Southwest's new enhancement to tracking Travel Funds

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Although Southwest Airlines makes canceling and changing a flight easy, its technology hasn't always been customer-friendly when it came to keeping track of refund vouchers. Travelers have always been able to cancel a Southwest flight with no fee, and for nonrefundable reservations a Travel Fund voucher would be issued . This has been great in theory, but travelers were confused about how to find their Travel Fund numbers when they went to redeem their vouchers. Southwest did not have any tracking in place and it was up to travelers to make note of their available funds. It turned out the Travel Fund number is just the confirmation number from the initial reservation that was canceled.

That all changed for flights canceled on or after Dec. 3, 2019. According to Deals We Like , Southwest will now keep track of your Southwest Travel Funds for you. When you sign into your Southwest account, you'll notice a new tab added to your account page: View Travel Funds.

Related: The best Southwest credit cards of 2019

travel funds check

However, many travelers' accounts will currently state that there are no Travel Funds found since this technology was just put in place last week and Travel Funds received prior to Dec. 3, 2019 still need to be tracked manually. You can still check your balance on Southwest's Travel Fund lookup page . As of now, there is no way to add them to the account tracker.

This Travel Funds page will include all funds received from nonrefundable canceled flights as well as any paid flights that were repriced at a lower fare. Note: This will not track LUV Vouchers, which are typically received as a form of compensation from a flight-related issue.

Related: How to reprice a flight when the fare decreases

travel funds check

When you go to pay for your flight, you'll still have to manually enter your Travel Fund information. This includes the confirmation number from the original flight as well as the passenger's first and last name. Keep in mind that Travel Funds, unlike LUV Vouchers, aren't transferrable.

travel funds check

Travel Funds expire 12 months from the date the original flight was booked — not from when the flight was canceled and the Travel Funds issued. This expiration date is also a "must-fly-by date" not a "book-by date." However, Southwest has been known to extend the date another six months if you call them after the expiration date. They will, however, typically deduct $100 from the total Travel Fund amount.

Also know that when combining a Travel Fund with another form of payment, if you cancel the latest reservation, the entire amount paid will inherit the earliest expiration date. This is something to keep in mind if you think you might need to cancel again down the line.

Related: Southwest Travel Fund reader mistake story

Bottom line

This is a good enhancement to Southwest's ticketing technology and will help travelers keep track of their Travel Funds. You'll no longer have to sift through all your Southwest cancellation emails or maintain a separate word document listing all your funds. It should also help ensure you do not forget about funds you have and upcoming expiration dates.

Related: Battle of the Airlines: Why I think Southwest Airlines is the best

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How to easily redeem your southwest flight credits.

Lindsay Frankel

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To redeem your Southwest flight credits, you can use them to book any available cash flight or to pay for the taxes and fees on award flights. One of the places you can check your flight credits is the Southwest website.

Southwest flight credits are a form of flight credits that you might receive from one of the features we love most about Southwest Airlines. This feature is the ability to cancel a flight and receive the unused funds in the form of flight credit.

Let's explore how to make the best use of your Southwest flight credits and how to check the credits available to you.

Key takeaways

What are southwest flight credits, how to use southwest flight credits, how to make the most of your southwest flight credits, southwest flight credits faq.

  • Southwest flight credits are funds toward future flights that you can earn when you cancel a Southwest reservation up to 10 minutes before the scheduled flight departure.
  • You can redeem your Southwest flight credits through the Southwest website, mobile app, phone, or at a Southwest ticket counter. They can cover cash flights as well as taxes and fees associated with rewards travel.
  • Southwest flight credits don’t expire, so you don’t have to worry about losing them if you don’t use them.
  • Southwest allows you to transfer flight credits to someone else if your canceled fare was a Business Select, Anytime, or Wanna Get Away Plus fare.

Southwest flight credits are essentially travel funds you can apply toward future flights. They aren't the same thing as airline miles you earn from one of the air carrier's co-branded Chase credit cards . A passenger earns these flight credits when they cancel a Southwest reservation up to 10 minutes before the flight is scheduled to take off.

You can redeem your flight credits by going to the Southwest website at Southwest.com, by phone, through the mobile app, or at a Southwest ticket counter for future flights. You can reach Southwest customer service at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792).

You can also use Southwest flight credits to cover any taxes and fees associated with rewards travel. And since Southwest doesn’t charge cancellation fees, the entire cost of your canceled ticket can be put toward your next flight; you’ll pay only if there’s a fare difference.

Do Southwest flight credits expire?

Southwest flight credits no longer expire. Southwest has eliminated expiration dates on all Southwest flight credits unexpired on or created on or after July 28, 20222. 

Keep in mind that other forms of Southwest travel funds, such as gift cards or LUV vouchers, might have expiration dates. The expiration date is typically listed on the card or travel voucher, or you can check the expiration date online.

Can I transfer Southwest flight credits?

Southwest allows you to transfer flight credits to someone else in certain cases. This feature is available for customers who buy their flights using the Wanna Get Away Plus fare, as well as the Anytime or Business Select fares.

Both the sender and the receiver of the flight credit must be Rapid Rewards Members. To access the transferable flight credits associated with your Rapid Rewards account, you need to log in to your account and select “My Account” from the menu options at the top of the page for desktop or scroll down to “My Travel Funds” at the bottom of the page for mobile and the Southwest app.

Next, select “Payment” from the menu options within your account. Any available transferable flight Credits and flight credits in your account should be listed.

Other types of Southwest travel funds

Keep in mind that you can also receive other forms of travel funds from Southwest, this includes:

  • Southwest gift cards you received or bought
  • Southwest LUV vouchers you received for inconveniences on past trips

These can be used similarly to Southwest flight credits, but different rules may apply.

