southwest travel funds phone number

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How to Use Southwest Travel Funds

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Southwest is one of the most popular airlines to fly in the U.S., partially because it offers a generous cancellation and flight change policy. However, depending upon the ticket you buy, you may receive travel funds instead of a cash refund in the event your flight plans change.

Here's how to use Southwest travel funds.

How do you get Southwest travel funds?

Thanks to its no-fee change/cancellation policy, Southwest provides a full refund or issues travel funds to your account. To benefit from this generous policy, you must cancel your flight at least 10 minutes before departure.

Here’s how to determine what kind of refund you’ll get:

You get a full refund to your original payment method when you book Anytime or Business Select tickets.

You get travel funds when you book Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus tickets. If you use Rapid Rewards points, they will be returned to your Southwest account. Any refunded taxes will go to your travel funds.

Business Select and Anytime fares offer the most flexibility, but they also cost more than Wanna Get Away fares. Wanna Get Away fares, on the other hand, offer the lowest prices. But if you need to cancel or choose to rebook to a lower-priced flight , your only choice is to receive travel funds — cash refunds aren't on the table.

» Learn more: Southwest Rapid Rewards program: the complete guide

Where can you see your travel funds balance?

When you log in to your Rapid Rewards loyalty account, your travel funds appear at the top of the "My Account" screen.

This shows the total available travel funds that you have, but it does not provide the details. You need to click on "View Details" to see the balance of the individual travel fund reservations. Here, you find the expiration date and balance for each reservation. As of July 28, 2022, any unexpired funds and any funds created from there on out will no longer expire. Southwest is updating their system, so for the time being, an expiration date of Dec. 31, 2040, will be displayed in the expiration field. Eventually, that field will go away altogether.

If you don't have a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards account, booked a flight that didn't have your loyalty number attached to it or have travel funds from a special purchase ticket, then you'll need to track them manually. Signing up for a Rapid Rewards account is free to do.

Unfortunately, you cannot manually add travel funds to your profile. To track your travel funds manually, visit the " Check Travel Funds " page on Southwest's website. You'll need to provide the passenger's first and last name plus the confirmation number from the reservation. On this page, you can also check the balance of Southwest LUV vouchers and gift cards.

» Learn more: Don't just redeem miles — redeem them wisely. Here's how

What can I do if my travel funds have expired?

While unexpired funds and newly created funds no longer have an expiration date as of July 28, 2022, what if you have travel funds that expired just before this change in policy? According to the Southwest Community message boards, your one hope is to call customer service within six months of the expiration and ask them to reinstate your travel funds as a LUV voucher. The LUV voucher will be good for another six months from the date of your call. Southwest charges $100 for this one-time extension and it comes out of your travel funds.

» Learn more: Southwest Airlines sweet spots

What can Southwest travel funds be used for?

Travel funds from Southwest can be used to book any available cash flight or to pay for the taxes and fees on award flights. They are treated like cash and can be used to pay for some or all of the amount owed. If you don't use all of the travel funds for the reservation, any remaining balance remains for future use.

» Learn more: Your guide to booking award flights on Southwest

Can I use Southwest travel fund for someone else?

Your travel funds can be transferred to someone else with a Rapid Rewards account if you bought a a Business Select , Anytime or Wanna Get Away Plus fare. That person would have to book their own flight using the travel fund, though. You won't be able to use your travel fund to book for someone else. Wanna Get Away fares are not eligible to transferred, so they can only be used by the ticketed passenger.

4 steps to book a flight with Southwest travel funds

Your travel funds can be used to book flights online, over the phone or at a Southwest Airlines ticket counter. For this illustration, we'll focus on booking a reservation online.

1. Have your original ticket confirmation number handy

Before booking a reservation, print out or write down the travel funds reservation number(s) that you'd like to use. Southwest's website does not allow you to choose from a list during booking.

2. Browse and select your flights

During the booking process, you'll select your travel dates, cities and times as normal.

3. Apply your travel funds

When you arrive at the "Passenger & Payment Info" page, click to expand the "Apply Travel Funds, LUV Vouchers and gift cards" section. Here is where you'll enter your travel funds' confirmation number and your first and last name before clicking "Apply funds." Then, continue the booking process as normal and pay any remaining balance owed with your preferred form of payment, such as the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card .

Again, you may use your travel funds for cash fares or to pay the taxes and fees on award tickets.

Remember, travel funds from other passengers may not be applied to your ticket.

4. Get confirmation

Now that you've filled out all of the necessary information and remitted payment with your travel fund, you should see a confirmation email pop up in your inbox.

» Learn more: Is a Southwest credit card worth it?

Using Southwest travel funds

Southwest travel funds are typically created when you cancel or change a Wanna Get Away reservation. They are automatically added to your account when you attach your Rapid Rewards number to the reservation before it is canceled. These funds can be used to book cash or award travel, and any unused amount from your new reservation can be used on a future flight.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

UponArriving

Southwest Travel Funds (Expiration, How to use, Etc.) [2021]

Sometimes you need to cancel a flight or you just flat out miss a flight with Southwest. In those instances, all hope is not lost and all of your value is not lost either. That is because you will likely be issued Southwest travel funds (depending on the type of ticket that you purchased).

In this comprehensive article, I will show you everything you need to know about Southwest travel funds. I’ll discuss how you get them, how to use them, and important details like when they expire. I will also touch on gift cards and LUV vouchers for added clarification.

Table of Contents

What are Southwest travel funds?

Southwest travel funds are special funds that usually get issued when you are given a refunded credit for your Southwest flight. Southwest travel funds are different from gift card balances and Southwest LUV vouchers and I’ll discuss those below for added clarification.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Best Southwest credit cards

Southwest airlines rapid rewards premier card.

The Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Card comes with the following benefits:

• No foreign transaction fees
• 6,000 anniversary points ( learn more )
• Earn 1,500 Tier-Qualifying Points for every $10,000 in purchases, up to 15,000 Tier-Qualifying Points each calendar year
• $99 Annual fee

Southwest Airlines Priority Card

The Southwest Airlines Priority Card comes with all of the benefits offered below:

• 2X Rapid Rewards on Southwest purchases
• 2X Rapid Rewards on hotel and car rental partner purchases.
• 1X Rapid Rewards on all other purchases
• $75 Southwest annual travel credit ( learn more )
• 7,500 anniversary points each year
• Four Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
• 20% back on in-flight drinks, WiFi, messaging, and movies
• Earn tier qualifying points towards A-list Status
• $149 annual fee applied to your first billing statement

How to get Southwest travel funds

Typically, you will get Southwest travel funds whenever you cancel a flight or you fail to show up for a flight (a “no show”).

One of the most common ways to get Southwest travel funds is to receive a credit for your canceled flight.

Southwest Airlines has one of the most generous cancellation policies out of any major airline in the US. They allow you to change your flights with no additional fee (up to 1 hour prior to departure) and allow you to cancel your flight up to 10 minutes prior to the departure time.

Anytime fare or a Business Select fare

If you purchased an Anytime fare or a Business Select fare then you can cancel up to 10 minutes prior to the departure time and receive a full refund. However, if you fail to cancel your flight you will be issued Southwest travel funds in place of that refund.

Wanna-Get-Away fare

If you purchased a Wanna-Get-Away fare you are not allowed to receive a full cash refund. Instead, you will receive Southwest travel funds whenever you cancel your ticket at least 10 minutes prior to departure. But keep in mind that if you fail to show up for your flight and don’t cancel your ticket at least 10 minutes prior to departure, you will not be issued any type of credit at anytime and you will lose all of your travel funds. 

Award reservations

If you had an award reservation then your Rapid Rewards will be deposited back into your account. However, any taxes and fees associated with your reward travel reservation will be held for future use in the form of reusable travel funds under the name of the traveler(s).

Also keep in mind that if you purchase Southwest EarlyBird, that is a nonrefundable purchase and you will not receive travel funds for that. To find out more about Southwest EarlyBird click here .

2020 Coronavirus travel funds update 

Extended expiration.

If you purchased a nonrefundable fare (such as a Wanna-Get-Away fare) for travel between March 1 and September 7, 2020 and you cancel your flight “in accordance with Southwest’s No Show Policy,” you will receive travel funds good through September 7, 2022.

However, once you use those travel funds for a purchase they will then expire one year from the date of purchase.

So for example if you redeemed travel funds on July 1, 2021 then those travel funds would expire July 1, 2022.

Travel funds with an expiration date of September 7, 2022, can be converted into Rapid Rewards points at the same rate you would be able to purchase a ticket with points today.

You must request to convert your travel fund by December 15, 2020.

Southwest gift cards

Southwest gift cards can be purchased from the Southwest website at anytime  or you can purchase them via phone by calling Southwest Airlines at 1-800-IFLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792).

