Southwest Airlines has made another customer-friendly move by eliminating expiry dates on flight credits that are unexpired or created after July 28, 2022.
There is nothing required from passengers with existing Southwest credits, as they are automatically extended for all.
You can access Southwest Airlines here.
Announcement from the airlines:
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ELIMINATES EXPIRATION DATES ON FLIGHT CREDITS
More Heart, Fewer Strings. Beginning today, Flight credits don’t expire, securing Customers’ investments in Southwest flight credits valid today, and going forward.
DALLAS—July 28, 2022—Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today announced a first-of-its-kind policy and value among major U.S. airlines, eliminating expiration dates on all Southwest® flight credits unexpired on, or created on or after July 28, 2022*. This additional 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 Customers have in their relationship with Southwest, including enhanced WiFi, new in-seat power, larger overhead bins, and new self-service capabilities overviewed at Southwest.com/experience.
“The more than 62,000 People at Southwest share a renewed pride in our unmatched access to flexibility that once again reshapes the landscape of Hospitality and value in the industry,” said Bob Jordan, Chief Executive Officer, Southwest Airlines. “Flight credits don’t expire* aligns with the boldness of a philosophy to give our Customers definitive simplicity and ease in travel, just like Bags fly free, just like No change fees, just like Points don’t expire1—they’re a first-in-our-industry combination of differentiators that only Southwest offers.”
Beginning today, July 28, 2022, 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, Senior Vice President 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 free1, 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, Vice President of Customer Experience & 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.”
Conclusion
I hope other airlines match this customer-centric move by Southwest Airlines, but I doubt they do.
There is too much profit to lose if they decide not to expire all the funds sitting on their accounts for flights not flown.
