• 05 Feb, 2026

What happens if I miss my Southwest Airlines flight

Travellers know that missing a flight is common and has happened to the best of us. When you are travelling with Southwest, you can miss your flight for many unintentional reasons, such as oversleeping and snoozing the alarm, losing track of time, getting stuck in traffic, or not being able to reach your destination due to unfavourable weather conditions. For this common situation, the anxiety is pretty palpable. Southwest Airlines will help you in such circumstances by providing the best possible solution, but it is advisable to know what to do next if you miss a flight. To be prepared for any future Southwest missed-flight situation, this post will be your guide in times of need.

What are the Southwest Airlines Missed Flight Policies?

Southwest Airlines is the customer's choice for a reason. The airline understands how frustrating it can be to miss a flight and consequently alter your plans. So, the first thing to do in such a situation is to refer to Southwest Airlines' Missed Flight Policies to see whether your flight ticket is eligible for a refund. The respective policies are clearly stated below; refer to them and take the next step. 

  • If you have missed your Southwest flight, you have a 10-minute grace period from the original flight departure to request a flight cancellation by contacting the airline. 
  • You will either receive travel credit from Southwest Airlines or have your funds forfeited, depending on the fare type you purchased.
    • For Basic or Choice Reservations: The complete deposits for bookings paid by you will be forfeited by the airline. 
    • For Choice Extra or Choice Preferred Reservations: You will get the value of the ticket(s) in the form of Transferable Flight Credits. 
    • For Basic or Choice Reward Travel Reservations: The airline will forfeit any points used for the booking, including taxes and fees. 
    • For Choice Preferred or Choice Extra Reward Travel Reservations: The points used for the reservation will be deposited back into your Rapid Rewards Account. The fees and the taxes paid will be converted to Transferable Flight Credits. 
    • For Getaways by Southwest Vacations Bookings: The deposits for the booking will be forfeited by Southwest. 
  • Southwest's no-show policy will apply to flight tickets purchased with the Cash and Points combination. 
  • If Southwest cancels the flight or is facing a significant delay, three hours or more domestically and six hours or more internationally, then these will be considered as exceptional cases for refund generation. 
  • If you missed a flight operated by a partner airline of Southwest, you must contact the airline directly for assistance. 

What happens if I miss my Southwest Airlines Flight?

A missed flight is naturally anxiety-inducing, but it is still not a lost cause if you take steps at the right time and with the proper information. If you miss your Southwest Airlines flight for any reason, you must contact a Southwest Airlines representative to inform them. You can further inquire about the remaining itinerary and rebook the next flight to complete the flight journey. 

Conclusion: You are not the only person to make the mistake of missing a flight. If you do not intend to travel or have missed a flight with Southwest, then this post is your saviour. You can handle the situation as best as possible only if you have all the information. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the grace period offered by Southwest Airlines in case of a missed flight?

In case of a missed flight with Southwest Airlines, you have 10 minutes before the flight departure to cancel your flight. 

2. What to do if I missed my Southwest Airlines flight?

If you miss your Southwest flight, you must contact the airline's agent, inform them, and rebook your flight. 

3. Will I be charged a fee if I miss my Southwest Airlines flight?

No, you will not be charged a fee if you miss your Southwest Airlines flight. 

4. Will I get travel credit if I miss my Southwest Airlines flight due to a medical emergency?

You may receive travel credit from Southwest if you miss a flight due to a medical emergency and have an eligible fare. 

5. Will I get a refund for a missed flight from Southwest?

No, you will not get a refund to your original payment method from Southwest; you might receive travel credits and points.

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