Southwest Airlines Flight Change Policy: Process, Fees & Rules

Travel plans can change for many reasons. A business meeting may be postponed, a family event may move, or you may simply find a better flight time. If you have a Southwest Airlines reservation, you may be able to change your flight without paying a traditional airline change fee.

Southwest's current policy is relatively straightforward: eligible Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra fares can generally be changed without a change fee, although a fare difference may apply. Basic fares are more restrictive and cannot normally be changed unless you first upgrade the fare.

This guide explains the Southwest Airlines flight change policy and process, including changing your travel date, rescheduling a flight, changing your destination, Basic fare restrictions, same-day changes, standby, lower fares, and what happens if you miss the deadline.

Important: Southwest periodically updates its fare products and rules. Always review the terms displayed for your specific reservation before confirming a change.

What Is the Southwest Airlines Flight Change Policy?

Southwest allows eligible customers to modify an upcoming flight through Southwest.com or the Southwest mobile app.

Depending on the fare and reservation, you can change:

• Travel date

• Departure time

• Origin or destination

• Flight itinerary

• Fare type, where applicable

• Selected passengers on a multi-passenger reservation

Southwest states that it does not charge a standard flight-change fee for eligible fares. Instead, you generally pay only the difference between your original fare and the new fare, if there is one.

For example:

Original fare: $250New flight: $325Change fee: $0Additional fare: $75

In this situation, you would generally pay the $75 fare difference.

Can You Change a Southwest Flight for Free?

For eligible Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra fares, Southwest does not charge a traditional change fee. However, "free change" does not necessarily mean that the replacement flight costs nothing.

If the new flight is more expensive, the fare difference generally applies. If the new flight is cheaper, eligible customers may receive the difference according to the applicable fare rules.

What About Basic Fares?

• Basic is Southwest's most restrictive fare.
• Southwest currently states that Basic fares are non-changeable unless the customer upgrades the reservation to Choice, Choice Preferred, or Choice Extra.
• This means travelers who purchased Basic should not expect to simply select a different flight online without first meeting the applicable upgrade requirement.

Southwest Flight Change Policy by Fare Type

• Southwest currently offers four main fare products: Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra.

Basic Fare

Basic is designed as the lowest-priced and most restrictive option.

Under Southwest's current rules:

• Basic fares are non-changeable.

• You must upgrade to Choice, Choice Preferred, or Choice Extra to make a voluntary change.

• Basic fares can be canceled under applicable rules if canceled at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure.

• Eligible Basic cancellation value can become a flight credit subject to its expiration rules.

If you are considering Basic because of its lower initial price, remember that flexibility is more limited.

Choice Fare

• Choice fares can be changed without a traditional change fee. A fare difference can apply if the new flight costs more. Choice fares also qualify for Southwest's free same-day change and same-day standby benefits when the applicable conditions are met.

Choice Preferred Fare

• Choice Preferred fares also allow changes without a standard change fee, subject to any fare difference.
• They are also eligible for the applicable same-day change and standby benefits.

Choice Extra Fare

• Choice Extra provides the highest level of flexibility among Southwest's current standard fare products.
• There is no standard change fee, and Choice Extra includes free same-day change and same-day standby when the applicable requirements are satisfied.

How to Change a Southwest Airlines Flight Online

Most eligible Southwest reservations can be changed online without calling customer service.

Step 1: Go to Southwest.com

• Open Southwest Airlines' website and select the option to manage or change your flight.
• You can also use the Southwest mobile app.

Step 2: Retrieve Your Reservation

Enter the information requested by Southwest, such as:

• Confirmation number

• Passenger first name

• Passenger last name

Your confirmation number can normally be found in your booking confirmation email.

Step 3: Select the Flight You Want to Change

• Open the reservation and choose the applicable flight.
• If multiple passengers are traveling together, Southwest generally allows you to select which travelers need to be changed. In many cases, the selected passengers can be separated from the original reservation and receive a new confirmation number.

Step 4: Choose the New Flight

Select your preferred:

• Travel date

• Departure time

• Origin

• Destination

• Available itinerary

Southwest will show the applicable flights and pricing.

Step 5: Review the Fare Difference

Before confirming the change, carefully check the amount displayed.

You may see:

• No additional fare

• A fare increase

• A credit or refund of eligible fare difference

• An upgrade requirement for a Basic fare

Step 6: Confirm the Change

• If payment is required, complete the transaction.
• After the change is processed, check your new confirmation number and itinerary. Make sure the new date, time, airports and passenger information are correct.

