How to Pay Your Southwest Credit Card Bill
Where and how to send your Southwest card payment
You can pay your Southwest credit card through three main routes: online through your card issuer's website, by phone, or by mail. The card issuer is Chase Bank, not Southwest Airlines itself—this matters because you send payments to Chase, not to the airline.
The fastest and most common method is online. Log into your Chase account at chase.com, find your Southwest card, and select "Make a Payment." You can pay the full balance, the minimum due, or any amount in between. The payment posts the same business day if you submit before the cutoff time, which is usually 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
By phone, call the number on the back of your card. A representative can take a one-time payment over the phone using your bank account or debit card. This also posts the same business day if you call before the cutoff. By mail, send a check to the address printed on your statement—allow 7 to 10 business days for it to arrive and post.
Key Takeaways
- Pay through Chase's website, by phone to the number on your card, or by mail to the address on your statement.
- Online and phone payments post the same business day if submitted before the evening cutoff; mail takes 7 to 10 business days.
- Your payment due date is printed on your statement, and paying after that date triggers a late fee and may raise your interest rate.
- Setting up automatic payments through Chase prevents missed due dates and keeps your account in good standing.
- The minimum payment keeps your account current but does not stop interest from building on the remaining balance.
Understanding your due date and what happens if you miss it
Your payment due date appears on your monthly statement and is typically 21 to 25 days after your statement closes. The statement close date is fixed—for example, the 15th of each month—but the due date shifts slightly depending on weekends and holidays.
If your payment does not post by the due date, Chase charges a late fee. The amount depends on your balance: typically $25 for balances under $100, or $35 for larger balances. More damaging than the fee is the impact on your credit report. A payment 30 days late appears on your credit history and can lower your credit score by 100 points or more. After 60 days late, the damage deepens, and after 180 days, Chase may close the account and send it to a collection agency.
Late payments also trigger a penalty interest rate. Chase may raise your APR from your regular rate (which varies by creditworthiness) to a much higher penalty rate, sometimes 29.99% or higher. This rate applies to new purchases and existing balances until you make six consecutive on-time payments, at which point Chase may lower it back.
Setting up automatic payments to avoid missed deadlines
Automatic payments are the simplest way to stay current. Log into your Chase account, go to your Southwest card, and select "Autopay" or "Automatic Payments." You choose the amount (minimum due, full balance, or a fixed dollar amount) and the date it should post each month.
Most people choose to pay the full statement balance on the due date. This prevents interest from building and keeps your account in good standing. If you cannot pay the full balance, set the autopay to at least the minimum due—this keeps you from accidentally missing the deadline, though interest will still accrue on the unpaid portion.
You can change or cancel autopay anytime through your Chase account. If you cancel, set a phone reminder for your due date, because Chase will not remind you once autopay is off.
The difference between minimum payment and paying in full
The minimum payment is the smallest amount Chase requires you to pay to keep your account in good standing. It is usually 1% to 3% of your total balance, plus any fees and interest charges. Paying only the minimum keeps you from being late and from damaging your credit, but it does not stop interest from building.
Here is how the math works: if you carry a $5,000 balance at 18% APR and pay only the minimum each month, you will pay roughly $4,500 in interest over three years before the balance is gone. If you pay the full statement balance each month, you pay zero interest because credit cards do not charge interest on purchases paid within the grace period—usually 21 to 25 days from your statement close date.
The only time paying the minimum makes sense is when you are in genuine hardship and cannot pay more. In that case, contact Chase directly to ask about hardship programs, which may lower your interest rate or pause payments temporarily.
How ACH transfers and bank drafts work for Southwest card payments
When you pay online or by phone using your bank account, Chase pulls the money through an ACH transfer (Automated Clearing House). This is an electronic system that moves money between banks. You give Chase permission to withdraw from your checking or savings account, and the money typically arrives within one business day.
ACH transfers are free and secure. Chase does not charge you a fee, and your bank usually does not either (though some banks charge for ACH transfers initiated by others; check your bank's policy). The money is protected by federal banking rules, so if something goes wrong, you have recourse.
The key difference from a debit card payment is timing. A debit card payment posts immediately, while an ACH transfer takes a business day. If you are paying close to your due date, use a debit card or credit card payment instead to ensure it posts on time. If you pay by ACH two days before the due date, you are safe.
What to do if your payment fails or does not post
Payments fail for a few common reasons: insufficient funds in your bank account, an outdated bank account number, or a typo in your routing number. If your payment fails, Chase sends a notice to the email or phone number on file. Check that notice immediately—it tells you why the payment did not go through.
If the reason was insufficient funds, deposit money into your account and try again. If it was a bad account number, log into your Chase account, update your bank information, and resubmit. If you are unsure, call Chase at the number on your card and ask a representative to process the payment over the phone instead.
If you submitted a payment and it has been more than two business days and it still has not posted, call Chase. Provide the date you submitted it, the amount, and the method (online, phone, or mail). A representative can track it and confirm the posting date. Do not assume it posted just because you submitted it—verify through your account balance or by calling.
Late fees, interest rates, and how to recover if you miss a payment
If you miss a payment, the damage is not permanent, but it requires action. First, make the payment as soon as you realize it is late. The sooner you pay, the less interest accrues. Second, call Chase and ask if they will waive the late fee. If this is your first late payment in years, many representatives will remove it as a courtesy.
The late fee itself is a one-time charge, but the penalty interest rate lasts longer. Once you are 30 days late, the penalty APR kicks in and applies to your entire balance. To get it removed, you need to make six consecutive on-time payments. After that, call Chase and ask them to review your account for a rate reduction. They may lower it back to your original rate, though they are not required to.
Your credit report will show the late payment for seven years, but its impact fades over time. After two years, it matters much less. After four years, most lenders barely notice it. The best recovery is simply to stay current from that point forward—on-time payments gradually rebuild your credit score.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my Southwest card with another credit card?
No. Chase does not accept credit card payments for credit card balances. You can only pay with a bank account (ACH), debit card, or check. Paying a credit card with another credit card through a third-party service is possible but charges a fee and is usually a sign of financial trouble—it is better to contact Chase about hardship options.
What time does my payment need to post to count as on-time?
The payment must post by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on your due date. Online and phone payments submitted before 8 p.m. Eastern Time usually post the same day. If you are paying by mail, it must arrive and be processed by the due date, which is why mailing close to the deadline is risky—allow at least 10 business days.
Do I have to pay the full balance, or can I pay part of it?
You can pay any amount between the minimum due and the full balance. Paying more than the minimum reduces the interest that builds on the remaining balance. If you pay less than the full statement balance, interest accrues on the unpaid portion at your current APR.
What happens if I pay more than I owe?
The overpayment becomes a credit on your account. You can use it toward future purchases, or you can request a refund. To request a refund, call Chase or log into your account and select the option to refund the overpayment. Refunds typically arrive in 3 to 5 business days.
Can I change my due date?
Yes. Log into your Chase account, go to your Southwest card settings, and look for "Change Due Date" or "Billing Preferences." You can move your due date to any day of the month. This is useful if your paycheck arrives on a different day or if you want to align multiple bills to the same date.