Airline guides / Southwest
Southwest price dropped after you booked? Get the difference back.
Based on Southwest's published policies, checked 2026-11-07.
Changes: No change fee on Choice, Choice Preferred and Choice Extra fares. You only pay (or get back) the fare difference.
What you get back: a flight credit. On Choice fares and up it is a Transferable Flight Credit that lasts 12 months. Choice Preferred and Choice Extra can refund to your card instead.
Basic economy: Basic fares can only be changed if you upgrade to Choice or higher first.
Step by step
- On southwest.com or the app, go to Change Flight and find your trip with your confirmation number and name.
- Pick the exact same flights on the same dates.
- Check that the new price is lower, then confirm.
- On Choice Preferred or Choice Extra you can send the difference back to your card. Otherwise it becomes a flight credit.
Booked within the last 24 hours?
Booked in the last 24 hours, at least a week before departure, and not changed? Cancel for a full refund, then rebook at the lower price.
Paid with Rapid Rewards miles?
Rapid Rewards bookings can be changed too. Southwest doesn't say whether points come back when the price drops, so check the change screen before you confirm.
Watch out for
- Always make changes at least 10 minutes before departure, or you can lose the value.
- A Transferable Flight Credit can be given to another Rapid Rewards member once, in full.
- A round trip with a Basic leg can only be changed if you upgrade the Basic leg.
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