To use your Southwest flight credit, follow these steps:

  • Access your flight credits: You can do this through My Account by selecting the Payment tab on southwest.com or “Check Travel Funds” on mobile.
  • Write down your original ticket confirmation number: You might need this when making your new reservation.
  • Browse and select your new flight: Search for the flight you’d like to take to begin the booking process.
  • Apply your flight credit: You should see an option to apply a flight credit or other travel funds in the payment section. You can do so by entering the confirmation number associated with the flight credit.
  • Make sure you got a confirmation: After applying your flight credit and completing your booking, you should receive a confirmation of your payment and new booking.

You can also call Southwest or visit a ticket counter to redeem your unused funds.

Sometimes, your Southwest flight credits won’t be enough to cover the cost of your flight. This can be frustrating, especially if you weren’t planning to travel and just want to make use of your funds. But with Southwest Rapid Rewards, you’ll always earn bonus points toward future travel when you have to make a purchase.

If your Southwest flight credits aren’t enough to cover the cost of your upcoming flight, consider using a Southwest credit card to cover the difference. Chase is the credit card issuer for the Southwest credit cards, but you'll earn Southwest rewards, not Chase Ultimate Rewards. You’ll rack up some serious Southwest points and perks through one of these credit cards , which are known for being some of the best airline credit cards . 

For example, a Southwest credit card can even help you earn the Companion Pass faster, which lets you take a travel companion with you for free on all your Southwest flights, excluding taxes and fees. You can also use flight credits in conjunction with Rapid Rewards points or with a Southwest gift card.

Southwest’s cancellation policy is extremely generous and is just one of the reasons we love the airline . Even though their cards are some of the best travel credit cards , you’ll need to be aware of the rules associated with redeeming your Southwest flight credits and keep track of any information you’ll need to access your funds. With these tips in mind, you can worry less about canceling flights because of a travel disaster and start putting your funds toward your next travel adventure.

How many Southwest travel funds can I use?

You can use up to three forms of payment per Southwest transaction, including travel funds and vouchers. As long as your travel funds are valid for the flight date and passenger(s) in question, you can apply as many as three separate vouchers to the same purchase.

It’s important to note that because Southwest only allows up to three forms of payment per transaction, your combined vouchers must cover the entire cost of the flight(s), including fees and taxes. If you don’t have enough flight credits to pay the entire balance — or are using LUV vouchers, which require taxes and fees to be paid separately — you’ll be limited to using two vouchers. In that case, you will need to use an alternate form of payment, like a travel credit card, for the balance.

Can I use my flight credits on the Southwest app?

Yes, you can use flight credits (as well as LUV vouchers and Southwest gift cards) when booking a flight through the Southwest mobile app.

As with all other Southwest booking platforms, you are limited to a total of three payment options per booking. If you are using multiple flight credits or LUV vouchers to book a flight, you’ll need to ensure they cover the full cost (airfare plus any government fees, taxes, or charges).

Otherwise, the maximum number of flight credits or vouchers you can use per booking is two. That is so you can cover the difference with a credit card or other payment method without exceeding the three-payment-method maximum.

Should I convert my Southwest flight credits to points?

If you have Southwest flight credits, you’ll have the option to convert travel funds into Southwest Rapid Rewards points . Depending on how you plan to use those funds, this may or may not be a good idea.

If you plan to book a flight prior to your funds’ expiration, converting might not make sense. In many cases, you could lose money on the funds-to-points conversion, which gives you less flight for your money.

However, there are some cases in which converting might be the right idea. This is the case if:

  • You have existing Rapid Rewards points but are slightly short of how many you need to book the desired flight. Converting funds to points would give you a large enough balance to book the trip you want.
  • You book flights for your family, friends, or other groups. The flight credits are linked to your name and can be used only for your own flights. Rapid Rewards points can be transferred, shared, or used to book flights for others.

How do I extend my Southwest flight credits?

Southwest flight credits that were created on or after July 28, 2022, never expire, so you no longer have to worry about extending your flight credits. 

Can I transfer my Southwest flight credits to someone else?

Yes, Southwest enables you to transfer flight credits to someone else as long as your fare type is a Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, or Business Select. Also, keep in mind that both you and the receiver of the flight credit must be Rapid Rewards Members.

Southwest flight credits: bottom line

If you've had canceled flights with Southwest, you might be sitting on a list of valuable Southwest flight credits. These credits are a flexible way to book future travel, covering both cash flights and the taxes and fees on award flights. The best part? They don't expire, giving you the freedom to plan your next adventure on your own schedule.

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I want to learn about flight credits and how they work

A flight credit is a credit from either a canceled flight or a downgrade in fare that can be used to buy a future flight. Flight credits don’t expire.

Business Select®, Anytime, and Wanna Get Away Plus® fares are eligible for a Transferable Flight Credit™. Transferable Flight Credit allows you to transfer your flight credit to someone else. Both must be Rapid Rewards® Members and only one transfer is permitted. For bookings made through a Southwest= Business® channel, there is a limitation to transfer only between employees within the organization. Wanna Get Away® fares receive a flight credit, which cannot be transferred to someone else.

View your available flight credits:

To view your available flight credits associated with your Rapid Rewards ® account, log in to your account, and select “My Account” from the menu options at the top of the page (for desktop) or scroll down to “My Travel Funds” at the bottom of the page (for mobile and the Southwest app). Next, select “Payment” from the menu options within your account. Any available flight credits associated with your name and account number should be listed.

If you need to look up flight credits that are not associated with a Rapid Rewards account, you can use the Check Travel Funds page.

