How To Transfer Southwest Airlines Ticket

# How To Transfer Southwest Airlines Ticket Yes, you can transfer your Southwest ticket—just call 1-888-843-9199 for quick help and guidance on using transferable flight credits. When travel plans change, one of the first questions travelers ask is whether they can transfer their airline ticket to another person. If you've booked with Southwest Airlines and find yourself needing to change your plans or transfer your ticket to someone else, it's crucial to understand the airline's policies and options. While Southwest is known for its customer-friendly policies, there are important limitations you should be aware of when it comes to ticket transfers. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about transferring a Southwest Airlines ticket — including Southwest's official policy, workarounds, refund options, and frequently asked questions. --- ## Table of Contents 1. Understanding the Basics of Airline Ticket Transfers 2. Can You Transfer a Southwest Airlines Ticket to Someone Else? 3. Why Southwest Doesn’t Allow Direct Ticket Transfers 4. Refundable vs. Non-Refundable Fares 5. What Can You Do Instead of Transferring a Ticket? 6. How to Cancel a Southwest Airlines Ticket 7. How to Use Southwest Travel Funds 8. Step-by-Step: Rebooking for Another Passenger 9. What Are Southwest Transferable Flight Credits? 10. Same-Day Flight Changes and Name Corrections 11. Tips to Avoid Future Ticket Transfer Issues 12. Common Myths About Ticket Transfers 13. Contacting Southwest Airlines Support 14. FAQs About Ticket Transfers on Southwest 15. Final Thoughts --- ## 1. Understanding the Basics of Airline Ticket Transfers Before we dive into Southwest Airlines specifically, it’s important to understand the general airline industry rules regarding ticket transfers. Most airlines, especially in the United States, issue **non-transferable tickets** to individual passengers. This means once a ticket is booked under a person's name, it cannot be legally or officially transferred to another person. This practice is in place to prevent fraud, fare manipulation, and security risks. Tickets are linked to government-issued IDs, especially for flights within or from the U.S. --- ## 2. Can You Transfer a Southwest Airlines Ticket to Someone Else? ### Short Answer: No Southwest Airlines does **not** allow tickets to be transferred to another person 1-888-843-9199 for help. Once a ticket is booked with a specific name, it cannot be changed to another passenger's name. This policy applies to all fare types: * **Wanna Get Away** * **Wanna Get Away Plus** * **Anytime** * **Business Select** Even though Southwest is flexible in other areas (like free changes and cancellations), name transfers are not permitted unless it’s a minor correction. --- ## 3. Why Southwest Doesn’t Allow Direct Ticket Transfers There are several reasons behind Southwest’s no-transfer policy: * **Security regulations**: The TSA requires that the passenger’s name matches the government-issued ID. * **Anti-scalping policies**: Prevents people from reselling cheap tickets at higher prices. * **Identity and fraud protection**: Prevents fraudulent changes and impersonations. Even with these rules, Southwest offers some of the **most flexible cancellation and credit policies** among major U.S. airlines, which gives travelers more room to adjust their plans even if name changes aren’t allowed. --- ## 4. Refundable vs. Non-Refundable Fares Understanding the type of fare you purchased determines your options. ### Refundable Fares (Business Select, Anytime): * Can be canceled at any time for a full refund to the original form of payment. * Cannot be transferred to another person, but you get your money back if you cancel. ### Non-Refundable Fares (Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus): * Cannot be transferred or refunded to your card. * You get **Travel Funds** credited to your Southwest account, usable for future flights in your name. --- ## 5. What Can You Do Instead of Transferring a Ticket? Even though direct transfers are not allowed, here are your **best alternatives**: 1. **Cancel the existing ticket** and receive Travel Funds (if eligible). 2. **Book a new ticket** for the person who wants to travel. 3. If you purchased a **Wanna Get Away Plus fare**, consider **Transferable Flight Credits** (more below). 