Southwest Airlines customer service is available at 1-800-435-9792 (1-800-I-FLY-SWA) for reservations, existing trips, flight changes, cancellations and general travel questions. For a problem happening at the airport, check the Southwest app first and then speak with a Southwest employee at the ticket counter or gate. Baggage, Rapid Rewards, group travel and post-travel complaints have separate routes listed below.
Southwest quick-answer contacts
- Reservations and general questions: 1-800-435-9792
- Post-travel Customer Relations: 1-855-234-4654
- Rapid Rewards: 1-800-445-5764
- Baggage after travel: 1-888-202-1024
- Automated flight information: 1-888-792-8747
- Group Travel Services: 1-800-433-5368
- SWABIZ account help: 1-888-479-2249
- TTY: 1-800-533-1305
Airline-support scam warning: Fake Southwest phone numbers can appear in search ads, social posts and unofficial listings. Start at Southwest.com, the official app or the verified contacts on Southwest’s official phone-number page. Do not give an unexpected caller your password, one-time security code, full card number or travel documents. Southwest will not require gift cards, cryptocurrency or a wire transfer to protect a reservation.
Last verified: August 29, 2026. Airline phone numbers, fees, fare benefits and policies can change. Confirm time-sensitive details with Southwest before travel.
Southwest Airlines Phone Numbers and Contact Options
| Department | Contact | Best used for |
|---|---|---|
| Reservations / general questions | 1-800-435-9792 1-800-I-FLY-SWA |
Booking, an existing reservation, voluntary changes, cancellations, check-in and general travel help |
| Customer Relations | 1-855-234-4654 | Post-travel complaints, commendations, refund questions and issues that need a documented follow-up |
| Rapid Rewards | 1-800-445-5764 | Account access, missing points, reward travel, A-List and Companion Pass questions |
| Baggage after travel | 1-888-202-1024 | Following up after first reporting a delayed, lost or damaged checked bag |
| Automated flight information | 1-888-792-8747 1-888-SWA-TRIP |
Automated flight-status information; recheck the app because conditions can change |
| Group Travel Services | 1-800-433-5368 | Eligible group bookings, deposits, payments, names and group ticketing rules |
| SWABIZ account support | 1-888-479-2249 | Company-account and SWABIZ access problems; use the main line for an individual itinerary change |
| TTY | 1-800-533-1305 | Customers who use teletypewriter support |
For chat, forms, international contacts and options that may change by location, use the official Southwest Contact Us page. The Southwest mobile app may offer chat after you sign in. Do not use 1-302-594-8200 as a general Southwest airline number; that number is associated with Chase’s Southwest credit-card support for calls outside the United States.
Choose the route by timing
- Your flight is today: Check the app or My Trips, then use a Southwest employee at the gate or ticket counter for an airport-specific problem.
- Your trip is upcoming: Use My Trips for simple changes or call reservations when the booking cannot be handled online.
- Your trip is over: Use Customer Relations or the online contact form so the complaint, refund or reimbursement request has a case number.
- Your checked bag is missing or damaged: Make the airport baggage report before leaving, then use the after-travel baggage line to follow up.
