Southwest Airlines Is Getting Rid of Another Traveler Perk—What to Know

• Southwest Airlines is ending another policy popular with travelers.
• The new rules will apply to the airline’s flight credits and go into effect May 28.
• Some travelers are saying they will no longer fly with Southwest due to the new restrictions.

Southwest Airlines has undergone major changes in recent months—2025 has so far included a new assigned seating policy and the end of the free checked bags policy that had been in place for more than 50 years. Now, another controversial change is coming, which is already upsetting loyal Southwest passengers who feel that the policies that drew them to the airline are rapidly disappearing.

So what’s this next big change? Starting on May 28, flight credits issued by Southwest will have an expiration date. Any flight credits issued on May 27, 2025 or earlier will not expire. Southwest flight credits created from reservations “booked or changed on or after May 28, 2025 will have a specified expiration date.” You can read the fine print on the policy change on the Southwest website at support.southwest.com.

A flight credit from Southwest is defined as “a credit from either a canceled flight or a downgrade in fare that can be used to buy a future flight.” Depending on the type of flight you purchase, any flight credits issued will expire in six or 12 months. According to View from The Wing, regular fares will have flight credits valid for 12 months, while basic economy fares, called Wanna Get Away, will have flight credits for six months.

Another important differentiation? The basic Wanna Get Away ticket won’t allow for transferable credits, but all other fares, including Business Select, Anytime, and Wanna Get Away Plus tickets will allow for transferable credits. This means that the flight credit can be transferred once between two Southwest Rapid Rewards members.

So far, this change doesn’t seem popular with existing Southwest passengers. “If I wait until I know my travel plans with absolute certainty before I book, I now have no reason to stick with Southwest as much and will just book whatever airline is cheapest or most convenient,” one Reddit user wrote in a thread discussing the changes. Another Redditor wrote, “Well, never flying with them again.”

In a statement from Southwest CEO Bob Jordan discussing the planned changes for the airline in 2025, he acknowledged that the major shifts in popular policies may not be well received by long-time loyalists. “It’s not going to change who we are, or the values that we stand for,” Jordan said. “It changes the product that we offer our customers that they want significantly.”

For those planning to travel with Southwest this year, just keep the date May 28 in mind. That will be the day that the two free checked bags policy and the no-expiration flight credits will become a thing of the past.