Yes, reservations for Southwest-only itineraries must be made in advance, as space is limited. Reservations must be made by calling 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792). Pets will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis on Southwest-operated flights until capacity is reached. However, from time to time, circumstances may allow for more (or fewer) than six (6) pet carriers per scheduled flight.
Southwest does its best to operate our flights as scheduled. Sometimes, events beyond our control or situations we could not anticipate prevent us from doing so and when this happens we note that the flight is subject to irregular operations. If your Southwest Airlines flight does not operate as scheduled due to irregular operations, your reservation may be modified subject to applicable Terms & Conditions without additional charges by contacting a Southwest Airlines Representative at 1-800-435-9792.
Baggage claim payments are typically made in the form of a check in U.S. dollars, which is mailed to the address designated by you when settling the claim with our Baggage Service Office. If you wish to receive your claim payment in local currency, you must go to the airport in the applicable country to receive your cash payment in-person. Local currency refunds are not available in the following countries: Aruba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and The Bahamas.
If your international flight itinerary has been impacted by circumstances beyond Southwest’s control (weather, etc), you may change your travel date/time at no additional cost, but you must contact Customer Service via phone in order to do so. For calls from the U.S., contact Customer Service at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792).
Airport arrival and baggage checkin times may vary depending on location. However, the recommended airport arrival time is 120 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time of your flight and the recommended baggage check time is 90 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.
If your itinerary includes at least one international leg, you must checkin at the airport at least 90 minutes prior to the departure time of the first flight in your itinerary. Remember, you will be required to checkin at the Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter or kiosk to have your passport verified, receive your boarding pass, and check luggage.
No. If you are traveling on an itinerary that includes at least one international leg, you must check in at the Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter or kiosk in order to have your passport verified, check luggage, and receive your boarding pass. You may not utilize curbside check in for itineraries that include international flights.
A passport book for each Customer must be verified by a Customer Service Agent or kiosk at the Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter on the day of travel before a boarding pass is issued. Passport cards, invalid and/or damaged passports will not be accepted.
You may enter your passport information during the booking process on Southwest.com, any time prior to travel by accessing your reservation online, or at the airport on the day of travel.
You can check in for international flights and receive your assigned boarding position via our mobile site/apps, though you will not receive an actual boarding pass until you check in at the Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter or kiosk upon arrival at the airport and have your passport book verified. You can also check flight status for international flights via our mobile site/apps.
You should anticipate that any purchases while traveling internationally will be charged in the local currency. In some locations U.S. dollars may be accepted if permitted by law. Currently U.S. dollars are accepted in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
Standard procedures for refunds for tickets purchased using a credit card is to issue a refund to the credit card. Standard procedures for all refunds purchased other than using a credit card is to refund via check issued in U.S. dollars mailed to the address that you provided on your original reservation. If you used local currency to purchase a refundable ticket for an international flight that has not yet been flown and would like to cancel your reservation and request a refund, then you must go to the airport in the applicable local country to receive your cash refund in local currency.
Flights that have already departed or are within two hours of their scheduled departure time will not display on the Select Flights page at Southwest.com. To book an international flight for same-day travel, you can contact us via phone at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) or see a Customer Service Agent at the Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter upon arrival at the airport. Please note that bookings cannot be created within 90 minutes of an international flight’s scheduled departure time.
The same rules and regulations that apply to domestic travel apply to international flights. Additional foreign taxes or fees not associated to the ticket may apply.
At this time, you cannot access information stored in your Rapid Rewards account, including stored credit card information, to purchase international flights. You are also not able to store passport information in your Rapid Rewards account at this time. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Yes, designated Companions under the age of 18 can accompany Companion Pass holders on international flights; however, these Passengers cannot be booked online. Please contact us at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) to book a Companion for travel on itineraries that include at least one international leg.
In some U.S. airports, there will be baggage drop off stations available post-Customs. Others will require passengers to return to the Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter to re-check luggage prior to continuing on to connecting flights. Please be on the lookout for directional signage and/or Southwest Employees after clearing Customs upon arrival in the U.S.
If you need to change a previously booked international flight itinerary, you will only be required to pay any difference in fare and will not incur a separate change fee. This is the same policy that applies to domestic travel today.
Though weight and size limits apply, our Bags Fly Free® policy allows for your first two checked bags to fly free on both international and domestic flights operated by Southwest. Seasonal baggage embargoes may apply.
Animals are not allowed to travel in-cabin on international flights or any itinerary that includes an international flight. Trained assistance animals and emotional support animals will be allowed to travel on flights to/from all international destinations, but many destinations have country specific regulations.
Children, regardless of age, must have a valid passport book in order to travel. Depending on the Customer’s circumstances and travel itinerary, additional travel document requirements may be imposed by the originating and/or destination country. Many governments have initiated procedures at entry and exit points, which may include requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child’s travel from the non-traveling parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s). In the case of a child traveling without either legal parents or guardians, Customers must follow the guidelines provided by the country of destination.
Minors under the age of 18 are not permitted to fly unaccompanied (without an adult, age 18 or older) on international flights or any itinerary that includes an international flight. If a minor is traveling with an adult, they must be listed on the same flight itinerary.
The following U.S. cities have nonstop service and serve as gateway cities to international destinations: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Chicago (Midway), Denver, Houston (Hobby), Los Angeles, Orange County/Santa Ana, Orlando, Milwaukee, and San Antonio. Additional U.S. gateway cities will continue to be evaluated and added to the network as needed in the future.
This will only take a few seconds, and it’s worth it. You can request past flight points for up to 12 months after your flight. To claim points for a past flight, simply log in to your account, select My Account and choose the Manage tab within My Rapid Rewards. Choose Request past points in the grey bar and enter your record locator (confirmation number) from your reservation. After verification of your flight information (approximately 3-5 days), points will be deposited into your account.
If you have your confirmation number, you can retrieve your itinerary by searching by your reservation information (confirmation number, first and last name). If you do not have your confirmation number, call 1-800-I-FLY-SWA.
Carryon items are limited to one (1) bag plus one (1) smaller, personal-type item. You're allowed two (2) checked pieces of baggage per ticket, with some size and weight limitations. Southwest only charges for overweight and excess items
Children ages five through 11 traveling without an accompanying Passenger age 12 or older must travel as an Unaccompanied Minor (UM), and there is a charge $50 each way ($100 roundtrip) in addition to the air fare per child. UMs may only travel on nonstop or direct (makes one or more stops but does not require a change of planes or flight number) flights. We will not transport UMs on flights that may be diverted or cancelled due to inclement weather or other operational abnormalities. In addition, there are certain procedures in place that UMs must follow before, during, and after their journey.