How to Cancel a Southwest Airlines Flight & View Travel Funds

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Southwest Airlines has numerous benefits, but its cancellation refund policy may be the best. Southwest wins because some airlines charge a lot to modify or cancel flights.

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There are two flight cancellation situations. First, if you cancel a cash flight, you get a travel fund credit. Rapid Rewards points are fully refunded for ticket purchases.

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As seen in the chart above, different fare classes have varied refund policies for tickets and travel monies.

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Wanna Get Away tickets are Southwest's cheapest, thus most of us buy them. These prices have different cancellation rules than Business Select and Anytime.

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Cancelling a Wanna Get Away fare saves the full sum as travel cash. You can cancel your flight 10 minutes before departure regardless of fare class and get a full refund

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Travel funds must be spent within one year of ticket purchase. Remember that travel funds expire 12 months from ticket purchase date, not flight date.

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If you buy a Wanna Get Away fare with Rapid Rewards points then cancel, Southwest Airlines returns your points. Ticket taxes go to your travel money.

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You can earn hundreds of Southwest points without flying! Additionally, Southwest provides the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card and/or Premier Business Credit Card.

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Southwest accepts Chase Ultimate Rewards points 1:1. Try the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for a versatile travel credit card with Southwest Airlines-transferable points.

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First rule of Southwest: always write down the confirmation number from the canceled flight. This is needed to access ticket travel funds.

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