Southwest Airlines has long been a favorite airline of frequently flying families, and with good reason. With the Oakland Airport just 12 minutes from my front door, my family is one of them. We fly on Southwest a lot.
Southwest has historically had different rules and practices than other airlines, so it could sometimes trip up inexperienced flyers, especially travelers with kids. In the last couple of years, it changed even more of its rules and systems, causing some additional opportunities for traveler confusion.
But don't let any of that worry you! After you finish reading this article, I promise you will be fully prepared for your next Southwest Airlines flight. Southwest still has several unique perks that can be of great value for family travelers. You just need to know how to take advantage of all that the airline offers and know where to avoid a few potential traps for the unwary.
Our family has taken hundreds (yes, literally hundreds!) of Southwest flights with our kids at every age and stage, including more than a dozen since all the 2025-2026 changes fully rolled out. We've flown through nearly every single airport Southwest serves most: Dallas Love, Denver, Baltimore, Las Vegas, Chicago Midway, Nashville, and many more. We've been on Southwest flights to Hawaii as well as some of Southwest's international routes. As you might guess, we have learned many tricks along the way.
Here are all the details you need to know to make the most of Southwest's policies for your family too. Whether you are flying with a lap child on Southwest, with young kids in their own seats, or with older tweens and teens, you can make your next family trip aboard Southwest a breeze.
What You Need to Know About Flying Southwest Airlines with Kids
1) How to make sure your family sits together on Southwest.
One of the biggest pain points for travelers with kids is the struggle of seating. Depending on the ages or special needs of your children, sitting together is simply a necessity for many family travelers.
Southwest used to have open seating and early family boarding which allowed travelers with young kids to snag seats together for free. But Southwest now charges for seat assignments like everybody else.
What does this mean for families needing to sit together? Southwest says it will endeavor to seat children ages 12 and under with at least one accompanying passenger ages 13 and up "to the extent practicable and at no additional cost."
But that's not a guarantee, and families are definitely being separated in some instances if they haven't paid for seat assignments. I personally was seated next to someone else's 10 year old just a couple of months ago. Reddit and Southwest-focused Facebook groups are filled with stories of other families where kids and parents have been seated apart.
If sitting together is a must-have, I do not recommend leaving this to chance. There are three ways that families can all but guarantee seats together (absent an equipment swap or missed flight/rebooking situation, of course):
- Carry a Southwest credit card that allows you to select seats for free at the time of booking (either the Priority or the Performance Business card).
- Book a fare class that includes a seat assignment (Choice or higher - not Basic).
- Pay for an a la carte seat assignment (but I almost never recommend this because it's often as expensive or more expensive than #2).
Whether you choose the first or the second option depends on how often you fly Southwest and how big your family is. If you are a family of four or more flying on a single roundtrip vacation on Southwest, the first options is, perhaps surprisingly, the most economical. Here's the math:
Choice fares are at least $30 more expensive each way than a Basic fare. Four family members x 2 one ways x $30 = $240. The annual fee on the Southwest Priority credit card is $229, meaning the card more than pays for itself with its seat assignment perk alone compared to upgrading the whole family to Choice fares.
sit together & check bags for less!
Best Credit Card for Southwest Family Travelers
I highly recommend that families flying Southwest carry the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card. This card allows the cardmember and everyone booked on the same reservation to select an advanced seat assignment (even on the cheapest Basic fares) plus check a bag of up to 50 pounds. The card more than pays for itself for a family of four on a single roundtrip itinerary!
For a very limited time, the card has a higher-than-usual signup bonus of 90,000 Rapid Rewards points (after spending $3000 in 3 months) - worth roughly $1100 in free travel aboard Southwest - also well worth its $229 annual fee.
Card Perks at a Glance:
- Advance seat selection.
- Free checked bag per person.
- Guaranteed Group 5 or better boarding.
- Earn 4x points per $1 spent on Southwest direct purchases.
- Earn 2x points per $1 spent on gas stations & restaurants.
- Earn 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- 7,500 bonus points on renewal each anniversary year.
2) Know which fare type is best for travelers with kids to buy.
I've already alluded to some of Southwest's different fare classes because of the seat assignment question. But more generally, what fare class should families buy when booking Southwest?
Personally, I don't think the vast majority of families will have any use for the two most expensive fare classes - Choice Extra or Choice Preferred. The real question is whether to buy the cheapest Basic fares or the next step up from that - Choice.
If you don't have a Southwest credit card that entitles you to advance seat selection (Priority or Performance Business), I'd strongly recommend buying Choice so you can guarantee seating together as a family.
If you have one of the cheaper Southwest credit cards (Premier, Plus, Premier Business) that allow you to select a seat at 48 hours in advance but not at booking, it's a closer call. If traveling during a peak time like Christmas break, I'd probably also still recommend Choice. I'd only chance it if you have older kids (where sitting together is nice to have but not absolutely essential) or if you are traveling at a lower demand time.