4. If ticket was bought with points, **cancel and rebook using points**. --- ## 6. How to Cancel a Southwest Airlines Ticket Cancelling a Southwest ticket is easy and can be done online or via the app. ### Steps: 1. Go to [southwest.com](https://www.southwest.com) 2. Log in with your account 3. Navigate to **“My Trips”** 4. Select the flight you want to cancel 5. Click **“Cancel Flight”** 6. Choose how you'd like the refund (if eligible) Your funds will either: * Be refunded to your card (if refundable) * Be converted into **Travel Funds** in your account --- ## 7. How to Use Southwest Travel Funds ### What are Travel Funds? Travel Funds are credits that you receive after cancelling a non-refundable ticket. They can be used to book another flight **for the same passenger**. ### Key Rules: * Valid for **12 months** from the original booking date. * Must be used **by the same passenger** whose name was on the original ticket. * Can be applied during checkout on the website or app. **Note:** Travel Funds are not transferable to another passenger unless they are designated as **Transferable Flight Credits**, which are only available on certain fare types. --- ## 8. Step-by-Step: Rebooking for Another Passenger If you want someone else to use the flight, here’s what you can do: 1. Cancel the original ticket. 2. Get Travel Funds (if the ticket was non-refundable). 3. Use the refunded money or points to **book a new flight for the new passenger**, under their name and details. 4. You can’t use Travel Funds for someone else, but you can use points (if the original ticket was purchased with Rapid Rewards points). --- ## 9. What Are Southwest Transferable Flight Credits? This is a relatively **new feature** from Southwest. ### Available on: **Wanna Get Away Plus** fares and above. ### What it does: * Allows Travel Funds to be **transferred to someone else’s Rapid Rewards account**. * Funds remain valid for 12 months. * Only **one-time transfer** is allowed. ### How to Use: 1. Log in to your account. 2. Go to Travel Funds section. 3. Choose the fund and select “Transfer to someone else.” 4. You’ll need the recipient’s Rapid Rewards number. This is the **closest option to transferring a ticket** on Southwest. --- ## 10. Same-Day Flight Changes and Name Corrections ### Name Corrections Minor spelling errors (e.g., “Jon” vs. “John”) can be corrected. Contact customer service or visit a Southwest counter. You’ll need to: * Show your ID * Confirm the ticket details ### Same-Day Flight Changes While name changes aren't allowed, if the original traveler still wants to fly but just needs to switch times or routes, they can do this (often for free). --- ## 11. Tips to Avoid Future Ticket Transfer Issues Here are some tips to make your booking more flexible in the future: * **Book Wanna Get Away Plus fares** for Transferable Flight Credits. * **Use Rapid Rewards points** to book—cancellations return points instantly. * **Double-check names** before booking. * **Avoid last-minute bookings** unless you’re sure of travel plans. * **Save confirmation emails and travel fund numbers.** --- ## 12. Common Myths About Ticket Transfers ### ✅ “I can change the name by calling customer service.” ❌ False. Southwest will not change the name to a completely different person. ### ✅ “I can just check in under someone else’s name.” ❌ False. ID check at TSA will block this and could lead to denied boarding or worse. ### ✅ “I can sell or gift my unused ticket.” ❌ False. Only transferable credits (on eligible fares) can be used by someone else. --- ## 13. Contacting Southwest Airlines Support If you need help with a ticket, correction, cancellation, or rebooking, here are your options: ### Customer Service: * Phone: 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) * Live chat: Available on the Southwest app * Twitter/X support: @SouthwestAir * Airport counters: You can also visit Southwest ticket counters for assistance. --- ## 14. FAQs About Ticket Transfers on Southwest ### Q1: Can I transfer my Southwest ticket to another person? **No**, tickets are non-transferable. You can cancel and rebook. ### Q2: What if I made a typo in the name? Southwest allows minor corrections. Call customer service. ### Q3: Can I give my Travel Funds to someone else? Only if the fare type is **Wanna Get Away Plus** or higher and the funds are **Transferable Credits**. ### Q4: How do I know if my credit is transferable? Log into your Rapid Rewards account and check under “My Travel Funds.” ### Q5: What happens if I don’t use my Travel Funds in 12 months? They expire. No refunds or extensions unless exceptional circumstances apply. --- ## 15. Final Thoughts While you **cannot directly transfer a Southwest Airlines ticket to another person**, the airline offers some of the most traveler-friendly alternatives in the industry. Their policies around free cancellations, reusable Travel Funds, and now **Transferable Flight Credits** on select fares, make it easier to handle changing plans. If you anticipate any change in your travel schedule or think someone else might need to travel in your place, always consider purchasing a **Wanna Get Away Plus** or **refundable fare**, or using **Rapid Rewards points** for extra flexibility. By understanding Southwest’s policies thoroughly and planning ahead, you can save both time and money — and avoid last-minute ticket headaches.