Southwest flight credit vs. LUV vouchers

What’s the Difference Between Southwest Flight Credit and LUV Vouchers?

Southwest flight credit (officially known as Travel Funds) and LUV Vouchers are the two types of compensation issued by Southwest Airlines. While they can both be used to purchase tickets, there are some key differences between the two. 

Follow our guide to turn your LUV Vouchers into flight credits that never expire. 

Table: Southwest flight credit vs. LUV Voucher

Southwest Flight CreditSouthwest LUV Voucher
Condition issuedFlight CancellationGoodwill Gesture
ExpirationNeverOne Year
TransferabilitySometimesYes
Covers taxes and feesYesNo
Maximum number used32

Condition issued

Flight Credit

Southwest issues Southwest flight credit when you cancel a flight that is not eligible for a refund (Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares). 

LUV Voucher

Southwest issues LUV Vouchers as a goodwill gesture. For example, if your flight is delayed or you are otherwise inconvenienced. Read our step by step guide on how to turn your delayed Southwest flight into a LUV Voucher.

Expiration

Flight Credit

Southwest flight credit never expires.

LUV Voucher

Southwest LUV Vouchers expire one year from the date of issue. Note that the flight must be completed by the expiration date.

Transferability

Flight Credit

Southwest flight credit from flights that were booked Wanna Get Away are non-transferable and can only be used by the person they are issued to. 

Southwest flight credit from flights that were booked Wanna Get Away Plus are transferable and can be used to book flights for anyone.

Step-by-step process for transferable flight credit

If you want to turn a non-transferable flight credit into a transferable flight credit follow these steps:

  1. Find a Wanna Getaway Plus fare close to the amount of your flight credit. 
  2. Book the ticket and pay for it with your flight credit. 
  3. Cancel the ticket. Any additional amount can be refunded to your credit card if you do this within 24 hours. 
  4. You now will see an option to transfer the flight credit to another person. 

Note: According to Southwest’s terms: “Once the flight credit is transferred, it cannot be reversed, and only one transfer is allowed.”

LUV Voucher

LUV Vouchers can be used to book flights for anyone.

Taxes and Fees

Flight Credit

Southwest flight credit can be used to cover taxes and fees.

LUV Voucher

LUV Vouchers cannot be used to cover taxes and fees. Check out our Guide to LUV Vouchers to learn how to turn your LUV Vouchers into transferable flight credit that never expires and can be used to pay for taxes and fees. 

Maximum Number Used

Flight Credit

If you have enough flight credits to cover the booking, you will be able to use three Southwest flight credits per passenger for a booking.

LUV Voucher

Southwest allows three forms of payment per passenger for each booking. Since LUV Vouchers cannot be used for taxes and fees, you will only be able to apply two LUV Vouchers per passenger per booking. Your third form of payment will be a flight credit or credit card to pay any remaining balance and the taxes and fees. 

Southwest LUV Vouchers Guide
Southwest Delayed Flight Compensation


2 thoughts on “What’s the Difference Between Southwest Flight Credit and LUV Vouchers?”

  1. I’m reading conflicting statements concerning Southwest flight credits vs vouchers. In one place it says vouchers expire in one year and in another place it says that vouchers do not have an expiration date. What is true. Thanks

    1. A lot of people use the terms “voucher” and “flight credit” interchangeably. As of last summer, flight credits do not expire. Flight credits differ from LUV vouchers, which do expire. The expiration date for LUV vouchers will be on the voucher you received.

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