Fareward

Guide ยท checked 2026-10-11

Southwest Price Drop After Booking: How to Get the Fare Difference

Quick answer

A Southwest price drop after booking is still one of the easier ones to claim. Southwest says it "doesn't charge fees to change your flights." It also says: "If your new airfare costs less, we'll refund the difference to the original form of payment (if you purchased a refundable fare), or the difference will be held for future use in the form of a flight credit" (Southwest fare information). For Choice, Choice Preferred and Choice Extra, you change to the same flight at the lower price and keep the difference. Basic is the big exception.

Who qualifies for a Southwest fare drop

Southwest now sells four fare bundles. Here's how a drop works on each, per southwest.com/fare-information:

  • Choice Extra and Choice Preferred are refundable fares. If the price drops and you change, the difference goes back to your original form of payment.
  • Choice is non-refundable. The difference becomes a flight credit, which Southwest says is transferable and expires 12 months from the original booking date.
  • Basic allows flight changes only "with fare upgrade to Choice, Choice Preferred, or Choice Extra." In practice, you can't simply reprice a Basic ticket to a lower Basic fare. Basic flight credits expire 6 months from booking, and you have to cancel at least 10 minutes before departure.

Also check:

  • You booked with Southwest directly. Tickets bought through travel agencies or vacation packages go through whoever sold them.
  • Same fare type. Compare Choice to Choice. A cheaper Basic fare on your flight doesn't mean your Choice ticket can drop to that price.

Step by step: claim a Southwest price drop yourself

  1. Find the lower fare. Search southwest.com for your exact flight(s) and look at the same fare bundle you booked.
  2. Go to Manage Reservations on southwest.com or in the app, enter your confirmation number and name, and choose Change (Southwest help: changing and canceling flights).
  3. Select the same flight in the same fare bundle. Southwest shows the price difference before you confirm.
  4. Confirm. For a refundable fare, the difference goes back to your card. For Choice, it becomes a flight credit.
  5. Check your seat. Southwest now assigns seats. After any change, open your reservation and make sure your seat assignment is still what you want.
  6. Save the confirmation email showing the credit or refund amount.

Booked with Rapid Rewards points? If the points price on your flight drops, the same change process generally lets you rebook at the lower points price and get the difference back in points. Check your fare rules.

The catch: Basic, credit vs cash, and expiry

Basic fares. This is where people get burned. On Reddit and elsewhere, travelers describe cancelling a Basic fare to rebook it cheaper. The resulting flight credit expires 6 months from the original booking date, sometimes before the trip they wanted it for. Southwest's Basic fare article notes that a credit takes the earliest expiration date of any funds used. Don't cancel a Basic fare to chase a drop unless you've checked that the credit's expiration works for you.

Basic round trips. Southwest says that on a Basic round trip, you either cancel both segments or upgrade the Basic segment. Check before you touch one leg.

Credit vs cash. Only refundable fares (Choice Preferred, Choice Extra) send the difference back to your card. Choice and Basic produce flight credit.

Expiry inheritance. If you mix funds, the new credit takes the earliest expiration date among them.

How to watch your Southwest fare automatically

Southwest fares change often, sometimes daily. The policy is generous, but only if you notice the drop.

Fareward does the noticing. Forward your Southwest confirmation to [email protected]. Fareward checks the current fare on your same flights and fare type. If it drops, Fareward files with Southwest as your agent, without needing your Southwest password. The savings land as Southwest credit, and you keep it.

Watching is free. Fareward charges 20% of the savings, only after a credit lands. If the fare doesn't drop or your fare rules don't allow a claim, you pay nothing. It's airline credit, not cash, so it works best if you'll fly Southwest again.

FAQ

Does Southwest refund the difference if the price drops? On refundable fares (Choice Preferred, Choice Extra), Southwest says it refunds the difference to your original payment. On Choice, the difference becomes a flight credit.

What's the Southwest price drop policy for Basic fares? Basic fares can only be changed by upgrading to Choice or higher. Cancelling Basic produces a credit that expires 6 months from booking.

Is there a fee to rebook Southwest at a lower price? No. Southwest says it doesn't charge fees to change flights. You only pay (or get back) the fare difference.

How long does a Southwest flight credit last? Credits from Choice fares expire 12 months from booking. Basic credits expire 6 months from booking. When funds are combined, the earliest expiration applies.

Can I transfer my Southwest credit? Southwest describes Choice credits as Transferable Flight Credit. Check the terms on your credit for transfer rules.

Do I lose my seat when I change? Southwest assigns seats now, so a change can affect your seat. Check your reservation after changing.

Can something watch my Southwest fare for me? Yes. Fareward watches your booked Southwest fare for free and files for credit when it drops, charging 20% only after a credit lands.

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Sources (checked October 11, 2026)