To book a flight with a flight credit:

When booking a flight, you’ll see an option to apply a flight credit on the payment screen and can do so by entering the confirmation number associated with the flight credit. Each Passenger can use a total of three forms of payment per booking, and each flight credit counts as a form of payment.

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Transferable Flight Credits give you more flexibility. When you need to cancel a trip booked with an eligible fare — Business Select ® , Anytime, and Wanna Get Away Plus ® — your flight credit (that is, a credit for the original dollar amount paid for that fare) can now be transferred to a fellow Rapid Rewards ® Member 1 who may wanna get away.

How Transferable Flight Credits work.

Wanna transfer a flight credit to someone else.

Cancel

Can’t take your upcoming flight?

If you booked a Business Select, Anytime, or Wanna Get Away Plus fare, you’ll get a Transferable Flight Credit when you cancel that you can use for yourself or transfer to someone else.

Transfer

How to transfer your Transferable Flight Credit to someone else:

Log in to your Rapid Rewards account. Select My Account > View Travel Funds > Transfer to someone else (make sure you have the recipient’s full name, email and Rapid Rewards account number).

Wanna redeem a flight credit that was transferred to you?

View

How to access your flight credits through My Account:

Select the Payment tab on southwest.com or View Travel Funds on mobile.

Redeem

How to redeem your Transferable Flight Credit:

Book a new flight using the Transferable Flight Credit(s) you’ve received (you pay any difference in fare). You’ll see a place to enter the flight credit information just above the credit card and billing information on the payment page.

See the step-by-step process for Transferable Flight Credits in the following video.

Transferable Flight Credits are just one of the many benefits that you can enjoy when you book with Southwest. Check out all the benefits that come with each Southwest fare type.

Transferable Flight Credit FAQs

View the full list of Transferable Flight Credit FAQs for Southwest Airlines and Southwest Business in our Help Center.

Who can I transfer my Transferable Flight Credit to?

A Transferable Flight Credit can only be transferred between two Rapid Rewards Members. For bookings made through a Southwest Business channel, there is a limitation to transfer only between employees within the organization.

See more benefits of being a Rapid Rewards Member .

How many times can someone make a transfer?

Once the flight credit is transferred, it cannot be reversed, and only one transfer is allowed.

When does the Transferable Flight Credit expire?

Flight credits unexpired on or created on or after July 28, 2022 do not expire and will show an expiration date until our systems are updated. A flight credit with an expiration date on or before July 27, 2022, is expired in accordance with its existing expiration date. See My Account for flight credit expiration dates, if any.

Do I have to transfer the entire Transferable Flight Credit?

Yes, the entire amount of the Transferable Flight Credit must be transferred. You cannot transfer a partial amount.

Am I transferring the ticket with the same itinerary to someone else?

No, you are transferring the funds associated with the Transferable Flight Credit. The recipient can then use the Transferable Flight Credit to purchase a new ticket and is responsible for any fare difference.

Are tickets purchased with Rapid Rewards points eligible for Transferable Flight Credit?

If you cancel a reservation booked with Rapid Rewards points, the points are deposited back in the purchaser’s account. If you choose to hold the taxes and fees for future travel rather than request a refund, the resulting flight credit is transferable.

Starting July 1, 2023 (12:00 a.m. CT), for Wanna Get Away ®  or Wanna Get Away Plus™ reward travel reservations (booked with points): if you do not cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes before the flight’s original scheduled departure time, any points used for booking will be forfeited, along with any taxes and fees associated with your reward travel reservation.

For Anytime or Business Select ®  reward travel reservation: the points used for booking will continue to be redeposited to the purchaser's Rapid Rewards ®  account, and any taxes and fees associated with the reward travel reservation will be converted into a Transferable Flight Credit ™

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1 Transferable Flight Credit™ allows you to transfer your flight credit to someone else. Both must be Rapid Rewards® Members and only one transfer is permitted. For bookings made through a Southwest® Business channel, there is a limitation to transfer only between employees within the organization.

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6 Failure to cancel a reservation at least 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure may result in forfeited travel funds.

7 Flight credits for non-refundable fares will be issued as long as the flight is cancelled more than 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure. Flight credits or refunds for refundable fares will be issued regardless of cancellation time. Flight credits don't expire.

8 Refundable, as long as you cancel your reservation at least ten (10) minutes prior to the scheduled departure of your flight. If you cancel, you’re eligible to receive 100% of your ticket value as a refund to your original form of payment. A Southwest flight credit from a previous reservation that is applied toward a Business Select or Anytime fare will be refunded as a flight credit. For travel booked with Rapid Rewards points, If canceled, points will be returned to the Rapid Rewards account holder who booked the ticket.

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How to finally redeem those unused flight credits and prepare your wallet for post-pandemic travel

If you've got unused airline credits floating around after postponing travel during the covid-19 pandemic, here's how to track them down..

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While the pandemic is not yet over, vaccinated Americans have started to consider travel plans for the spring, summer and fall of this year.

According to TripAdvisor , May through August are proving to be the most popular months for domestic vacations, and many travelers also hope to fly internationally later on in the year, pending vaccine rollouts across the globe.

As many travelers learned last spring, canceling plans for pandemic-related reasons didn't qualify you for trip reimbursement under most credit card travel insurance plans, especially if you made the decision to travel after news of the Covid-19 pandemic was widespread.

However, plenty of airlines accommodated customer requests for flight vouchers last year when much of the world went on lockdown and nonessential travel was discouraged. I had roundtrip flights booked to and from San Antonio (each one-way, on two different airlines) for early March 2020, right when the pandemic hit, but Southwest and Delta both provided flight vouchers when I decided to cancel.

