We're sorry your flight was significantly delayed (generally a delay of three hours or more for domestic flights and six hours or more for international flights). You have a few options. Traveling on an itinerary involving a partner airline? Review important details.
Option #1: Continue with your travel plans
- If you want to continue your travel as scheduled, you don’t need to do anything. We will do our best to get you on your way, and you can check your flight’s status on Southwest.com® or via the Southwest® app.
Option #2: Change your flight
- If your flight is significantly delayed, we may automatically rebook you on another Southwest® flight to your destination. If Southwest contacts you with a new itinerary, your new reservation is confirmed, and you don't need to do anything else.
- If your new flight(s) does not fit your plans or you aren't automatically rebooked due to a significant delay, you can change your flight at no additional cost.
- If you have been affected by a significant flight delay and are at the airport, please speak with a Southwest Customer Service Agent. Alternatively, you may speak with a Customer Representative via phone.
Option #3: Cancel your reservation and choose flight credit
- If you decide not to travel as a result of a significant delay, you can receive a flight credit or Transferable Flight Credit™ (depending on the type of fare purchased) toward future travel rather than a refund. A flight credit can only be used by the original ticketed Passenger. A Transferable Flight Credit can be transferred once between Rapid Rewards® Members. Flight credits and Transferable Flight Credits have a specified expiration date. All travel must be completed by the expiration date. If your flight is significantly delayed by Southwest® and you choose a flight credit when canceling your reservation, your flight credit will be valid for five years.
- You must cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes before the flight’s original scheduled departure. Reservations that are not flown and not canceled are subject to our no-show policy.
Option #4: Cancel your reservation and choose a method-of-payment refund
- If you decide not to travel as a result of a significant delay, you are eligible for a method-of-payment refund if any of the following apply to the change Southwest® initiated to your scheduled itinerary:
- You are now scheduled to depart three hours or more for domestic itineraries and six hours or more for international itineraries earlier than your original scheduled departure time.
- You are scheduled to arrive at your destination airport three hours or more for domestic itineraries or six hours or more for international itineraries later than your original scheduled arrival time.
- You are scheduled to depart from a different airport or arrive at a different destination airport than originally scheduled.
- You are scheduled to travel on an itinerary with more connection points than your original itinerary.
- You are downgraded to a lower class of service.
- You have a disability and are scheduled to travel through one or more connecting airports different from the original itinerary.
- When you cancel your reservation, you will be presented with the option to receive a refund of your unused airfare.
- Generally, refunds are processed to the original form of payment and are processed by Southwest® within 7 business days.
- Please cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes prior to original scheduled departure.
Getaways by Southwest™ Customers
