Southwest Airlines Removes Expiration of Flight Credits

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Southwest Airlines just announced yet another benefit for its flyers. Going forward, Southwest flight credits will no longer expire. This is great news, especially as other airlines are removing benefits, dramatically increasing surcharge fees, etc.

Southwest Flight Credits No Longer Expire

Until July 28, 2022, Southwest flight credits expired one year after they were issued. As of July 28, all Southwest credits — whether issued before or after that date — will have no expiration date. No registration is necessary. The change has already taken place in all member accounts.

Unfortunately for those with credits that already expired: If a flight credit expired before July 28, 2022, it is no longer available to use.

Note that Southwest will temporarily list an expiration date of 2040 on flight credits. That's only until the systems can be updated and the expiration date can be removed entirely.

Southwest flight credits specifically apply to credits from either a canceled flight or a downgrade in fare that can be used to buy a future flight. Southwest LUV vouchers are not the same and retain their own expiration dates — at least for now.

Other Southwest Airlines Benefits

Southwest Airlines offers nice benefits for all of its passengers. These benefits apply to all levels of tickets, from Wanna Get Away to Business Select:

• No change or cancellation fees. Only pay the fare difference.
• Two bags fly free. Size and weight restrictions apply.
• Rapid Rewards points never expire.

Our Take

This is great to see you another benefit for Southwest flyers. Traveling is becoming quite a nightmare with canceled flights, lost baggage, etc. Knowing you can use the credit from a canceled flight anytime in the future is excellent. It's totally something other carriers should do too (but they probably won't).

Ensure you maximize your Rapid Rewards with a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card. And check out our complete guide to the Rapid Rewards program for what other benefits there are, and how to maximize your points.

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