If you have a Priority or Performance Business card, however, you can realistically book Basic fares the vast majority of the time because seating is taken care of. The only time in which the upgrade to Choice over Basic might be worth it for a Priority or Performance Business cardholder is if you are booking a trip very far in advance with cash. Why? Because if you have to cancel a Basic fare, the credit you get is only valid 6 months from the original booking date. If you booked that trip more than 6 months in advance and later have to cancel the week of your trip (which happens - kids get sick!), the credit will already be expired and forfeited.
Choice fares, in contrast, give you a 12 month window to rebook and use a flight credit. An average traveling family might find that timeline for rescheduling a trip more realistic.
(Note: The same concern does not arise with Rapid Rewards points bookings, which are completely flexible since there is no expiring fare credit at all. If you cancel a trip booked with points, those points simply return to your account for later use anytime for free.)
For an even deeper dive into the fare class question, check out my guide to which Southwest fare type to buy.
3) You can minimize the impact of Southwest's new checked bag fees.
For years, Southwest touted the tagline "Bags Fly Free" - remaining the last airline holding out and still offering free checked bags. That made it a favorite of families who often found it too difficult to travel with everything they needed in carryon bags, especially with little ones who can require a lot of gear.
In 2025, the airline reversed course and begin charging for bags like everybody else. But that doesn't mean there aren't some ways to save money on checked bags with Southwest.
The easiest way for most passengers to pay a lot less is to hold a Southwest co-branded credit card (notice a trend here?). All Southwest cards entitle the cardholder to one free checked bag of up to 50 pounds on each flight. This benefit extends to the cardholder and anyone else booked on the same reservation.
Again, this means the credit cards can often pay for themselves when compared to paying checked bag fees a la carte (now up to $45 for the first bag each way!).
Some airlines require that you book the flight with your co-branded airline credit card to get a free bag benefit, but Southwest doesn't even do that. As long as a Southwest card is linked to your Rapid Rewards account number, you get the benefit even if you book a flight with a different card.
One trap to watch for: free bags only extend to the primary cardholder and anyone booked on the same reservation as that person. So if you split your reservation up, some family members will not be entitled to a bag. Book carefully!
If you do take advantage of a credit card's bag benefit, be aware that lap children do not get a baggage allowance of their own. But checked strollers and car seats do not count - those items always fly free no matter what.
4) Plan for Southwest's special rules for lap children.
Speaking of lap children, if you have a baby or toddler under the age of 2, Southwest has some special rules and practices you need to plan for. The one that trips family travelers up most (and that is less family-friendly than competing airlines in my opinion) is its lap child ID requirement. Southwest is the only U.S. airline that requires you to show a birth certificate for every lap child.
This rule applies no matter what the age of your lap child and even for domestic flights. If you have flown another airline with a lap baby, chances are pretty good you would not have been asked for proof of age unless the child looked to be nearing the age of 2. Not so with Southwest. Even if you obviously have a newborn who would never be mistaken for a toddler nearing the age cutoff, pack that birth certificate!
Related: Tips for Flying with a Lap Todder
In the past, the airline sometimes accepted hospital discharge papers or vaccination records from your child's pediatrician, but Southwest's official rules say that a birth certificate, passport, or government ID are now the only documents it will accept (either the original or physical photocopy - no digital screenshots). Call the airline in advance if you find yourself needing to fly with an infant before you can get your hands on a birth certificate.
In order to board a Southwest flight with a lap child, you also need to obtain what is called a boarding verification document (BVD). This document is similar to a boarding pass and confirms that the child has been age verified.
In years past, you used to only be able to get document at the ticket counter or kiosks, adding an extra step that took valuable time for family travelers. This feature has now been added to the Southwest app, so you can skip the counter and go right to security as long as you've added the lap child to your reservation in advance. You can do this at the time of booking for paid reservations or by calling Southwest after booking a points reservation.
5) What Southwest has to entertain your kids: In-Flight Entertainment & Wi-Fi.
Keeping kids entertained on planes is essential for a less stressful flight for parents. While we try in my family to pack a few tech-free entertainment options for our kids, electronic devices are also a crucial part of our strategy for passing the time.
Southwest's Wi-Fi and in-flight entertainment options have really come a long way. The airline pioneered cheap Wi-Fi and free messaging apps, and finally launched totally free Wi-Fi earlier this year. The only hitch is that you have to have a Rapid Rewards account to access the system (but that's free to join). Just be sure that your kids have their own frequent flyer accounts so that everyone in the family can access it!
Southwest also has live streaming TV channels as well as in-flight movie options, all of which are also free to access. The movies usually include a wide variety of new releases with plenty of kid-friendly G and PG choices.
