Southwest Airlines is eliminating expiration dates on all its flight credits unexpired on, or created on or after July 28, 2022. This flexibility applies to all currently valid, existing flight credits, with no action required by customers with flight credit in the bank, and will apply to any new flight credit issued. The ability to retain invested flight credits without expiration is another enhancement in a series of transformative upgrades underway in the experience.
Southwest customers will begin seeing a placeholder expiration date of December 31, 2040, on valid flight credits ahead of additional work later this year that will update technology systems to altogether remove expiration dates on flight credits.
“We recently announced more than two billion dollars in customer experience improvements designed to enhance and simplify traveling with Southwest—and said then, we weren’t done,” said Ryan Green, SVP and chief marketing officer, Southwest Airlines. “While other airlines eliminate benefits and value, today we’re enhancing our experience again. When customers travel with Southwest, they receive ultimate flexibility that is unmatched in the industry. ‘Bags fly free,’ there is never a fee to change or cancel your flight—and now, you don’t have to worry about your flight credits expiring before you can use them. We’ll be ready to serve you when you’re ready to fly.”
“We repeatedly leaned in during the pandemic to give our customers more time to use their flight credits beyond a full year, which was our previous policy,” said Tony Roach, VP of customer experience and engagement, Southwest Airlines. “Introducing this change in our policy is part of a massive effort to improve the things that are most important to our customers.”
In May, the carrier began offering a new fare with more benefits, “Wanna Get Away Plus,” and enhanced “Anytime and Business Select” fares to offer a new ability to transfer flight credits to another “Member of the Rapid Rewards” loyalty program.
For more information, visit www.southwest.com.
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