Where to find your Southwest username

Your Southwest username is the email address or account name you use to log into Southwest.com or the Southwest mobile app. If you have already booked a flight or created an account, you can find this username by checking your confirmation email, looking at your account settings, or using Southwest's account recovery tool.

The fastest way is to open the Southwest app or website and click "Forgot username?" on the login screen. Southwest will ask for your name and email address, then send your username to that email within minutes. This works even if you have not logged in for years.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Southwest username is almost always the email address you gave when you created your account.
  • The "Forgot username?" link on Southwest.com or the app will email your username to you in minutes.
  • Check your booking confirmation emails from Southwest — they show the email address used for that reservation.
  • If you created your account with a phone number instead of an email, you can still reset it using the recovery tool.
  • Your username and password are separate — resetting one does not change the other.

Using the Southwest password reset tool

Go to Southwest.com and look for the login box. Below the password field, you will see a "Forgot username?" link in blue text. Click it.

Southwest will ask you to enter your full name (first and last, as it appears on your account) and the email address associated with your account. Type both carefully — they must match what you used when you signed up. Click "Continue."

Within a few minutes, Southwest will send an email to that address with your username. Check your inbox and also your spam or promotions folder, since airline emails sometimes land there. The email will say "Your Southwest Airlines Username" in the subject line.

Checking your booking confirmation emails

If you have ever booked a flight with Southwest, look for the confirmation email they sent you. Search your email inbox for "Southwest" or "booking confirmation." Open the most recent one.

Near the top of the email, you will see a line that says "Confirmation #" and below it, the email address used for that booking. That email address is your Southwest username. If you have multiple confirmation emails from different email addresses, you may have created more than one Southwest account — in that case, try the password reset tool with each one.

Logging in with a phone number instead

Some older Southwest accounts were created with a phone number instead of an email address. If you remember creating your account this way, you can still use the "Forgot username?" tool, but enter the phone number in the email field instead. Southwest will recognize it and send your username to the email address currently linked to that account.

If that does not work, call Southwest customer service at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792). Have your name, date of birth, and phone number ready. A representative can look up your account and tell you your username over the phone.

What to do if you do not remember your email address

If you created your Southwest account years ago and cannot remember which email you used, start by listing every email address you have ever had — old work emails, personal emails, or accounts you may no longer use. Try the password reset tool with each one.

If none of those work, call Southwest at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA. Tell the representative that you do not remember your username or which email address you used. They can search for your account using your name and date of birth, then update your account to use a current email address you control. This usually takes a few minutes on the phone.

Resetting your password after finding your username

Once you know your username, you may also need to reset your password if you have forgotten it. On the Southwest login page, click "Forgot password?" instead of "Forgot username?" Enter your username (the email address) and Southwest will email you a link to create a new password.

The password reset link expires after a few hours, so check your email right away. Click the link, create a new password, and you will be able to log in. Your username stays the same — only the password changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my Southwest username the same as my Rapid Rewards number?

No. Your username is the email address you use to log in. Your Rapid Rewards number is a separate frequent-flyer account number that starts with a letter. You can find your Rapid Rewards number in your account settings after you log in, or on any boarding pass from a Southwest flight.

Can I change my Southwest username?

You cannot change the email address that serves as your username, but you can update the email address linked to your account. Log in, go to "Account Settings," and look for "Email Address" or "Contact Information." You can change it there, and that new email becomes your new username for future logins.

What if I get an error when I try to reset my username?

The most common reason is a typo in your name or email. Make sure your full name matches exactly what is on your ID, and that the email address is spelled correctly. If you still get an error after checking twice, call Southwest customer service — they can verify your identity and reset it for you.

Do I need my username to check in for a flight?

No. You can check in using your confirmation number (a six-character code from your booking email) or your name and date of birth. Your username is only needed to log into your account online or in the app.