How to Change the Date of a Southwest Flight

Changing the date is one of the most common Southwest flight modifications.

For an eligible fare, you can generally change the travel date through the Southwest website or app.

Date Change Process

1. Open your Southwest reservation.

2. Select Change Flight.

3. Choose the passenger or passengers who need the change.

4. Select the new travel date.

5. Compare available flights.

6. Select the preferred flight.

7. Review the fare difference.

8. Confirm and complete the change.

If the new date has higher demand, the replacement flight may cost more.

If your dates are flexible, check several nearby dates before confirming. A flight one day earlier or later can have a substantially different fare.

How to Reschedule a Southwest Flight

• Rescheduling generally means moving your existing reservation to another available flight.
• Southwest's online change tool allows eligible customers to change the date, time, origin, destination or fare type.
• A typical rescheduling process is:
• Southwest.com → Retrieve Reservation → Change Flight → Select New Itinerary → Review Fare → Confirm
• You should complete the process before the original flight's change deadline.

How Late Can You Change a Southwest Flight?

• Southwest currently allows flight changes until 10 minutes before the original scheduled departure time for eligible reservations.
• For example, if your flight is scheduled to depart at 8:00 a.m., the published cutoff is generally 7:50 a.m.
• If you do not travel and fail to change or cancel the reservation at least 10 minutes before the original departure, Southwest's no-show policy can apply.

Why the 10-Minute Deadline Matters

• Waiting until after departure can put the remaining value of your reservation at risk.
• If you already know that you cannot make the flight, change or cancel it before the deadline instead of simply missing the flight.

Southwest Same-Day Flight Change Policy

Southwest offers same-day confirmed change for eligible customers.

A same-day change allows you to switch to another flight departing on the same calendar day when:

• The new flight has available space.

• The origin airport remains the same.

• The destination airport remains the same.

• You are traveling on an eligible fare.

• You make the change before the applicable deadline.

Southwest currently includes free same-day change with Choice, Choice Preferred and Choice Extra fares. Basic fares are not eligible unless upgraded to a qualifying fare.

Same-Day Change vs. Normal Flight Change

• A normal flight change can involve moving your trip to another date.
• A same-day change is specifically for switching to another eligible flight on the same calendar day.
• For example, if your original flight leaves at 6:00 p.m. but you want to take an available 2:00 p.m. flight that same day, same-day change may be an option.

Southwest Same-Day Standby

• Same-day standby is different from a confirmed flight change.
• With standby, you request a seat on another eligible flight while retaining your original flight until Southwest clears you onto the new flight.

How Same-Day Standby Works

1. Open your itinerary in the Southwest app or mobile website.

2. Select the same-day standby option.

3. Choose an eligible earlier flight.

4. Add yourself to the standby list.

5. Wait for Southwest to confirm whether a seat becomes available.

6. If cleared, receive the new boarding pass.

You can also request standby through a Southwest airport agent.

Important Standby Rules

Same-day standby generally requires:

• The same origin airport

• The same destination airport

• The same travel date

• An eligible fare or qualifying A-List status

• A request before the applicable deadline

Southwest says the original seat is not lost simply because you request standby. You are moved only if you are cleared onto the new flight.

How Early Should You Request Same-Day Standby?

• Southwest's current online guidance states that, when using the app or mobile web, you must list for standby at least 60 minutes before a domestic flight or 90 minutes before an international flight. You must also make the request at least 10 minutes before your original scheduled departure to avoid the no-show policy.
• Because airport processing can take time, it is sensible not to wait until the last few minutes.

What Happens If the New Southwest Flight Is More Expensive?

You may have to pay the fare difference when moving to a more expensive flight.

For example:

• Original flight: $300

• Replacement flight: $420

• Difference: $120

For an eligible fare, Southwest does not add a standard change fee, so the additional amount would generally be the fare difference.

This is why checking the price before confirming the new itinerary is important.

What Happens If the New Southwest Flight Is Cheaper?

Southwest provides different options depending on the fare.

According to Southwest's current lower-fare guidance:

• Refundable fares can have the difference returned to the original payment method or held as a Transferable Flight Credit.

• Nonrefundable fares can receive the difference as a flight credit or Transferable Flight Credit, depending on the fare.

• Reward reservations can have the difference in Rapid Rewards points returned when applicable.

