Do you have a Southwest Airlines gift card burning a hole in your pocket, just waiting to whisk you away on your next adventure? Excellent! You're in for a treat, because using a Southwest gift card for air travel is generally a straightforward process. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step, ensuring a smooth and successful booking experience.
Let's turn that gift card into a tangible journey!
How Do You Use a Southwest Airlines Gift Card? A Step-by-Step Guide to Flying Free (or Almost Free!)
Using your Southwest Airlines gift card is primarily done online, though you do have other options. Follow these steps to redeem your gift card and book your next flight:
Step 1: Gather Your Gift Card Information and Get Ready to Fly!
Before you even think about flights, make sure you have your gift card readily available. This might seem obvious, but you'll need two crucial pieces of information:
The 16-Digit Gift Card Number: This is the primary identifier for your gift card. It's usually found on the back of a physical card or in the email for an e-gift card.
The 4-Digit Security Code (PIN): This acts like a security measure, ensuring only you can use the card. It's often found under a scratch-off panel on physical cards or clearly stated in your e-gift card email.
Pro Tip: If you have an e-gift card, consider copying and pasting the numbers directly to avoid any typos during the redemption process.
Step 2: Navigate to the Southwest Airlines Website
The most common and convenient way to use your Southwest gift card is through their official website.
Open your preferred web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc.).
Go to the Southwest Airlines website: Type
www.southwest.cominto your address bar and hit enter.
Step 3: Search for Your Desired Flight
Now comes the fun part – finding where your gift card will take you!
Sub-heading: Entering Your Flight Details
On the Southwest.com homepage, you'll see the flight search widget.
Enter your "Depart" city and "Arrive" city.
Select your "Departure date" and "Return date" (if booking a round trip).
Choose the number of "Passengers" for your trip.
Click the "Search" button.
Sub-heading: Selecting Your Flight and Fare
Browse through the available flights and fares that match your search criteria. Southwest is known for its "Wanna Get Away," "Anytime," and "Business Select" fares, each offering different levels of flexibility and benefits.
Select the flight(s) that best suit your travel plans and budget.
Click "Continue" to proceed to the passenger and payment information page.
Step 4: Proceed to the Payment Page
After selecting your flights and entering passenger information (names, birth dates, etc.), you'll arrive at the payment section. This is where your gift card takes center stage!
Sub-heading: Locating the Gift Card Option
Scroll down to the "Payment" section of the checkout page.
Look for an option that says "Southwest gift card" or "Apply Gift Cards." This will usually be a checkbox or a clickable link.
Sub-heading: Entering Your Gift Card Details
Click on the "Southwest gift card" option.
Two fields will appear:
"Gift Card Number": Enter your 16-digit gift card number here.
"Security Code": Enter your 4-digit security code here.
Click "Apply" or "Add Gift Card."
Important Note on Multiple Gift Cards: Southwest Airlines allows you to use up to three Southwest gift cards per passenger per reservation. If your flight cost exceeds the value of three gift cards, you'll need to use two gift cards and then pay the remaining balance with another accepted payment method (like a credit card, PayPal, or Apple Pay).
Step 5: Review Your Balance and Complete Payment
Once you've applied your gift card, the system will deduct its value from your total flight cost.
Sub-heading: Checking the Applied Amount
You'll see an updated total reflecting the gift card's application.
If there's a remaining balance, you can:
Apply another Southwest gift card (up to the three-card limit per passenger).
Choose another payment method (credit card, LUV Voucher, Flight Credit, Apple Pay, PayPal, etc.) to cover the rest.
Sub-heading: Finalizing Your Purchase
Once the full amount is covered, review all your flight details, passenger information, and payment breakdown one last time.
Click the "Purchase" or "Complete Reservation" button to finalize your booking.
You'll receive a confirmation email with your itinerary and confirmation number. Keep this email safe!
Step 6: What Happens if Your Flight is Less Than the Gift Card Value?
Don't worry, you don't lose the remaining balance!
If your flight costs less than the value of your Southwest gift card, the remaining balance will stay on the original gift card. You can use this remaining balance for future Southwest Airlines purchases until it's depleted.
Step 7: What Happens if You Cancel a Flight Paid with a Gift Card?
Southwest has a generous cancellation policy, and gift cards are no exception.
If you cancel a flight purchased with a Southwest gift card at least 10 minutes prior to departure, the funds will be held under the confirmation number as a flight credit or Transferable Flight Credit.
For reservations purchased with a gift card and canceled on or after August 9, 2024, any funds remaining will be held as a Transferable Flight Credit regardless of the fare purchased. This credit can then be used for future travel.
If your gift card was used to pay for a reservation with more than one passenger, any remaining funds after cancellation will be held for each passenger as a flight credit or Transferable Flight Credit, depending on how the gift card was applied to their specific ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Southwest Airlines Gift Cards
Here are 10 common "How to" questions about Southwest Airlines gift cards, along with their quick answers:
How to check my Southwest Airlines gift card balance?
You can check your Southwest Airlines gift card balance directly on the Southwest.com website by visiting their "Check Gift Card Balance" page and entering your card number and security code. You can also call Southwest Airlines at 1-866-393-2081.
How to use multiple Southwest gift cards for one flight?
You can use a maximum of three Southwest gift cards per passenger per reservation. If you have more than three, you'll need to use other accepted payment methods for the remaining balance or consider breaking your trip into one-way segments if that helps with gift card utilization for different legs.
How to buy a Southwest Airlines gift card?
Southwest Airlines gift cards can be purchased on Southwest.com, through the Southwest Airlines mobile app, or at approved retail locations. You can also buy them from various online gift card retailers.
How to use a Southwest gift card for EarlyBird Check-In or baggage fees?
Southwest gift cards cannot be used for optional travel charges such as EarlyBird Check-In, Pet Fares, Unaccompanied Minor service charges, or Upgraded Boarding at the airport. They are primarily for air travel and associated taxes/fees.
How to use a Southwest gift card for international flights?
Yes, you can use a Southwest gift card for international flights offered by Southwest Airlines, as long as the flight is booked directly through Southwest.com, their mobile apps, or by phone.
How to use a Southwest gift card for Southwest Vacations packages?
Southwest gift cards are not valid for the purchase of Southwest Vacations packages (which often include hotels, rental cars, etc.). You can only use them for the flight portion when booked directly with Southwest Airlines.
How to redeem a Southwest gift card over the phone or at the airport?
You can redeem your Southwest gift card by calling Southwest Airlines Reservations at 1-800-435-9792 (1-800-I-FLY-SWA) or by presenting it at a Southwest Airlines ticket counter location.
How to replace a lost or stolen Southwest gift card?
Unfortunately, Southwest Airlines gift cards are generally not replaceable if lost, stolen, or destroyed. Treat them like cash.
How to know if a Southwest gift card expires?
Southwest Airlines gift cards do not expire and do not have dormancy fees. The balance remains on the card until it is fully used.
How to combine multiple Southwest gift cards into one?
Southwest Airlines does not offer a direct way to combine multiple gift cards into a single card or account balance. However, some users have found a workaround: book a refundable flight with multiple gift cards, then cancel the flight. The combined amount may then be issued as a single flight credit or transferable flight credit, depending on the fare and cancellation date, which can then be used for future travel. This method comes with some nuances and should be done with careful understanding of Southwest's flight credit policies.
