whether the cause qualifies for compensation and respond within 30 days.
What Southwest does and does not provide during a cancellation
Southwest will rebook you and refund your ticket, but it does not provide meals, hotel rooms, or ground transportation if you are stranded. If your cancelled flight leaves you overnight in a city away from home, you will need to pay for your own hotel and food. Some credit cards offer trip delay coverage that reimburses these costs if you are delayed more than 12 or 24 hours — check your card's benefits guide to see if yours does.
Southwest does offer a one-time courtesy voucher (usually $50 to $100 toward a future flight) if you are significantly delayed or inconvenienced, but you have to request it. Call the airline after your trip and explain what happened. The voucher is not may provide, but Southwest grants them often enough that it is worth asking.
If you booked through a travel website or credit card portal
If you purchased your ticket through Kayak, Expedia, Google Flights, or a credit card travel portal rather than directly from Southwest, contact that company first. Some travel websites and credit card issuers offer cancellation protections, refund guarantees, or rebooking information that go beyond what Southwest provides. They may also process your refund faster than Southwest would.
Check your credit card's travel benefits guide or the terms of your travel website booking to see what coverage applies. If the website or card offers trip cancellation insurance, you may be able to file a claim for the full ticket price plus expenses like hotels. You can pursue both the Southwest refund and the credit card or website claim at the same time.
How to track your rebooking and check flight status
After Southwest rebooks you, check your email and text messages for your new confirmation number and flight details. Log into southwest.com with your confirmation number to see your new flight time, gate information (once it is assigned), and seat selection options. You can change your seat, add checked bags, or request special accommodations through your account.
On the day of your rebooked flight, arrive at the airport at the same time you would for any Southwest flight — at least two hours before domestic departure. If your rebooked flight is also cancelled, Southwest will rebook you again or refund you. If you miss your rebooked flight because of the cancellation delay, contact Southwest to reschedule without penalty.
What to do if Southwest cannot rebook you quickly
If Southwest has no available flights for several days and you need to reach your destination sooner, you can ask the airline to book you on a competing carrier at Southwest's expense. This is called an "involuntary reroute." Call 1-800-I-FLY-SWA and tell the representative you need to travel urgently and ask whether Southwest will pay for a flight on American, United, Delta, or another airline.
Southwest is not required to do this, but it will sometimes agree if the delay is long and the passenger has a documented reason (a funeral, a medical appointment, a business meeting). Have your reason ready and be specific about when you need to travel. If Southwest agrees, it will issue you a ticket on the other airline and you will go directly to that airline's counter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to accept the rebooking Southwest offers, or can I choose a different flight?
Southwest will rebook you on its next available flight with open seats. You cannot pick a specific later flight to get a cheaper fare or a better time. If the rebooking does not work for you, request the refund instead and book a different airline on your own.
Will Southwest pay for my hotel if I am stranded overnight?
No. Southwest does not provide hotel rooms, meals, or transportation for cancellations. If your rebooking is the next day or later, you will need to pay for lodging yourself. Some travel insurance policies and credit card benefits cover these costs — check your policy or card benefits guide.
How long does it take to get my refund?
Southwest processes refunds within 7 to 10 business days after you request one. If you paid with a credit card, the refund appears as a credit on your statement. If you paid with a gift card, the amount is added back to that card. You cannot receive cash back to a bank account.
Can I get compensation if Southwest cancels my flight because of bad weather?
No. The Department of Transportation does not require compensation for weather-related cancellations because the airline cannot control weather. Compensation applies only when the cancellation is caused by something the airline controls, such as a mechanical problem or crew issue. Southwest will tell you the reason for the cancellation in the notice.
What if I miss my rebooked flight because of the cancellation?
Call Southwest and explain that you missed the rebooking because of the original cancellation. The airline will rebook you on another flight without charging a change fee. You will not be penalized for missing a flight that resulted from Southwest's cancellation.