Southwest Airlines 2026 Guide
No change fee — but that doesn't always mean free. Here's exactly what each fare costs to change, when you'll owe money, and how to avoid it.
Quick Answer
Southwest charges $0 in flight change fees.
But you still pay the fare difference if your new flight costs more — and Basic fares have extra restrictions. Keep reading for the full breakdown.
The number one question travelers search before booking Southwest Airlines is whether there's a flight change fee. The short answer: no, Southwest does not charge a change fee on any of its four 2026 fare types. That policy has not changed — and it remains one of the biggest advantages Southwest holds over competitors like Delta, United, and American.
But here's what most travelers miss: no change fee does not mean your change will be free. You still pay the fare difference if the new flight costs more than what you originally paid. And if you bought a Basic fare — Southwest's cheapest ticket — there are strict upgrade requirements before you can change at all.
This guide explains exactly what the Southwest flight change fee policy means in 2026, how much you'll actually pay by fare type, what refunds look like, and how to change your flight without spending a cent.
No. Southwest Airlines charges zero dollars in flight change fees on all four of its 2026 fare types: Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra. This is one of the few airline policies that has survived every round of Southwest's 2025–2026 overhaul intact.
In an era where other major US carriers have eliminated change fees on most fares too, Southwest's no-fee policy has become table stakes rather than a differentiator — but it still holds up, and it applies to all fare levels including the cheapest Basic fare.
Southwest renamed all its fares in 2026. Here is what each tier is now called, what it used to be, and exactly how flight changes work on each one:
Change fee: $0
Fare difference: Yes — you pay the difference if the new flight costs more
Catch: You must first upgrade to Choice, Choice Preferred, or Choice Extra before making any change. Basic fares cannot be directly changed — you pay the upgrade cost first, then the fare difference if applicable.
If new flight is cheaper: Flight credit issued (12-month validity)
Change fee: $0
Fare difference: Yes — you pay the difference if the new flight costs more
Process: Change directly through the app or southwest.com — no upgrade required
If new flight is cheaper: Flight credit issued (12-month validity)
Change fee: $0
Fare difference: Yes — you pay the difference if the new flight costs more
Process: Change directly through the app or southwest.com
If new flight is cheaper: Full cash refund to original payment method
Change fee: $0
Fare difference: Yes — you pay the difference if the new flight costs more
Process: Change directly through the app or southwest.com
If new flight is cheaper: Full cash refund to original payment method
The real cost of changing a Southwest flight isn't the change fee (which is $0) — it's the fare difference. Here's how that works in practice:
| Scenario | What You Pay | Example |
|---|---|---|
| New flight costs more | Fare difference only | Paid $89, new flight is $149 → pay $60 |
| New flight costs the same | Nothing | Paid $89, new flight is $89 → pay $0 |
| New flight costs less | Nothing — you receive a credit or refund | Paid $149, new flight is $89 → get $60 back |
| Basic fare — any change | Upgrade cost + fare difference | Paid $59 Basic, must upgrade to Choice ($99) first → pay at least $40 before any fare difference |
There is no limit. You can change a Southwest flight as many times as you want before departure. Each change is subject to the current fare difference at the time of the change — so if prices rise between changes, you keep paying the gap.
When you change to a lower-priced flight, what you get back depends entirely on which fare you originally purchased:
| Fare Type | Refund Type | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Flight credit | 12 months from original purchase |
| Choice | Flight credit (Transferable) | 12 months from original purchase |
| Choice Preferred | Full cash refund | Back to original payment method |
| Choice Extra | Full cash refund | Back to original payment method |
Most Southwest flight changes take under 5 minutes through the app or website. Here's how:
Click "Change Flight" on the homepage or navigate to "Manage Reservations."
Enter your confirmation number plus the passenger's first and last name. You can also find this in My Account if you're a Rapid Rewards member.
If you have a Basic fare, you'll be prompted to upgrade before proceeding. Choose your upgrade fare level.
Browse available flights on your new preferred date or time. Prices shown reflect the fare difference you'll owe (or credit you'll receive).
With assigned seating in place since January 2026, you'll pick a seat from what's available on the new flight based on your fare and Rapid Rewards status.
Pay any fare difference or confirm your credit/refund. You'll receive a new confirmation email immediately.
Same-day flight changes on Southwest follow a separate set of rules and can sometimes be completely free — no fare difference at all.
| Fare Type | Same-Day Change Cost | Same-Day Standby |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Must upgrade to Choice first | Free (not guaranteed) |
| Choice | Free — no fare difference | Free |
| Choice Preferred | Free — no fare difference | Free |
| Choice Extra | Free — no fare difference | Free |
| A-List / A-List Preferred | Requires qualifying fare (Choice or above) | Free on any fare |
The same-day change benefit on Choice fares and above is significant — you can move to any available flight on the same day, same route, completely free of any fare difference. This is the policy that makes buying a Choice fare worth the premium over Basic for frequent travelers.
The single most effective way to guarantee free flight changes is to book a Choice, Choice Preferred, or Choice Extra fare. No change fee, no fare difference on same-day changes, and cash refunds (on Choice Preferred and Extra) if you rebook cheaper.
Southwest fares fluctuate constantly. Book early, then check prices every week or two. If the same flight drops in price, rebook — you'll pay nothing and pocket a flight credit (or cash refund on higher fares). This works best with Choice Preferred or Choice Extra fares.
If you're on a Basic fare and want an earlier flight on travel day, join the same-day standby list — it's completely free with no upgrade required. You're not guaranteed a seat, but if space opens up you get on the earlier flight at zero cost.
Southwest's 24-hour cancellation rule applies to changes too — if you need to adjust your booking within 24 hours of purchasing and the flight departs more than 10 minutes from now, you can make changes and receive a full cash refund of the difference on any fare type.
Rapid Rewards A-List members (25+ qualifying one-way flights per year) get free same-day standby on any fare, including Basic. A-List Preferred members (100+ flights or 110,000 tier qualifying points) get additional flexibility benefits across the board.
No. Southwest charges zero dollars in flight change fees on all fare types — Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra. You only pay the fare difference if the new flight costs more than your original booking.
Yes, but not directly. Basic fares require you to upgrade to Choice, Choice Preferred, or Choice Extra before making a change. You pay the cost difference between your Basic fare and the upgrade fare, plus any additional fare difference if the new flight is more expensive.
Choice Preferred and Choice Extra passengers receive a full cash refund of the difference to their original payment method. Basic and Choice fare passengers receive a flight credit, valid for 12 months from the original purchase date.
Unlimited. You can change a Southwest flight as many times as needed before departure. Each change is subject to the current fare difference at the time you make the change.
You can change your flight up to 10 minutes before your original scheduled departure. Anything after that window triggers the no-show policy. To be safe, aim to make changes at least 1–2 hours before departure.
Yes. Points bookings follow the same change rules as cash bookings. If you rebook to a cheaper flight, the points difference is returned to your Rapid Rewards account. If the new flight costs more points, you pay the difference from your account balance.
In most cases, changing is better. Canceling a Basic fare after the 24-hour booking window results in forfeited funds with no credit. Canceling a Choice fare gives you a 12-month flight credit. Changing instead of canceling keeps your booking active and preserves more options.
Bookings made through third-party travel agents or online travel agencies (OTAs) must be changed through the original booking agent — not directly through Southwest. Contact your booking agent to make changes.
Get latest southwest Fights Deals
Name