You can choose any amount between $10 dollars and $10,000 dollars so the range is quite extreme. (Orders exceeding $1,000 can be made by printing the  Southwest gift card order form  and following the directions provided.)

You can also choose to have these gift cards delivered via email, or you can have them sent via mail. But note that if you were getting them sent via the mail, you will have to pay the shipping fees. If you prefer, you can also expedite the shipping of these gift cards.

A Southwest gift card is NOT valid for the purchase of:

• Southwest Airlines Vacation Packages
• Rental cars
• Southwest Airlines Merchandise
• EarlyBird Check-In
• Additional Southwest gift cards
• In-flight purchases

Related: How much are Southwest points worth?

Southwest LUV Vouchers

Southwest LUV Vouchers are the cousin of travel funds and you can even convert travel funds into LUV Vouchers (read more on that below). 

LUV Vouchers are valid as a form of payment toward future airfare only on Southwest Airlines through Southwest.com , toll-free Reservations 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792), or at any Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter.

Southwest LUV Vouchers are not redeemable as:

• Payment toward Government-imposed segment fees
• Excise taxes
• Passenger Facility Charges
• September 11th Security Fees or
• Payment toward miscellaneous charges
• Southwest Airlines Group tickets
• Southwest Airlines Vacations packages
• or travel either wholly or in part on other air carriers.

When do Southwest travel funds expire?

Southwest travel funds will expire one year from the purchase date (booking date) of the original flight. This is a huge thing to know because some people assume that the expiration date is one year from the date of travel, which is not the case.

Southwest Airlines does not offer free extensions for the expiration date for travel funds. However, you still might be able to get them to extend the expiration date of your travel funds. This will likely come at a cost of though.

Travel funds expire date extension

Many people extend the expiration date for their travel funds after paying a $100 reinstatement fee. The travel funds are then converted into LUV vouchers when the reinstatement takes place.

You may only have 6 months to request the reinstatement and you must make your request after your travel funds expire. Also, the LUV voucher may only be valid for 6 months from issue so inquire about its expiration date. 

Sometimes Southwest has reduced the value of the travel funds when they are reinstated so be on the lookout for that.

The good thing about getting a LUV voucher is that you should be able to use that for anybody. So in some instances, it could be very well worth it to pay $100 so that you can apply those funds to a different traveler. 

If your funds have already expired, then I highly suggest that you call and inquire about all of the above possibilities. If the phone representative is not willing to budge, then I suggest that you try calling back later and speaking with another representative.

Note that it is possible that the policies regarding reinstated travel funds are subject to change at anytime so always be prepared for alternative measures!

What about gift cards and vouchers?

Unlike Southwest travel funds, the gift cards do not expire.

However, Southwest LUV Vouchers must be redeemed and all travel completed by the expiration date indicated. If applied in conjunction with any other accepted form(s) of payment, the earliest expiration date of all payments applies.

Southwest will often grant extensions for LUV vouchers but will usually refuse an extension if that LUV voucher was received as a result of getting an extension from your travel funds expiration date. However, if you were given a LUV voucher because of some sort of customer service issue, then you will likely be granted at least one extension for the expiration date.

How to check/view your Southwest travel funds

If you would like to check the status of your Southwest travel funds then simply log-in to your Southwest account and then click on “My Account.” You will then see “My travel funds” at the top and you’ll just need to click on “View Travel Funds.” 

You can also do so by clicking here. You will need to have your confirmation number and the passengers first and last name. On that website, you can also check the balance of your Southwest gift card and vouchers.

If you do not have your flight details, you might run into some resistance because Southwest does state that you need this information to look up your travel funds:

Customers calling Southwest to request a refund or to research travel funds for a specific ticket must provide their confirmation number, ticket number or flight information (date, origin and destination).

How to use and apply Southwest travel funds

It is very simple to use your Southwest travel funds.

When you are getting ready to complete the booking of your flight, you should see a button on the checkout screen under the Payment method window for Travel Funds. You will want to click that and then enter in the confirmation number and passenger name from the reservation of the canceled or unused flight.

Keep in mind that the passenger name must match the name of the traveler on the new flight perfectly. You cannot use Southwest travel funds for someone else. You also cannot transfer your travel funds to someone else.

As Southwest states:

Travel Funds from an unused or cancelled reservation may only be applied toward the purchase of future travel for the individual named on the ticket.

But keep in mind the possible exception where you convert your travel funds into LUV vouchers. That route comes with a cost and some risk, but if it works out it can be a way to get around the transferability rule.

Southwest travel funds FAQ

If you do not know your confirmation number, then try to search your inbox for Southwest emails. You should have been given an email at the time of booking containing your confirmation number. The subject line will usually state “Your reservation is confirmed.” You might also be able to locate the confirmation number by logging into your Southwest account and clicking on your past activity which you find under “My Trips.” If all else fails then consider calling the following phone number: 1-800-435-9792 (1-800 I FLY SWA).

You should note that you can only use these funds for airfare or for Southwest vacation packages. They cannot be applied for other purchases like in-flight purchases, Southwest Earlybird, and other random airline incidentals.

A lot of people don’t have use for their travel funds and they want to know if they can convert the travel funds into cash money. The answer to this question is no. If Southwest allowed customers to do that, it would honestly defeat the entire purpose of issuing travel credits in the first place so it is understandable that they do not allow this.

It is possible that when you go to apply your Southwest travel funds that they will not work. If that is the case, then I suggest calling up Southwest right away and explaining to them that you believe that you have travel funds that should be applied and that they are not working during the checkout process.

If you would like to check the status of your Southwest travel funds then simply log-in to your Southwest account and then click on “My Account.” You will then see “My travel funds” at the top and you’ll just need to click on “View Travel Funds.” 

When you are getting ready to complete the booking of your flight, you should see a button on the checkout screen under the Payment method window for Travel Funds. Click that and then enter in the confirmation number and passenger name from the reservation of the canceled or unused flight.

Southwest is one of the most generous airlines when it comes to changing flights and canceling your flights. Receiving Southwest travel funds for your cancellations and no show instances can be a great way to not miss out on a lot value. Just make sure that you stay on top of tracking the expiration date for your funds so that you properly use them in time.

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo . He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio .

23 comments

Hi, I tried to get my travel funds reinstated within the 6months period(by deducting 100), but they were not ready to do it, I have an other travel funds which is about to expire, I booked something and cancelled due to the corona virus scare, though I explained my situation about it, they were not ready to do it.I have been traveling via southwest from past 10 years, even though they were not ready to do it.They would have updated the funds on the app long back.Its so confusing with so many promotional emails from southwest.

So just to make sure, did you make your request after your travel funds expired or before?

I have 2 travel funds, one of them got expired in dec2019, and the other one is expiring on march 22nd 2020.So I requested for both.

The southwest site says you CAN use travel funds for southwest vacations. https://www.southwestvacations.com/deals/benefits-of-booking-southwest-vacations?clk=GSUBNAV-VAC-WHYBK&intcmp=GSUBNAV-VAC-WHYBK

Thanks for that. I’ve updated the article to clarify.

Question that may be very pertinent to this. I had small amount of travel funds to use ($20) which were expiring on 8/15/20. I just applied those to a new flight I just purchased last month (say 2/15/20). With the COVID-19 situation prices continue to drop and I noticed the new flight now is $34 less so I changed to get that $34 credit.

However, now when I look at my Travel funds, I do see the $34, but the expiry date is 8/15/20 (not 2/14/21 which is what I was expecting). It appears since I used that old Travel fund of $20, it is now applying that original expiry date to my new Travel funds. Is this how it should work? I could not find anything on this but it is important to know. It may not be worth to use those small travel fund amounts if they are expiring soon since any future larger credit you may get won’t have a long life.

I would be surprised that SWA would do this (the ticket I bought on 2/15 was $200 – so saying that when I applied that $20 travel fund to it, making that original ticket date be the new expiration date seems silly).

I have the same issue. On 2/20/2020 I booked a flight for this coming weekend using a credit card and a small travel fund balance that was set to expire on 7/16/2020. I’ve now cancelled that flight for obvious reasons, but the website shows the full amount (not the just the amount on the original travel fund) expires on 7/16/2020. Is this a glitch, or by design? If it’s supposed to work like that, then like the other poster wrote, be careful if you book a flight using a combination of travel funds and credit card…if you cancel that flight, you won’t get a full year credit on the amount you paid by credit card…

I recently (March 13,2020) had to make a change in travel. I did not have a computer access and call wait times were in excess of 90 minutes. I COULD NOT use my travel funds on the SOUTHWEST Android app. That is such a huge limitation. I could not load a desktop site on my phone.