For the past year, my flight credits have been totally out-of-sight, out-of-mind. But recently, I looked into redeeming them for upcoming weddings and other trips I'd put on the back burner. I did so with a small jolt of panic, wondering if they'd expired in the past year since it's been so long since I thought about them.

Here's how to check the status for flight credits from a previously refunded flight:

  • Find the email receipt for the original flight. Note your confirmation number and/or ticket numbers (you will probably need this info).
  • Visit the airline's website and search for "redeem flight credit" or "check travel funds." For an example, view Southwest's "Check Travel Funds" page . (You can also do a Google search for "AIRLINE NAME + TRAVEL CREDIT.")
  • Type in the requested information and click "submit" or "check funds."
  • View your travel credits and their expiration dates.
  • When ready to purchase, go through the process again and look for the option to "redeem" or "apply unused credits" to an upcoming flight.

Alternatively, you can also call the airline customer service line directly and ask for personal assistance.

Luckily, most airlines pushed back voucher expiation dates until late 2021 or even 2022. My Delta credit, for instance, was due to expire in December 2021, but the airline extended all flight credit expirations through December 2022 .

Similarly, many hotel loyalty programs are offering extensions for points . If you have an airline credit card , the rewards usually don't expire as long as long as the account is open and in good standing.

If you're nervous about booking travel, you might want to consider making reservations using a travel credit card . They often offer cardholders protections when it comes to cancellations and interruptions due to reasons like natural disasters, unexpected medical emergencies and extreme weather. Travel cards usually come with additional benefits like luggage protection (if your suitcase is lost or stolen in transit), and no foreign transaction fees.

Here are Select's picks for the top travel rewards cards:

  • Winner: American Express® Gold Card
  • Runner-Up: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (See rates and fees )
  • Best Welcome Bonus:  Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  • Best for Luxury Travel: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
  • Best for Low Interest: TD First Class SM Visa Signature® Credit Card

Terms Apply

Information about the TD First Class SM Visa Signature® Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.

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You can change or cancel your flight up until 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

All canceled reservations will receive Avelo Travel Funds that can be redeemed toward a future Avelo flight. You can book a new trip using your Avelo Travel Funds online at www.aveloair.com . A $25 charge per seated traveler applies to reservations canceled through Avelo’s Customer Support Center.

Reservations canceled within 24 hours of purchase and at least 7 days (168 hours) prior to the scheduled departure will be refunded to the original form of payment by visiting Manage Trips .

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Transferable Flight Credits give you more flexibility. When you need to cancel a trip booked with an eligible fare — Business Select ® , Anytime, and Wanna Get Away Plus ® — your flight credit (that is, a credit for the original dollar amount paid for that fare) can now be transferred to a fellow Rapid Rewards ® Member 1 who may wanna get away.

How Transferable Flight Credits work.

Wanna transfer a flight credit to someone else.

Cancel

Can’t take your upcoming flight?

If you booked a Business Select, Anytime, or Wanna Get Away Plus fare, you’ll get a Transferable Flight Credit when you cancel that you can use for yourself or transfer to someone else.

Transfer

How to transfer your Transferable Flight Credit to someone else:

Log in to your Rapid Rewards account. Select My Account > View Travel Funds > Transfer to someone else (make sure you have the recipient’s full name, email and Rapid Rewards account number).

Wanna redeem a flight credit that was transferred to you?

View

How to access your flight credits through My Account:

Select the Payment tab on southwest.com or View Travel Funds on mobile.

Redeem

How to redeem your Transferable Flight Credit:

Book a new flight using the Transferable Flight Credit(s) you’ve received (you pay any difference in fare). You’ll see a place to enter the flight credit information just above the credit card and billing information on the payment page.

See the step-by-step process for Transferable Flight Credits in the following video.

Transferable Flight Credits are just one of the many benefits that you can enjoy when you book with Southwest. Check out all the benefits that come with each Southwest fare type.

Transferable Flight Credit FAQs

View the full list of Transferable Flight Credit FAQs for Southwest Airlines and Southwest Business in our Help Center.

Who can I transfer my Transferable Flight Credit to?

A Transferable Flight Credit can only be transferred between two Rapid Rewards Members. For bookings made through a Southwest Business channel, there is a limitation to transfer only between employees within the organization.

See more benefits of being a Rapid Rewards Member .

How many times can someone make a transfer?

Once the flight credit is transferred, it cannot be reversed, and only one transfer is allowed.

When does the Transferable Flight Credit expire?

Flight credits unexpired on or created on or after July 28, 2022 do not expire and will show an expiration date until our systems are updated. A flight credit with an expiration date on or before July 27, 2022, is expired in accordance with its existing expiration date. See My Account for flight credit expiration dates, if any.

Do I have to transfer the entire Transferable Flight Credit?

Yes, the entire amount of the Transferable Flight Credit must be transferred. You cannot transfer a partial amount.

Am I transferring the ticket with the same itinerary to someone else?

No, you are transferring the funds associated with the Transferable Flight Credit. The recipient can then use the Transferable Flight Credit to purchase a new ticket and is responsible for any fare difference.

Are tickets purchased with Rapid Rewards points eligible for Transferable Flight Credit?

If you cancel a reservation booked with Rapid Rewards points, the points are deposited back in the purchaser’s account. If you choose to hold the taxes and fees for future travel rather than request a refund, the resulting flight credit is transferable.

Starting July 1, 2023 (12:00 a.m. CT), for Wanna Get Away ®  or Wanna Get Away Plus™ reward travel reservations (booked with points): if you do not cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes before the flight’s original scheduled departure time, any points used for booking will be forfeited, along with any taxes and fees associated with your reward travel reservation.

