Where and how to send a Southwest credit card payment
Southwest Airlines credit cards are issued by Chase, so you send payments to Chase, not to Southwest directly. You can pay online through your Chase account, by phone, by mail, or in person at a Chase branch. The fastest route is online through Chase.com or the Chase mobile app — the payment posts the same business day if you submit it before the cutoff time, which is usually 8 p.m. Eastern.
If you pay by phone, call the number on the back of your card. Chase customer service will ask for your account number and the amount you want to pay, and you can authorize the payment when ready. Payments made by phone before 8 p.m. Eastern on a business day also post the same day.
Mail and in-person payments take longer. If you mail a check, write your account number on the check and send it to the address printed on your statement. Mail typically takes 5 to 7 business days to arrive, and Chase processes it after that. In-person payments at a Chase branch post within one business day.
Key Takeaways
- Southwest credit cards are issued by Chase, so you pay Chase, not Southwest — use Chase.com, the Chase app, or the phone number on your card.
- Online and phone payments made before 8 p.m. Eastern on a business day post the same day; mail and in-person payments take 5 to 7 business days or one business day respectively.
- You can set up automatic payments through your Chase account so the minimum payment or a fixed amount withdraws on a date you choose each month.
- Late fees and interest charges explore if your payment arrives after the due date shown on your statement, regardless of when you submitted it.
Setting up automatic payments
Chase allows you to schedule automatic payments so you do not have to remember to pay each month. Log into your Chase account online or through the app, find your Southwest card, and select "Set up automatic payments" or "Autopay." You choose the payment amount (minimum payment, a fixed dollar amount, or the full statement balance) and the date each month when Chase should withdraw the money from your bank account.
Automatic payments reduce the risk of a late payment, but they do not stop you from carrying a balance or paying interest. If you set autopay to the minimum payment, you will still owe interest on the remaining balance. If you set it to the full statement balance, Chase withdraws whatever your balance is on the payment date, which may not include charges made after that date.
Payment due dates and late fees
Your payment due date appears on your monthly statement. Chase considers a payment late if it arrives after 11:59 p.m. Eastern on that date. A late payment triggers a late fee (the amount varies but is typically $25 to $39 for the first late payment) and may raise your interest rate.
The due date is at least 21 days after the end of your billing cycle, which gives you time to receive your statement and submit payment. If you are unsure of your due date, log into your Chase account or call the number on your card — Chase customer service can tell you the exact date and your current balance.
If you miss a payment, contact Chase as soon as possible. Depending on how late the payment is and your account history, Chase may waive the late fee if you call and ask. Paying the overdue amount stops additional late fees from accruing, though it does not remove the late payment from your credit report when ready.
Minimum payment vs. paying the full balance
Your statement shows both a minimum payment and your full balance. The minimum payment is the smallest amount Chase requires you to pay to keep your account in good standing — typically 1 to 3 percent of your balance plus any fees and interest. Paying only the minimum means you carry the rest of the balance forward and pay interest on it.
Paying your full statement balance means you owe no interest on those charges (as long as you paid the previous month's full balance too, which activates your grace period). The difference in cost is significant: a $5,000 balance at 18 percent interest costs roughly $75 per month in interest alone if you pay only the minimum.
Your statement shows an estimate of how long it will take to pay off your balance if you pay only the minimum, and how much interest you will pay over that time. This estimate helps you see the real cost of carrying a balance.
What happens if you cannot pay on time
If you know you cannot pay by the due date, contact Chase before the date arrives. Chase customer service can discuss options like a payment plan, a temporary interest rate reduction, or a hardship program. These are not automatic — you have to ask — but Chase is more likely to work with you if you call before you miss a payment than after.
If your account falls 30 days past due, Chase reports it to the credit bureaus, which damages your credit score. At 60 days past due, your interest rate may increase further. At 180 days past due, Chase may close your account and send the debt to a collection agency.
Paying the overdue amount stops the clock on late fees and prevents further damage, but the late payment stays on your credit report for seven years. Rebuilding your credit after a missed payment takes time, but your score begins to recover as soon as you bring the account current.
Payment methods and security
Chase accepts payments from any bank account in the United States, not just the bank where you opened your account. When you pay online or by phone, you provide your routing number and account number, or you can authorize a one-time payment using a debit card. Chase does not charge a fee for standard online or phone payments.
Some third-party payment services (like bill-pay services offered by your bank) may charge a fee to send a payment to Chase on your behalf. Check with your bank before using their bill-pay service if you want to avoid fees. Paying directly through Chase.com or the Chase app is always free.
Chase uses encryption to protect your banking information when you pay online or through the app. If you pay by mail, do not write your full account number on the envelope — write it only on the check itself. If you pay in person at a Chase branch, bring your card and a form of identification.
Understanding your statement and payment posting
Your Chase statement shows charges from the billing cycle, the due date, the minimum payment, and your current balance. The statement also shows any fees, interest charges, and credits applied during that cycle. Payments you make post to your account within one business day (for online and phone payments made before 8 p.m. Eastern) or within the timeframe for your payment method.
A payment posts when Chase receives and processes it, not when you submit it. If you mail a check on the due date, it will not post by the due date — it will arrive days later. Chase counts the payment as late based on when it posts, not when you mailed it. This is why online and phone payments are safer if you are close to the due date.
Your statement also shows a grace period notice if you are may be able to access. A grace period means you owe no interest on new purchases if you pay your full statement balance by the due date. You lose the grace period if you carry a balance from the previous month, so you pay interest on new charges when ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my Southwest credit card bill with a different payment method, like a debit card or PayPal?
Chase accepts payments from a bank account or debit card through Chase.com, the Chase app, or by phone. Chase does not accept PayPal or other digital wallets for credit card payments. If you want to use PayPal, you would need to transfer money from PayPal to your bank account first, then pay Chase from that account.
What if I pay more than the amount I owe?
Chase holds the overpayment as a credit on your account and applies it to your next statement. You can also request a refund of the overpayment by calling Chase customer service. There is no fee for overpaying or requesting a refund.
How do I know if my payment went through?
After you submit a payment online or by phone, Chase shows a confirmation number and the payment amount on your screen. Log into your Chase account within a few hours to see the payment listed under recent transactions. If you do not see it within one business day, call Chase to confirm it was received.
Can I change my due date?
Yes. Log into your Chase account, find the option to change your due date (usually under "Account Services" or "Billing"), and select a new date. Chase allows you to choose any date between the 1st and the 28th. The change takes effect on your next billing cycle.
What if I want to close my Southwest credit card account?
You can close your account by calling Chase customer service. Pay any remaining balance first, or Chase will continue to charge interest on it after you close the account. After you close the account, you can still make payments to Chase until the balance reaches zero.