Best Way to Contact Southwest by Problem
| Problem | Start here | If it is not resolved |
|---|---|---|
| Book, change or cancel a flight | Manage Reservations or 1-800-435-9792 | Ask the booking agency first if a third party issued the ticket |
| Same-day delay, cancellation or misconnect | Southwest app, My Trips, gate agent or ticket counter | Call 1-800-435-9792; document any promised voucher or reimbursement |
| Refund, credit or reimbursement | Contact Us and choose the matching form | Call Customer Relations at 1-855-234-4654 with the request or case number |
| Delayed, lost or damaged checked bag | Airport Baggage Service Office or ticket counter before leaving | Track the bag online and call 1-888-202-1024 |
| Rapid Rewards or Companion Pass | Sign in and review account activity | Call 1-800-445-5764 |
| Wheelchair, disability or service-animal help | Add assistance to the reservation or call 1-800-435-9792 | At the airport, ask for a Complaint Resolution Official for a disability-related problem |
| Written complaint after travel | Southwest online complaint/contact form | Follow up with the case number; consider DOT only after giving the airline a chance to respond |
Information to Have Ready
- Confirmation number and passenger name exactly as ticketed
- Flight number, date, airports and scheduled departure time
- Email address and phone number used for the booking
- Rapid Rewards number, if the issue involves points, status or benefits
- Fare name and whether Southwest, a travel agency or a travel portal issued the ticket
- Receipt, payment method and any flight-credit or voucher number
- Baggage tag and mishandled-baggage report number
- Screenshots of alerts, rebooking choices and app or website errors
- Itemized receipts for eligible meals, lodging, transportation or essential baggage-delay purchases
- A short timeline and the specific result requested
Do not put confirmation numbers, ticket numbers, card details, addresses, passport information, Known Traveler Numbers, health details or screenshots containing private data in a public review.
Southwest Assigned Seats, Fare Types and Flight Credits
Southwest assigned seats went on sale in 2025 for travel beginning January 27, 2026. The four current fare bundles are Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred and Choice Extra. This replaces older open-seating guidance and the former Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime and Business Select names.
| Fare | Seat and changes | Cancellation and credit | Checked bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Seat assigned at check-in; changing the itinerary generally requires an upgrade to another fare | Nonrefundable; eligible credit expires six months from the original booking and ticketing date | Fees apply unless an exception or eligible benefit applies |
| Choice | Select an available Standard seat; changes allowed and a fare difference may apply | Nonrefundable; eligible Transferable Flight Credit expires 12 months from the original booking and ticketing date | Fees apply unless an exception or eligible benefit applies |
| Choice Preferred | Select an available Preferred or Standard seat; changes allowed and a fare difference may apply | Refundable when canceled at least 10 minutes before departure; prior credits used toward the fare can affect the form of refund | Fees apply unless an exception or eligible benefit applies |
| Choice Extra | Select an available Extra Legroom or other open seat; changes allowed and a fare difference may apply | Refundable when canceled at least 10 minutes before departure; prior credits used toward the fare can affect the form of refund | Two standard checked bags included, subject to size, weight and itinerary rules |
No change fee does not mean every change is free. Choice, Choice Preferred and Choice Extra changes can require payment of a fare difference. A Basic reservation generally must be upgraded before it can be changed. Review Southwest’s current fare information before changing or canceling.
Do not miss the 10-minute deadline: Cancel or make an eligible change at least 10 minutes before the flight’s original scheduled departure. If you do not, Southwest’s no-show rules may cause funds or points to be forfeited. Round trips containing a Basic segment also have special cancellation restrictions.
Refunds and Flight-Credit Expiration
- Basic and Choice: These fares are generally nonrefundable. A timely cancellation may create a flight credit under the fare rules.
- Choice Preferred and Choice Extra: These fares are refundable when canceled on time, but a previous flight credit applied to the purchase may be returned as a credit rather than cash.
- Current credit terms: A Basic fare credit generally expires six months from the original booking and ticketing date. Transferable credits created from Choice, Choice Preferred or Choice Extra generally expire 12 months from that date.
- Older credits can be different: Some credits created on or before May 27, 2025 do not expire, and special credits issued under federal communicable-disease rules may have different terms. Check the actual credit in your account.
- 24-hour cancellation: Southwest’s Customer Service Plan says an unchanged reservation booked at least seven days before departure can be canceled within 24 hours of the initial booking for a full refund.
Southwest’s older “flight credits never expire” message is no longer correct for every new credit. Use the official flight-credit expiration guide and record the expiration date when a credit is issued.
Southwest Checked-Bag Fees and Baggage Claims
For mainland U.S. travel, Southwest currently lists a $45 first checked-bag fee and $55 second checked-bag fee each way for Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares. Those rates are listed as effective April 9, 2026. A carry-on bag and one personal item remain free, subject to the airline’s limits.
- Choice Extra: Two standard checked bags are included.
