TRAVEL PROBLEMS · AIRLINE GUIDES
Southwest flight delayed or cancelled? What to ask for
Southwest is one of the few US airlines that promises a travel voucher for long delays it causes. Here is what its Customer Service Plan says, how to claim the voucher, and what US refund rules add.
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The 30-second answer
Delay caused by Southwest: ask for a meal voucher once you're waiting 3+ hours, a hotel and a ride if there's no same-day Southwest flight, and rebooking on the next Southwest flight. If you arrive 3+ hours late, claim a LUV Voucher of at least $75 at Southwest.com/DelayForm.
Weather or air traffic control: those promises are for delays within Southwest's control. You can still get a refund if you choose not to fly after a cancellation or significant delay.
What Southwest's plan promises when it caused the delay
| You can ask for | When |
|---|---|
| Meal voucher (on request at the airport) or reimbursement of a reasonable meal | Wait of 3 or more hours |
| Hotel (on request, if available) or reasonable reimbursement | Unscheduled overnight with no same-day Southwest flight, and you don't live locally |
| Ride voucher or reimbursement | Same overnight, if the hotel has no airport shuttle |
| Rebooking on the next Southwest flight with open seats, no extra cost | Any delay or cancellation within its control |
| LUV Voucher of at least $75 (fully transferable) | You arrive 3+ hours late, the disruption happened within 7 days of departure, and you request it |
From Southwest's Customer Service Plan (Rev. 26-01, effective June 4, 2026), read October 11, 2026. The US DOT delay dashboard also lists a travel credit for 3+ hour controllable delays at Southwest, and shows no rebooking on other airlines.
How to claim the LUV Voucher
- Check that you reached your final destination 3 or more hours after the scheduled arrival.
- Submit the request at Southwest.com/DelayForm within one year of the flight.
- Only one voucher is given per delay or cancellation. If one was already issued, you won't get a second.
A voucher is not cash. If you would rather have your money back and you didn't fly, ask for a refund instead (below).
No rebooking on other airlines
Unlike American, United and Delta, Southwest's plan only promises the next available Southwest flight. If that is a day or more away, compare it with cancelling for a refund and booking another airline yourself.
Refunds: when you can get your money back
Under US DOT rules, if the flight is cancelled or significantly changed and you choose not to travel, you are owed a refund to your original form of payment, even on a non-refundable fare. Southwest's plan says it makes reasonable efforts to process card refunds within 7 business days (your card issuer may take up to 10 more business days to post it) and check refunds within 20 calendar days. If Southwest offers a credit instead and you are eligible for a refund, it has to tell you.
Deciding between the two? Read voucher or cash refund: which to take. Full DOT rules are in US airline refund rules.
What to say at the gate or in the app
- Ask the cause: "Is this delay within Southwest's control?"
- Rebook first on the next Southwest flight, or decide to cancel for a refund.
- Ask for the meal voucher at 3 hours. Southwest's plan says it's given on request.
- Stuck overnight? Ask for a hotel and ride voucher. If none is available, keep receipts for reimbursement.
- Arrived 3+ hours late? File the LUV Voucher request at Southwest.com/DelayForm.
Flying from Europe or the UK?
Southwest doesn't fly to Europe, but if another leg of your trip left an EU or UK airport, see flight delay compensation and UK flight delay compensation.
Check a Europe or UK flight with AirHelp →
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