For Anytime or Business Select ®  reward travel reservation: the points used for booking will continue to be redeposited to the purchaser's Rapid Rewards ®  account, and any taxes and fees associated with the reward travel reservation will be converted into a Transferable Flight Credit ™

travel funds check

Enjoy benefits across all fare types when you fly with us.

Free movies/TV1 and $8 WiFi2

Free entertainment* 2 and $8 Internet 3​

Free movies/TV1 and $8 WiFi2

Two bags fly free® 4

Free movies/TV1 and $8 WiFi2

No change 5 or cancel fees 6

Free movies/TV1 and $8 WiFi2

Inflight food and drinks

*Where available. Available only on WiFi-enabled aircraft. Limited-time offer.

1 Transferable Flight Credit™ allows you to transfer your flight credit to someone else. Both must be Rapid Rewards® Members and only one transfer is permitted. For bookings made through a Southwest® Business channel, there is a limitation to transfer only between employees within the organization.

2 Due to licensing restrictions, on WiFi-enabled international flights, free live TV and iHeartRadio may not be available for the full duration of flight.

3 Internet access for $8 per device from takeoff to landing. Price is subject to change. May not be available for the full duration of flight. In order to provide a top-notch Internet experience, we prohibit access to certain high-bandwidth applications and websites. We also prohibit access to certain obscene or offensive content.

4 First and second checked bags. Weight and size limits apply.

5 Fare difference may apply.

6 Failure to cancel a reservation at least 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure may result in forfeited travel funds.

7 Flight credits for non-refundable fares will be issued as long as the flight is cancelled more than 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure. Flight credits or refunds for refundable fares will be issued regardless of cancellation time. Flight credits don't expire.

8 Refundable, as long as you cancel your reservation at least ten (10) minutes prior to the scheduled departure of your flight. If you cancel, you’re eligible to receive 100% of your ticket value as a refund to your original form of payment. A Southwest flight credit from a previous reservation that is applied toward a Business Select or Anytime fare will be refunded as a flight credit. For travel booked with Rapid Rewards points, If canceled, points will be returned to the Rapid Rewards account holder who booked the ticket.

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Privately owned vehicle (POV) mileage reimbursement rates

GSA has adjusted all POV mileage reimbursement rates effective January 1, 2024.

* Airplane nautical miles (NMs) should be converted into statute miles (SMs) or regular miles when submitting a voucher using the formula (1 NM equals 1.15077945 SMs).

For calculating the mileage difference between airports, please visit the U.S. Department of Transportation's Inter-Airport Distance website.

QUESTIONS: For all travel policy questions, email [email protected] .

Have travel policy questions? Use our ' Have a Question? ' site

PER DIEM LOOK-UP

1 choose a location.

Error, The Per Diem API is not responding. Please try again later.

No results could be found for the location you've entered.

Rates for Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. Territories and Possessions are set by the Department of Defense .

Rates for foreign countries are set by the State Department .

2 Choose a date

Rates are available between 10/1/2021 and 09/30/2024.

The End Date of your trip can not occur before the Start Date.

Traveler reimbursement is based on the location of the work activities and not the accommodations, unless lodging is not available at the work activity, then the agency may authorize the rate where lodging is obtained.

Unless otherwise specified, the per diem locality is defined as "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city, including independent entities located within those boundaries."

Per diem localities with county definitions shall include "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city as well as the boundaries of the listed counties, including independent entities located within the boundaries of the key city and the listed counties (unless otherwise listed separately)."

When a military installation or Government - related facility(whether or not specifically named) is located partially within more than one city or county boundary, the applicable per diem rate for the entire installation or facility is the higher of the rates which apply to the cities and / or counties, even though part(s) of such activities may be located outside the defined per diem locality.

  • HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance
  • GoReady travel insurance
  • Nationwide Travel Insurance
  • Trawick International Travel Insurance

Affordable Travel Insurance Tips

  • Why You Should Trust Us

Best Cheap Travel Insurance of April 2024

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

In an ever-evolving world, emergency medical and evacuation travel insurance coverage is essential, especially if you're traveling internationally. However, sports equipment coverage, pet protection, and cancel for any reason coverage are among the increasingly popular coverage options that are changing the way we travel.

Best Cheap Travel Insurance

  • HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance : Best overall
  • GoReady travel insurance : Best for trip cancellation 
  • Nationwide Travel Insurance : Best value
  • Trawick International Travel Insurance : Most popular

Compare the Top Cheap Travel Insurance Plans

HTH Worldwide HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Three plans to choose from
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Reasonable premiums
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. CFAR coverage available with some plans
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High medical emergency and evacuation coverage
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Special coverages for pets, sports equipment, etc not available
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited reviews with complaints about claims not being paid
  • Trip cancellation of up to $5,000 with the Economy plan and up to $50,000 with the Preferred plan
  • Cancel for any reason insurance and missed connection insurance available with the Preferred plan
  • Baggage delay insurance starting after 24 or 12 hours depending on the plan

GoReady GoReady travel insurance

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Offers a CFAR upgrade add-on on certain plans
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Comprehensive insurance plans include generous coverage for baggage loss, plus protection from hurricane and other intense weather-related issues
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Competitive pricing
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Online complaints about claims not being paid and non-responsiveness
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Not all more expensive plans include CFAR coverage
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Dropping rating with AM Best
  • Annual and multi-trip plans available
  • All plans include pandemic coverage for COVID-19
  • Coverage for weather-related delays, cancellations and other incidents

Nationwide Nationwide Travel Insurance

  • Trip cancellation coverage of up to 100% of trip costs (for cruises) or up to $30,000 (for single-trip plans)
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Three cruise-specific plans to choose from
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual travel insurance plans available
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong trip cancellation coverage
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Cancel for any reason coverage available
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. CFAR insurance not available with every single plan
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Medical coverage is lower than what some competitors offer

Nationwide Travel Insurance offers many of the standard benefits you might see with a travel insurance policy. This can include things like trip cancellation coverage, so you can recover pre-paid costs or trip interruption in the event your vacation is interrupted by an unexpected event. There's also baggage delay coverage and medical coverage.