- A-List Preferred: Two checked bags are included under the current status benefit.
- A-List: The first checked bag is included; the second can have a fee.
- Eligible Rapid Rewards credit cardmembers: The first checked bag may be included when the current card-benefit requirements are met.
- Military and other exceptions: Separate allowances can apply.
- Partner flights and special routes: Different policies can apply; do not assume a Southwest benefit transfers to another carrier.
Bag fees, Hawaii interisland rates, status benefits, card benefits, military allowances and oversize or overweight charges can change. Check Southwest’s official optional travel charges for the exact itinerary.
Delayed, Lost or Damaged Baggage
- Before leaving the airport, go to Southwest’s Baggage Service Office in the baggage-claim area or the ticket counter and create a mishandled-baggage report.
- For domestic travel, Southwest says damaged or lost baggage must be reported in person within four hours of arrival at the destination. International deadlines differ: current guidance lists seven calendar days for damage and 21 calendar days for delayed baggage.
- Keep the report number, bag tag, boarding pass, photos and all itemized receipts.
- Use Southwest’s bag tracker and call 1-888-202-1024 for after-travel follow-up.
- For a delayed bag, buy only reasonable essentials and keep receipts. Reimbursement is not automatic; submit the documented claim for consideration.
Southwest’s current Customer Service Plan says it aims to return delayed luggage within 12 hours for domestic flights and within 15 to 30 hours for international flights. If a paid checked bag is delayed at least 12 hours domestically or 15 hours internationally, or is not recovered, Southwest says it will refund the applicable bag fee when a mishandled-baggage report was filed. Review the official delayed, lost and damaged baggage instructions for exclusions and claim details.
Southwest Flight Delays, Cancellations and Reimbursement
When a flight is delayed or canceled, first check the app or My Trips for self-service rebooking. That can be faster than waiting for an agent during a widespread disruption. Keep the original itinerary, boarding pass, delay or cancellation notice, screenshots and receipts.
What Southwest Currently Commits to Provide
- Controllable delay of at least three hours or controllable Southwest cancellation: Rebooking on the next available Southwest flight with seats to the ticketed destination at no extra cost.
- Three-hour airport wait caused by a controllable disruption: A meal voucher on request when available, or consideration of reasonable meal reimbursement when a voucher or participating vendor is unavailable.
- Controllable overnight disruption with no same-day Southwest option: Lodging on request when available, or consideration of reasonable lodging reimbursement for a traveler who is not local. Ground-transportation help can also apply when the arranged hotel has no shuttle.
- Eligible arrival delay of at least three hours: A transferable Southwest LUV Voucher of at least $75 may be available when the delay or cancellation was within Southwest’s control, occurred within seven days of departure and the traveler submits the Delay Form within one year.
- Weather, air-traffic control or another event outside Southwest’s control: Southwest says it will rebook the customer on the next available Southwest flight at no extra cost, but meal, hotel and ground-transportation commitments are more limited.
Eligibility depends on the cause, duration, itinerary and current terms. Ask the airport agent what Southwest has classified as the cause, request any available voucher before paying, and save itemized receipts. Southwest’s June 4, 2026 Customer Service Plan is the best source for the current commitment.
When a Refund May Be Better Than Rebooking
If Southwest cancels a flight or makes a qualifying significant change and the traveler declines the offered transportation, a refund to the original form of payment may be due under federal rules. Do not assume a voucher or flight credit is the only choice. Southwest’s plan says it will disclose the refund option when offering alternatives to a customer who is entitled to a refund.
When a refund is due under the applicable federal rules, Southwest says it makes reasonable efforts to process a credit-card refund within seven business days and a cash refund by check within 20 calendar days. Card issuers can take additional time to post the credit. Use Southwest’s ticket-refund request when the online trip does not provide the needed option.
Rapid Rewards, A-List and Companion Pass Help
For missing points, account access, profile changes, reward travel, A-List benefits or Companion Pass questions, sign in and review the activity first. Then call Rapid Rewards at 1-800-445-5764. Have the member number, flight confirmation, travel date, partner transaction and receipt ready.
