Southwest to charge customers who don't show up Southwest Airlines customers will soon pay a fee for not canceling a ticket before their flight. The airline outlined the new policy Friday at an investors' conference in New York. Read this and other stories at NBCDFW.com Right now, Southwest lets passengers who don't use their ticket apply the price toward a new ticket. Southwest says it can reduce no-shows and generate more revenue by adding the cancellation fee on restricted tickets. Company officials said the new fee will start next year, but they didn't give an exact date or say how much the fee will be. Southwest also plans to increase fees it already charges, such as for early check-in and overweight bags. Its AirTran Airways subsidiary will raise bag fees in February.