  • Cancel for any reason coverage available

Trawick Trawick International Travel Insurance

Trip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of the trip cost and trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Useful for adventurous travelers headed to higher-risk destinations
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Affordable plans with varying levels of coverage
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. 10-day free look option
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous baggage loss replacement policy
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Trip delay coverage kicks in after just six hours
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Some policies allow a CFAR add-on
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Up to $1 million medical evacuation coverage limit
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Baggage and trip delay coverages don’t kick in until after the 12-hour mark
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. International student policies available for temporary stints abroad
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Complaints about claims not being paid or involving an intermediary to resolve claims

Trawick International travel insurance offers plans customized to diverse travelers' needs. We look at coverage options, claims processing, pricing, and other important factors for savvy travelers.

  • Travel medical insurance
  • Trip protection and cancellation
  • International student insurance
  • Visitor medical insurance (for traveling to the US)

Affordable Travel Insurance Reviews

So you're planning a big family vacation—if you're lucky, the trip of a lifetime. Travel costs can skyrocket quickly, leaving you feeling a bit overwhelmed. At this point, travel insurance starts to look like a potentially unnecessary cost, but is it really?

The best travel insurance plans can go a long way toward defraying unexpected costs that may arise if you're asking the right questions starting with: What does travel insurance cover ?

Best Affordable Travel Insurance Overall: HTH Worldwide TripProtector Economy Travel Insurance

The HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance Economy plan offers the most comprehensive coverage across major categories of all the providers in this guide.

You'll have some peace of mind with up to $75,000 of financial protection for eligible medical emergencies, and up to $500,000 per person for medical evacuation costs. For more everyday expenses, you can also relax with baggage loss and delay, trip interruption, cancellation and delay coverage that will help you recoup many, if not all, of your costs.

However, this plan falls short on missed connection benefits and accidental death coverage, both of which are not available under most circumstances (missed connection coverage only applies to cruises, and will only cover up to $500 per person after a three-hour delay).

Read our HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance review here.

Best Affordable Travel Insurance for Trip Cancellation: GoReady Trip Cancellation Plan Travel Insurance

The GoReady travel insurance Trip Cancellation Plan is exactly that: a cost-effective plan that offers protection in the event that your trip is canceled for a covered reason. The plan we priced out for our hypothetical trip cost just 1.16% of our total travel expenses — a very small amount of money to pay for the guarantee of our money back in the right circumstances.

The benefit is that this plan can supplement other coverage you already have, or give you a little bit of protection for a trip where you might not otherwise have opted for insurance altogether. On the downside, you won't get any protection for medical emergencies, trip interruption or delays or lost bags from this plan.

Read our GoReady Travel Insurance review here.

Best Value Cheap Travel Insurance: Nationwide Essential Travel Insurance

Nationwide Travel Insurance  is a well-rounded alternative to HTH Worldwide Trip Protector Economy. This plan offers solid protection for both travel-related snafus as well as situations that might call for emergency medical and evacuation, making it a good choice for trips where you have cause to worry about potential interruptions or delays. However, it does not offer protection for missed connections or accidental death.

Read our Nationwide Travel Insurance review here

Most Popular Cheap Travel Insurance: Trawick Safe Travels Explorer Travel Insurance

The Trawick International Travel Insurance Safe Travels Explorer plan has been purchased by more than 36,000 travelers since 2020, and it has great reviews to boot. And no wonder: Trawick offers generous trip delay coverage of up to $2,000 per person, although hopefully you won't need to reach that reimbursement amount because the daily limit is $150.

You'll also be able to rely on a $200 reimbursement per person for lost baggage - one of the higher amounts amongst these affordable plans, although this amount pales in comparison to the baggage loss coverage offered through the best travel credit cards .

Read our Trawick Travel Insurance review here.

Types of Cheap Travel Insurance

Comprehensive coverage.

This type of insurance offers extensive protection, covering everything from medical issues to trip cancellations. While it's more expensive up front, it can save you a lot in the long run.

Medical-Only Coverage

As the name suggests, this policy focuses solely on medical emergencies, making it a cost-effective option for travelers who are primarily concerned about health-related expenses.

Evacuation and Repatriation

In extreme cases where you need to be evacuated due to a medical emergency or a natural disaster, this coverage ensures that you can return home safely without incurring huge costs.

Benefits of Opting for Cheap Travel Insurance

Cost savings.

Cheap travel insurance can significantly reduce your travel expenses, ensuring that you're not overpaying for coverage you might not need.

Adequate Coverage for Less

Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's lacking. Many affordable policies offer substantial coverage, giving you peace of mind without breaking the bank.

How to Pick The Best Cheap Travel Insurance Plan for You

No single travel insurance plan will meet the needs of every single traveler. By nature, we are diverse and evolving meaning travel insurance should be equally so. Travel insurance for a week-long trip to a big city shouldn't be the same as the coverage for a backpacking expedition in the mountains. A splurge to purchase comprehensive insurance coverage may also be worth it for international ventures or other large expenditures.

In most cases, the cost difference between a basic and comprehensive travel insurance plan isn't as significant as you might think. Regardless, it's generally a good idea to choose a trusted travel insurance provider known for exceptional customer service and coverage. (For this roundup, we looked at traveler reviews shared through the travel agency SquareMouth .)