For a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit-card billing problem, fraud alert, payment, annual fee, credit limit or card-account question, use the phone number on the back of the Chase card. Southwest Airlines customer service handles flights and loyalty activity; Chase handles the credit-card account.
Accessibility, Service Animals and Family Seating
Customers can add wheelchair or other assistance to a reservation and can call 1-800-435-9792 before travel. Southwest lists TTY at 1-800-533-1305. At the airport, ask for a Complaint Resolution Official (CRO) if a disability-related service problem cannot be resolved by the first employee.
Southwest accepts individually trained service dogs that perform work or tasks for a qualified person with a disability, subject to current documentation and travel rules. An emotional-support, comfort or therapy animal is not automatically a service animal. Southwest says those animals may qualify to travel only as pets when they meet the pet-policy requirements. Review the official trained service-dog guidance and pet policy before the trip.
For families booked on Basic, Southwest says it will endeavor to seat a child age 12 or younger next to at least one accompanying passenger age 13 or older at no extra cost. Seat availability and current terms apply, so check the seat map early and contact Southwest before airport arrival if the reservation does not show suitable seats.
Group Travel and Southwest Business Support
Call Group Travel Services at 1-800-433-5368 for an eligible group reservation. Group deposits, names, payment deadlines, changes and ticketing can follow rules that differ from an individual booking.
For a SWABIZ company-account or access problem, call 1-888-479-2249. For a traveler’s change, cancellation or past receipt, Southwest directs customers to the main reservations number, 1-800-435-9792. Use the Southwest Business self-service page to verify current hours and routing.
How to File and Escalate a Southwest Complaint
- Use the channel closest to the problem. An airport employee is best for a same-day gate, boarding, seat or baggage issue. Phone reservations is best for an active itinerary. The online form is best for a post-travel record.
- State the requested resolution. Ask for a specific rebooking, refund, baggage reimbursement, expense reimbursement, credit correction, points adjustment or written explanation.
- Save the record. Keep case numbers, dates, agent names, chat transcripts, screenshots, baggage reports and itemized receipts.
- Follow up through Customer Relations. Call 1-855-234-4654 and reference the existing case instead of opening several unrelated cases.
- Use the written route when necessary. Southwest’s customer-correspondence address is Southwest Airlines, P.O. Box 36647-1CR, Dallas, TX 75235.
- Escalate an unresolved airline-service issue to DOT. After giving Southwest a reasonable opportunity to respond, use the U.S. Department of Transportation’s air-travel complaint process.
Southwest’s Customer Service Plan says it will acknowledge a written complaint within 30 days and provide a substantive response within 60 days. That is a complaint-response commitment, not a promise that the requested refund or compensation will be approved.
Southwest Corporate Office
Southwest Airlines Co. is headquartered at 2702 Love Field Drive, Dallas, TX 75235. The corporate phone number is 1-214-792-4000. The corporate line is not the best first contact for reservations, baggage or an active trip. Readers specifically looking for headquarters details and corporate-office reviews can use the Southwest corporate office page on COH.
Southwest Airlines Reviews and Complaints on CSN
CustomerServiceNumbers.com currently shows one Southwest Airlines review with a 5.0-out-of-5 rating. One review is not enough to identify a reliable customer-service trend. The existing submission asks about registering an emotional-support dog, so the accessibility section above now gives the current answer: Southwest distinguishes trained service dogs from emotional-support animals, which may travel only under the pet rules when eligible.
If you leave a review below, describe the issue, the support route used, how long resolution took and what Southwest ultimately did. Useful topics include booking, flight changes, cancellations, delays, refunds, credits, checked bags, seating, Rapid Rewards, accessibility and complaint handling. Do not include personal travel or payment information.
For additional independent Southwest customer ratings and complaints, visit the Southwest reviews page on ZeroStars. ZeroStars and CustomerServiceNumbers.com are independent sites and cannot access a Southwest reservation or issue an airline refund.
