Free Guide to Changing Your Southwest Flight

How Southwest's Flight Change Policy Works

Southwest Airlines has one of the most flexible flight change policies in the airline industry. Unlike many other carriers, Southwest does not charge a change fee when you need to modify your flight reservation. This means you can change your flight without paying an additional fee on top of your ticket price, though you may owe a fare difference if you switch to a more expensive flight.

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The policy applies to all fare types that Southwest offers, including Wanna Get Away, Anytime, and Business Select tickets. When you change your flight, Southwest holds your original ticket value as a travel credit that you can apply to your new reservation. If your new flight costs less than your original ticket, the remaining balance stays available as a credit for future travel. This credit remains valid for one year from the date you purchased your original ticket, giving you considerable flexibility in using it.

Southwest operates differently from airlines that charge $75 to $200 or more for flight modifications. This policy extends to changes made due to schedule changes initiated by Southwest, which the airline handles at no cost. You can change your flight as many times as you want, and each change follows the same rules—no per-change fees.

The flexibility applies whether you want to change your departure date, your destination airport, or both. You can also switch between one-way and round-trip tickets, though fare differences would apply. Changes can be made up to ten minutes before your scheduled departure time, though making changes well in advance typically offers more flight options.

Practical Takeaway: Understanding that Southwest charges no change fee means you can plan your travel with flexibility. Factor in potential fare differences when changing to different times or dates, and remember that unused ticket value converts to a credit valid for one year.

Ways to Change Your Flight Online and Over the Phone

Southwest provides multiple channels for changing your flight, with the online method being the fastest and most convenient option. To change your flight through Southwest's website, you need your confirmation number and either your passenger's last name or the email address associated with your reservation. The confirmation number appears on your booking confirmation email and on your receipt from purchase.

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Visit Southwest.com and look for the "Manage Reservations" section, typically found in the main navigation menu. Enter your confirmation number and passenger information, then select the reservation you wish to modify. The system displays your current flight details and shows available flights for your selected date. You can browse through flights by departure time, duration, and stops to find one that works better for your schedule.

When you select a new flight, the system shows the fare difference immediately. If your new flight costs more, you pay the difference with a credit card. If it costs less, the difference remains as a travel credit on your account. Complete the change, and your new itinerary displays with updated flight times and confirmation details.

For phone changes, contact Southwest's reservations team at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792). Wait times vary based on call volume, typically ranging from a few minutes to over an hour during peak travel periods. The representative walks you through the same process: confirming your reservation, showing available flights, and processing the fare difference if applicable. Phone changes take longer than online changes, often ten to twenty minutes depending on complexity.

You can also make changes at Southwest ticket counters and gates at airports, though airport staff handle these changes on a first-come, first-served basis during busy travel times. This method works well if you're already at the airport and need to change a flight for that day.

Practical Takeaway: Use the online method when you have time to browse options yourself, as it's faster and available 24/7. Reserve phone changes for situations where you need personalized assistance or have questions about which flight to select.

Understanding Fare Differences and Travel Credits

When you change your Southwest flight, the system compares the price of your new flight to the price you paid for your original ticket. This comparison determines whether you owe money or receive a credit. Fares fluctuate based on demand, how far in advance you book, the time of day, and the day of the week. A flight that cost $120 when you booked it might cost $85 a week later, or it might cost $160 if demand has increased.

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If your new flight costs more than what you paid originally, you pay the fare difference. For example, if you paid $150 for a flight and want to change to a flight that costs $200, you pay $50 at the time of change. You can pay this difference with a credit card or by using an existing travel credit on your account. Southwest accepts all major credit cards for these payments.

If your new flight costs less than your original ticket, Southwest credits the difference to your account. Using the example above, if you paid $150 and change to a $120 flight, you receive a $30 credit. This $30 credit has no expiration restrictions beyond the one-year validity window of your original ticket purchase. You can use this credit toward future flights for yourself or transfer it to another person by contacting Southwest and providing the recipient's information.

Travel credits remain attached to a specific passenger name. If you purchased a ticket for Sarah Johnson, that credit stays under Sarah Johnson's name. You can use it for any Southwest flight, any destination, and any fare type. The credit appears in your account after your flight change processes, typically within 24 hours. You view your available credits in the "Manage Reservations" section of Southwest's website or by calling reservations.

Southwest occasionally offers sales and promotional fares that may not be available for your original booking. If you change to a flight during a promotion, you still only pay based on the fare difference calculation, not the advertised sale price.

Practical Takeaway: Monitor Southwest's prices before changing your flight if possible. If prices have dropped, changing to a cheaper flight generates a credit you can use later. Keep track of your travel credits and their expiration dates to use them before they expire.

Step-by-Step Process for Making Your Change

Here's a detailed walkthrough of changing your Southwest flight through the website, which represents the most direct method.

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Step 1: Gather Your Information Before starting, have your confirmation number ready. This appears in your booking confirmation email. You'll also need either the last name of the passenger or the email address used when purchasing the ticket. Confirmation numbers are typically eight characters combining letters and numbers.

Step 2: Visit the Manage Reservations Page Go to Southwest.com and click "Manage Reservations" in the top navigation menu. This takes you to a page asking for your confirmation number and passenger information. Enter these details and click "Retrieve Reservation." The system searches Southwest's database and displays your booking.

Step 3: Select Your Reservation If you've made multiple bookings, the system shows all of them. Choose the one you want to modify. Click the option to change your flight. The page then displays your current flight with departure time, arrival time, flight number, and aircraft type.

Step 4: Choose Your New Travel Date Select the date when you want to fly. A calendar view shows available dates. Click on your desired date, and the system loads all Southwest flights for that date on your original route. If you're changing destinations, you can modify both your departure city and arrival city at this point.

Step 5: Review Available Flights The system displays all available flights with departure times, arrival times, number of stops, and fares for each option. Each flight shows the total price, which may differ from your original ticket. Flights typically depart throughout the day from early morning to evening, giving you multiple options based on your schedule.

Step 6: Confirm the Fare Difference When you select your new flight, the system clearly shows any additional charge. For instance, it might display "Original fare: $150" and "New fare: $165," with a difference of $15 that you'll pay. Review this calculation before proceeding. If there's a credit instead, the system shows the credit amount you'll receive.

Step 7: Complete Payment If you owe a fare difference, enter your credit card information or select an existing travel credit to cover part or all of the difference. Southwest accepts Visa,