The most important thing to know about all of these systems: you must have your own device! Southwest does not have any seat back screens like some airlines. If you have kids too little to have their own devices, you may want to pack an extra one like an old phone or tablet or you may find your own phone getting commandeered. One other important tip: be sure to bring your own headphones for everyone in the family as well.
Trips with Tykes Pro tip
In-flight entertainment systems can occasionally break no matter what the airline, so be sure to have a few shows or games downloaded locally to your kids' devices just in case.
Years ago, in order to access movies on a smartphone or tablet, you had to first download the Southwest app on your device before the flight. Thankfully, this step is no longer needed (but I recommend having the Southwest app anyway for all its other uses). Just go to southwestwifi.com in your browser of choice to access all of the in-flight entertainment.
6) Southwest has minimal food, so pack lots of snacks.
There are a lot of things that will make kids cranky when you fly, but don't let hunger be one of the causes. Air travel is hectic, and I never rely on being able to have time to buy food at the airport. Packing meals and snacks is simply a must when you have kids, especially if they are picky and might not like options available on planes and in airports.
Related: 50 Kid-Friendly Snacks to Pack for Airplanes
It's even more important to bring your own food though when you fly Southwest because of the airline's limited food choices. Don't expect a sandwich or a hot meal for purchase like many other airlines have. Southwest has only pre-packaged snacks.
The snack options on Southwest have changed several times in the last couple of years, so if you haven't flown Southwest recently, you may see something new. No more pretzels or snack mix (and if you were planning for peanuts, those were discontinued even before that due to allergies).
In 2026, the two most common offerings are Maui onion flavored pretzel sticks and cinnamon graham cracker bites (usually on morning flights only). Very long flights may also serve snack packs of Oreo cookies too. Flight attendants usually let you have more than one of each if you ask, but the snacks won't be enough for most kids on anything but the shorter haul flights.
If you are in Southwest's extra legroom seats, you'll also be offered pistachios and/or Mexican wedding cookies - both delicious but maybe not a favorite for younger picky eaters.
If you are bound for Hawaii on Southwest Airlines, there are additional food options on these flights (but still not enough to amount to a full meal). See my Southwest Hawaii flight guide for additional details and photos.
7) Maximize Southwest's Rapid Rewards loyalty program - it still rocks for family travelers.
Have you ever collected airline miles for years only to find them next to impossible to redeem at a decent rate when you actually want to use them? Or have you had trouble finding enough award tickets for a family of four or more on a single flight?
You'll have no such problems with Southwest. If there are seats available for purchase with cash, you can redeem your Southwest Rapid Rewards points for them. This anytime availability still makes Southwest's frequent flyer program the most practical and easy to use for traveling families - even after all the airline's changes in the last couple of years.
So be sure to sign you and your kids up for Rapid Rewards accounts the very first time you plan to fly Southwest. It takes seconds. You'll accrue miles you can actually use. Points on Southwest also never expire, so there's not another date to track.
And be sure you are doing all you can to earn points for your family's next trip. If you are applying for one of the Southwest credit cards, you can secure a big signup bonus that can help add to your Rapid Rewards balance. The airline also runs occasional promotions that can help points add up faster.
8) Southwest's unaccompanied minor program is still one of the best (and least expensive).
Speaking of money-saving tricks, Southwest has one more that families with older kids need to take note of. If your child is ready to fly as an unaccompanied minor, Southwest's policies are some of the best.
In 2026, Southwest charges $100 each way, while most other airlines charge $150. Southwest only charges, however, for 5-11 year olds. Kids who are 12 and up are free to travel without the service. Other airlines require paid supervision until kids turn 15, even if they don't need it.
My daughter flew on Southwest for her first experience as an unaccompanied minor when she was 10. Her brother did it a few years later at the same age. Both went down to Southern California for a weekend with their uncle. The gate agents and flight attendants took great care of our kids, and I was happy the service didn't cost an arm and a leg for such a short trip.
Now that my daughter is over the age limit, I'm also happy I no longer have to pay to use the service when she needs to travel solo or supervising her younger brother in the future. Since we fly so much and she's independent and savvy, I'm totally ok with letting her fly solo as a teen without help.
9) Southwest can save your family money when fares drop.
Last but certainly not least is my favorite and most-used feature of traveling with Southwest. I've already mentioned Southwest's flexibility that allows you to cancel flights with no penalty and claim a fare credit for a future flight. But Southwest will also give you a credit back when a flight you already have booked drops in price. For families buying 3, 4, or more tickets, even small per ticket savings can really add up.
This isn't automatic - you have to call or rebook your flight online at a lower rate yourself. But if you watch for Southwest fare sales and monitor your existing reservations regularly, you can often save your family some real money on future travel.
