How to Use Flight Credit on Southwest Airlines?

Southwest lets you combine up to three flight credits in one booking, and some never expire if issued before May 28, 2025.

Wondering what happens to your money when you cancel a Southwest flight? Good news, you won’t lose it. Instead, you get Southwest flight credit to use on future bookings. It's transferable, simple to use, and can even be transferred in certain situations. It just takes a little bit of planning and understanding the rules, such as when it expires, how to locate it, and how to use it properly.

Ready to make that canceled flight your new adventure? Let's begin with what Southwest flight credit is and why it's important.

What is a flight credit on Southwest Airlines?

Ever had to cancel a flight and felt that sinking feeling, “Well, there goes that money”? With Southwest Airlines flight credit, that stress disappears.

✈️ So, what exactly is it?

Southwest flight credit is like travel money stored in your name. If you cancel a non-refundable flight or downgrade to a cheaper fare, Southwest won’t refund you in cash, but they will give you flight credit for the unused value.

That credit can be used later to book a new flight as long as it falls under the Southwest flight credit policy. It’s flexible, simple to apply, and, in some cases, transferable.

Does Southwest flight credit expire?

Yes, Southwest flight credits do have an expiration date, but not every one of them. It just depends on when you made your reservation and what type of fare you paid for.

Here’s the breakdown:

✅ If your flight was booked before May 28, 2025:

• Your Southwest Airlines flight credit never expires.
• These credits remain valid until used, no matter how far in the future.

🚨 If your flight was booked on or after May 28, 2025:

Expiration depends on the fare class:

This update is part of the refreshed Southwest flight credit policy, and travelers must carefully track those dates.

🔎 How to check your credit expiration date?

To check Southwest flight credit expiration, you can:

• Log in to your Rapid Rewards account → Go to the Travel Funds tab.
• Use the Southwest flight credit lookup tool and enter your confirmation number + name.

📞 Call Fond Travels at +1 (571) 389 6426 to get quick help checking or using your travel funds.

How to get Southwest flight credits?

Wondering how to earn Southwest flight credit? It’s simple: when your travel plans change, Southwest gives you credit instead of charging you fees. Here’s how you can get it:

✈️ You’ll receive a credit if you:

• Cancel a paid flight before departure
• Rebook to a cheaper fare (the leftover value becomes credit)
• Cancel a flight you can’t take (but don’t no-show!)
• Mix points + cash, you’ll get credit for the cash part only

⚠️ When you won’t get credit:

• No-shows on non-refundable fares
• Basic fares, which follow stricter refund rules
• Extras like EarlyBird Check-In aren’t credited back

How to find Southwest flight credit?

Lost track of your travel funds? No worries, finding your Southwest flight credit is easy if you know where to look.

🧭 Here are two quick ways to find it:

1. Log in to your Rapid Rewards account
2. Go to your dashboard
3. Click on My Account → Travel Funds tab
4. Your available credits will show up automatically
5. Use the Southwest flight credit lookup tool
6. Don’t have an account? No problem
7. Just head to the Southwest flight credit lookup page
8. Enter your confirmation number and passenger name to view your credit balance

Fond Tip: Save your confirmation emails. Your confirmation number is the key to checking your Southwest credit if you’re not logged in.

How to use flight credit on Southwest Airlines?

Ready to book your next trip using your Southwest flight credit? The process is smooth and takes just a few steps, whether you’re using one or stacking a few.

💻 Steps to use your credit:

1. Go to Southwest.com or open the Southwest mobile app
2. Start a new flight booking as usual
3. On the payment page, click “Apply Travel Funds.”
4. Enter your confirmation number and passenger name
5. Your available Southwest credit will appear and apply to the total

You can apply for up to three flight credits per booking, providing more flexibility than most airlines. Contact us at +1 (571) 389 6426 for further details.

Fond Tip: If you're using multiple credits, apply the largest one first, as this ensures any remaining balance is easier to track and reuse later.

How to redeem flight credit on Southwest?

Redeeming a Southwest flight credit is the final step of turning your canceled plans into your next getaway. Once you’ve selected your flight, using that credit is as simple as putting a promo code.

✅ Here’s how to redeem it:

1. Find and pick a new flight.
2. Click "Apply Travel Funds" on the payment or checkout page.
3. Put in the passenger's name and your confirmation number.
4. The system will automatically apply for your available Southwest credit
5. Review your updated total and complete the booking

Fond Tip: You can combine three travel funds or flight credits per booking, but Southwest doesn’t allow more than that. If you have leftover amounts, try consolidating them wisely.

How to apply for Southwest flight credit?

So, you’ve got Southwest flight credit sitting there, and now you’re ready to book that trip. The good news? Applying it is super easy, and it only takes a minute.

✈️ Here’s how to do it:

• Head over to Southwest.com or open their app
• Pick your flights and move through the booking steps
• When you reach at the payment page, select "Apply Travel Funds."
• Type in your confirmation number and your name just as they appeared on the original booking
• Boom, your Southwest Airlines flight credit gets applied instantly

If your flight costs more than the credit, no worries; you’ll just pay the difference with your card.

📝 A few things to keep in mind:

• You can stack up to three credits per booking
• The name on the credit must match the traveler's.
• If it’s a Southwest transferable flight credit, you can gift it to someone else, but only once!

📞 Not sure if you’re applying your credit the right way? Don’t stress, just call Fond Travels at +1 (571) 389 6426, and we’ll make it smooth, simple, and stress-free.

How to transfer flight credit to Southwest?

Got flight credit you’re not planning to use? Good news is that you don’t have to let it go to waste. If it’s eligible, you can transfer it to someone else and help them fly instead.

🎫 Can all credits be transferred?

Only Southwest transferable flight credits can be shared, and those come from:

• Wanna Get Away Plus
• Anytime
• Business Select fares

So, if you’ve booked one of these and plans changed, you can pay it forward literally.

👥 Here’s how to transfer it (it’s easier than you think):

Log in to your Rapid Rewards account

1. Go to “Travel Funds” under “My Account”
2. Find the credit labeled “Transferable.”
3. Click “Transfer fund”, and enter the recipient’s name and Rapid Rewards number
4. Hit confirm, and boom, it’s theirs!

A few quick notes:

• Transfers are one-time; once it's sent, it can’t be returned
• You can’t split one credit across multiple people
• Regular Wanna Get Away and Basic fares? Not transferable

Fond Tip: The person you send must be a Rapid Reward member. And remember, credits don’t get a new expiration date after transferring. It still expires when they originally would have.

👉Got a credit and not sure if it's transferable? Call Fond Travels at +1 (571) 389 6426, and we’ll help you send it off to the right person, stress-free.

Final Thoughts

All in all, Southwest makes it commendably easy to redirect canceled flights into future travel. Whether you're using credit for your next flight reservation, rolling a few remaining balances together, or even transferring it to someone else, their system is designed with flexibility in mind, not angst. The secret is knowing when and how to apply for your credit card. Some money has an expiration date, while others do not. Some can be sent, but only one time. Paying attention to such small details allows you to get the most out of every dollar you've already spent.

And if you are ever confused about how it all works or simply don't want the hassle?

📞 Call Fond Travels +1 (571) 389 6426. We’re here to make travel easier every step of the way.