Quick Answer

Southwest charges $0 change fee on every fare type, including its lowest tier — that hasn’t changed. What has changed in 2026: Southwest renamed its fares (Wanna Get Away → Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus → Choice, Anytime → Choice Preferred, Business Select → Choice Extra) and ended open seating in favor of assigned seats. Basic fares now can’t be changed directly — you have to upgrade to Choice first, and you’ll still owe any fare difference. If you’re not sure which fare name your ticket falls under, call +1 (877) 770-0880 and we’ll check it.

In This Guide

Southwest Renamed Every Fare in 2026

If you booked a while ago or are reading older guides, the fare names won’t match what you see at checkout now. Southwest rolled out new names alongside assigned seating, which launched January 27, 2026:

Open seating and A/B/C boarding groups are gone too — Southwest now assigns seats at booking (or check-in, for Basic fares).

Still $0 Change Fee — But Read the Fine Print

Southwest’s signature no-change-fee policy is unchanged: there’s no fixed dollar fee to change any fare type, even the lowest tier. What people miss is that “no fee” doesn’t mean “free” — you still owe the fare difference if your new flight costs more, and on a busy route that gap can run well over $100 per person.

If your new flight is cheaper, Basic and Choice fares get the difference back as a flight credit; Choice Preferred and Choice Extra get a full cash refund.

Basic Fares Need an Upgrade Before They Can Change

Same-Day Change vs. Same-Day Standby

Both must be requested at least 10 minutes before your original flight’s scheduled departure.

Step-by-Step: How to Change a Southwest Flight

When It’s Worth Calling Instead

Southwest’s no-fee policy makes most changes straightforward, but the 2026 rebrand trips people up — especially anyone comparing their booking screen to an older guide that still says “Wanna Get Away.” Multi-passenger reservations, lap-child changes, and figuring out whether an upgrade is worth it to unlock a change are the situations where a phone call saves the most time.

As an independent travel assistance agency, Sky Voyage Travel checks your fare against the current names and rules and handles the change for you.

Note: Sky Voyage Travel is an independent travel assistance agency and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Southwest Airlines. Southwest, Rapid Rewards, and the fare names referenced are trademarks of Southwest Airlines Co. Policies above are general guidance and subject to change — call us or check southwest.com for the most current terms on your specific ticket.