  • Assessing Your Travel Needs: Consider the nature of your trip, the destination, and your own personal needs when choosing a policy. This ensures that you're not over-insured or underinsured.
  • Comparing Different Policies: Don't settle for the first policy you find. Compare different options, looking at their coverage and prices, to find the best fit for your budget and needs.
  • Reading the Fine Print: Always read the terms and conditions carefully to understand what's covered, what's not, and the process for making a claim.

If you just want trip cancellation protection, go with the GoReady Trip Cancellation Plan. For more robust coverage that won't break the bank, consider HTH Worldwide's TripProtector Economy, Trawick's Safe Travels Explorer, or Nationwide's Essentials plan.

Yes, many affordable policies offer comprehensive coverage suitable for international travel. It's crucial to compare policies and understand your needs.

Travelers insurance is relatively cheap because it only covers you for a set period of time, and depending on your plan, the level of coverage you get may not be particularly high. However, even with high coverage limits and extras like cancel for any reason coverage , travel insurance is relatively affordable. 

The average cost of travel insurance is 4%-8% of your trip's cost. This usually translates into a premium between $89 to $399.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Cheap Travel Insurance

To determine the best insurance plan for travelers on a budget, we evaluated dozens of products using a hypothetical trip to Australia for a single traveler, age 26, with a total cost of $2,500 for flight, hotel and other incidentals. We then compiled the plans that covered the essentials at the lowest costs.

Of note: All of these plans include COVID-related medical coverage and 24-hour assistance, and pay at least 100% of your trip cost for eligible trip cancellations. None include rental car coverage.

The seven winning plans cost between $29 to $74 — significantly below the typical cost of comprehensive travel insurance, which can range between 4%-8% of total travel expenses, according to the US Travel Insurance Association. But these affordable plans also come with comparably low ceilings for various aspects of coverage such as emergency medical, trip cancellation, or delay — and do not include rental car or "cancel for any reason" (CFAR) protection. So if you think you might need these benefits, it may well be worth upgrading to a comprehensive travel insurance plan for a few more dollars, just for the peace of mind.

Convenience and Flexibility

Each of the plans in this list include 24-hour assistance worldwide from reputable insurance providers. And despite being on the lower end of insurance plans, each of these options includes refunds for up to 100% of your total trip cost for eligible reasons. Each of these plans also includes medical coverage for COVID-related issues that may arise during your travels, which may come in handy as the pandemic continues to evolve worldwide.

Sufficient Coverage in Essential Categories

The cheapest travel insurance plan will rarely cover every scenario that could go awry on your trip. However, each of these plans can at least help you get your money back in the event that your travel is canceled for an eligible reason, and most of them include financial protection if you incur emergency medical bills while traveling. We also factor in what travelers are most concerned about now. 

You can read more about how Business Insider rates insurance here.

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Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

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NerdWallet UK Survey: Retirement and Emergency Funds are the Most Popular Savings Goals

Amy Knight

With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, there are multiple reasons why many households across the UK are struggling financially. Energy costs are high and inflation has been affecting the cost of food and other essentials. Credit card borrowing is also up, according to the latest Bank of England figures.

However, NerdWallet’s latest study on the country’s savings habits paints a more positive picture. In fact, the UK emerged as a country where people have strong savings goals, and are taking action to increase their savings. In order to understand what it is like to save money in the UK in 2024, we surveyed 2000 UK adults about how they felt and behaved when it comes to putting money aside. 

Key findings

  • The most popular savings goal is retirement, with 51% listing it as one of their top three savings goals.
  • 28% of those surveyed said they were not confident they would ever meet their main savings goal – but 38% said they thought they would in two years or less. 
  • On average, people estimate that they would be able to maintain their current lifestyle for just over four months if they were to lose their job.
  • The most popular savings tactic is cutting down spending on non-essentials in order to put the money we would have spent into savings, with 42% of us in the UK doing this.
  • 6% of us are saving to start or grow our own business, but the percentage of people with this savings goal in London is far higher, at 17%. 

Savings goals

NerdWallet’s survey asked respondents to select up to three of their top savings goals, and the clear front runner was ‘retirement’, which 51% of respondents selected. This was closely followed by ‘build up an emergency fund’ at 41%, which financial advisers highly recommend. In fact, having three to six months of savings to fall back on can protect you from falling into debt if something unexpected happens. What’s more, almost 90% of those surveyed said they had a savings goal which is good news, as having something to work towards can be great motivation. 

Emergency fund

An emergency fund can give you peace of mind. 

A surprisingly high percentage of people, at 22% of those surveyed, said they would be able to maintain their current lifestyle for more than six months if they lost their job and were living off savings.

The next highest percentage group of savers was those who thought they had saved enough to maintain their lifestyle for three months, at 10% of those surveyed. 

Over a quarter( 28%) of respondents said they didn’t have a job, but it’s not certain what proportion of these people are retired, full-time homemakers, carers, students, or unemployed. 

Overall, men think they could last for longer on their savings than women – on average 4.52 months to women’s 3.94. The average across all answers was 4.21 months. 

Worryingly, 10% of 55- to 64-year-olds feel they could only maintain their current lifestyle for less than three months if they lost their job.

How long to reach your goal?

NerdWallet UK asked the respondents to tell us how long they thought it would take them to reach their savings goal. 

While 28% unfortunately didn’t think they would ever reach it, others felt quite confident about their savings. 

There were 14% who said they thought they would reach it in five to 10 years, and the next highest percentage was those who thought it would take them only one to two years, at 12% of those surveyed. One in 10 thought reaching their goal would take three to four years.

Two in five (40%) of those aged 65 and up think they will achieve their savings goal in a year or less. Those aged between 24 and 35 are the second most confident on this, with 36% giving an answer of a year or less. 

