How do I check if my Southwest fare dropped?

Log into southwest.com, go to My Trips, and look up your reservation. Check the current price for your exact itinerary. If it's lower than what you paid, you can cancel and rebook at the new price. Or use FareDrop to monitor your fares automatically and get notified the moment a price drop occurs.

Is there a fee to rebook Southwest flights at a lower price?

No. Southwest does not charge change fees on any fare type. This is one of the key advantages of Southwest over other airlines. You can rebook as many times as you want with no penalties.

Can I get a cash refund for a Southwest fare drop?

For Wanna Get Away fares (the cheapest), the difference is issued as travel credit, not a cash refund. For Anytime and Business Select fares, you can get a refund to your original payment method. Rapid Rewards points are always refunded directly.

Southwest Fare Drop: How to Get a Refund When Prices Drop (2026 Guide)

Q: Does Southwest refund the difference if a fare drops?

Yes. Southwest allows you to rebook at the lower fare with no change fees. If you paid with cash, the difference is issued as travel credit (or refunded to your card for Business Select and Anytime fares). If you paid with Rapid Rewards points, the difference in points is returned to your account immediately.

Q: How long is Southwest travel credit valid?

Southwest travel credits (Rapid Rewards flight credits) are valid for 12 months from the original booking date. You must book the new travel within this window, though the actual travel date can be later.

Southwest Airlines has a unique policy among US airlines: if the price of your flight drops after you book, you can rebook at the lower price with no change fees. The difference is returned as travel credit (for Wanna Get Away fares) or refunded to your payment method (for Anytime and Business Select fares).

The catch? Southwest does not notify you when prices drop. You have to check manually — and fares can change multiple times per day. Most travelers miss hundreds of dollars in potential savings simply because they do not know to look.

$47

Average savings per fare drop (based on FareDrop user data)

How Southwest Fare Adjustments Work

Unlike most airlines that charge $200+ to change a flight, Southwest's policy is simple:

No change fees. Ever. This applies to all fare types, all routes, all dates.
If the price drops, you keep the difference. Cancel your existing reservation, rebook at the new price, and the fare difference goes back to you.
You can do this unlimited times. Prices fluctuate constantly. You can rebook every time the price drops until the day of departure.

What You Get Back (by Fare Type)

Fare Type	Refund Type	How Long Valid
Wanna Get Away	Travel credit (flight credit)	12 months from original booking
Wanna Get Away Plus	Travel credit (transferable)	12 months from original booking
Anytime	Cash refund to original payment	Immediate
Business Select	Cash refund to original payment	Immediate
Rapid Rewards Points	Points returned to account	Immediate

How to Check for a Fare Drop (Manual Method)

Step 1

Log Into Southwest.com

Go to southwest.com and sign into your Rapid Rewards account. Navigate to "My Trips" and find your reservation.

Step 2

Check Current Pricing

Search for the same route and dates as your existing booking. Note the current price for your fare class (Wanna Get Away, Anytime, etc.).

Step 3

Compare to What You Paid

If the current price is lower than what you paid, you have a fare drop. The bigger the difference, the more you save.

Step 4

Cancel and Rebook

Cancel your existing reservation (the full amount goes to travel credit or refund). Then immediately book the same flight at the new lower price. The difference is yours to keep.

Step 5

Repeat Until Departure

Set a reminder to check every few days. Prices can drop multiple times, and you can rebook every time. Some travelers save $100+ on a single trip by catching multiple drops.

The Problem with Manual Monitoring

The manual method works, but it has real downsides:

Time-consuming: You need to check multiple times per week for each flight leg
Easy to forget: Life gets busy and checking fares falls off the to-do list
Prices change fast: A fare can drop and bounce back within hours
Multiple trips multiply the effort: If you have several upcoming flights, monitoring becomes a part-time job

Automate It with FareDrop

FareDrop monitors your Southwest fares 24/7 and alerts you the moment a price drops. Here is how it works:

Forward your confirmation email to FareDrop
FareDrop monitors the fare continuously, checking multiple times per day
When the price drops, you get an alert with the exact savings amount
One tap to claim — follow the link to rebook on southwest.com

You keep 90% of every fare drop. FareDrop's fee is just 10% of what you save — so you only pay when you actually save money.

Tips to Maximize Your Savings

Book early, at any price. Since there are no change fees, there is zero risk in booking early. If the price drops, you rebook. If it goes up, you locked in the lower fare.
Book Wanna Get Away Plus when possible. The travel credits are transferable, making them more flexible than basic Wanna Get Away credits.
Check both directions. Your outbound and return flights are separate fares. One might drop while the other stays the same.
Monitor through departure day. Prices can drop even days or hours before departure, especially on less popular routes.
Use Rapid Rewards points strategically. Point bookings get instant point refunds on fare drops — no waiting for travel credits.

Never Miss a Southwest Fare Drop

Forward your confirmation email. FareDrop monitors 24/7. You keep 90% of every savings. Only pay when you save.

Try FareDrop

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Southwest refund the difference if a fare drops?

Yes. Cancel and rebook at the lower price. For Wanna Get Away fares, the difference is issued as travel credit. For Anytime and Business Select, you get a cash refund. Rapid Rewards points are returned immediately.

Is there a fee to rebook at a lower price?

No. Southwest charges zero change fees on all fare types. You can rebook as many times as you want with no penalties.

How long is Southwest travel credit valid?

Travel credits are valid for 12 months from the original booking date. You must book new travel within this window, though the actual travel date can be later.

Can I get a cash refund for a fare drop?

For Wanna Get Away fares, the difference is travel credit, not cash. For Anytime and Business Select fares, you get a refund to your original payment method. Points are always refunded immediately.

How often do Southwest fares drop?

It varies by route and season, but fare changes happen multiple times per day across the Southwest network. Based on FareDrop user data, the average monitored trip sees at least one meaningful fare drop before departure.