If you miss a Southwest Airlines flight, the airline’s policies, as outlined in their Contract of Carriage, will apply. Southwest is known for its customer-friendly approach, including the unofficial "Flat Tire Rule," which offers flexibility for missed flights. Below is an overview of what happens and your options when you miss a flight, based on the latest available information.
No-Show Policy
If you miss your flight without notifying Southwest Airlines at least ten minutes before the scheduled departure, you are considered a "no-show." This may result in the forfeiture of funds or conversion to travel credits, depending on the fare type.
- Notification: To avoid no-show penalties, contact Southwest at least ten minutes before departure via their Customer Service, website, mobile app, or airport counter. Prompt notification allows you to preserve the ticket value or explore rebooking options.
- Fees and Consequences: For Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares, no-show results in the forfeiture of all unused funds. For Business Select, Anytime, and Senior fares, unused funds are converted to reusable travel funds for the original passenger, valid for one year from the booking date. For Rapid Rewards bookings, points are redeposited to the purchaser’s account, and taxes are held as reusable travel funds.
- Impact on Itinerary: Missing a flight may lead to the cancellation of subsequent flights in the same booking, as Southwest treats the itinerary as a single contract.
Rebooking Options
Southwest’s "Flat Tire Rule" allows passengers who miss their flight and arrive at the airport within two hours of the scheduled departure to be rebooked on the next available flight at no additional charge, subject to seat availability. Rebooking can be done via the Manage Reservations portal, mobile app, Customer Service, or airport counter.
- Flat Tire Rule: If you arrive within two hours of your original departure, Southwest will place you on standby for the next available flight to your destination without additional fees, provided seats are available. This is not guaranteed and depends on agent discretion.
- Same-Day Standby: You can request same-day standby for an earlier or later flight on the same day, free of charge, via the Southwest app, mobile web, or airport agent, at least thirty minutes before the desired flight’s departure for app requests, or ten minutes for agent requests. A-List and A-List Preferred members with Basic fares are eligible, but other Basic fare passengers are not.
- Same-Day Change: You can switch to another flight on the same day with the same origin and destination, free of charge, if seats are available, except for Basic fare passengers (unless A-List or A-List Preferred). Changes must be made at least ten minutes before the original departure.
- Fare Difference: No fare difference is charged for rebooking under the Flat Tire Rule or same-day change, but government taxes and fees may apply and are refunded if not used.
If you miss a connecting flight due to a delay caused by Southwest, and both flights are on the same booking, the airline will rebook you on the next available flight at no cost. They may provide meal vouchers, hotel vouchers, or transportation for significant delays, especially if an overnight stay is required. For separate bookings, Southwest is not responsible for missed connections, and you may need to purchase a new ticket.
Compensation and Refunds
Refunds or compensation for missed flights depend on the fare type and circumstances:
- Non-Refundable Tickets: Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares forfeit unused funds if you no-show without canceling ten minutes before departure. If canceled in time, funds are converted to travel credits, valid for one year from the booking date.
- Refundable Tickets: Business Select, Anytime, and Senior fares are refundable to the original payment method if canceled at least ten minutes before departure. If you no-show, funds are converted to reusable travel funds.
- 24-Hour Cancellation Rule: For bookings made at least seven days before departure in the US, you can cancel within twenty-four hours of purchase for a full refund, regardless of fare type.
- Airline-Caused Delays: If you miss a connecting flight due to a Southwest-caused delay (e.g., mechanical or staffing issues) and arrive three or more hours late, you are entitled to a transferable LUV Voucher worth at least seventy-five dollars, as mandated by the US Department of Transportation. You may also request a refund for the unused ticket portion or rebooking without fees. Requests must be submitted within one year of the flight date via the Southwest website’s delay form.
- Airport Taxes and Fees: Taxes and fees for unused tickets are held as reusable travel funds or refunded to the original payment method, depending on fare type, if canceled in time.
Steps to Take if You Miss a Flight
If you miss your flight, follow these steps:
- Contact Southwest Airlines immediately via their Customer Service, Manage Reservations portal, mobile app, or airport counter to request standby or rebooking under the Flat Tire Rule, especially if within two hours of departure.
- Review your ticket’s fare rules on the Southwest website under Fare Information to understand refund or credit eligibility.
- If the missed flight was due to an airline-caused delay, submit a compensation request via the Southwest website’s delay form or contact Customer Service, providing your confirmation number and flight details.
- For tickets purchased through a travel agent, contact the agent directly for changes or refunds, as verification may be required.
- Arrive early to avoid missing check-in deadlines, as counters close thirty minutes before departure, and online check-in is available twenty-four hours prior.
Additional Information
Southwest Airlines’ missed flight policy is notably flexible due to the Flat Tire Rule, which allows rebooking within two hours of departure without fees, though not guaranteed. For EU flights, if you miss a connecting flight due to an airline-caused delay and arrive three or more hours late, you may be entitled to compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004, ranging from two hundred fifty euros to six hundred euros, depending on flight distance, provided the delay was within Southwest’s control. Compensation is not provided for delays due to extraordinary circumstances, such as weather or air traffic control issues. Customer feedback on platforms like Reddit highlights Southwest’s willingness to accommodate passengers who arrive late, but success depends on agent discretion and flight availability.