Travelers should be aware of the limitation in using Travel Funds is ONLY AVAILABLE via the FULL SOUTHWEST.COM desktop site. Not their mobile app.

Southwest “should” fix this arbitrary limitation.

Excellent information! I canceled my trip last week due to the virus. I had purchased two tickets. When I book my next flight, I will obviously use the travel funds for my ticket. Will I be able to use those travel funds for the other person’s ticket…….she had a ticket on the canceled flight? I tried to call the airline for this question, but the wait time was long.

Travel funds are credited back to the passenger name on the original ticket. No one may use that credit except the original passenger. So if you bought three tickets for three different passengers, then each passenger will have a separate credit listed under their Specific name And under that confirmation code.

If you have travel funds that expire June 1, 2020 to you have to actually fly by June 1, 2020 or just book your next trip by then?

I was wondering the same thing. Have you found out the answer to this yet?

I am wondering that same thing. If my travel funds expire in April 2021, can I use them for a flight in June 2021?

I need to use my “credit” by March 13, 2021 from a cancelled flight. Can i book a ticket for later in the year or do I actually have to fly by March 13?

I do not understand why if I pay for tickets for other family members and they can’t be used, why I can not get the voucher back in my account? It really just doesn’t seem fair!

I purchased tickets for travel for my wife and me to fly to Hawaii last October. Due to personal reasons we could not go at that time. I promised my wife I would take her this past spring but due to the Covid outbreak you are not allowed to travel to Hawaii without quarantining for 2 weeks. My funds expire in October 2020 so basically I will lose my money unless I use the funds for other travel which I do not want to do until the Covid risk lessens. We are elderly and have other health problems so SWA is basically telling us to travel somewhere we don’t need or want to go and in the process risk our lives. What an airline!! By the way I have taken over 700 flights on SWA over the years and have been a loyal customer. As a result I will fly SWA as little as possible in the future. This will be easier now as all the other major airlines have done away with their change fees as well.

does using travel funds for a southwest flight count as a qualifying revenue flight. there are promos that require a revenue flight

I canceled over 10 upcoming flights on Southwest in mid-March just as the pandemic travel restrictions were starting in CA (I also canceled many more on 3 other airlines — I fly a couple times a week). I then went to transfer the credits to points and couldn’t find the cancelation notice (even though I wrote down when I canceled). I was told that the funds were “stuck” and therefore even though they had documentation of cancelation, I had to call corporate to have them establish the credit. I called corporate but after holding for 30 minutes, I didn’t have time to complete the transfer (but the person assured me the cancelation was in the record and would be issued when I called back). When I called back I was placed on hold for about 30 minutes and they told me that they didn’t see that I had canceled and would only issue credit for no-show (due to COVID) but the funds had to be used in a couple months (before my job will allow me to travel). Is there anything you advise?

Thank you for this great information. My question is about using SW travel funds by the expiration date, does “using” mean booking travel or travel by that date?

We have funds that expire in Sept. 2021. I plan to book flights next week for travel in Dec. 2021.

I too have the very same question…Seems it has been asked a lot on here and no one gets an answer. I sure hope to get an answer to this soon too.

So here’s the rub on travel funds, they expire 1 year after the booking date, not the travel date. But when you want to redeem them, the redemption date is the travel date, not the booking date. This is just pure evil!

Whoa! I am facing the similar issues that I read in this comment section. Really they have very conveniently kept hidden loopholes that would be experienced only by the customer who has to face such a situation. And very cleverly SW sneaks away gulping our hard earned money by luring you can have travel funds to use for future travel! Even though I pay with my credit card the travel fund could be used by only the passenger in whose name I bought the ticket. Why on earth the passenger who has enjoyed my buying ticket will get free travel funds to use but I can not use it if he/she is not flying and I need to fly for my own business to take care. Well, this time I had to cancel and rebook the tickets 4-5 times and in that rebooking I had to change my travel route that saved me and my husband more that $ 300 dollars for each of us. My husband is suffering with diabetes as well as lung cavity formed due to bacterial infection making him immunocompromised. Due to this corona/omicron fear he does not want to risk his life. Our travel funds are expiring on June 29, 2022. I spent several hours calling SW airline customer service, wait time 72 hours!, also tried calling through Southwest Credit card that I used to buy our tickets and from there trying to get some help with travel funds extension, no human available making me listening FREE MUSIC for infinite time. Why there is no e-mail facility to get in touch with them? No where on the entire site you can use e-mail contact except using the form the site want me to fill in. And unfortunately my issue is not among the reasons the page shows, I can not use e-mail route! Do you have any update about COVID 19 some modification in using travel funds beyond the expiration time limit? I would appreciate some feedback.

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Planning and booking

Why southwest vacations  .

What is Southwest Vacations? 

Southwest Vacations offers fun-filled vacation packages that have it all: air, hotel, car, and activities. Specifically, Southwest Airlines provides flights, and contracts with Apple Leisure Group (ALG) to manage and facilitate reservations, ticketing, hotel accommodations, car rentals, and airport transfers. How great is that?

What types of vacation packages can I purchase? 

Whether you want to book a full package—a flight, hotel, and/or car rental—or just wanna book activities, you’ve got the freedom to customize your package. 

Choices include: 

• Length of stay
• Number of travelers
• Hotel preferences
• Points of interest
• Add-ons like car rentals, theme park tickets, and activities that haven't yet been added to your booking.

You can also shop our top vacation deals, such as all-inclusive resorts, last-minute travel, promo codes, and more!  

How do I book? 

How can I customize my search and filters to find the best vacation package?  

When you’re searching for your vacation, first select what kind of package you want:

• Flight + hotel
• Flight + car

Next, enter:

• Your From and To airports
• Dates of travel
• Number of adults
• Number of rooms (if applicable)

Clicking on  More options will allow you to change your vacation type depending on your needs—Multiple destinations (for example, island hopping in Hawaii) or different package types if you just need a flight and car rental.

Once the information is entered, click  Search to view your listings. 

Did someone say filtering options? You’ve got ‘em. They’ll be displayed on the left.

Hotels can be filtered by:

• Experiences 
• Points of interest 

Flights can be filtered by:

• Departure times
• Number of stops 

Rental cars can be filtered by:

Activities can be filtered by:

• Category of activity  

How do I book a flight only?  

Southwest Vacations only offers bundled packages combining flight + hotel and/or rental car. To book flights only, please visit www.southwest.com .  

How do I book a one-way flight? 

Southwest Vacations offers round-trip air fare only. One-way flights are available for purchase on www.southwest.com .

How do I book more than one room for a vacation?

You may book up to four rooms and up to eight travelers per reservation.

Here’s how it works:

• Select the Multiple rooms link on any of the search tools.
• Select the Number of desired rooms from the dropdown menu.
• For each room, specify the number of adults and children who will be occupying that room, as well as the age of each child.

The hotel I want isn’t listed on the hotel selection screen. Why? 

The preferred hotel may not be available for the travel dates you specified, or we may not offer your preferred hotel.  

Where can I find more information about your fares? 

Check out our low fares here .  

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®

What is Rapid Rewards?  

It’s Southwest Airlines’ award-winning loyalty program. Visit Rapid Rewards Program to find out just how awesome it is.

How do I sign up for Rapid Rewards? 

Enroll in Rapid Rewards® here or follow the link at the top of the Traveler information page at the end of your booking. 

When will I receive my Rapid Rewards Points for booking a Southwest Vacations package? 

Rapid Rewards Members will receive points for each Southwest Vacations package that’s booked. For each booking, points will be distributed once your vacation has ended.  

Can I use Rapid Rewards points to book a Southwest Vacations package? 

Although Rapid Rewards points can be earned by travelling on a Southwest Vacations package, unfortunately, points can’t be used to purchase a package.  

I forgot to add my Rapid Rewards number on my past vacation. Can I still I receive points? 

Good news! Rapid Rewards Points can be requested for past travel up to 12 months after completing the vacation for past domestic travel.

• Log into your Rapid Rewards account.
• Choose the Add past flight points Provide the Southwest Airlines confirmation number from your original reservation.
• After verification of flight information (approximately three to five days), points will be deposited into your account. Woot!
• For past international travel:
• Send an e-mail to [email protected]. Provide the original reservation number, as well as the names and Rapid Rewards numbers of all Passengers on the reservation (as applicable). We verify your flight information (approximately seven to 10 days), points will be deposited into your account. 

Special service requests and/or accessible travel assistance  

What kinds of accessibility and/or special service requests can I add to my package? 

Accessibility and/or special service requests can be added on the Checkout/Billing information page at step 3 of 3 for:

• Extras (ex. Transfers, excursions, spa, etc.) Requests are subject to supplier availability and aren’t guaranteed.

Additional fees may apply at the time of service.  

