What exactly is the SOUTHWEST* charge on my statement?

The SOUTHWEST* charge is Southwest Airlines' billing descriptor that appears on your bank or credit card statement when you purchase a flight, add-on service, or Rapid Rewards points through Southwest's payment system.

Why does the charge say SOUTHWEST* instead of Southwest Airlines?

Banks and card networks truncate merchant names to fit statement character limits. SOUTHWEST* is the shortened billing name Southwest Airlines uses, and the asterisk typically separates the merchant name from a transaction code or route identifier.

Can I get a refund on a SOUTHWEST* charge?

Yes — Southwest Airlines has a generous refund policy. Wanna Get Away fares are refunded as travel credits, while Business Select and Anytime fares are fully refundable to your original payment method. Visit southwest.com or call 1-800-435-9792 to request a refund.

How do I cancel a Southwest Airlines booking tied to this charge?

Log into your account at southwest.com, navigate to 'My Trips,' select the booking, and choose 'Cancel Flight.' You can also cancel through the Southwest mobile app or by calling customer service at 1-800-435-9792.

How do I stop future SOUTHWEST* charges from appearing?

To prevent future charges, cancel any upcoming Southwest Airlines bookings, remove your saved payment method from your Southwest account profile, and disable any auto-purchased add-ons like EarlyBird Check-In linked to your account.

Home›Browse Charges›Travel›SOUTHWEST*

SOUTHWEST* Charge (What It Is + Is It Legit?)

✓ Legitimate

The "SOUTHWEST*" charge is from Southwest Airlines. Southwest Airlines flight ticket.

🌍 US🕐 7 min read📅 Updated May 22, 2026

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines flight ticket.

SOUTHWEST*

Why this shows on your statement

Southwest Airlines uses the truncated descriptor "SOUTHWEST*" on bank statements because major airlines are required to submit transactions through standardized payment processing systems that enforce strict character limits on merchant identifiers. The asterisk following "SOUTHWEST" is a common formatting convention used by payment networks like Visa and Mastercard to signal that additional transaction detail, such as a confirmation number or route code, may follow but has been cut off due to those character restrictions. If you recently purchased a flight through Southwest Airlines' website, app, or customer service line and see "SOUTHWEST*" on your statement, this charge is almost certainly your airline ticket purchase.

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What should you do?

Verify Your Southwest Booking

Log in to your Southwest Airlines account at southwest.com and navigate to your upcoming trips or booking history to confirm the SOUTHWEST* charge matches a flight ticket you purchased, including the fare amount and travel dates.

Check Your Rapid Rewards Account

Visit southwest.com and review your Rapid Rewards account activity to see if points were earned for the transaction, which can help confirm the SOUTHWEST* charge is tied to your account and not an unauthorized booking.

Review Your Travel Itinerary

Cross-reference the SOUTHWEST* charge amount on your bank statement with your confirmation email from Southwest Airlines, as flight ticket prices should match exactly including any taxes and fees collected at the time of booking.

Manage or Cancel Your Southwest Booking

If you need to modify or cancel the flight associated with the SOUTHWEST* charge, go to southwest.com/account to manage your reservation, and keep in mind Southwest Airlines allows cancellations for travel credit in most fare categories.

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Should you be worried?

No, this is a legitimate charge from Southwest Airlines. However, if you did not authorize this charge or cancelled your subscription, you may be eligible for a refund.

Is the SOUTHWEST* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?

If you see SOUTHWEST* on your bank or credit card statement, it is almost certainly a legitimate charge from Southwest Airlines. This descriptor appears when Southwest processes payments for flights, upgrades, or travel-related purchases through their billing system. However, if you don't recall booking a trip, it's worth investigating further before assuming fraud.

You or a family member recently booked a Southwest Airlines flight online or via the app
You purchased EarlyBird Check-In, upgraded boarding, or in-flight extras through Southwest
You redeemed or purchased Southwest Rapid Rewards points that triggered a billing event
A travel agent or third-party service booked a Southwest Airlines ticket on your behalf

How to Verify the SOUTHWEST* Charge

1
Check your Southwest Airlines account
Log into your account at southwest.com and review your upcoming trips and purchase history. Any recent flight bookings or add-ons will be listed there with matching amounts.
2
Search your email for Southwest receipts
Look for confirmation emails from Southwest Airlines sent to your inbox or spam folder. Search for terms like 'Southwest booking confirmation' or 'noreply@southwest.com' to locate matching receipts.
3
Check with household members
Ask family members or travel companions whether they used your card to book a Southwest Airlines flight. Shared cards are a common reason for unexpected SOUTHWEST* charges.
4
Review Southwest Rapid Rewards activity
If you are a Rapid Rewards member, check your account for any recent point purchases or companion pass transactions that may have triggered the SOUTHWEST* charge.
5
Contact your bank
If you still cannot identify the SOUTHWEST* charge, call the number on the back of your card. Your bank can provide the exact transaction date and last four digits of the card used to help you trace it.

How to Dispute a SOUTHWEST* Charge

1
Act within 60 days
Report any unauthorized SOUTHWEST* charge to your bank or card issuer within 60 days of the statement date to remain eligible for a chargeback under federal consumer protection rules.
2
Contact Southwest Airlines first
Call Southwest Airlines customer service at 1-800-435-9792 or visit southwest.com to report the issue. Southwest may resolve refunds or errors directly and faster than a bank dispute.
3
File a chargeback with your bank
If Southwest Airlines cannot resolve the issue, contact your card issuer to formally dispute the SOUTHWEST* charge. Provide your confirmation number, transaction date, and any email correspondence as evidence.
4
Request a new card if fraud is confirmed
If the SOUTHWEST* charge is confirmed as fraudulent and your card details were compromised, ask your bank to cancel the card and issue a replacement to prevent further unauthorized transactions.

Tips for Managing Southwest Airlines Charges

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Set up bank alerts to get notified instantly when a SOUTHWEST* charge hits your account.

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Always save your Southwest Airlines booking confirmation email until the charge clears your statement.

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Keep your Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards account secured with a strong, unique password to prevent unauthorized bookings.

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Note that EarlyBird Check-In charges from Southwest may appear days after your original booking date.

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Use a credit card (not debit) for Southwest purchases — credit cards offer stronger fraud dispute protections.

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Use WhatIsThisCharge.net to identify related charges from Southwest Airlines or similar travel merchants.

ℹ️ Note

In most cases, a SOUTHWEST* charge is simply Southwest Airlines billing you for a flight, EarlyBird Check-In, or travel add-on you recently purchased — checking your email for a booking confirmation is usually all it takes to put your mind at ease.