How to check your Southwest Airlines gift card balance online

Southwest Airlines lets you check your gift card balance through their website without needing to call or visit an airport. Go to southwest.com, scroll to the bottom of the page, and look for "Gift Cards" in the footer menu. Click "Check Gift Card Balance," enter your 16-digit gift card number and the 4-digit PIN (printed on the back of the card), then click "Check Balance." The system will show your remaining balance immediately.

If you don't have the PIN, you can still find it on the back of your physical gift card — it's the four digits printed separately from the card number. If the card is damaged or the PIN is illegible, contact Southwest Airlines directly at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) and have your gift card number ready. A representative can look up your balance and help you recover a lost PIN.

The online balance checker works 24 hours a day. Your balance updates in real time after each flight purchase, so you can check it anytime to see what you have left to spend.

Key Takeaways

  • You can check your Southwest gift card balance online at southwest.com without creating an account or calling customer service.
  • You need your 16-digit card number and 4-digit PIN, both printed on the physical card, to use the online balance checker.
  • If your PIN is missing or illegible, Southwest customer service can look up your balance by card number alone.
  • Your balance updates immediately after each purchase, so the online checker always shows your current amount.
  • Southwest gift card balances do not expire, so you can use your card whenever you are ready to book a flight.

What happens when you use your gift card to book a flight

When you book a flight on southwest.com, you can enter your gift card number at checkout just like you would a credit card. Southwest will charge the full flight cost to your gift card first. If your balance is lower than the total cost, the system will ask you to pay the difference with another payment method — Southwest does not split payments between a gift card and a credit card during checkout.

After your purchase, your gift card balance decreases by the amount charged. You can check your new balance immediately using the online balance checker. If you booked a flight and the charge did not go through, contact Southwest to confirm whether the transaction was processed — sometimes a failed payment still deducts from your balance temporarily, and the amount is returned within a few business days.

Using your gift card for taxes, fees, and add-ons

Your Southwest gift card covers the full ticket price, including base fare, taxes, and government fees. It also covers optional add-ons like Early Bird Check-In, seat selections, and baggage fees if you choose to purchase them during booking.

If you have a remaining balance after booking, you can use it toward future flights. The balance never expires, so you can hold onto it for months or years and use it whenever you book your next trip. There is no monthly maintenance fee or penalty for not using your gift card.

If your gift card balance shows zero or is missing

If you check your balance and see zero dollars, your card may have been used in a previous purchase you did not make, or the balance may have been transferred. Contact Southwest customer service at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA with your card number and ask them to review the transaction history. They can tell you when and where the balance was spent.

If you believe your gift card was used fraudulently or if someone else had access to your card number and PIN, report it to Southwest immediately. The airline can flag the card and investigate the charge. If the card was physically lost or stolen, contact Southwest as soon as you notice it is missing — they may be able to freeze the balance or issue a replacement card with the same value.

Gift cards purchased from third-party retailers (not directly from Southwest) occasionally arrive with a zero balance due to a processing error. If this happens, keep your receipt and contact the retailer where you bought the card. They can usually reissue the card or refund your purchase.

Transferring or gifting your balance to someone else

Southwest does not allow you to transfer a gift card balance to another person's account or to another gift card number. The balance is tied to the specific card number and PIN you received.

If you want to give your remaining balance to someone else, you have two options: give them the physical gift card with the card number and PIN, or use the balance yourself to purchase a flight ticket and gift that ticket to them instead. When you purchase a ticket with your gift card, you can name any passenger on the reservation, and Southwest will email the ticket details to whatever email address you provide.

Gift card balance and refunds

If you cancel a flight booked with your gift card, Southwest will refund the ticket cost back to your gift card as a credit. The refund appears in your balance within one to two business days. You can then use that credit toward a new flight or hold it indefinitely.

If you purchased a gift card and want to return it for a refund, the policy depends on where you bought it. Gift cards purchased directly from Southwest are non-refundable. Gift cards bought from a retailer like Target or Best Buy may be returnable under that retailer's return policy — check your receipt or contact the store where you purchased it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my gift card balance without the PIN?

The online balance checker requires both your card number and PIN. If you have lost the PIN, call Southwest at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA and a representative can look up your balance using only the card number.

Do Southwest gift card balances expire?

No. Your gift card balance never expires and does not decrease over time. You can use it whenever you book a flight, even if years pass between purchases.

What if my gift card balance is less than the flight I want to book?

You can use your gift card to pay part of the ticket cost, then pay the remaining amount with a credit card or debit card. However, Southwest requires you to complete this in two separate transactions — you cannot split a single booking between your gift card and another payment method at checkout.

Can I use my gift card balance to buy gift cards for other people?

No. You can only use your gift card balance to purchase flights or flight-related add-ons. To give someone else a Southwest gift card, you must purchase a new gift card from Southwest or an authorized retailer.

How long does it take for my balance to update after I book a flight?

Your balance updates immediately after your purchase is processed. You can check it right away using the online balance checker at southwest.com.