For additional assistance with accessibility and/or special service requests, after you have completed your booking, please contact the Southwest Vacations Customer care center at 1-800-243-8372.

EarlyBird Check-In  

What are the benefits of EarlyBird Check-In? 

All the good things about EarlyBird Check-In are right here . 

How do I purchase EarlyBird Check-In on a vacation package? 

Simple. Select EarlyBird Check-In during checkout. Or, if you’ve already booked your vacation package, you may purchase EarlyBird Check-In (subject to availability) by managing your reservation up to 36 hours prior to your flight’s scheduled local departure time here .   You’ll  need your airline confirmation number located on your itinerary and e-travel documents in the fight details section.  Link to - Early Bird Check In | Southwest Airlines

Payment  

What forms of payment are accepted for booking a vacation package? 

We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover® Network, American Express, China Union Pay, JCB, Southwest Vacations Travel Credits, Southwest Flight Credits, or Southwest Vacations Service, and Promotion Cards. 

When completing Payment information , click the dropdown button under Payment type to select your desired form of payment. 

If you’re using Southwest Flight Credits, they must be applied at time of booking.

Can I pay for the vacation package using multiple payment methods? 

Absolutely! You can select up to 10 different forms of payment to book your vacation package by selecting a number from 1-10 in the Number of payment types dropdown button under the Payment information section.  

How do I apply a promo code to my package?  

There are two ways to apply a promo code to your package:

• You can apply a promo code by clicking on More options on the top right of your search.
• You can apply a promo code on the bottom of the Review your trip page during checkout.  

Southwest vacations travel credits  

How do I check my Southwest Vacations Travel Credit balance ? 

Easy. Just check your Southwest Vacations package travel credit balance . 

How do I pay with my Southwest Vacations Travel Credit? 

At checkout, select Travel credit as the payment method. Then enter your original Southwest Vacations reservation number to apply your Southwest Vacations Travel Credits to your new reservation. 

What are the Southwest Vacations Travel Credit details, restrictions and booking policies? 

Southwest Vacations Travel Credits*:  

• Are valid for travel that begins 12 months from date of issue of the Southwest Vacations Travel Credit.
• Are non-refundable, non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and travel must be completed bythe Southwest Vacations Travel Credit expiration date provided when your ticket was issued. Any unused funds will expire on this date. 
• Will be issued in the names of each passenger on the original reservation.

*Southwest Vacations Travel Credits are provided for canceled bookings, excluding air cost. The air portion of your package will be provided as a Southwest Flight Credit or a refund in the form of the original payment depending on the fare you booked with Southwest Airlines. 

If I receive a Southwest Vacations Travel Credit, can I rebook and add Travel Protection on the next booking? 

Yes, there are no restrictions on the new booking. However, if you purchased the Travel Protection Cash Refund option on the new booking and subsequently cancel, the portion paid with a Southwest Vacations Travel Credit will be refunded as a Southwest Vacations Travel Credit.*  

*Southwest Vacations Travel Credits are provided for all bookings excluding the cost of air. The air portion of your package will be provided as a Southwest Flight Credit. 

For more information, go to Travel Protection . 

How many Southwest Vacations Travel Credits can be used on a new reservation? 

You can use Southwest Vacations Travel Credits for up to two reservations in one transaction. 

If I use my Southwest Vacations Travel Credit on a new reservation and have to cancel the new reservation, what happens to my Southwest Vacations Travel Credit?  

You’ll find your Southwest Vacations Travel Credit in your new canceled reservation. 

Can I give my Southwest Vacations Travel Credits to someone else to use? 

No. Southwest Vacations Travel Credits are non-transferable. But our low fares make it easy to get away.

What is the expiration date for Southwest Vacations Travel Credits? 

Travel must be completed by the Southwest Vacations Travel Credit expiration date provided when your ticket was issued. Any unused funds will expire on this date. 

If my Southwest Vacations Travel Credit doesn’t cover the full cost of my new trip, how do I pay the balance? 

Add your Southwest Vacations Travel Credit as your first form of payment, then select Additional forms of payment to take care of the remaining balance. 

If my Southwest Vacations Travel Credit has a remaining balance after I purchase a new vacation, can I redeem the balance for a future trip? 

Yes, you can use the remaining Southwest Vacations Travel Credits on a future trip! However, the same Southwest Vacations Travel Credit rules and expiration dates apply.

Can I use my Southwest Vacations Travel Credits along with the Uplift payment option? 

Unfortunately, no. 

Southwest Airlines flight credits   

How do I check my Southwest Flight Credits balance?  

Check Southwest Flight Credits here . 

How do I use my Southwest Airlines Flight Credits to book a package? 

Southwest Flight Credits are accepted on Southwest Vacations packages that include air. However, these credits must be applied at the time of initial booking by selecting Southwest travel funds as your payment type.  

Uplift 

How do I apply for a loan through Uplift? 

• Shop for your travel dates and details like you normally would. When you’re ready to check out, simply select Uplift as your payment method.
• To apply, you’ll need to provide some basic information like your mobile number, date of birth, and, if you are a S. resident, your Social Security number. If you’re approved, you'll be able to complete the checkout process.

How is my loan offer determined?  

Uplift looks at a number of factors, including your credit information, purchase details, and more. 

How do I make payments?  

Make a payment anytime by visiting pay.uplift.com and clicking on the Loans tab. From there, click the Make a payment button. We recommend that you enable AutoPay before time of purchase so that your payments are automatically deducted each month. To enable AutoPay , visit pay.uplift.com, click on the Accounts page, and set the AutoPay toggle to ON. You can also change the form of payment on file with Uplift anytime by visiting pay.uplift.com. 

Can I travel before paying off my trip? 

Yes! You need to allow a few days between booking and your departure date for things to process. Other than that, you are free to travel whenever—even before you’re all paid off. Sweet, right?

Booking confirmation 

How do I know my reservation is confirmed?

After you click Complete booking,  your reservation is confirmed if a confirmation number appears at the top of your screen. But hang tight, it may take several minutes for the reservation confirmation screen to appear. While processing, don’t stop the transaction or hit the Back button, as that may result in multiple charges on your credit card. Know that once your reservation is completely processed, you’ll automatically receive an email.  

I didn’t receive my reservation confirmation. How can I get a copy of my reservation confirmation or itinerary?  

When you confirm an online reservation, we automatically send you an email confirmation to the email address you entered during the checkout process. If you didn’t receive that email, or if you want another copy of your itinerary, you may retrieve your reservation online by logging into your Southwest Vacations account. If you need more help, contact the Southwest Vacations Customer care center at 1-800-243-8372 or at [email protected] and provide your reservation number.  

Booking errors  

I was in the middle of confirming a reservation when my computer froze. What should I do now?  

Don’t panic. Even if the reservation confirmation screen didn’t appear before you were disconnected, the system may have already completed your reservation. Please contact the Southwest Vacations Customer care center at 1-800-243-8372 to verify whether the reservation transaction was completed.

How do I report errors?  

The fastest way to report an error or a problem is to email [email protected]. You can also contact the Southwest Vacations Customer care center at 1-800-243-8372. When reporting an error, include the error message you received and the reservation information. 

Refunds  

What is the Southwest Vacations Flight Disruption Policy?

In select circumstances, you may be eligible for a full or partial refund of your unused accommodation, ground transportation, and activities arrangements. See the full Flight Disruption Policy for details and eligibility. 

How do I request a refund?

• You may cancel your vacation online or by calling the Southwest Vacations Customer care center. To cancel online, access your booked reservation by visiting the retrieve a reservation page or by logging into your Southwest Vacations account. Follow the instructions to cancel your reservation.
• By canceling a reservation, your eligibility for a refund is limited. Be sure to read the terms and conditions for information on the cancellation policies. You must submit a refund request form after you cancel your reservation for refund consideration. If you cancel online, you’ll have access to an online refund request form after your cancellation has been confirmed..
• For further assistance with canceling a reservation, email Southwest Vacations at [email protected]. 

If I didn’t add travel protection, will I still get a refund? 

If you decline Travel Protection and cancel your booking, the value of the land/feature portion of your booking (after applicable penalties) will be provided in the form of a Southwest Vacations Travel Credit. See our Refund Policy for information about the air portion of our Southwest Vacations package. 

Why have I not received my refund? 

Depending on your refund, you may receive:

• Southwest Flight Credits
• Southwest Vacations Travel Credits
• A returned amount to your original form of payment. Eligible refunds are typically issued within 21 days.  

Please email Southwest Vacations at [email protected] or call Southwest Vacations Customer care Center at 1-800-243-8372 if there is an issue with your refund or if your refund not been issued. 

How do I request a Southwest LUV Voucher for a significantly delayed flight or Southwest-initiated flight cancellation?