Related Airline Customer Service Pages
Travelers comparing customer-service routes, baggage support, refund help or loyalty programs may also use these CSN guides:
- Delta Air Lines Customer Service
- American Airlines Customer Service
- United Airlines Customer Service
- JetBlue Customer Service
- Frontier Airlines Customer Service
Frequently Asked Questions About Southwest Customer Service
What is the Southwest Airlines customer service phone number?
Call Southwest reservations and general customer service at 1-800-435-9792, also written as 1-800-I-FLY-SWA.
How do I reach a Southwest representative about a flight today?
Check the app or My Trips first for a rebooking or status option. At the airport, speak with a Southwest employee at the gate or ticket counter. You can also call 1-800-435-9792.
What is the Southwest baggage phone number?
For follow-up after travel, call 1-888-202-1024. First report a delayed, lost or damaged checked bag at the airport Baggage Service Office within the applicable deadline.
Does Southwest still allow two free checked bags?
Not for every traveler. Choice Extra and A-List Preferred currently include two standard checked bags. Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred have fees unless an eligible status, credit-card, military or other exception applies.
How much does Southwest charge for checked bags?
For mainland U.S. travel, Southwest currently lists $45 for the first checked bag and $55 for the second checked bag each way on Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred. Check the official fee page for the route and travel date.
Does Southwest still use open seating?
No for current travel. Southwest uses assigned seating for travel beginning January 27, 2026. The fare determines when and which type of seat can be selected, subject to status, card benefits and availability.
Does Southwest charge a change fee?
Southwest says it does not charge a cancel fee and allows eligible changes without an airline change fee, but a fare difference can apply. Basic generally must be upgraded to Choice, Choice Preferred or Choice Extra before an itinerary change.
Do Southwest flight credits expire?
Many new credits do. Current Basic fare credits generally expire six months from the original booking and ticketing date. Transferable credits from Choice, Choice Preferred or Choice Extra generally expire 12 months from that date. Older and special-purpose credits can have different rules.
How do I contact Southwest Rapid Rewards?
Call Rapid Rewards at 1-800-445-5764. Use the number on the back of the card for a Chase Southwest credit-card account or billing problem.
Can I register an emotional-support dog with Southwest?
Southwest accepts trained service dogs that meet its current rules. Emotional-support, therapy and comfort animals are not treated as service animals solely because of a registration or letter; they may qualify to travel as pets if they meet Southwest’s pet policy.
How do I request reimbursement after a Southwest delay?
Use Southwest’s Contact Us page and select the significant-delay or cancellation reimbursement route. Include the confirmation number, flight details, reason Southwest gave for the disruption and itemized receipts. Eligibility depends on the cause, length and current Customer Service Plan.
How do I make a formal complaint about Southwest?
Submit a written complaint through Southwest’s Contact Us page and save the case number. Follow up with Customer Relations at 1-855-234-4654. If an airline-service issue remains unresolved, consider the DOT complaint process.
Why Trust CustomerServiceNumbers.com?
CustomerServiceNumbers.com has helped consumers find customer-service contacts and share service experiences since 2004. This Southwest page separates reservations, baggage, Rapid Rewards, business and complaint routes; identifies current fare, seating and baggage-policy changes; links to official airline and government sources; and clearly states that CSN is independent from Southwest.
Share Your Southwest Customer Service Experience
Have you contacted Southwest about a reservation, change, cancellation, delayed flight, refund, flight credit, checked bag, assigned seat, Rapid Rewards account, accessibility request or complaint? Share what happened below, which contact method you used and whether Southwest resolved the issue. Please leave out confirmation numbers, ticket numbers, card information, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, passport details, health information and private employee information.
Customer Service Numbers Disclaimer
CustomerServiceNumbers.com is not affiliated with Southwest Airlines Co., Rapid Rewards, Chase, the U.S. Department of Transportation or any travel agency. This page is an independent consumer resource and does not provide legal, financial, insurance, medical or aviation-safety advice. Phone numbers, fees, fare names, benefits, schedules, policies and complaint routes can change. Confirm current information through Southwest’s official website or app.