The precise credit or refund displayed during the transaction should be reviewed before completing the change.

Can You Change a Southwest Flight to a Different Destination?

• Yes, Southwest's current online change system states that customers can change their destination and origin for eligible reservations.
• Changing the origin or destination is different from a same-day flight change, which generally requires the same origin and destination airports.
• If you change the route, Southwest will calculate the applicable fare difference.

Can You Change Only One Passenger on a Southwest Reservation?

• Yes. If several passengers are on the same reservation but only one person needs to change their flight, Southwest says you can generally select the passenger who needs the change.
• The reservation can be divided, and the passenger being changed can receive a new confirmation number while the other travelers remain on the original reservation.
• This is useful when one member of a family or business group needs a different travel date.

Can You Change a Southwest Flight With a Lap Child?

• Special handling applies to reservations involving a lap child.
• Southwest instructs customers who need to change a flight with a lap child to contact a Southwest customer representative.
• Therefore, do not assume that the standard online change process will work for every reservation involving an infant traveling as a lap child.

Southwest Partner Flight Change Policy

• A Southwest-operated flight and a partner itinerary may have different rules.
• Southwest states that customers who want to change or cancel a partner reservation should contact the partner carrier, and the partner carrier's fare rules apply.
• Before making a change, determine which airline is responsible for operating and managing the affected segment.

Southwest Vacation Booking Changes

• If your flight is part of a Getaways by Southwest vacation booking, the change process can be different from an ordinary flight reservation.
• Southwest states that customers with Getaways bookings need to contact Getaways by Southwest directly for changes.
• This is particularly important because changing the flight can also affect the non-air components of a vacation package.

Southwest Flight Change Policy for Basic Fares

Basic fares require special attention.

Southwest currently describes Basic as:

• Non-refundable

• Non-changeable unless upgraded

• Eligible for limited cancellation value under the applicable rules

To change a Basic reservation, Southwest says you must first upgrade it to Choice, Choice Preferred or Choice Extra.

Should You Buy Basic If Your Plans May Change?

• If there is a reasonable chance that your travel plans will change, compare the total cost rather than simply choosing the lowest advertised fare.
• A Basic fare may save money when your plans are firm. But if you later need to change the trip, its restrictions can make it less flexible.

What Happens If You Miss Your Southwest Flight?

• Do not simply assume that a missed flight can be changed afterward.
• Southwest states that you must change or cancel at least 10 minutes before the original scheduled departure time to avoid the applicable no-show policy.
• If you know you cannot travel, take action before the deadline.

Southwest Flight Change and Travel Credits

• Travel credits can be created when an eligible reservation is changed or canceled.
• The expiration period depends on the type of credit and fare involved. Southwest's current fare information states that certain Transferable Flight Credits created from Choice, Choice Preferred and Choice Extra reservations expire 12 months from the booking and ticketing date, while Basic fare flight credits expire six months from the booking and ticketing date.
• Because expiration rules can depend on the specific credit, always check the expiration date shown with your funds.

Can You Change a Southwest Flight If the Fare Drops?

• Yes, eligible fares can generally be changed to take advantage of a lower fare.
• Southwest says Choice, Choice Preferred and Choice Extra reservations can be changed freely, with the applicable fare difference reflected in the transaction.
• For a nonrefundable fare, a qualifying lower fare can result in a flight credit or Transferable Flight Credit depending on the fare.
• For a refundable fare, the difference can be refunded to the original payment method or held as a Transferable Flight Credit.

Tips for Changing a Southwest Flight Without Paying More

Change Early

• Although Southwest does not charge a standard change fee on eligible fares, the replacement fare can increase as the departure date approaches.
• Changing earlier gives you more flight options.

Compare Several Flights

Do not automatically select the first replacement flight.

Compare:

• Different departure times

• Nearby travel dates

• Nonstop versus connecting options

• Different airports where practical

Check for a Lower Fare

• If the price of your existing itinerary has dropped, an eligible fare may allow you to change the reservation and receive the applicable difference as a credit or refund.

Avoid Missing the 10-Minute Deadline

• Complete a normal change or cancellation at least 10 minutes before the original scheduled departure.