For eligibility details and more information on how to request a Southwest LUV Voucher if you were impacted by a significant flight delay or Southwest-initiated cancellation, please visit Southwest's Help Center .

Preparing for my trip

Add or change my booking   .

How do I make changes to my vacation package reservation?  

Here’s the deal:

• Changes cannot be made less than one day prior to departure. Changes will be subject to the current price and any applicable hotel or other supplier charges. Read the Southwest Vacations terms and conditions for information on our change policies.
• To make changes to your reservation, please email Southwest Vacations at [email protected] or call Southwest Vacations Customer care center at 1-800-243-8372 during regular operating hours.  

How do I add show tickets and other activities to my vacation package?

If you’ve already booked your vacation package, simply call Southwest Vacations Customer care at 1-800-243-8372. 

Is there a change fee?

• Not for the air portion of your vacation package. Southwest Vacations doesn’t charge any change or cancellation fees for the air portion of your vacation package. We’ll apply the value of the air portion of your reservation to the new flight on the changed reservation. Redemption information will be provided at the time of change/cancellation.
• Once booked, any changes or cancellations to the hotel, rental car, or extras on an existing reservation are subject to supplier penalties up to the full price of the component. You may be able to avoid supplier penalties by purchasing the Southwest Vacations Travel Protection option. Certain activity suppliers only allow a refund if you let them know you’re going to cancel. To ask about a refund, contact the supplier for more details. Many hotel reservations are nonrefundable and nontransferable, and you may be charged 100% cancellation/change penalties. For all information and options to change or cancel your package, please call the Southwest Vacations Customer care center at 1-800-243-8372.

Cancel booking  

I need to cancel my vacation package. What should I do?

• You may cancel your vacation online or by calling the Southwest Vacations Customer care center. To cancel online, access your booked reservation by visiting the retrieve a reservation Follow the instructions to cancel your reservation.
• By cancelling a reservation, your eligibility for a refund is limited. So be sure to read the terms and conditions to learn about our cancellation policies. After you cancel your reservation, you must submit a refund request form. If you cancel online, you’ll have access to an online refund request form after your cancellation has been confirmed. For further assistance with canceling a reservation, email Southwest Vacations at [email protected].

Is there a cancellation fee?

• Not for the air portion of your vacation package. Southwest Vacations doesn’t charge any change or cancellation fees for the air portion of your vacation package. Details about how to recover your fee will be provided at time of change/cancellation. Once booked, any changes or cancellations to the hotel, rental car, or activities on an existing reservation are subject to supplier penalties up to the full component price.
• You may be able to avoid supplier penalties by purchasing the Southwest Vacations Travel Protection option. Certain suppliers only allow a refund if you let them know you’re going to cancel. Contact the supplier for more details. Many hotel reservations are nonrefundable and nontransferable, and you may be charged 100% cancellation/change penalties. For all information and options to change or cancel your package, please call the Southwest Vacations Customer care center at 1-800-243-8372. 

Pre-flight information – day of travel   

Southwest Vacations follows all Southwest Airlines flights and day of travel processes.   

Travel documents  

What information do I need to include when buying my ticket?

Proof of Citizenship – your driver’s license and/or passport. Please check them carefully to make sure that all the information is correct and matches the information you entered for your ticket(s).

When will I receive my travel documents and what’s included with them?

After full payment is received for your booked vacation package, your e-travel documents will be sent electronically to the email address provided for the first Passenger on the record within 48 hours. Your e-travel documents will include your airline and hotel confirmation numbers, along with your itinerary. If you purchased extras that require a voucher, those will also be included on your e-travel documents and can be printed and presented to each supplier. 

There’s an error in my Passenger information. What should I do?

If you discover an error, please immediately contact your travel advisor or Southwest Vacations at 1-800-243-8372.   

International Travel Rules – link to International Flight Information | Southwest Airlines  

Baggage – link to Baggage Information | Southwest Airlines  

Special Assistance – link to Accessible Travel Assistance | Southwest Airlines  

Flying with Children – link to Flying with Children | Southwest Airlines  

Flying with Pets – link to Flying with Pets | Southwest Airlines  

While on my trip 

Cancel or change   .

Can I change my vacations package after I’ve taken off ?

No. You must change or cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure. Once travel has begun, there are no refunds for any unused or partially used non-air travel component for any reason. For additional questions, please review the terms and conditions .  If you need further help, email [email protected] or call Southwest Vacations Customer care center at 1-800-243-8372 for assistance. 

Airport transfers 

What happens if my flight is delayed?

If your flight is delayed, the airport transfer will be notified of your flight status. Don’t worry—the shuttle will still wait for your arrival. 

What happens if my flight is canceled?

If your flight is canceled, the airport transfer vehicle will be notified of your flight status. If the cancellation meets the refund requirements, a refund will be issued. For additional questions, please review the terms and conditions . 

How do I find my transfer?

After you’ve booked your vacation package, transfer details will be sent in an email to let you know when and where you’ll be picked up.  If you want more help, reach out to the transfer supplier using the contact information included in your booking email. 

What paperwork do I need for my transfer vehicle?

After you've booked your vacation package, details of your airport transfer vehicle will be sent in an email.  If you need more details, get in touch with your transfer company with the contact information included in your email. 

Hotel  

How do I find my hotel special service request and/or confirmation number?

Special service requests and confirmation numbers are located in the hotel details section of your e-travel documents. If the information isn’t displayed, please call Southwest Vacations Customer care center at 1-800-243-8372.

What are resort fees and are they included in my vacation package?

Resort fees are fees charged by your hotel and are not included in your vacation package. Not all the hotels that partner with Southwest Vacations will have resort fees, so please refer to your hotel for more information and how to pay any resort fees. 

What do I need to check-in to my hotel?

You’ll need your government-issued photo ID, such as your driver’s license or passport, and your hotel confirmation number. Your hotel confirmation number can be found in your e-travel documents emailed to you after you made your booking.  

What happens if I miss my check-in time?

Not to worry! Your e-travel documents will include your hotel ’s contact information. Contact them directly if you need more information. 

Can I add a room to my hotel after my trip has already been booked?

Changes to your vacation can’t  be made after your travel has begun. However, you may contact your hotel  for more information. Pre-departure modifications can be made by calling Southwest Vacations Customer care center at 1-800-243-8372.

How do I know if the hotel has completed my special service request?

Your e-travel documents will include your hotel ’s contact information. If you need extra assistance, please get in touch with your hotel, or call Southwest Vacations Customer care center at 1-800-243-8372.

After my trip

Addressing complaints  .

Who can I contact after I return if I have a problem on my vacation?

For concerns regarding your Southwest Vacations package, please contact our Customer care center at 1-800-243-8372 during regular operating hours.

Miscellaneous

How do I unsubscribe or change my Southwest Vacations  email preferences?

To unsubscribe from Southwest Vacations emails, simply update your email preferences in the Southwest Vacations email preference center.

What is the lowest price promise? The  lowest price promise  is our way of protecting your vacation package price in the unlikely event that you find a lower price on southwestvacations.com after booking your package.

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How to easily redeem your southwest flight credits.

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To redeem your Southwest flight credits, you can use them to book any available cash flight or to pay for the taxes and fees on award flights. One of the places you can check your flight credits is the Southwest website.

Southwest flight credits are a form of flight credits that you might receive from one of the features we love most about Southwest Airlines. This feature is the ability to cancel a flight and receive the unused funds in the form of flight credit.

Let's explore how to make the best use of your Southwest flight credits and how to check the credits available to you.

Key takeaways

What are southwest flight credits, how to use southwest flight credits, how to make the most of your southwest flight credits, southwest flight credits faq.

• Southwest flight credits are funds toward future flights that you can earn when you cancel a Southwest reservation up to 10 minutes before the scheduled flight departure.
• You can redeem your Southwest flight credits through the Southwest website, mobile app, phone, or at a Southwest ticket counter. They can cover cash flights as well as taxes and fees associated with rewards travel.
• Southwest flight credits don’t expire, so you don’t have to worry about losing them if you don’t use them.
• Southwest allows you to transfer flight credits to someone else if your canceled fare was a Business Select, Anytime, or Wanna Get Away Plus fare.

Southwest flight credits are essentially travel funds you can apply toward future flights. They aren't the same thing as airline miles you earn from one of the air carrier's co-branded Chase credit cards . A passenger earns these flight credits when they cancel a Southwest reservation up to 10 minutes before the flight is scheduled to take off.

You can redeem your flight credits by going to the Southwest website at Southwest.com, by phone, through the mobile app, or at a Southwest ticket counter for future flights. You can reach Southwest customer service at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792).

You can also use Southwest flight credits to cover any taxes and fees associated with rewards travel. And since Southwest doesn’t charge cancellation fees, the entire cost of your canceled ticket can be put toward your next flight; you’ll pay only if there’s a fare difference.

