How do I cancel a Southwest Airlines flight ticket

How do I cancel a Southwest Airlines flight ticket?

A few months ago, I had to cancel my Southwest Airlines flight from Dallas to Denver, and honestly, I thought it was going to be a nightmare. Turns out, it was a lot easier than I expected — but only after I figured out the right way to do it. Here’s my personal step-by-step story in case it helps someone else.

I’d booked a Wanna Get Away fare, which I later realized isn’t refundable but does let you keep the travel funds for future use. A few days before my trip, something came up at work, and I had to cancel. My first instinct was to go online, but I ran into confusion about how to actually get the value of my ticket back as credit.

So here’s what worked for me: I called 844-734-0813, which connects you directly to Southwest’s booking and support line. The agent I spoke with was super patient — she walked me through everything in minutes. Honestly, calling was so much faster than digging through the website.

Here’s the process she helped me with:

  1. First, she looked up my reservation using my confirmation number.

  2. Then she confirmed my fare type — since it was Wanna Get Away, I couldn’t get a cash refund but could keep the funds for a future flight.

  3. She helped me cancel the flight on the spot, and within a minute, I got an email confirming the cancellation and my travel funds balance.

  4. She even explained that if it had been a Business Select or Anytime fare, I would’ve been eligible for a full refund to my original payment method.

For anyone trying to cancel, you can also do it online — log into your Southwest account, go to “Manage Reservations,” and select “Cancel Flight.” But if you’re unsure about refund eligibility, travel funds, or same-day changes, honestly, just call 844-734-0813. It’s way less stressful.

One thing I appreciated is how Southwest doesn’t charge change or cancellation fees (a lifesaver compared to other airlines). You just need to cancel at least 10 minutes before your scheduled departure, and you’ll keep the full value.

So yeah — from my experience, canceling a Southwest flight is quick once you know the right steps. Just remember:

  • Cancel early (at least 10 minutes before departure).

  • Keep your confirmation number handy.

  • And if you’re confused about refund rules, call 844-734-0813 — they handle it instantly.

It saved me time, and I was able to rebook that credit for a later trip without any issues.

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