Southwest Airline Change Flight Policy

[ColoradoBuffaloMom]

I couldn't find this on the Southwest website so I thought I'd ask here since you all are better than Google

My DH is taking my son to college this week (that is a whole other thread) and he has a flight to come on Friday but he may want to come home earlier if DS is settled and DH doesn't think he is needed any more. Does anyone know what Southwest's policy is regarding changing flights?

Now if it was me taking him (I can't since I have to work), I would change my flight to stay longer - like maybe the whole semester

 

[AKL_Megs]

It's usually around $50-$75.

 

[DisneyBlonde]

I don't think SW charges a fee for changes. He can just go to the airport when he's ready to fly back and they will put him on the next flight with space available. Now if there is an additional cost for the seat (ie, current rate is higher than when he booked) he may have to pay the difference. But SW is the only airline (that I know of) that does not charge for changes/cancellations.

 

[ColoradoBuffaloMom]

I don't think SW charges a fee for changes. He can just go to the airport when he's ready to fly back and they will put him on the next flight with space available. Now if there is an additional cost for the seat (ie, current rate is higher than when he booked) he may have to pay the difference. But SW is the only airline (that I know of) that does not charge for changes/cancellations.

That's what I think it is but I'm not sure. I guess he can call them too.

 

[DisneyBlonde]

That's what I think it is but I'm not sure. I guess he can call them too.

We just cancelled my dad. He was supposed to leave tomorrow to stay at his timeshare and he didn't think he could do it alone (my mom passed last year). So DH cancelled him yesterday, he now has credit to use next time (within a year).

Your DH should call...so he doesn't have to sit at the airport, and also so that he can pick a flight where he won't have to pay extra for the seat.

 

[onelilspark]

I missed a flight once on SW...by 5 minutes. All traffic related. They put me on the next flight out, didn't charge me a change fee.

Check over on the transportation board, I'm sure someone knows the official policy, but this is something that SW is good at. If there's room, they'll change the flight.

 

[chirurgeon]

We just cancelled my dad. He was supposed to leave tomorrow to stay at his timeshare and he didn't think he could do it alone (my mom passed last year). So DH cancelled him yesterday, he now has credit to use next time (within a year).

Your DH should call...so he doesn't have to sit at the airport, and also so that he can pick a flight where he won't have to pay extra for the seat.

DisneyBlonde, I had to laugh at the way you phrased your cancellation of your dad's flights.

Just an FYI, the credit needs to by used for a flight that is not more than 1 year from the date you purchased the original flights, not the date of the flight. I learned that the hard way. SW had lowered their prices for flights I had already booked and I got the lower price with the difference being held on my account for a future flight, Unfortunately I didn't have a chance to use the credit, so I lost $68. If it had been $100 or more, I would have asked for an extenstion, but I believe that costs $50. Not worth it for that credit amount.

Kim

 

[C.Ann]

No fee to change a flight with SW.. That's why people love them so much.. They don't nickel and dime you to death like the other airlines do..

 

[DMRick]

Here you go. Price depends on what type of ticket you have on Southwest. There is no change cost, but the actual ticket may be quite a bit higher.
http://www.southwest.com/fares/pop_fareCompare.html.

Be sure to pay attention to where it says standby on the original day of flight. Unless things have changed, SW does not accept standby on other days (other than the original day..and they are the kings of exceptions..one of the reasons I love them) unless you pay the walk up rate (which can be quite high). That said, they sometimes do if you have prior permission if weather related. We did standby when trying to get into Orlando a day earlier because of weather. Luckily, I had the agents name, because once at the airport, they wanted to charge us almost $400 more for the two of us to change flights last minute.