Do Southwest flight credits expire?

Southwest flight credits no longer expire. Southwest has eliminated expiration dates on all Southwest flight credits unexpired on or created on or after July 28, 20222. 

Keep in mind that other forms of Southwest travel funds, such as gift cards or LUV vouchers, might have expiration dates. The expiration date is typically listed on the card or travel voucher, or you can check the expiration date online.

Can I transfer Southwest flight credits?

Southwest allows you to transfer flight credits to someone else in certain cases. This feature is available for customers who buy their flights using the Wanna Get Away Plus fare, as well as the Anytime or Business Select fares.

Both the sender and the receiver of the flight credit must be Rapid Rewards Members. To access the transferable flight credits associated with your Rapid Rewards account, you need to log in to your account and select “My Account” from the menu options at the top of the page for desktop or scroll down to “My Travel Funds” at the bottom of the page for mobile and the Southwest app.

Next, select “Payment” from the menu options within your account. Any available transferable flight Credits and flight credits in your account should be listed.

Other types of Southwest travel funds

Keep in mind that you can also receive other forms of travel funds from Southwest, this includes:

• Southwest gift cards you received or bought
• Southwest LUV vouchers you received for inconveniences on past trips

These can be used similarly to Southwest flight credits, but different rules may apply.

To use your Southwest flight credit, follow these steps:

• Access your flight credits: You can do this through My Account by selecting the Payment tab on southwest.com or “Check Travel Funds” on mobile.
• Write down your original ticket confirmation number: You might need this when making your new reservation.
• Browse and select your new flight: Search for the flight you’d like to take to begin the booking process.
• Apply your flight credit: You should see an option to apply a flight credit or other travel funds in the payment section. You can do so by entering the confirmation number associated with the flight credit.
• Make sure you got a confirmation: After applying your flight credit and completing your booking, you should receive a confirmation of your payment and new booking.

You can also call Southwest or visit a ticket counter to redeem your unused funds.

Sometimes, your Southwest flight credits won’t be enough to cover the cost of your flight. This can be frustrating, especially if you weren’t planning to travel and just want to make use of your funds. But with Southwest Rapid Rewards, you’ll always earn bonus points toward future travel when you have to make a purchase.

If your Southwest flight credits aren’t enough to cover the cost of your upcoming flight, consider using a Southwest credit card to cover the difference. Chase is the credit card issuer for the Southwest credit cards, but you'll earn Southwest rewards, not Chase Ultimate Rewards. You’ll rack up some serious Southwest points and perks through one of these credit cards , which are known for being some of the best airline credit cards . 

For example, a Southwest credit card can even help you earn the Companion Pass faster, which lets you take a travel companion with you for free on all your Southwest flights, excluding taxes and fees. You can also use flight credits in conjunction with Rapid Rewards points or with a Southwest gift card.

Southwest’s cancellation policy is extremely generous and is just one of the reasons we love the airline . Even though their cards are some of the best travel credit cards , you’ll need to be aware of the rules associated with redeeming your Southwest flight credits and keep track of any information you’ll need to access your funds. With these tips in mind, you can worry less about canceling flights because of a travel disaster and start putting your funds toward your next travel adventure.

How many Southwest travel funds can I use?

You can use up to three forms of payment per Southwest transaction, including travel funds and vouchers. As long as your travel funds are valid for the flight date and passenger(s) in question, you can apply as many as three separate vouchers to the same purchase.

It’s important to note that because Southwest only allows up to three forms of payment per transaction, your combined vouchers must cover the entire cost of the flight(s), including fees and taxes. If you don’t have enough flight credits to pay the entire balance — or are using LUV vouchers, which require taxes and fees to be paid separately — you’ll be limited to using two vouchers. In that case, you will need to use an alternate form of payment, like a travel credit card, for the balance.

Can I use my flight credits on the Southwest app?

Yes, you can use flight credits (as well as LUV vouchers and Southwest gift cards) when booking a flight through the Southwest mobile app.

As with all other Southwest booking platforms, you are limited to a total of three payment options per booking. If you are using multiple flight credits or LUV vouchers to book a flight, you’ll need to ensure they cover the full cost (airfare plus any government fees, taxes, or charges).

Otherwise, the maximum number of flight credits or vouchers you can use per booking is two. That is so you can cover the difference with a credit card or other payment method without exceeding the three-payment-method maximum.

Should I convert my Southwest flight credits to points?

If you have Southwest flight credits, you’ll have the option to convert travel funds into Southwest Rapid Rewards points . Depending on how you plan to use those funds, this may or may not be a good idea.

If you plan to book a flight prior to your funds’ expiration, converting might not make sense. In many cases, you could lose money on the funds-to-points conversion, which gives you less flight for your money.

However, there are some cases in which converting might be the right idea. This is the case if:

• You have existing Rapid Rewards points but are slightly short of how many you need to book the desired flight. Converting funds to points would give you a large enough balance to book the trip you want.
• You book flights for your family, friends, or other groups. The flight credits are linked to your name and can be used only for your own flights. Rapid Rewards points can be transferred, shared, or used to book flights for others.

How do I extend my Southwest flight credits?

Southwest flight credits that were created on or after July 28, 2022, never expire, so you no longer have to worry about extending your flight credits. 

Can I transfer my Southwest flight credits to someone else?

Yes, Southwest enables you to transfer flight credits to someone else as long as your fare type is a Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, or Business Select. Also, keep in mind that both you and the receiver of the flight credit must be Rapid Rewards Members.

Southwest flight credits: bottom line

If you've had canceled flights with Southwest, you might be sitting on a list of valuable Southwest flight credits. These credits are a flexible way to book future travel, covering both cash flights and the taxes and fees on award flights. The best part? They don't expire, giving you the freedom to plan your next adventure on your own schedule.

Generous Welcome Bonus

Southwest rapid rewards ® plus credit card.

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Current Offer

• Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Rewards Rate

2X points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; plus 1X points on all other purchases

• Earn 2X points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
• Redeem points for flights, gift cards, and more
• 3,000 bonus points after cardmember anniversary
• Plus, 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins per year
• Has annual fee
• Has foreign transaction fee
• Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 3,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
• Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
• Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
• 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
• Member FDIC

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Southwest's new enhancement to tracking Travel Funds

Although Southwest Airlines makes canceling and changing a flight easy, its technology hasn't always been customer-friendly when it came to keeping track of refund vouchers. Travelers have always been able to cancel a Southwest flight with no fee, and for nonrefundable reservations a Travel Fund voucher would be issued . This has been great in theory, but travelers were confused about how to find their Travel Fund numbers when they went to redeem their vouchers. Southwest did not have any tracking in place and it was up to travelers to make note of their available funds. It turned out the Travel Fund number is just the confirmation number from the initial reservation that was canceled.

That all changed for flights canceled on or after Dec. 3, 2019. According to Deals We Like , Southwest will now keep track of your Southwest Travel Funds for you. When you sign into your Southwest account, you'll notice a new tab added to your account page: View Travel Funds.

Related: The best Southwest credit cards of 2019

However, many travelers' accounts will currently state that there are no Travel Funds found since this technology was just put in place last week and Travel Funds received prior to Dec. 3, 2019 still need to be tracked manually. You can still check your balance on Southwest's Travel Fund lookup page . As of now, there is no way to add them to the account tracker.

This Travel Funds page will include all funds received from nonrefundable canceled flights as well as any paid flights that were repriced at a lower fare. Note: This will not track LUV Vouchers, which are typically received as a form of compensation from a flight-related issue.

Related: How to reprice a flight when the fare decreases

When you go to pay for your flight, you'll still have to manually enter your Travel Fund information. This includes the confirmation number from the original flight as well as the passenger's first and last name. Keep in mind that Travel Funds, unlike LUV Vouchers, aren't transferrable.

Travel Funds expire 12 months from the date the original flight was booked — not from when the flight was canceled and the Travel Funds issued. This expiration date is also a "must-fly-by date" not a "book-by date." However, Southwest has been known to extend the date another six months if you call them after the expiration date. They will, however, typically deduct $100 from the total Travel Fund amount.

Also know that when combining a Travel Fund with another form of payment, if you cancel the latest reservation, the entire amount paid will inherit the earliest expiration date. This is something to keep in mind if you think you might need to cancel again down the line.

Related: Southwest Travel Fund reader mistake story

Bottom line

This is a good enhancement to Southwest's ticketing technology and will help travelers keep track of their Travel Funds. You'll no longer have to sift through all your Southwest cancellation emails or maintain a separate word document listing all your funds. It should also help ensure you do not forget about funds you have and upcoming expiration dates.

