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

Southwest Airlines uses the truncated descriptor "SOUTHWEST*" on bank statements because payment card networks like Visa and Mastercard impose strict character limits on merchant descriptors, typically capping them at 22-25 characters, which forces the airline to shorten its name during transaction processing. The asterisk following "SOUTHWEST" is a common formatting convention used by Southwest Airlines' payment processing systems to separate the merchant name from any additional transaction details, such as a confirmation number or booking reference, that may follow in the full descriptor string. If you recently booked a flight directly through Southwest Airlines' website or app, this charge almost certainly reflects that ticket purchase.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions