US airline commitments / Southwest
Southwest Airlines: what it has promised for cancellations and delays
What Southwest Airlines has told the US Department of Transportation it commits to when it causes a cancellation or delay. Dashboard last updated 11 September 2025, read 13 November 2026. The airline decides what it pays. Not legal advice.
What Southwest commits to, per the dashboard
Yes or no, as the dashboard shows for Southwest Airlines. No means the airline has not committed to it. The commitments apply to delays and cancellations the airline caused, such as maintenance or crew problems.
| When Southwest causes the problem | Dashboard says |
|---|---|
| Rebook you on the same airline at no additional cost | Yes |
| Rebook you on a partner airline, or another airline it has an agreement with, at no additional cost | No |
| A meal or meal voucher when you wait 3 hours or more | Yes |
| A hotel for an overnight cancellation or delay | Yes |
| Ground transport to and from the hotel | Yes |
| Cash compensation when you wait 3 hours or more | No |
| A credit or travel voucher when you wait 3 hours or more | Yes |
| Frequent flyer miles when you wait 3 hours or more | No |
The dashboard does not say what an airline gives when the cause is weather or air traffic control. Ask the airline anyway.
Southwest's own plan
Southwest publishes its own customer service plan: open it. This site has not read it.
What applies whatever the airline's plan says
The Department of Transportation says this about refunds, and about asking.
“If an airline cancels a passenger’s flight or makes a significant change in the flight, regardless of the reason, airlines are required to provide a prompt refund to a ticketed passenger, including those with non-refundable tickets, should the passenger choose not to accept the alternative offered, such as rebooking on another flight.”
US Department of Transportation, Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard, read 13 November 2026.
“If your flight is experiencing a long delay or is cancelled, ask airline staff if they will pay for meals or a hotel room or compensate you for your time. While some airlines offer these amenities to passengers, others may not provide amenities to stranded passengers.”
US Department of Transportation, Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard, read 13 November 2026.
Sources and when we read them
| Source | Dated | Last read |
|---|---|---|
| US Department of Transportation, Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard | 11 September 2025 | 13 November 2026 |
| Southwest Airlines customer service plan | Not read | Not read by this site |
Quotations are copied word for word. Everything else is this site's reading. An airline decides what it pays. This is not legal advice.