Review the New Confirmation

After changing the reservation, verify:

• Travel date

• Departure time

• Origin

• Destination

• Passenger names

• Confirmation number

• Seat information, where applicable

Common Reasons to Change a Southwest Flight

Travelers frequently need to change Southwest reservations because of:

• Work schedule changes

• Family commitments

• School schedules

• Medical or personal situations

• Vacation date changes

• Connecting-flight changes

• Weather concerns

• Lower available fares

• Changes to hotel or rental-car arrangements

• Unexpected changes to return travel

The correct procedure depends on whether you are making a normal advance change, a same-day change, or responding to an airline disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Southwest charge a fee to change a flight?

• Southwest states that it does not charge standard flight-change fees. For eligible Choice, Choice Preferred and Choice Extra fares, you generally pay only a fare difference if the new flight costs more. Basic fares cannot normally be changed unless upgraded.

Can I change my Southwest flight date?

• Yes, eligible reservations can be changed to another travel date through Southwest.com or the Southwest app. The new fare may be higher or lower than the original fare.

How late can I change a Southwest flight?

• Southwest currently allows eligible flight changes until 10 minutes before the original scheduled departure time. If you fail to change or cancel before that deadline and do not travel, the no-show policy can apply.

Can I change a Southwest Basic fare?

• Not directly. Southwest states that Basic fares are non-changeable unless you upgrade to Choice, Choice Preferred or Choice Extra.

Can I change my Southwest flight to another destination?

• Yes, eligible reservations can be changed to a different origin or destination through Southwest's flight-change system. The applicable fare difference may apply.

Can I change only one passenger on a Southwest reservation?

• In most cases, yes. Southwest allows customers to select the passengers who need changes and divide the reservation when necessary. The changed passenger can receive a new confirmation number.

Can I change my Southwest flight on the same day?

• Yes, eligible Choice, Choice Preferred and Choice Extra customers can use same-day change when the requirements are met. The original and replacement flights must generally have the same origin, destination and travel date.

Is Southwest same-day standby free?

• Eligible customers can use same-day standby without a fare difference under Southwest's current rules. Government taxes and fees may initially apply but are subject to refund. Basic customers generally are not eligible unless they have qualifying A-List or A-List Preferred status.

Does Southwest guarantee a seat with same-day standby?

• No. Standby is not the same as a confirmed flight change. You retain your original flight until you are cleared for the alternate flight.

Can I change a Southwest flight after checking in?

• Eligible customers can change a flight before the applicable departure deadline. If you need a same-day change, the same-day rules and timing requirements apply.

What happens if the new Southwest flight is cheaper?

• The difference can be returned or credited depending on the fare. Southwest states that refundable fares can qualify for a refund or Transferable Flight Credit, while nonrefundable fares can receive a flight credit or Transferable Flight Credit under the applicable rules.

Can I change a Southwest flight after missing it?

• You should not rely on being able to change the reservation after departure. Southwest requires eligible changes or cancellations to be completed at least 10 minutes before the original scheduled departure to avoid the no-show policy.

Can I change a Southwest vacation package online?

• Getaways by Southwest vacation bookings have separate procedures. Southwest instructs customers to contact Getaways by Southwest for changes.

Can I change a Southwest flight with a lap child online?

• Southwest states that customers changing a flight with a lap child should contact a Southwest customer representative.

Can I change a Southwest partner flight?

• Partner itineraries can have separate rules. Southwest states that customers should contact the partner carrier for changes or cancellations and that the partner carrier's fare rules apply.

Southwest Airlines Flight Change Policy Help

The Southwest Airlines flight change policy is designed to provide considerable flexibility for customers traveling on eligible fares. Southwest does not charge a standard change fee for qualifying fares, although a fare difference can apply when the replacement flight is more expensive.

The main exception is the Basic fare, which Southwest currently classifies as non-changeable unless you upgrade to a qualifying fare.

For most eligible reservations, the process is simple: retrieve your booking through Southwest.com or the Southwest app, select Change Flight, choose the new itinerary, review the fare difference, and confirm the change.

If you need to travel at a different time on the same day, Southwest also offers same-day confirmed changes and standby for eligible customers. These options have specific requirements involving the fare, origin, destination, travel date and timing of the request.

Most importantly, do not wait until after your original departure time. Southwest currently requires eligible changes or cancellations to be completed at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure to avoid its no-show policy.

Before completing any Southwest flight change, review the exact fare, credit, refund and deadline information displayed for your reservation. That is the best way to avoid unexpected costs and ensure that your new itinerary is correctly confirmed. You can take expert help by calling the given numbers.