Related: Battle of the Airlines: Why I think Southwest Airlines is the best

I want to know the refund policy when I cancel my flight

If you decide not to travel and elect to cancel your flight, Southwest may provide you with a flight credit or Transferable Flight Credit:

• Business Select® and Anytime tickets are refundable.  You can choose to either a) receive a method-of-payment refund or b) hold the value of the ticket as a flight credit that you can use to buy a future flight.
• Wanna Get Away® and Wanna Get Away Plus® tickets are non-refundable.  The value of the ticket will be converted to a   flight credit   or Transferable Flight Credit ™ (depending on the fare) that you can use to buy a future flight.
• If you cancel your booking within 24 hours of booking , you can choose either to a) receive a method-of-payment refund or b) hold the value of the ticket as a flight credit or Transferable Flight Credit TM (depending on the fare) to buy a future flight.
• If you cancel your booking following a significant schedule change or delay , you may be eligible to receive a method-of-payment refund. 

Customer check-in requirements:

If you do not plan to travel, please cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes before the flight’s original scheduled departure time.

If you don't cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes before the flight's original scheduled departure time:

Business Select® or Anytime fare

• The funds will be refunded in the form of a Transferable Flight Credit™

Wanna Get Away® or Wanna Get Away Plus® fare

• The funds will be forfeited 

For reward travel reservations (booked with Rapid Rewards® points):

• The points used for booking will be redeposited to the purchaser's Rapid Rewards® account
• Any taxes and fees associated with the reward travel reservation will be converted into a Transferable Flight Credit™ for future use
• Any points used for booking will be forfeited, along with any taxes and fees associated with your reward travel reservation  

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Southwest Airlines planes sit idle on the tarmac at Chicago Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. April 18, 2023. REUTERS/Jim Vondruska/File Photo

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Southwest Airlines said it had launched a compensation program for flight delays as part of a $140 million U.S. Department of Transportation settlement over the carrier's meltdown in December 2022 during a busy holiday travel period.

Southwest in December 2023 agreed over three years to provide $90 million in travel vouchers of $75 or more to passengers delayed at least three hours getting to final destinations because of an airline-caused issue or cancellation, and to start the program by April 30.

The airline said on Monday it had quietly launched the program on April 16 and has already heard from a few thousand customers seeking vouchers.

The airline agreed to the compensation program after the holiday meltdown that resulted in 16,900 flight cancellations and stranded 2 million passengers. The settlement included a $35 million cash fine.

A massive winter storm in December 2022 and subsequent chaos prompted travel horror stories such as people missing funerals or long-awaited holiday gatherings, passengers with canceled flights forced to make cross-country drives of 17 or more hours and some cancer patients being unable to get treatment.

The delay compensation program is part of the Biden administration's aggressive efforts to get tough on airlines as it aims to require new passenger compensation. Vouchers will be awarded "upon request," Southwest said.

Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said in December the $30 million in vouchers annually was "the right number" to commit to given its operational performance.

Asked if Southwest would end the program after three years, Jordan said consumer programs "rarely change or go away."

Rival U.S. airlines have not put in place similar programs and do not yet face a mandate to do so.

President Joe Biden said last May that the DOT would propose new rules requiring airlines compensate passengers with cash for significant controllable flight delays or cancellations by the end of the year. The DOT has not issued its proposal, and Congress has declined to mandate compensation for delays in a pending aviation reform bill.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said last week Southwest under the delay compensation requirement will "really lead the market and it will be very interesting to see how other airlines respond - not as punishment but by way of competition."

The DOT in 2022 asked carriers if they would pay at least $100 for delays of at least three hours caused by airlines and none agreed.

Most carriers - including Southwest - voluntarily committed in August 2022 to provide hotels, meals and ground transportation for airline-caused delays or cancellations but resisted providing cash compensation as is required in the European Union.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Jamie Freed)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

Tags: United States

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Southwest Airlines quietly rolls out a new compensation program for flight delays

Southwest Airlines said it launched a compensation program for  flight delays as part of a $140 million U.S. Department of Transportation settlement over the carrier's meltdown in December 2022 during a busy holiday travel period.

Southwest agreed in December 2023 to provide $90 million in travel vouchers of $75 or more over three years to passengers delayed at least three hours getting to their final destinations because of an airline-caused issue or cancellation and to start the program by April 30.

The airline said Monday it had quietly launched the program on April 16 and has already heard from a few thousand customers seeking vouchers.

The airline agreed to the compensation program after the holiday meltdown that resulted in 16,900 flight cancellations and stranded 2 million passengers. The settlement included a $35 million cash fine.

Will Southwest start assigning seats? CEO says the airline is weighing changes

A massive winter storm in December 2022 and subsequent chaos prompted travel horror stories such as people missing funerals or long-awaited holiday gatherings, passengers with canceled flights forced to make cross-country drives of 17 or more hours and some cancer patients being unable to get treatment.

The delay compensation program is part of the Biden administration's aggressive efforts to get tough on airlines as it aims to require new passenger compensation. Vouchers will be awarded "upon request," Southwest said.

Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said in December that, given its operational performance, the $30 million in vouchers annually was "the right number" to commit to.

Asked if Southwest would end the program after three years, Jordan said consumer programs "rarely change or go away."

Rival U.S. airlines have not put in place similar programs and do not yet face a mandate to do so.

Enough with airline hidden fees: DOT rules take aim at 'corporate rip-offs'

President Joe Biden said last May that the DOT would propose new rules requiring airlines to compensate passengers with cash for significant controllable flight delays or cancellations by the end of the year. The DOT has not issued its proposal, and Congress has declined to mandate compensation for delays in a pending aviation reform bill.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said last week Southwest under the delay compensation requirement will "really lead the market and it will be very interesting to see how other airlines respond – not as punishment but by way of competition."

The DOT in 2022 asked carriers if they would pay at least $100  for delays of at least three hours  caused by airlines and none agreed.

Most carriers – including Southwest – voluntarily committed in August 2022 to provide hotels, meals and ground transportation for airline-caused delays or cancellations but resisted providing cash compensation as is required in the European Union .

U.S. Government Accountability Office

U.S. Department of the Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command, Southwest Regional Maintenance Center—Application of the Bona Fide Needs Statute to Temporary Duty (TDY) Travel Orders

Certifying officers from the U.S. Department of the Navy (Navy), Naval Sea Systems Command, Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC), approved 178 travel orders for active-duty service members to perform temporary duty (TDY) travel in fiscal year (FY) 2023. SWRMC obligated an FY 2023 appropriation for the approved travel orders. In FY 2024, Navy directed the certifying officers to modify the travel orders to include additional costs.

Travel, including TDY travel, is a bona fide need of the year in which the travel takes place. The travel at issue here occurred in FY 2023 and therefore was a bona fide need of FY 2023. Increases to these travel costs constitute an antecedent liability, which should be charged to the FY 2023 appropriation initially charged for the travel. If there is insufficient budget authority to cover these costs, Navy must report an Antideficiency Act violation.

Matter of: U.S. Department of the Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command­­, Southwest Regional Maintenance Center—Application of the Bona Fide Needs Statute to Temporary Duty (TDY) Travel Orders

File: B-335838

Date: April 30, 2024

This responds to a request for a decision from the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC) regarding whether an expired fiscal year (FY) 2023 appropriation may be charged for additional travel costs resulting from an FY 2024 modification to approved travel orders for travel that occurred in FY 2023. [1]

In accordance with our regular practice, [2] we contacted the U.S. Department of the Navy (Navy) to seek factual information and its legal views on this matter. [3] Navy provided a written response explaining the pertinent facts and its legal views. [4] We also sought additional information from the requesting certifying officers clarifying their views. [5]

Military travelers sent on temporary duty (TDY) travel receive per diem allowances for meals that vary depending upon several factors, including whether the traveler is a service member or a civilian employee, the location of the travel, and the number of government-provided meals available to them. [6] In November 2022, SWRMC active-duty service members were sent on TDY travel to Singapore to support the Maintenance Execution Team (MET), which was performing preventative maintenance on ships located at the Changi Naval Base. [7] The travel orders for these travelers authorized a lower per diem allowance for meals than what MET leadership believed was authorized by the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), [8] which sets travel policy and allowances for uniformed service members. [9]

MET leadership sought a legal opinion on the authorized per diem allowance for these travelers from the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) Military Compensation Policy. [10] Based on JTR, OPNAV concluded that the military travelers should have received a higher per diem meal allowance. [11]

Following the OPNAV opinion, Navy directed SWRMC to modify the 178 travel orders authorized during FY 2023 so that the travelers would receive the higher per diem meal allowance. [12] Certifying officers requested a decision from GAO regarding whether the cost increase resulting from modified travel orders could be charged to the expired FY 2023 appropriation, which funded the initial travel costs. [13]

At issue here is whether SWRMC may charge an expired FY 2023 appropriation for additional travel costs resulting from an FY 2024 modification to travel orders for travel that occurred in FY 2023.

