Fall airfare sale happening: How to re-price a Southwest flight when the fare decreases

June 14, 2023

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information.

One of the longstanding perks of booking with Southwest Airlines is the ability to take advantage of the airline’s periodic sales and price drops by banking some of the Rapid Rewards points used when the cost goes down and/or even getting a credit to use towards a future flight the price goes down on a cash booking.

Details on how to reprice your Southwest flights are always worth knowing, but it is a skill especially worth brushing up on today with a widespread 40% off sale on many Southwest flights this fall that is going on through June 15, 2023.

This may be your opportunity to stretch your Southwest points and cash for flights even further by just pushing a few buttons at the right time. If that’s confusing to you, read on and we’ll help you out.

In This Post

Why Southwest’s change policy is notable

(Photo by Ben Smithson/The Points Guy)

Booking an airline flight can feel like a gamble. You never know what the price might be a few days or months down the line, and it’s hard to know if you’re booking the lowest possible rate. Should you book now? Hold off a few days? A few months? It can be a stressful process, especially when buying tickets for an entire family.

Although most airlines dropped their hefty change fees during the pandemic, there’s no guarantee those policies will last through the future. If those fees — which used to soar into the $200 range — start creeping back, it most likely won’t be worth it to rebook.

However, with Southwest, whether you booked using points or paid cash, you can always rebook your flight and get the difference back. Some other airlines do waive their fees for those with status but on Southwest it doesn’t matter who you are. All customers can rebook a flight to get the best price available, regardless of elite status.

Southwest even allows you to rebook an unlimited number of times up to 10 minutes before the flight’s departure. Plus, all fare classes are eligible for rebooking. It’s a huge perk and a great option for travelers who want to reduce their overall costs, whether that be in points or dollars.

Many Southwest members — myself included — have been able to rebook upcoming flights and get the fare difference back in their pockets.

What happens when you find a lower price

(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy)

If you happen to find a lower price, you’ll either receive a Travel Funds credit or your points back, depending on how you initially paid for the fare.

If you paid for the flight: If you booked the lowest-price Wanna Get Away fares, you will receive a Travel Funds credit for the difference in the fare. You have one year from the date you initially booked the flight to use the credit (not from the date you rebooked). Travel Funds credits from these fares are non-transferable and can only be used for the same passenger. For the new Wanna Get Away Plus fares, you will receive transferable flight credits that allow you to transfer your flight credit to someone else. Note that you must both be Rapid Rewards members and only one transfer is permitted. The expiration date is 12 months from the date the ticket was booked. For more expensive Business Select and Away fares, you’ll receive a cash refund instead of credits.
If you used points for the flight: The difference in Rapid Rewards points will automatically go back into the account from which those points were deducted.

Steps to rebook your Southwest flight

Whether your flight was booked on points or a cash ticket, the process to rebook (and thus re-price) is extremely easy.

First, sign in to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account. On the “My Account” page, you’ll see all of your upcoming flights. Click on “Change flight.”