SWA cancels flight, suddenly rebooks a flight we can’t use. How to get a refund, not flight credit?

[mafburke]

Here’s our conundrum: SWA cancels our flight. We submitted the form for a refund and rebooked on another airline to get home. Today SWA sends us an email for a rebooked flight taking place in 6 hours. We can’t use it and now we’re canceling the SWA “rebook” to open up the seats for others. Now “on record” it appears like we canceled on SWA which would only qualify for flight credit as opposed to a full refund. Surely this is happening to others, what is the policy about canceling their automatic rebook? 

[dfwskier · Accepted solution]

If you cancel a rebook, SW will give you a travel credit. Then you have to contact the airline to let it know you want a refund instead - and you will get one.