{"id":1315,"date":"2026-09-17T12:45:25","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T07:15:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/datechangepolicy.com\/blog\/?p=1315"},"modified":"2026-09-17T15:17:01","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T09:47:01","slug":"southwest-airlines-date-change-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/datechangepolicy.com\/blog\/southwest-airlines-date-change-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Southwest Airlines Date Change Guide: 2026 Rules & Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"

Quick Summary:<\/strong> Southwest Airlines allows fee-free date changes on Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra fares. Passengers pay the fare difference if the new fare costs more. Basic fare passengers should upgrade to an eligible fare before requesting flight changes. Request changes online, on both the website and the app, 10 minutes before the scheduled departure.<\/p>\n

Important 2026 update:<\/strong> Southwest has rebranded its fares: Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra.<\/p>\n

Also Read: <\/strong>Hawaiian Airlines Date Change Policy<\/a><\/p>\n

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Southwest Airlines Date Change Policy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Southwest does not charge a change fee for any fare tier except Basic. Check out your fare-specific date change flexibility for a seamless experience.<\/p>\n

Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra:<\/strong> Southwest does not charge a change fee. Calculate the fare difference between the old and new fares. You pay the difference if the new fare is higher. The carrier issues a transferable flight credit if the new fare is lower, subject to the specific fare rules. Choice fares offer transferable credits, while Basic fare credits are non-transferable.<\/p>\n

Basic Fares:<\/strong> Passengers need to either cancel their tickets (10 minutes before departure) or upgrade their fare to a higher fare (Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra) before modifying flight details. Basic fares do not provide voluntary flight date changes. The Choice credits are valid for a 12-month period, and Basic flight credits have a 6-month validity window. The validity period begins from the original ticket purchase date.<\/p>\n

Southwest Date Change at a Glance<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Southwest<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Fare Class<\/strong><\/td>\nFlight Change<\/strong><\/td>\nChange Fee<\/strong><\/td>\nFare Difference<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Basic<\/td>\nN\/A (requires upgrade)<\/td>\nN\/A (upgrade charges)<\/td>\nApplies (after the upgrade)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Choice<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nNo fee<\/td>\nApplies if the new fare is higher<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Choice Preferred<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nNo fee<\/td>\nApplies if the new fare is higher<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Choice Extra<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nNo fee<\/td>\nApplies if the new fare is higher<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Does Southwest charge a date change fee?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Southwest date change policy allows passengers to make date changes without a change fee. You can request date changes across all fare types except Basic. For Basic fares, you need to upgrade your ticket to be eligible for the change.<\/p>\n

Fare Difference Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n