Southwest takes six main forms of payment for flights and extras

Southwest accepts credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, and a few less common options. The method you can use depends on what you're buying — a ticket, a seat upgrade, baggage fees, or something else — and whether you're paying online, by phone, or at the airport.

Most people pay with a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover card. If you don't have a credit card, a debit card works the same way at checkout. Southwest also takes its own branded gift cards and, in some cases, will let you pay with a Southwest gift card balance you've already loaded into your account.

The less common options are LUV Vouchers (a form of credit Southwest issues for refunds or service recovery), Southwest travel funds (money you've prepaid for future flights), and, at airport ticket counters only, cash or check. Online and by phone, cash and check are not an option.

Key Takeaways

  • Credit and debit cards from Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover work for all Southwest purchases online, by phone, and at the airport.
  • Southwest gift cards and travel funds (money you've already paid into your account) can be used to pay for tickets and add-ons.
  • LUV Vouchers, which Southwest issues as refunds or service recovery, work like a credit toward future bookings.
  • Cash and checks are accepted only at airport ticket counters, not online or over the phone.
  • You cannot split a single booking across multiple payment methods — you must choose one form of payment per transaction.

Credit and debit cards cover everything

Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover are the four card networks Southwest takes. It doesn't matter whether the card is a credit card or a debit card — both work the same way at checkout. You enter the card number, expiration date, and CVV, and the transaction goes through.

These cards work for booking flights, paying for seat selections, adding baggage, purchasing drinks and snacks on the plane, and buying anything else Southwest sells. You can use them online at southwest.com, through the Southwest mobile app, by calling Southwest reservations at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA, or at any airport ticket counter.

If your card is declined, Southwest will tell you when ready. The most common reasons are insufficient funds, an expired card, or a mismatch between the billing address you entered and the address on file with your bank. Call your card issuer to confirm the card is active and the address is correct, then try again.

Southwest gift cards and travel funds

A Southwest gift card is a prepaid card you can buy from Southwest or from retailers like Target or Best Buy. When you use it to pay for a flight or add-on, you enter the card number at checkout just like a regular credit card. The balance comes out of the gift card first.

Travel funds are different. These are credits that sit in your Southwest account — usually because you cancelled a flight and Southwest issued you a refund as a travel fund instead of returning your money to your original payment method. When you book a new flight, Southwest automatically applies any travel funds you have before asking for another payment method.

If your gift card or travel fund doesn't cover the full cost, you'll need to provide a second payment method (a credit card, debit card, or another gift card) for the remainder. Southwest won't let you split a booking across more than one payment source, so you have to choose which method to use first.

LUV Vouchers and service recovery credits

A LUV Voucher is a form of credit Southwest issues when something goes wrong — a flight cancellation, a long delay, or a customer service issue. It's not money back to your card; it's a voucher code that works like a discount toward a future booking.

When you book a new flight, you can enter the voucher code during checkout, and Southwest will deduct the voucher amount from your total. If the voucher is worth more than the flight, the excess stays in your account as a travel fund. If the flight costs more than the voucher, you pay the difference with a credit card, debit card, or gift card.

LUV Vouchers have an expiration date, usually one year from the date Southwest issued them. Check the voucher itself or your Southwest account to see when yours expires.

Cash and checks at the airport only

Southwest accepts cash and personal checks, but only at airport ticket counters — not online, not through the app, and not over the phone. If you want to pay with cash or check, you have to go to the airport and buy your ticket in person.

This option is rarely used because most people book online in advance. If you're at the airport and need to buy a ticket on the spot, the ticket counter can take cash or a check. Bring a government-issued ID and be prepared to wait while the agent processes the payment.

What you cannot do

Southwest does not take PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or other digital wallets. You cannot pay with cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or money order. You cannot use a prepaid card that isn't a Southwest gift card, and you cannot pay with a card from a bank outside the United States (though some international cards with US billing addresses may work — call Southwest to ask).

You also cannot split a single booking across multiple payment methods. If you have a gift card and a credit card, you must choose one. If the gift card doesn't cover the full cost, you add a second payment method, but Southwest processes it as a single transaction, not two separate ones.

How to change your payment method after booking

If you've already booked a flight and want to change the payment method, you can't do it directly. Instead, you have to cancel the booking and rebook with a different payment method. Southwest will refund the original payment to the card you used, and you'll pay for the new booking with whatever method you choose.

The exception is if you have a travel fund or LUV Voucher. You can add these to an existing booking by logging into your account, finding the reservation, and explore the credit at checkout. This doesn't change the original payment method — it just reduces what you owe on the card you already provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a prepaid card like a Visa gift card?

Yes, as long as it's a standard prepaid card from Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. It works the same way as a debit card. Southwest gift cards are different — those are specific to Southwest and work as described above.

What happens if my payment is declined at checkout?

Southwest will show an error message and won't complete the booking. Check that your card number, expiration date, and CVV are correct, and that your billing address matches your bank's records. If the problem persists, contact your card issuer to confirm the card is active and has sufficient funds.

Can I use someone else's card to pay for my ticket?

Yes. The card doesn't have to be in your name. However, the billing address on the card must match the address on file with the card issuer, and the cardholder may need to verify the transaction with their bank if it's flagged as unusual.

Do I have to pay the full ticket price upfront, or can I pay in installments?

Southwest requires full payment at the time of booking. There is no installment plan or layaway option. You pay the entire ticket price, taxes, and fees all at once.

What if I lose my Southwest gift card after I buy it?

Contact Southwest customer service with the gift card number and proof of purchase. Southwest can freeze the card and issue a replacement, but the process may take several days. Keep your gift card receipt in case this happens.