Can I Change The Date Of My Southwest Flight? | Switch Days Without Stress

Yes, you can change your travel date online or in the app, and you’ll only pay any fare difference while credits can cover later trips.

Plans shift. Work trips slide. Family dates move. If you’re flying Southwest, changing your flight date is usually one of the least painful parts of travel.

This page walks you through what happens when you switch days, how money or points move around, and the small details that save you from clicking the wrong button. You’ll see what to do weeks ahead of time, what to do the same day, and what to check before you confirm the change.

What “Changing The Date” Means On Southwest

On Southwest, changing the date is a flight change. You pick a different departure day (and often a different flight number and time). The system then compares the price of your old itinerary with the new one.

If the new itinerary costs more, you pay the difference. If it costs less, the leftover value doesn’t vanish. It comes back to you in a form tied to how you bought the ticket and what type of fare you booked.

What stays the same after a date change

• Your confirmation number stays tied to your trip.
• Passenger names stay the same (you can’t “swap” travelers as a date change).
• EarlyBird Check-In (if you bought it) can carry with the passenger when the airline can attach it to the updated reservation, though there are cases where it may need rework by an agent.

What can change when you switch days

• Your flight times and connections (if any) can change.
• Your fare amount can change.
• Your check-in window and boarding position will shift with the new flight.
• Your credit or refund outcome can change if you downgrade to a cheaper itinerary.

Can I Change The Date Of My Southwest Flight?

Yes. Southwest lets you change a flight date without charging a change penalty on top of the fare. The trade-off is simple: the new flight’s price controls what you owe or what you get back. Southwest explains this directly in its change and cancel rules.

That means the real question isn’t “Can I change it?” It’s “What will it cost me, and what happens to the leftover value if I pick a cheaper day?”

Know the timing rule that trips people up

Online changes are usually allowed until close to departure. If you’re inside a tight window, or you’re changing during irregular operations, the website may push you to call. If you’re trying to change the date after you missed the flight, you’re in a different situation and you’ll want an agent to check what can be recovered.

How to change your Southwest flight date online

The cleanest way to switch days is through your Southwest account on a browser. The app works too, yet the browser view can be easier when you’re comparing several dates back-to-back.

Step-by-step on a computer

1. Open Southwest and sign in (or use “Manage Reservations” if you booked as a guest).
2. Enter your confirmation number and passenger name if you’re not signed in.
3. Select the trip and choose the option to change the flight.
4. Pick the segment you want to change (outbound, return, or both).
5. Select the new date, then scan the list of available flights.
6. Compare prices and select your new flight.
7. Review the payment screen to see the fare difference, if any.
8. Confirm the change and save your updated confirmation details.

Step-by-step in the Southwest app

1. Open the app and sign in.
2. Go to “Trips.”
3. Choose the reservation, then tap the change option.
4. Select new dates and flights, then review the price difference.
5. Confirm and screenshot or save the updated itinerary.

Small habit that saves headaches

Before you hit confirm, pause and re-check the day-of-week and the airport codes. When you’re tired, “Tue” and “Thu” can look too similar, and nearby airports can blend together on a phone screen.

What you’ll pay when you change the date

Southwest typically doesn’t add a separate change penalty. Your cost comes from the fare difference between the original flight and the new one. If the new flight costs more, you pay the extra amount at checkout.

If the new flight costs less, you don’t lose that value. The difference returns to you as either a refund (in certain refundable cases) or a flight credit that can be used later, which Southwest describes in its policy details.

Cash bookings vs points bookings

With cash, you’re comparing dollar prices. With points, you’re comparing points totals. If the new points price is higher, you pay the points difference. If it’s lower, the points come back to your account after the change is finalized.

Why the same route can price out differently across days

Southwest fares move with demand. A Friday afternoon flight can cost more than the same route on a Tuesday morning. When you’re switching travel dates, it can help to check a few nearby times on the same day, too. Sometimes moving your departure by a couple of hours changes the fare enough to matter.

How refunds and credits work after a date change

When you switch to a cheaper itinerary, the leftover value doesn’t always return the same way. The outcome depends on what you bought and how Southwest classifies the fare.

If you bought a refundable fare, the difference may go back to the original payment method. With nonrefundable fares, the leftover value commonly becomes a flight credit you can use later. Southwest explains how flight credits work, including expiration rules tied to when the credit was created, on its flight credit rules page.

Where people get surprised

• Expecting cash back on a nonrefundable fare. Many times, you’ll receive a credit instead of a refund to your card.
• Not noticing an expiration date. Some credits show a “use by” date depending on when they were created.
• Mixing payments. If you paid with a mix of card and credit, the system can split outcomes across those forms.

Change outcomes by booking situation

Use this table to predict what you’ll see at checkout when you change your date. It’s not a promise for every edge case, yet it’s a solid mental model for most trips booked directly with Southwest.