However, 65-year-olds and over are the most likely to say they are not confident they will reach their savings goal overall, at 38%.  This is likely because a sizeable number of this age bracket will be approaching retirement age and will lose their current source of income from work. It is concerning to hear that some of these older people will no doubt be worrying about affording their retirement, or other goals which they will now have less time to save for. 

Savings tactics

We asked our respondents to tell us what savings tactics they had employed in the past year. The most popular savings tactic was cutting down spending on non-essentials in order to put the money they would have spent into savings, with 42% of respondents selecting this option. 

The second most popular tactic was using discounts, coupons and loyalty schemes, at 37%, followed by switching to a new savings account with a higher interest rate at 36%. 

Regionally, the East of England was the most likely to not take any savings measures in the last year (37%). This area was also the least likely to cut down on non-essentials to put money in savings (26%). Could this be an indication that respondents in this area were feeling financially more comfortable? We would always recommend taking measures to save more if you can, particularly to contribute to an emergency fund. 

People who earn more money are statistically more likely to use round ups to increase their savings – 20% of those in the £40,000 to £60,000 salary bracket do this, compared to 13% of those earning £20,000 to £40,000 a year. This tactic uses a feature offered by high street as well as digital banks, which rounds up your card payments to the nearest pound, sending the change in pence automatically to your savings account. It could be the case that this is a method that people are more likely to use if they are feeling financially comfortable, and able to spare the change. 

Britain’s entrepreneurs, founders and SME leaders

While only 6% in our survey said they are saving to start or grow their own business , when you delve into the data you can see this doesn’t apply across the board.

London was the region with the highest percentage of people saving for this goal, at 17% – that’s over 10% higher than the national average. People based in Wales are also more likely to save for this reason than other regions, at 11%. 

In terms of individual cities, Brighton and Hove also had a high proportion of individuals saving to start or grow a business, at 19%. 

One interesting result in this area is that there is very little difference between the number of men and women who are saving for this goal. With 5% of women compared to 7% of men, this similarity is good news for gender equality in the business world – and good news for the economy. The Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship in 2019 found that if women started and scaled businesses at the same rate as men, it would boost the economy by £250 billion. 

Those in the 18 to 24, 25 to 34 and 35 to 44 age groups are the most likely to save to start or grow their business, at 22%, 17% and 9% respectively. 

Amy’s Tips: Commentary from NerdWallet UK’s spokesperson 

“ NerdWallet’s research suggests that many UK adults are spending more mindfully and reducing non-essential outgoing to prioritise savings. Making use of digital technology, such as banking apps that enable automatic round-ups, is just one example of how saving can be incorporated into our daily habits.

“More than a third (36%) of consumers are optimistic that they will meet their main savings goal in the next one to 10 years, and this percentage could grow if we all continue to have open conversations about money and actively seek sources of free, trustworthy, advice and support.

“It’s reassuring to see that, on average, UK adults have money set aside to last them around four months if they were forced to live off their savings. The minimum amount of savings recommended for your emergency fund is three to six months of essential outgoings, and over a fifth (22%) of adults surveyed were reaching the top end of this savings goal. ”However, it’s concerning that 10% of UK adults aged 55 to 64 feel they could maintain their current lifestyle for less than three months if they lost their job. This could suggest a hangover from the toxic combination of Covid, the cost-of-living crisis, high energy prices and high inflation. UK households forced to drain their savings may have insufficient funds for any future financial shocks.”

Methodology

The survey, conducted online by OnePoll on behalf of NerdWallet UK, asked 2,000 UK adults to respond to a series of questions about their attitudes and behaviour regarding saving. The survey also collected data on their age, region, gender, nearest city, and income. All data was collected in February 2024.

Image source: Getty Images

About the Author

Amy Knight is a spokesperson and writer at NerdWallet UK with over 10 years’ experience writing for, and about, businesses, including Aston Martin, Cranfield School of Management, and the National…

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IMAGES

  1. View Southwest Airlines Travel Funds in your Account (Effective

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  2. Southwest Gift Cards, Travel Funds & LUV Vouchers [2020 Update]

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  3. View Southwest Airlines Travel Funds in your Account (Effective

    travel funds check

  4. Southwest Gift Cards, Travel Funds & LUV Vouchers [2020 Update]

    travel funds check

  5. View Southwest Airlines Travel Funds in your Account (Effective

    travel funds check

  6. How to Use Your Travel Funds

    travel funds check

COMMENTS

  1. Check Travel Funds

    When booking a flight, you'll see an option to apply travel funds on the payment screen. You can use a total of three forms of payment per booking, and each travel fund counts as a form of payment. Southwest makes it easy to check available travel funds from unused or canceled flight reservations. View funds and use them toward your next getaway.

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  3. How to Use Travel Funds on Southwest Airlines

    4 steps to book a flight with Southwest travel funds. Your travel funds can be used to book flights online, over the phone or at a Southwest Airlines ticket counter. For this illustration, we'll ...

  4. Check Travel Funds

    When booking a flight, you'll see an option to apply travel funds on the payment screen. You can use a total of three forms of payment per booking, and each travel fund counts as a form of payment. Southwest makes it easy to check available travel funds from unused or canceled flight reservations. View funds and use them toward your next getaway.

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  12. How to Apply Travel Funds on United

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    Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Cheap Travel Insurance. To determine the best insurance plan for travelers on a budget, we evaluated dozens of products using a hypothetical trip to ...

  25. Survey: Retirement, Emergency Fund and Travel Are The Most Popular

    Two in five (40%) of those aged 65 and up think they will achieve their savings goal in a year or less. Those aged between 24 and 35 are the second most confident on this, with 36% giving an ...