Hey there! I actually went through the Southwest refund process not too long ago, and I can tell you from personal experience that it’s pretty straightforward. I had booked a flight from Austin to Seattle for a weekend trip, but some unexpected work stuff came up and I had to cancel. I wasn’t sure how long it would take to get my money back or if I’d just end up with travel credits, so I decided to give it a try and see what happened.
When I logged into my Southwest account, I went to “Manage Reservations” and clicked “Cancel.” Since I had booked an Anytime fare, it was eligible for a full refund back to my original payment method. I chose that option, got a confirmation email almost instantly, and within a few days the money was already showing as “pending” on my credit card. The whole process was super smooth — no need to call anyone or fill out forms.
Another time, I had a Wanna Get Away fare that I had to cancel, and that one didn’t go back to my card but turned into travel credits instead. Those credits showed up in my account the same day, and I used them a month later for another trip without any problems.
In my experience, Southwest handles refunds and credits pretty quickly — usually within a few business days for card refunds and almost instantly for travel funds. What impressed me most was how transparent and easy the process was. No hidden steps, no extra fees — just a few clicks and you’re all set. It definitely made me feel confident about booking with them again, knowing that cancellations and refunds aren’t a huge hassle.