Situation	If new flight costs more	If new flight costs less
Nonrefundable cash fare	Pay the dollar difference	Leftover value becomes a flight credit tied to the traveler
Refundable cash fare	Pay the dollar difference	Difference may return to the original payment method
Points booking	Pay the points difference	Points return to your Rapid Rewards account
Mixed payment (card + credit)	Pay any remaining balance after credits are applied	Leftover value returns as a credit or refund based on fare type
Changing both outbound and return	Fare differences are calculated across the full change	Any leftover value follows the fare’s refund/credit rules
Downgrading to a cheaper time on the same day	Not common (since it’s a downgrade)	Difference becomes a credit or refund based on fare type
Changing close to departure	Pay the difference if seats are available	Outcome still follows fare rules; some options may be restricted near departure
Changing after a major schedule shift by the airline	Sometimes waived or handled differently depending on the notice	Often handled with added flexibility; check the rebooking options shown in your trip

Same-day switches when you can’t move the trip to another week

Sometimes you don’t need a new date. You need a new time on the same travel day. Southwest has separate options for same-day changes and standby that can help when plans shift at the last minute.

Same-day change vs standby

A same-day change is a confirmed switch to another flight that day when a seat is open. Standby is getting in line for an earlier flight, then boarding if a seat opens up. The option you see depends on your fare type, route, and what seats are left at that moment.

When same-day moves save money

If your original flight is later in the day and you’d rather fly earlier, a same-day option can be cheaper than moving the whole trip to a different day. It can also save a hotel night if your return timing changes.

When you should call instead of clicking

Most date changes are self-serve. Still, a few situations work better with an agent because the website may not show the option you want, or the reservation has added parts that don’t reprice cleanly.

Situations that often need an agent

• Part of your trip was booked through a partner or travel agency.
• You’re changing a reservation with special service requests that need re-checking.
• You’re trying to keep a specific fare add-on that didn’t attach after a change.
• You see an error that repeats across devices and browsers.

Before you call, gather these details

• Confirmation number
• Passenger name exactly as booked
• The date and flight time you want
• A backup option (second choice date/time) in case your first pick sells out

Ways to lower the price when changing your date

If the new date costs more than your original booking, you still have room to reduce what you pay.

Try these practical moves

• Check nearby departure times. A 6 a.m. flight can price lower than a noon flight on the same day.
• Check the day before or after. Midweek flights often price lower than weekend flights on the same route.
• Split the trip change. If your outbound is locked in, change only the return segment first and price-check results.
• Use credits strategically. Apply flight credits at checkout so you pay less out of pocket.

How to verify your change actually went through

After you confirm a date change, don’t close the tab and assume you’re done. Take a minute to confirm the reservation is updated end-to-end.

Fast confirmation checklist

• Refresh your trip page and confirm the new date is shown for all segments.
• Check your email for an updated itinerary message from Southwest.
• Open the boarding pass area (or check-in area) and confirm it matches the new flight.
• If you used credits, confirm the remaining balance (if any) looks right.

Common snags and how to fix them

Most problems during date changes fall into a handful of patterns. Here’s how to handle them without spiraling.

The site shows a higher price than you expected

Double-check you’re comparing the same passenger count and the same airports. Then check nearby times. If the price is still high, that can be simple demand pricing on the new day.

You can’t see the flight you want

It may be sold out, or it may not be offered on that date. Try a nearby day, or check if the route only runs on certain days of the week.

You get an error at checkout

Try a different device, switch from app to browser (or the other way around), and remove any saved payment method that might be failing. If the error repeats, calling can be faster than repeating the same steps.

Your credits don’t show up

Credits often attach by traveler name and confirmation details. If you’re applying credits, use the exact traveler info that matches the credit record. If the system still can’t find it, an agent can look it up and apply it.

Which change option fits your situation

This table helps you choose the cleanest path based on timing and what you’re trying to accomplish.

Option	Best fit	Timing
Standard date change online	Moving the trip to a different day with time to compare prices	Days to weeks before departure
Standard date change in the app	Switching days while traveling or away from a computer	Any time before close to departure
Same-day confirmed change	Switching to an earlier or later flight on the same travel day	Day of travel, with open seats
Same-day standby	Trying to get on an earlier flight when you can wait at the airport	Day of travel, based on availability
Agent-assisted change	Complex bookings, repeated checkout errors, or special cases	Any time, often best when issues block self-serve
Change only one segment	Outbound fixed, return flexible (or the reverse)	Any time before close to departure

A simple pre-change checklist you can keep open while booking

When you’re ready to change the date, keep this list on-screen. It keeps you from missing the small stuff that leads to redo work later.

• Pick your target date and one backup date.
• Check airport codes and departure time on the new flight.
• Confirm passenger names match the reservation.
• Review fare difference before you confirm.
• Save the updated confirmation and email.
• Check any credit balance left after the change, if you used one.

Once you know how Southwest treats fare differences and credits, changing a travel date stops feeling like a gamble. It turns into a quick comparison shopping moment: pick the day, pick the flight, confirm the numbers, and move on with your plans.