How to Pay Your SWA Credit Card
How SWA Credit Card Payments Work
SWA is the Southwest Airlines credit card, issued by Chase. You can pay your bill online through Chase's website or mobile app, by phone, by mail, or in person at a Chase branch. The payment goes to Chase, not to Southwest Airlines — Chase owns and manages the card account, even though the rewards are tied to Southwest flights.
Your payment due date appears on your statement and is usually 21 to 25 days after your statement closes. If you pay by the due date, you avoid a late fee and interest charges on your balance. If you miss the due date, Chase charges a late fee (the amount depends on your balance) and begins charging interest on any unpaid amount at your card's APR, which varies based on your creditworthiness and current market rates.
The payment method you choose affects how fast the money reaches Chase. Online and mobile payments usually post within one business day. Phone payments post the same day if you call before the cutoff time (usually 8 p.m. Eastern). Mail takes 5 to 7 business days, so if your due date is soon, mail is not a safe choice. In-person payments at a Chase branch post immediately.
Key Takeaways
- Pay through Chase's website, app, or phone line to reach your due date safely; mail takes a week and risks a late payment.
- Your due date is printed on your statement and is usually 21 to 25 days after your statement closes.
- A late payment triggers a fee and interest charges, and reports to credit bureaus if it is 30 days or more past due.
- You can set up automatic payments so Chase withdraws a fixed amount or your full balance on a date you choose each month.
- If you cannot pay the full balance, paying at least the minimum due by the due date stops a late fee, though interest still accrues on the unpaid amount.
Paying Online or Through the Chase Mobile App
Log into your Chase account at chase.com or open the Chase Mobile app. Select your SWA credit card, then look for "Make a Payment" or "Pay Now." Enter the amount you want to pay and choose the date — you can pay immediately or schedule a payment for a future date up to 30 days out. Review the details and confirm. Chase will send you a confirmation number and email.
Online and app payments post to your account within one business day. If your due date is tomorrow and you pay today online, the payment will likely post in time, but it is not may provide. If you are cutting it very close, call Chase instead — phone payments post the same day if you call before the cutoff time.
You can also set up automatic payments through the same screen. Choose whether you want Chase to pay your full statement balance, a fixed dollar amount, or just the minimum due. Pick the day of the month you want the payment to happen — many people choose the day after their paycheck arrives. Chase will withdraw the payment automatically each month until you cancel it.
Paying by Phone or Mail
To pay by phone, call the number on the back of your card. A representative will ask for your account number and the amount you want to pay. They will confirm the payment date and send you a confirmation number. Phone payments post the same day if you call before the cutoff time, usually 8 p.m. Eastern. If you call after that, the payment posts the next business day.
To pay by mail, write a check to Chase and include your account number on the check. Mail it to the address on your statement under "Payment Address" — this is different from the address where your statement is mailed. Mail takes 5 to 7 business days to arrive, so send it at least a week before your due date. If your due date is within a week, do not use mail.
What Happens If You Miss Your Due Date
If your payment does not post by your due date, Chase charges a late fee. The fee amount depends on your balance — typically $25 to $40 for the first late payment and up to $40 for subsequent ones within six months. You also begin accruing interest on your unpaid balance at your card's APR, which can be 18% to 28% or higher depending on your credit score and current rates.
A payment that is 30 days or more late is reported to the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). This stays on your credit report for seven years and damages your credit score, making it harder and more expensive to borrow money in the future. A payment that is 60 days late or more can trigger collection calls, and a payment that is 180 days late may result in Chase closing your account and selling the debt to a collection agency.
If you realize you will miss your due date, call Chase before the date passes. Explain your situation — if this is your first late payment and you have a good history, a representative may be able to waive the late fee as a one-time courtesy. They cannot waive interest, but they can sometimes lower your APR temporarily. Asking is always worth trying.
Paying More Than the Minimum
Your statement shows a minimum due amount, usually 1% to 3% of your balance. Paying only the minimum keeps you from being late, but it does not stop interest from accruing on the unpaid balance. If you carry a balance of $5,000 at 22% APR and pay only the minimum each month, it will take you years to pay off and cost you thousands in interest.
Paying more than the minimum reduces the amount of interest you owe. Paying the full statement balance by the due date means you owe zero interest — this is the best outcome. If you cannot pay the full balance, paying as much as you can above the minimum still saves you money on interest compared to paying the minimum alone.
You can make multiple payments in a single month if you want. Some people pay half their balance when they get paid mid-month and the other half when they get paid at the end of the month. Each payment reduces your balance and the interest that accrues on it, so more frequent payments save money.
Setting Up Automatic Payments
Automatic payments remove the risk of forgetting your due date. Log into your Chase account, select your SWA card, and look for "Automatic Payments" or "Autopay." Choose the amount: your full statement balance (recommended), a fixed dollar amount, or the minimum due. Then pick the day of the month you want the payment to happen.
Most people set their automatic payment for a few days after their paycheck arrives, so the money is in their checking account. If you set it for the 5th of the month but your paycheck does not arrive until the 10th, the payment may bounce and trigger a non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee from your bank. Check your pay schedule before choosing a date.
You can change or cancel your automatic payment anytime through your Chase account. If you cancel it, you go back to manual payments — set a phone reminder for a few days before your due date so you do not forget. If you change the amount, the new amount applies to the next scheduled payment.
Using Southwest Rewards Points to Pay Your Bill
Some credit card issuers let you redeem rewards points to pay your statement balance. Chase's policy on this varies by card and account. Log into your Chase account and look under "Rewards" or "Redeem Points" to see if this option is available for your SWA card. If it is, you can convert points to a statement credit, which reduces your balance.
The value of points used this way is usually lower than the value you get by using them for flights. For example, if your points are worth 1 cent per point when redeemed for flights, they might be worth 0.5 cents per point when used as a statement credit. Use this option only if you have extra points you do not plan to use for travel, or if you are in a tight spot and need to reduce your balance quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my SWA credit card at a Southwest Airlines ticket counter or airport?
No. Southwest does not process credit card payments. You must pay through Chase using one of the methods listed above: online, app, phone, mail, or a Chase branch. If you are at an airport and need to pay urgently, find a Chase branch or ATM, or use your phone to pay online.
What if I pay online but the payment does not show up by my due date?
Online payments usually post within one business day, but if your due date is tomorrow, there is a small risk. Call Chase before your due date to confirm the payment posted, or call after your due date to ask if a late fee was charged. If a late fee was applied and this is your first late payment, ask if they will waive it as a courtesy.
Can I pay my SWA credit card from a different bank account?
Yes. When you set up a payment online or by phone, Chase asks for the bank account number where the money should be withdrawn from. You can use any bank account you own. If you use someone else's account without permission, that is fraud.
What if I want to pay off my entire balance before my statement closes?
You can pay anytime, even before your statement closes. Log into your Chase account and make a payment for the current balance shown. This reduces the amount that appears on your next statement. If you pay your full balance before your statement closes, your next statement will show a lower balance or zero balance, depending on whether you use the card again before the statement closes.
Does paying early or paying extra help my credit score?
Paying on time and keeping your balance low both help your credit score. Paying early does not give you extra credit — what matters is that you pay by the due date. Keeping your balance below 30% of your credit limit (called your utilization ratio) is better for your score than carrying a high balance, even if you pay it on time.