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 Southwest flight to your destination at no additional cost — you straightforward show up at the airport, go to a ticket counter, and ask to be rebooked. This applies whether you missed your flight because of traffic, a long security line, or any other reason.
The catch is that the next available flight may not leave today, and you may not get a seat in the cabin class you originally booked. If you had a Business Select ticket, you might be rebooked in Anytime or Wanna Get Away pricing. If the flight is full, you go on standby for the next one. You do not lose your ticket value — it stays in your Southwest account as a travel credit that you can use for future flights.
The rebooking happens at the airport counter, not online. You cannot call Southwest ahead of time to rebook a flight you have already missed. You have to be physically present to work with an agent who can see real-time seat availability and put you on the next flight with open seats.
Key Takeaways
- Southwest does not charge a rebooking fee when you miss a flight; you can fly on the next available Southwest flight to your destination at no extra cost.
- You must go to a Southwest ticket counter in person to be rebooked — the airline cannot process this online or over the phone.
- The next available flight may be hours or days away, and you may be seated in a lower cabin class than your original booking.
- Your original ticket value remains in your Southwest account as a travel credit if you cannot make the rebooking work.
- If you know you will miss your flight, calling Southwest before departure may open other options, but missing it without notice leaves rebooking as your only path.
How the rebooking process works at the airport
When you arrive at the airport after missing your flight, go directly to the Southwest ticket counter — not the gate, not customer service, but the main ticketing desk. Tell the agent you missed your flight and want to be rebooked. The agent will pull up your reservation using your confirmation number or ID, check what flights are leaving to your destination that day and in the coming days, and place you on the next one with available seats.
The agent will print a new boarding pass on the spot. If the flight is leaving within hours, you may be able to go through security and head to the gate when ready. If it is a flight the next day or later, the agent will tell you what time to return or whether you need to check in online beforehand.
Seat assignment depends on availability. Southwest does not assign seats in advance — you choose your seat when you board — so being rebooked does not mean you lose a good spot. You will board in the same order as other passengers on that flight based on your check-in time, which the agent will set when they rebook you.
What happens to your original ticket and any add-ons
Your original ticket does not disappear. Southwest converts it to a travel credit that stays in your account indefinitely. You can use this credit to book another flight to any Southwest destination, change your existing reservation, or add funds to cover a higher fare. The credit is tied to the name on the ticket, so it cannot be transferred to someone else, but you can use it yourself on any future Southwest flight.
If you paid for add-ons like Early Bird Check-In, seat selection, or checked baggage, those do not automatically transfer to your rebooking. You will need to ask the agent whether those services can be applied to your new flight or whether you need to repurchase them. Early Bird Check-In, for example, is usually tied to a specific flight, so you may need to buy it again for the new one.
Calling Southwest before you miss your flight
If you know you are going to miss your flight — you are stuck in traffic, your ride did not show up, or your connection was delayed — call Southwest before your flight departs. The airline's phone line is open 24 hours, and agents can sometimes move you to a later flight the same day without you having to go to the airport and wait in line at the counter.
Southwest's phone number is on your confirmation email and on the airline's website. Have your confirmation number ready. The agent can see which flights have seats available and may be able to rebook you over the phone if space exists. This is faster than showing up at the airport after the flight has left, because you avoid the counter line and can head straight to your new gate or come back later if the flight is tomorrow.
If you call after your flight has already departed, the agent will tell you to go to the airport counter instead. Once a flight leaves, rebooking must happen in person.
Standby and what to expect if flights are full
If all Southwest flights to your destination are full, you go on standby for the next one. This means you are first in line for any seat that opens up — through cancellations, no-shows, or upgrades — but you are not may provide a seat. You will be notified by text or email if a seat becomes available, and you will have a short window (usually 15 minutes) to confirm you want it.
Standby can mean waiting hours or even until the next day. If you have flexibility, the agent may suggest flying to a nearby city and driving, or taking a flight the next morning when more seats typically open up. If you have a tight connection or time-sensitive plans, ask the agent what the realistic wait time is before committing to standby.
When you have a connecting flight
If you missed a connecting flight — you arrived late to your hub city and could not make your onward flight — Southwest treats this differently than missing your original departure. If the delay was Southwest's fault (a late arrival, a gate change, or a tight connection time), the airline will rebook you on the next flight to your final destination at no charge and may provide a meal voucher or hotel if you are stuck overnight.
If the delay was your fault (you took too long at the airport, you were late getting off the first flight), you still get rebooked at no charge, but you will not receive meal or hotel compensation. Either way, go to a Southwest counter in the connecting city and ask to be rebooked on the next available flight to your final destination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my money if I miss a Southwest flight?
No. Your ticket converts to a travel credit that stays in your account. You can use it to book another Southwest flight anytime in the future. The credit does not expire and is not forfeited because you missed the flight.
Can I rebook online if I miss my flight?
No. You must go to a Southwest ticket counter in person or call the airline before your flight departs. Once the flight has left, only a counter agent can rebook you by checking real-time seat availability and printing a new boarding pass.
What if there are no Southwest flights available for days?
You can stay on standby and wait for a seat to open, or you can keep your travel credit and book a flight on a different date. Southwest will not put you on another airline or refund your money, but your credit has no expiration date, so you can use it whenever a flight works for you.
Will I get a refund instead of a rebooking?
Southwest does not offer refunds for missed flights. You get a travel credit instead. If you no longer want to fly Southwest, you can contact the airline to discuss options, but a standard refund is not part of the missed-flight policy.
What if I miss my flight because of a Southwest delay?
If Southwest caused you to miss a connection — a late arrival, a gate change, or a short connection time — you are rebooked at no charge and may receive meal or hotel compensation depending on how long you are delayed. Go to a counter and explain the situation; the agent can see the flight history and will handle it accordingly.