Southwest Flight Credit

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01 October 2025

Southwest Flight Credit: Your Ultimate Guide

You must have come across the term “flight credit” if you fly Southwest Airlines. Flight credits are a core part of Southwest’s customer-friendly policies whether you had to cancel a trip, rebook a flight or saw a fare drop. But many travelers still wonder how they work, when they expire and how to use them without losing value. 
 
This guide breaks it all down about Southwest Airlines flight credits. You can reach out to Southwest Airlines customer support at 1-800-435-9792 or WinkTravelDeals at +1-866-579-8033 to know more.
 

What Is a Southwest Flight Credit?

A Southwest flight credit is a travel fund issued to passengers who cancel a Southwest Airlines Reservation, downgrade to a cheaper fare, or make certain other qualifying changes to their ticket. These credits can be used toward future Southwest flights and are not the same as airline miles or voucher-based compensation.
 
The Southwest flight credits offer flexible ways to recoup the value of canceled flights and put it toward future travel with important expiration rules depending on when and what fare was booked.
 

How Do You Earn a Southwest Flight Credit?

There are a few ways you might end up with Southwest flight credits:
 
  • Canceling A Paid Flight : If you bought a Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred or Choice Extra ticket and later cancel, you’ll usually get credit back.
  • Changing A Flight to A Cheaper Fare : If your new flight costs less than the original, you’ll receive the difference as Southwest flight credit.
  • No-shows on Some Fares : With Basic fares, a no-show can mean losing the ticket entirely. But with higher fares, you get flight credit instead of forfeiting everything.

How to Check Your Southwest Flight Credit Balance?

Southwest makes it easy:
 
  • Go to the Southwest Airlines website.
  • Navigate to “Flight | Hotel | Car | Vacations” on the top right corner of the top right corner of the website.
  • Click on Check Travel Funds under the Flight section.
  • Enter your confirmation number and the passenger’s first and last name.
  • You’ll see the balance, expiration date and details.
Pro tip: You can also check your credits by logging into your Rapid Rewards account, where any eligible credits will be tied to your profile.
 

How Long Is a Southwest Flight Credit Valid?

The Southwest flight credit validity depends on when and what type of fare was purchased. For most fares booked or changed on or after May 28, 2025:
 
  • Basic Fares: Credits expire 6 months from the original ticket purchase date and travel must be completed before the expiration date.
  • Choice, Choice Preferred or Choice Extra Fares: Credits expire 12 months from the original ticket purchase date.
  • Credits issued before May 28, 2025: These do not expire and remain usable indefinitely under the prior policy.
All travel must be completed before the expiration date. Simply booking before expiration is not sufficient for Basic credits. Credits from cancellations, changes or fare downgrades follow these same rules based on the fare type and issue date.
 

Can You Transfer a Southwest Flight Credit to Someone Else?

Yes, some Southwest flight credits can be transferred to someone else but only if they are issued as "Transferable Flight Credits" from select fare types — specifically Choice, Choice Preferred or Choice Extra fares booked or changed on or after May 28, 2025. Here’s how it works:
 
  • Southwest Transferable Flight Credits can be sent from one Rapid Rewards member to another, but both parties must have Rapid Rewards accounts.
  • Only one transfer is permitted per flight credit. Once transferred, it cannot be reversed or transferred again.
  • Credits cannot be split. The entire credit must be transferred as a whole.

How Do You Use a Southwest Flight Credit to Book a Flight?

When you’re ready to rebook, applying your credit is simple:
 
  • Start a flight search on Southwest.com.
  • When paying, choose the option to use Southwest flight credit or travel funds.
  • Enter the confirmation number from the original reservation.
  • The credit applies instantly to your booking.
If your credit is not sufficient for the full price, you can settle the balance using a credit card. If your credit exceeds the new ticket price, the excess remains in your account as a reserve for future transactions.
 

What If You Cancel a Flight Booked with Southwest Flight Credits?

If you cancel a flight that had been reserved with Southwest flight credits, the credit is usually returned as a flight credit, subject to some conditions depending on the type of fare that was used for making the new reservation.
 
When you purchase a flight credit and book a flight with it, which you then cancel, you get a new flight credit for the value rather than a refund in cash.
 
You need to cancel no least 10 minutes before departure time in order to save the credit; otherwise, your points and money can be lost because of the no-show policy.
 

Can You Combine Multiple Credits on One Booking?

Yes, Southwest allows you to apply up to three forms of payment per booking. That means you can combine:
 
  • Multiple flight credits.
  • A credit plus a gift card.
  • Credits plus a credit card.
This flexibility makes it easy to use up smaller leftover balances.
 

What Are The Downsides of Southwest Flight Credits?

While Southwest’s system is one of the best, there are a few caveats:
 
  • No Cash Refunds: Flight credits are issued instead of refunds on non-refundable fares. Travelers may end up repeatedly canceling and rebooking without cash refunds if plans change multiple times.
  • Limited Transferability: Only flight credits from higher fare types booked or changed after 28 May 2025 may be transferable and transfer is limited to one time per credit. Basic fare credits are non-transferable.
  • Expiration Rules for Older Credits: Credits issued before 28 May 2025 do not expire but newer policies have introduced expiration dates that can limit flexibility.

What’s the Smartest Way to Manage Southwest Flight Credits?

The best way to manage Southwest flight credits involves careful organization, strategic consolidation and timely use to maximize value and avoid expiration or loss. Some strategies that can help are:
 
  • Always book with your Rapid Rewards account so credits stay linked to your profile.
  • Set reminders for older credits so they don’t expire unused.
  • Transfer unused credits to family members or friends who may use them before they expire rather than letting them go unused.
  • Always cancel flights 10 minutes or more before departure to retain your credits.
  • Combine them strategically to use up every dollar.

Conclusion

The Southwest flight credits provide good flexibility and a useful fallback for canceled or changed trips which makes them worth having for most travelers who fly Southwest regularly and manage their credits proactively. They offer a way to get the value of nonrefundable fares as travel funds for future use without losing money immediately. 
 
Understanding the expiration and transfer rules is important to realize their benefit and avoid potential pitfalls. You can contact Southwest Airlines at 1-800-435-9792 or WinkTravelDeals at +1-866-579-8033 in case of any queries or further information.
 
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