Southwest extends expiration date on some flight credit vouchers to summer 2021
The most flexible airline in the business has gotten even more generous. As Southwest fans know, the airline allows unlimited changes and fee-free cancellations on all itineraries, even non-refundable flights; travelers just have to pay the difference. For canceled flights, the value of the ticket gets rolled into future flight credit, which Southwest calls travel funds.
Travel funds expiring between March 1 and May 31, 2020 will now have a new expiration date of June 30, 2021, while new travel funds created between March 1, 2020 and September 7, 2020, will also have an updated expiration date of September 7, 2022.
Additionally, Southwest is launching a new program that will allow members who have expiring travel funds to convert travel funds to Rapid Rewards points. The specifics of this program are still unknown, but Southwest promises that the transfer will take place at "the same rate you would be able to purchase a ticket with points today." We should see the program launch later this year.
Related: How to rebook your Southwest flight when the price changes
Travel fund expiration dates will take a few weeks to update within the Southwest database.
The airline also announced several updates for flights that are canceled due to COVID-19 travel bans. The airline will either allow customers to reschedule their trips, or to cancel their tickets for future travel credit. Non-refundable 'Wanna Get Away' tickets cannot be refunded for cash. Current destinations impacted by the mandatory cancellations include the Grand Cayman, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica, although the list will likely grow as time progresses.
Related: The U.S. State Department bans all international travel to control the coronavirus outbreak
For now, travelers impacted by domestic route cancellations can rebook, accept travel credit valid through September 2022, or request a cash refund although this policy is subject to change.
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