How to adjust your Southwest flight price when fares drop

13Editor's note: This article has been refreshed with updated information.

Booking flights can feel like a risk; prices can fluctuate unpredictably over days or months, leaving you unsure if you've secured the best deal. Should you book now or wait a bit longer? This uncertainty can be stressful, particularly when purchasing tickets for a family.

However, with Southwest Airlines, you have an advantage. With just a few clicks, you can rebook any reservation if the price has dropped, allowing you to reclaim the difference. There are no fees for this service, and you can do it as many times as you like, even up to 10 minutes before your flight departs.

This feature is a significant benefit for travelers looking to lower their expenses, whether in points or cash.

What do you do if you discover a lower fare?

Once you've booked your flight, it's a good idea to periodically check back to see if the price has dropped. Whether it's during your morning routine or amidst a fare sale, there's a fair chance you might find your flight at a lower cost—especially if you booked several months ahead of your travel date.

If the fare does decrease, you can receive either a Travel Funds credit or a refund in points, depending on how you initially paid for your ticket.

• If you purchased the flight: If you selected the lowest-price Wanna Get Away fare, you'll receive a Travel Funds credit for the fare difference. Luckily, these credits no longer have an expiration date and will remain in your Southwest account until you use them. Note that Travel Funds credits from these fares are nontransferable and can only be applied to the original passenger. However, if you booked a Wanna Get Away Plus fare, you will obtain transferable flight credits that can be shared with someone else. Both parties must be Rapid Rewards members, and only one transfer is allowed. For more expensive Business Select and Anytime fares, you will receive a cash refund instead of credits.
• If you paid with points: The difference in Rapid Rewards points will automatically be credited back to the account from which the points were deducted.

How to rebook your Southwest flight

No matter if you booked your flight using points or cash, rebooking (and adjusting the fare) is a straightforward process.

Start by logging into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account. On the "My Account" page, you'll find a list of all your upcoming flights. Locate your flight and click on "Change flight."

Your original departure and arrival airports, along with the date, will be automatically filled in. Click "Explore options" to proceed.

You'll see how much each flight's fare has changed (either decreased or increased) in points or cash. If your original flight price has gone down (indicated by a minus sign), select the fare to receive a credit. This process is the same if you wish to change your flight to a completely different one.

Next, click "Review changes" to proceed.

At the bottom of the page, you'll see the credit you're receiving. If you'd like to proceed, click "Review Passenger and Pricing."

On the next page, your passenger details will be pre-filled, and you’ll simply need to confirm your changes.

Once confirmed, you should receive an email within a few minutes. Your flight confirmation number will remain unchanged.

If you initially booked using points, the difference will be credited back to your Rapid Rewards account right away. If you booked a cash fare that is nonrefundable, you will have Travel Funds available now.

When booking a future flight, click the "Apply Flight Credits, LUV® Vouchers, and Gift Cards" link in the payment method section to use your Travel Funds.

A new section will appear. Select the "Flight Credit" tab and input the original confirmation number associated with the funds. Then, enter the passenger's first and last name.

Repricing a flight is a straightforward process, and once you get the hang of it, it should only take a minute or so to finish.

How does rebooking a flight work with the Southwest Companion Pass?

If a flight's price decreases and you decide to rebook at that lower fare, there are a few additional steps to take if you have a Companion Pass attached to your reservation.

As you may know, the Companion Pass allows you to bring a designated friend or family member nearly for free on any Southwest flight you take. You'll only need to cover the taxes and fees, just like on an award ticket. This pass can be used for both paid and award tickets, letting you redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards points for yourself while bringing your companion without using extra points.

Before switching to a cheaper flight, you'll need to cancel your Companion Pass reservation. Since you only paid for the taxes and fees on your companion's ticket, be sure to request a refund to your original payment method. The credit will go back to the card you used, so you don't end up with a travel voucher.

After rebooking your flight at the lower price, remember to add your companion's reservation back to your original booking. Don't skip this step, as you wouldn't want to leave your companion without a seat if the flight fills up.

What if I paid for EarlyBird Check-In?

If you've already paid for EarlyBird Check-In, rebooking your flight won’t affect this add-on. As long as your confirmation number remains the same, you’re completely safe.

The real complication arises when you cancel a reservation and then rebook. This is mainly an issue if you’re rebooking a reservation made with a Companion Pass. Since that reservation is canceled and you get a new confirmation number, your EarlyBird Check-In will be lost. The initial payment for this option is nonrefundable and won’t be credited back to your account. You’ll need to pay the fee again if you want to include it on a new reservation.

If you're considering purchasing EarlyBird Check-In, it's wise to wait until you’re fairly certain that fares won't drop further before paying for the Companion Pass option. Remember, your boarding position with EarlyBird Check-In is influenced by several factors, including how early you add it to your reservation.

In conclusion

My top recommendation for all Southwest travelers is to regularly monitor prices for upcoming flights—especially during major sales.

Southwest flight prices fluctuate frequently, and there's no reason you shouldn't take advantage of the best rates available. The re-pricing process is incredibly straightforward and could save you hundreds of dollars (or an equivalent amount in points) with minimal extra effort.