A time-limited appropriation may only be obligated to meet a legitimate, bona fide need of the fiscal year for which the appropriation was made. 31 U.S.C. § 1502(a). What constitutes a bona fide need of a fiscal year depends largely on the facts and circumstances of a particular case. 70 Comp. Gen. 469 (1991). GAO has held that TDY travel is a bona fide need of the year in which the travel occurs. Id . For example, we considered what fiscal year should be charged for TDY travel that spans more than one fiscal year. Id. We concluded that the expenses of TDY travel should be charged to whatever fiscal year appropriation is current at the time travel occurs. Id. However, tickets for round trip transportation may be charged against the appropriation current at the time the employee embarks on TDY travel, even though the employee will not use the second portion of the ticket until the following fiscal year. 26 Comp. Gen. 961 (1947).

Here, the travel orders were issued and approved in FY 2023, and the travel took place in FY 2023. [14] Because the travel occurred in FY 2023, it constituted a need of FY 2023. Therefore, SWRMC complied with the bona fide needs statute when it obligated FY 2023 funds for the travel costs. [15]

Next, we consider whether the modification of a travel order in a subsequent fiscal year is a bona fide need of the year in which the order is modified or the year in which the travel took place.

We have long held that a modification that falls within the general scope of a contract that results in an upward price adjustment is a bona fide need of the year in which the contract was originally executed. B-332430, Sept. 28, 2021. This is because the government’s liability arises under the original contract and constitutes an “antecedent liability.” Id. Antecedent liabilities should be charged to the same appropriation that funded the underlying contract, rather than appropriations available at the time of modification. Id.

Though the liabilities at issue here are not created by contract, similar principles apply. Where government employees perform official travel, a liability arises for the government to pay for the travel when it occurs, so the travel constitutes a bona fide need of that year. See 70 Comp. Gen. 469 (1991). Where it is later determined there are additional costs associated with the travel, these costs relate back to an antecedent liability associated with the travel. Accordingly, the increased costs should be charged to the appropriation that originally funded the travel.

Here, active-duty service members performed official travel in FY 2023, and SWRMC incurred a liability for that travel with an FY 2023 appropriation. In FY 2024, Navy determined that the costs for the travel had increased. Because the increased costs are associated with travel that occurred in FY 2023, SWRMC must charge the costs to the expired FY 2023 appropriation. [16]

Increased costs associated with travel that occurred in FY 2023 must be charged to the expired FY 2023 appropriation that was initially charged for the travel. If Navy has insufficient budget authority available to make the adjustment, it must report an Antideficiency Act violation.

[1] Letter from Certifying Officers, SWRMC, to Comptroller General (Dec. 11, 2023) (Request Letter), at 1.

[2] GAO, GAO’s Protocols for Legal Decisions and Opinions , GAO-24-107329 (Washington, D.C.: Feb. 2024), available at https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-107329 .

[3] Letter from Assistant General Counsel, GAO, to Assistant General Counsel, Financial Management and Comptroller, U.S. Department of the Navy (Jan. 25, 2024).

[4] Letter from Assistant General Counsel, Financial Management and Comptroller, U.S. Department of the Navy, to Assistant General Counsel, GAO (Feb. 22, 2024) (Navy Response Letter).

[5] Email from Assistant General Counsel, GAO, to Certifying Officers, SWRMC, Subject: RE: Advanced [sic] Decision Request (Jan. 9. 2024).

[6] Request Letter, Attachment 4 at 2-33.

[7] Navy Response Letter, at 1.

[8] Request Letter, Attachment 6 at 2.

[9] Defense Travel Management Office, Joint Travel Regulations, available at https://www.travel.dod.mil/Policy-Regulations/Joint-Travel-Regulations/ (last visited Apr. 11, 2024).

[10] Request Letter, Attachment 6 at 1.

[11] Id. at 18.

[12] Request Letter, at 1.

[13] Id. at 1, 5.

[14] Navy Response Letter, at 1.

[15] We note that Navy reported it records obligations for travel at the time travel orders are issued. Id. at 2-3. GAO has held that the recording statute, 31 U.S.C. § 1501(a)(7), requires an agency to record an obligation for travel when the travel is performed or when a ticket is purchased for the travel. 70 Comp. Gen. 469.

[16] Although these funds have expired, they remain available for five fiscal years for recording, adjusting, and liquidating obligations properly chargeable to the appropriation account. 31 U.S.C. § 1553(a).

GAO Contacts

Shirley A. Jones Managing Associate General Counsel [email protected] (202) 512-5400

Office of Public Affairs

Chuck Young Managing Director [email protected] (202) 512-4800

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USDA Actions to Protect Livestock Health From Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza

Federal Order to assist with developing a baseline of critical information and limiting the spread of H5N1 in dairy cattle

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2024 – To further protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, USDA is sharing a number of actions that we are taking with our federal partners to help us get ahead of this disease and limit its spread.

Today, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a Federal Order requiring the following measures, effective Monday, April 29, 2024:

Mandatory Testing for Interstate Movement of Dairy Cattle

• Prior to interstate movement, dairy cattle are required to receive a negative test for Influenza A virus at an approved National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) laboratory.
• Owners of herds in which dairy cattle test positive for interstate movement will be required to provide epidemiological information, including animal movement tracing.
• Dairy cattle moving interstate must adhere to conditions specified by APHIS.
• As will be described in forthcoming guidance, these steps will be immediately required for lactating dairy cattle, while these requirements for other classes of dairy cattle will be based on scientific factors concerning the virus and its evolving risk profile.

Mandatory Reporting

• Laboratories and state veterinarians must report positive Influenza A nucleic acid detection diagnostic results (e.g. PCR or genetic sequencing) in livestock to USDA APHIS.
• Laboratories and state veterinarians must report positive Influenza A serology diagnostic results in livestock to USDA APHIS.

USDA has identified spread between cows within the same herd, spread from cows to poultry, spread between dairies associated with cattle movements, and cows without clinical signs that have tested positive. On April 16, APHIS microbiologists identified a shift in an H5N1 sample from a cow in Kansas that could indicate that the virus has an adaptation to mammals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted further analysis of the specimen sequence, which did not change their overall risk assessment for the general public, because the substitution has been seen previously in other mammalian infections and does not impact viral transmission. Additionally, APHIS’ National Veterinary Services Laboratories found H5N1 in a lung tissue sample from an asymptomatic cull dairy cow that originated from an affected herd and did not enter the food supply.

The novel movement of H5N1 between wild birds and dairy cows requires further testing and time to develop a critical understanding to support any future courses of action. This Federal Order is critical to increasing the information available for USDA. Requiring positive test reporting will help USDA better under this disease and testing before interstate movement will limit its spread.

While we are taking this action today, it is important to remember that thus far, we have not found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans and between people. While cases among humans in direct contact with infected animals are possible, our partners at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believe that the current risk to the public remains low.

Additionally, we continue to see affected cows recover after supported care with little to no associated mortality. We also continue to work with our partners in the states and industry to emphasize the critical importance biosecurity plays in limiting disease spread for all livestock and poultry.

You may view the Federal Order , which is effective on Monday, April 29, 2024.

Further, in an effort to maximize understanding and research on H5N1 in dairy cattle, on April 21, APHIS made publicly available 239 genetic sequences from the U.S. H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b influenza virus recently found in samples associated with the ongoing HPAI outbreak in poultry and wild birds, and the recent H5N1 event in dairy cattle. APHIS has also offered virus samples to interested researchers to facilitate epidemiological study. Increasing our understanding of this disease and how it spreads is critical to stopping it. This is why APHIS is urging dairy cattle producers and those who work in or with the industry to share epidemiological information from affected farms, even if they are not planning to move cattle interstate. APHIS further urges producer participation in public health assessments to continue to confirm worker safety and monitor for any potential changes in the virus that could impact transmissibility.

In addition, our partners in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released an update on the ongoing work to ensure continued effectiveness of the federal-state milk safety system. It is important to emphasize that, based on the information and research available to us at this time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and USDA believe that our commercial milk supply is safe because of both the pasteurization process and the required diversion or destruction of milk from sick cows. Pasteurization has continuously proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses in milk. The FDA and USDA continue to work closely to collect and evaluate additional data and information specific to avian influenza in dairy cattle and to support state counterparts as this emerging disease in dairy cattle is managed.

As USDA continues to take steps to protect the health of livestock, the Department continues to work closely with federal partners at the CDC on protecting the health of people and FDA on protecting the safety of the food supply. The U.S. government is committed to addressing this situation with urgency.

To learn more about USDA’s response to HPAI in dairy cattle, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock .

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.