The Guide to Southwest Flight Cancellations

Some travelers may remember the 2022 Southwest Airlines holiday meltdown. But that wasn't the only time Southwest has experienced chaos over cancellations and had to reimburse passengers, and it may not be the last (even if it happens on a more individual rather than nationwide level).

There's a chance your upcoming flight might be delayed or canceled, so it’s important to be familiar with the Southwest Airlines cancellation policy.

Here's a look at how to navigate Southwest Airlines flight cancellations, including how to rebook on a different flight and how you might even be able to get some money back.

To know the status of your flight, go to Southwest’s flight status page and enter your departure and arrival airports and travel dates. You’ll be able to see any flight updates instantly.

Southwest Airlines flights can get canceled for a variety of reasons. While some are the airline's fault, others are beyond their control.

These are some of the most common reasons for Southwest cancellations:

• Mechanical issues. If there's a mechanical issue, an airline will delay or cancel the flight until the problem has been fixed.

• Severe weather. In some cases, the weather problems aren't in your departure or arrival city, but are in the region where the plane is coming from.

• Staffing issues. Airplanes must have a minimum number of crew members on the flight; otherwise, they legally cannot fly.

• Schedule changes. Airlines adjust their schedules based on seasonality, customer demand, weather forecasts and other issues. Typically, these schedule changes are announced in advance so that you can make other arrangements to complete travel.

Sometimes, these issues cause delays, not cancellations. If you're experiencing a delay, educate yourself on when and how you can get flight delay compensation from Southwest.

But if a delay turns into a cancellation, here’s how to proceed.

» Learn more: How to book a flight that (likely) won’t get canceled

In 2023, Southwest Airlines canceled 1.00% of its flights, according to NerdWallet analysis of U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics arrival data. That's less than most of its peers, except for Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines. While past performance doesn’t guarantee future performance, it’s can be a good indicator.

When your Southwest flight is canceled, whether you found out due to a Southwest flight tracker or a text at the gate, it’s important to know the Southwest flight cancellation policy and take action quickly to minimize the impact on your travel plans.

Here are your options for Southwest cancellations:

• Accept a rebooking on a new Southwest flight.

• Request a refund and book a new flight on another airline.

• Don't travel.

Consider other travel plans you've made, weigh the options carefully and decide which will work best. If you opt out of flying with Southwest, you are entitled to a refund — don't settle for a future flight credit.

All U.S. airfares are entitled to a full refund under Transportation Department regulations if your flight was canceled. You are also entitled to a refund of any other fees you paid for that flight, including EarlyBird Check-In fees.

» Learn more: How to get a Southwest Airlines refund

If Southwest has canceled your flight, the airline will most likely automatically rebook your travel on the next available Southwest flight.

If the new flight times don’t work for you, call customer service at 800-435-9792 or speak with a gate agent to choose a new flight. You can change the flight date and time by up to 14 days without an extra charge.

Here's the pro move. If you're in the middle of a trip and your flight is canceled, you can book another flight on the most convenient airline as a backup plan. Most airlines, including Southwest, give travelers 24 hours to cancel tickets without penalty. If the cash price is high and you have airline miles with a different airline or flexible points like Chase Ultimate Rewards® or American Express Membership Points, check if redemption is worth it to get you home.

If Southwest can accommodate you on another flight, simply cancel the backup reservation (ideally this is within that 24-hour time window, so you'll get your money back). Otherwise, you can request a refund from Southwest instead of a rebooking.

» Learn more: How to upgrade a Southwest flight

Southwest offers several different fare types, each with its own rules about cancellations, changes and refunds. Business Select and Anytime fares are refundable at any time. However, Wanna Get Away Plus and Wanna Get Away fares are usually nonrefundable (though you can get a Southwest travel funds for these fares to apply towards future flights).

If you decide not to travel due to a cancellation, Southwest must refund the unused portion of your ticket, regardless of the fare type. You are also entitled to a refund of any other fees that you paid for that flight, including seat upgrades.

To request a refund, contact Southwest customer service at 800-435-9792. Southwest will return the money to your original form of payment. If you don’t reach out to request that refund, Southwest may offer a voucher for future travel instead. Before accepting this offer, be sure you understand the voucher's limitations.

For travelers who prefer a voucher, the Southwest travel funds page details the balance, expiration date and status of your unused flight credits.

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

Southwest provides historical flight performance when you're searching for your fare. Although it's no guarantee, consider choosing a flight with a good on-time arrival and a low cancellation rate. You can see this information on the search results page if you select the flight number above the departure time.

Southwest also provides a digital history of the airports that have experienced travel impacts in the recent past.

Many travel credit cards include trip cancellation protections when you buy an airline ticket using the card.

These benefits provide reimbursement when there are flight cancellations or if your trip is affected by weather, sickness or other covered situations. You're protected against losing money on prepaid and nonrefundable travel expenses, including tours, hotels and passenger fares.

Trip delay reimbursement covers you when your trip is delayed more than a specific number of hours or requires an overnight stay. This coverage is ideal if your flight is canceled when you’re not at your starting destination and the airline can’t put you on a new flight until much later or the next day. It covers expenses such as meals and lodging that you incur as a result of this delay.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

While some credit cards include travel protections, they typically are less comprehensive than purchasing a travel insurance policy. These policies can cover a single trip or protect several trips within a set time period. Most travel insurance companies offer a variety of policies and coverage levels to meet each traveler's budget and needs.

In addition to trip cancellation and delay protections, many travel insurance policies also cover emergency medical treatment and transportation, baggage loss or damage, and more.

» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance

When Southwest flight cancellations occur, it’s important to know your rights and take action. There are many reasons why your flight might be canceled, but when you act quickly, you can update your plans and reduce the impact on the rest of your trip.

Many travel credit cards and travel insurance policies offer valuable protections that cover nonrefundable reservations and unexpected expenses caused by a cancellation. By taking advantage of these protections, you can minimize frustration and eliminate out-of-pocket costs resulting from a canceled flight.