What are Southwest travel funds?

Travel funds from Southwest can be used to book any available cash flight or to pay for the taxes and fees on award flights. They are treated like cash and can be used to pay for some or all of the amount owed. If you don't use all of the travel funds for the reservation, any remaining balance remains for future use.



Southwest "travel funds" (now officially called Flight Credits) are the value of a ticket that you have canceled or changed. In 2026, the best part of Southwest’s policy is that these credits never expire, as long as the flight was canceled at least 10 minutes prior to departure. If you booked a "Wanna Get Away" or "Wanna Get Away Plus" fare, the funds are held under your original confirmation number. These funds can be used to pay for future flights, taxes, and fees. While standard "Wanna Get Away" credits are non-transferable (they must be used by the original passenger), the "Wanna Get Away Plus" and higher fare classes allow for a one-time transfer of the credit to another Rapid Rewards member. This flexibility makes Southwest one of the most consumer-friendly airlines in 2026. To use them, you simply enter your name and the old 6-digit confirmation code during the payment screen of a new booking. If you forget your code, you can usually find it by searching your email history for "Southwest Cancellation."

People Also Ask

Southwest® gift cards, Southwest LUV Vouchers®, and Southwest® Travel Funds can only be used on the flight portion of your trip. Southwest Airlines accepts unused ticketless travel funds for Passenger travel purchased through Southwest Airlines, excluding the Southwest Airlines Group Desk.

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Yes, you can choose either to a) receive a method-of-payment refund or b) hold the value of the ticket as a flight credit or Transferable Flight CreditTM (depending on the fare) to buy a future flight.

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A flight credit can only be used toward the purchase of another flight. It cannot be used for drinks or EarlyBird. Thanks for posing your question to the Southwest Airlines Community!

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A flight credit is a credit from either a canceled flight or a downgrade in fare that can be used to buy a future flight. Will my flight credit expire? Flight credits don't expire.

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You can also use 2 travel funds and a credit card. If you cancel or change a flight paid for with a travel fund or multiple travel funds, the credit is given back to you in the form of a single travel fund with the expiration date of the earliest expiration of the travel funds you used to make the original purchase.

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Southwest Is A Safe Airline
They are a favorite among travelers looking for cheap flights without having to compromise on comfort or security. According to the most recent list of the world's safest airlines, Southwest was ranked in the top 15 airlines in the world in 2021, even beating out Delta, American, and United.

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You ARE entitled to a full refund via your original method of payment EVEN if you booked a nonrefundable Wanna Get Away fare IF Southwest cancels the flight (and not you). You will likely have to be the one to ask them for it, but you are entitled.

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You can use travel funds to rebook and change a Wanna Get Away fare to an Anytime or Business Select one, but you can't use travel funds to pay for Upgraded Boarding or buy EarlyBird Check-In.

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Solid food items (not liquids or gels) can be transported in either your carry-on or checked bags within the continental United States. Liquid or gel food items larger than 3.4 oz are not allowed in carry-on bags and should be placed in your checked bags if possible.

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Foods you can't pack in your carry-on
Think: creamy cheeses, liquid chocolate, liquid coffee, creamy dips and spreads, gravy, honey, hummus, ice cream, jam, jelly, juice, syrup, peanut butter, salad dressing, sauce, salsa, soda, soup and yogurt.

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You need to click on View Details to see the balance of the individual travel fund reservations. Here, you find the expiration date and balance for each reservation. As of July 28, 2022, any unexpired funds and any funds created from there on out will no longer expire.

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