How to Change Your Southwest Airlines Flight Reservation
Yes, you can definitely change your flights with Southwest Airlines. The change in plans becomes inevitable, you must alter your flight schedule to fit your needs. Southwest Airlines understands that and offers you a chance to reschedule your flight as per the change of plan. Under the Southwest Airlines change flight policy, customers can change the date, time, schedule, and even name on the tickets. The airline does not charge any change fees for these adjustments as long as you have an eligible fare and you follow the airline rules.
But how do you change a flight with the airline, and what is the airline’s policy for changing flight schedules and names on tickets? To know everything in detail, check the below subsections.
How Can I Change Southwest Airlines Flight Schedules?
You can change your flight schedules with Southwest Airlines by following a simple series of steps, and there are ample ways to do it as well. For example Southwest Airlines allows you to change your ticket date and time online, request it through customer service or visit the airport directly for the purpose. Here are the steps:
Change Southwest Flights Online
- Visit the Southwest Airlines website (www.southwest.com).
- Click on “My Booking ” in the top right corner.
- Enter your confirmation number or Rapid Rewards account details
- Provide your last name and access your reservation.
- Select the flight you want to change.
- Click on “Change Flight.”
- Follow the prompts to select a new flight.
- Pay any applicable fees or fare differences.
Change Southwest Flights Via Customer Service
- Call the Southwest Airlines customer service team.
- Dial +1-800-435-9792
- Follow the automated instructions.
- Connect to a live person.
- Share that you wish to change your booking.
- Tell him about your flight details.
- Provide your last name and access your reservation.
- Choose the flight you want to change.
- Pay any applicable fees or fare differences
- Confirm the flight changes.
Request Southwest flight change at the Airport
- Go to the nearest airport.
- Find Southwest Helpdesk.
- Share your concerns with an agent on duty.
- Give him your ticket details.
- Also, provide your personal information.
- Share your desire for the new flight.
- Get proper help if a seat is available.
- Pay any applicable fees or fare differences
After changing and modifying your booking, you receive a confirmation email from the airline. You can keep this email for future references,
Can you change flights on Southwest without a fee?
Yes, Southwest Airlines flight changes do not cost you anything. The airline may ask you to pay the difference in fare for a flight that costs more than your initial booking. However, there is no change fee for choosing a new flight up to 10 minutes before the departure.
The airline also refunds you the amount difference between the new and original fare when the new flight costs less than the initial price. Remember that the refund amount can be in the original payment form or flight credit, depending on the type of your ticket.
What is Southwest Airlines Flight Change Policy in 2024?
When you request to change your flight with Southwest, the airline does not charge you anything. However, you must know how this works and how you can manage to alter your ticket itinerary without paying too much. If you want to change your Southwest Airlines flights in 2024, you should know their policy in detail. You will find the major points below:
- You can change your flights free of cost up to 10 minutes before the flight takes off for any fare type.
- Southwest customers can change their flights even after check-in at no charge.
- If there are less than 24 hours left in the departure, make sure to check in for the new flight immediately after changing.
- Same-day flight changes are subject to availability. If you do not change or cancel a flight and neither show up, you will be a No-Show and the corresponding policy will apply.
- If you have a nonrefundable fare, you can still pay the associated difference in fare and upgrade to a refundable booking while making flight changes.
- Customers can make changes to their return flights by paying the difference in fare after completing the first leg of their itinerary.
These were the basic change flight rules for Southwest Airlines. You can call Southwest Airlines change flight phone number if you want to make additional changes to your bookings, or need more information on these rules.
What if Southwest Airlines Changes My Flight?
The change flight rules apply to all Southwest reservations, even when the changes are involuntary. There are times when the airline changes your flight out of a situation that is uncontrollable. If Southwest Airlines alters your schedule, it’s important to be aware of the available options.
- When Southwest Airlines calls or emails you about a new itinerary with a confirmed reservation, check the details of the booking and see if that works for you.
- In case the available option does not work, you can choose to change or cancel your flights according to your preferences.
Option 1: Change Flight
- For any Involuntary changes to a flight, choose a new flight by clicking Manage My Booking on Southwest Airlines.
- You have the option to modify the date or time of each flight in your original reservation, regardless of whether it was impacted or not.
- You can do this twice, and each change can be made within 14 days of your original travel date, without incurring any extra fees.
Option 2: Cancel Flight
In case Southwest causes a schedule change that makes you opt out of traveling, you have two options.
- Get a refund via a method of payment
- Retain the ticket’s value as a flight credit, which you can use to purchase a future flight.
For more information on refunds and flight credits, please refer to the relevant guidelines. Check the Southwest Airlines cancel flight policy for canceling any type of flights affected by involuntary changes.
What do a ‘+’ and ‘-’ indicate while changing a Southwest flight?
When you are making a change to your Southwest Airlines reservation, if you see a ‘+’ by the new flight cost, it indicates that the new itinerary cost more than the original. And a ‘-’ sign indicates its opposite. For example:
- +$29 means your new flight costs 29 Bucks extra than the initial cost.
- And, -$29 means it costs 29 bucks less than the original one.
The new flight fare difference will be nil if the flight says $0. In that case, you will be able to change your Southwest booking at no extra cost.
Can I Change My Southwest Flights Linked to a Minor?
Yes, you can change a flight that is linked to a minor’s flight. However, the change flight process is different. First of all, you have to cancel the originally linked minor’s flight and then change a new time or date for your flight. After that, you can rebook the flight for the minor again.
If the process seems confusing, call a Southwest Airlines customer service agent at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA and get additional information on the same.
Does the same process apply to a Southwest Companion Booking?
Yes. If you want to change your flight that is linked to a companion’s ticket, you need to cancel it first and then make the required changes. After Southwest confirms your change, you can rebook the companion’s flight.
Is it possible to Change Southwest Airlines Flights for Just One Person?
Yes, you can divide Southwest Airlines reservations into different segments to change them for a single passenger on the itinerary. In other words, if you just wish to change a flight for a specific traveler in the booking, with two or more persons, you need to divide it.
To do so, you can contact the airline experts and request the same. They will help you divide the reservation. Southwest has recently updated its change flight rules for customers so that they can divide flights online by changing the number of passengers without calling.
Once you do so, you will receive an email where you will get a new confirmation number for the customer divided from the initial booking. You can easily change the flight by then.
Can I change my Southwest flight to an earlier time on the same day?
Yes, you can change your Southwest flight time to an earlier flight. However, this falls under the same-day flight change rules rather than general flight changes. So, a different set of conditions will apply when you wish to change flights on the same day.
Final Words
That’s all about Southwest Airlines flight change options and policy. If you have got any questions or concerns, you can contact the airline’s customer service team and get the necessary information you need. For better insights, get a real person’s help or try the self-service options as you need.