What fees and fare differences may apply when changing a flight with Southwest Airlines?
On Southwest, the useful calculation is not simply fee versus no fee. Compare the original fare value with the currently selected fare, then show any amount due or retained value and the rules of the exact fare product. A package reservation and a flight-only reservation can have different servicing paths, so the receipt must identify which channel owns the transaction. Retrieve the Southwest confirmation and identify the fare product printed on the booking before choosing Change or Cancel. For this change fee decision, reconcile Southwest confirmation with carrier charge separated from fare repricing, then compare Southwest flight-credit against online servicing failure and escalation reason. Record the new Southwest confirmation, the form and owner of any remaining value, and the status of every traveler on the reservation.
Important exceptions
- A lower or zero carrier fee does not remove a fare difference.
- Agency, codeshare, group, award and partly used tickets may require another channel or calculation.
- Do not confirm while the screen combines fare difference and service charge into an unexplained total.
- Stop if the proposed itinerary drops a later segment, seat, bag or upgrade without stating its treatment.
- Do not cancel the original ticket merely to discover the replacement price.
More booking questions
Is Southwest change cost only a fee question?
No. Compare the original fare value with the selected fare, then separate any amount due from retained value.
Confirm before booking
- Confirm for this ticket: Identify product and channel.
Checked againstChanging or cancelling flightsRebook or change a tripFare informationRefund policy
Which Southwest fare product controls the value rules?
Use the exact fare product on the confirmation to explain flexibility and the owner or form of remaining flight credit.
Confirm before booking
- Confirm for this ticket: Compare fare values.
Checked againstChanging or cancelling flightsRebook or change a tripFare informationRefund policy
Why does the Southwest booking channel matter?
A package and a flight-only reservation can have different servicing paths, so the receipt must identify who owns the transaction.
Confirm before booking
- Confirm for this ticket: Keep the correct issuer.
Checked againstChanging or cancelling flightsRebook or change a tripFare informationRefund policy
Sources and last checked
- Changing or cancelling flightshttps://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/article/changing-cancelling-flights
- Rebook or change a triphttps://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/article/rebook-or-change-trip
- Fare informationhttps://www.southwest.com/fare-information/
- Refund policyhttps://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/article/refund-policy