If you have booked a Choice fare or higher, the process is easy. You simply select "change flight" when logged into your Southwest account and follow the prompts to rebook exactly the same flight again. The resulting flight credit will be automatically linked to your Rapid Rewards account (or points will be refunded).
If you have booked a Basic fare, those technically aren't changeable. But all hope is not lost. Basic fares can be canceled, so what you do is first cancel the flight. After banking the fare credit (or points), you then immediately rebook the same flight, using the fare credit as the method of payment. The difference in price between the original higher-priced booking and the new reduced-price one will remain as a fare credit in your account for future use, subject to expiration rules.
It may sound a little complicated, but once you do it a few times, it's all super quick. I regularly cancel and rebook flights in a matter of a minute or two now. Using this method regularly has saved my family 61,500 points (over $800 worth of value) on Southwest flights from just January to August 2026 - and many hundreds of thousands of points over the years.
Final Thoughts
Despite all of the recent changes with Southwest, I still think it does things better for family travelers. As long as you understand the new rules, you won't get tripped up. And if you know where Southwest's remaining unique rules have special benefits for families, you can really take advantage - often saving serious money and time in the process.
Be sure to check out Southwest's Children & Family Travel section on its website for the latest information and to read the fine print for yourself. And please share your tips for flying Southwest with family in the comments!
Disclosure: I was a paid Southwest Airlines #SouthwestStorytellers brand ambassador in 2018. I originally published this post back in 2014 before I had any relationship with the airline and have updated it multiple times independent of that relationship. As always, all opinions are my own.
Andrea, Passports And Pushchairs says
I'm so glad you posted about the birth certificate, for two reasons - one, people don't realize it for kids of all ages, and two, people never believe you don't need one for other airlines 🙂
Amanda says
I called a couple years ago to see what I'd need to have for my son they told me birth certificate and shot records. Always helps to call ahead, I asked millions of questions and the politely answered them all.
Frank says
2) Birth certificates are required for ALL lap children.
Southwest is the only airline that requires you to show a birth certificate for your lap child, no matter what his or her age. So even if you obviously have a newborn who would never be mistaken for a toddler nearing the two year cutoff, pack that birth certificate!
The Southwest employees lied when they said that it is an FAA requirement that all children regardless of age must show a birth certificate. According to their own web site this is not true. It is not an FAA requirement it is unique to Southwest. One of the Southwest Airline counter personnel at SFO seemed to derive great joy in making a young mother’s travel experience a miserable as possible starting with check-in! Until a more rational supervisor was requested, after tears and 30 minutes of waiting and verbal abuse by an officious check-in counter individual, the young mother was ready to cancel all plans to fly Southwest Airlines on a short hop from SFO to San Diego. The infant in question was five months old. After witnessing this incident I would avoid Southwest like the plague.
Liz says
@Frank,
I had the opposite experience. I watched a mom try to check in with no documents who was extremely rude and demanding, literally screaming at the check-in agent who was trying to explain that it's actually for the child's safety. I asked the other gate agent, who came to rescue me from waiting behind this woman who actually ran to jump in front of me at the counter, what the problem was. He explained it's actually to help prevent child abductions and trafficking. Even if the person is a parent with legit documents, at least it's in the system for tracking in case they aren't supposed to have the child. It also gives the agent a chance to check the system for any flags or alerts. As the child of a messy custody-fight divorce, I was glad to see how much Southwest cares about kids. It's not just because they're trying to squeeze more money out of you the day after your kid turns 2.
I'm sorry you saw the opposite, but I love Southwest and will never fly another airline if I have the choice. I would sincerely encourage you to give them another chance.
fromheretotherewithkids.com says
This is a fabulous post. I used to fly Southwest a ton when I lived in the USA. Read this before you go.
I love your blog and read all of your posts. You're like me but in the US 🙂
tripswithtykes says
Thanks for the reblog. Love your site as well!
fromheretotherewithkids.com says
Would you be up for a quick chat? Would love to talk to a fellow traveler.
tripswithtykes says
Sure! Email me offline at tripswithtykes@gmail.com and we can set something up.
Erik Hanson (@erikmhanson) says
Great post! One small correction: Southwest allows you to check a stroller and a car seat in addition to your two bag allowance.
tripswithtykes says
Eric - thanks so much for the information. Looks like Southwest has changed its policies since I last did my research. This is definitely good news for the many parents who regularly travel with kids on Southwest. I always thought it was a weird policy anyway! Thanks for helping me keep the blog up to date. I like for even my old posts to have accurately updated information, and I definitely rely on readers to spot things that I can and do miss.
Chlacey1128 says
How was the Oakland to midway trip? I'm planning on bringing my 20 month old on as a lap child, but am getting quit nervous. I may just bite the bullet and buy him a seat.
irene says
There's almost no clues at all about the child fare on southwest's site, so thanks for that bit of intel! I had to call to book the flight, but it was worth $50 off a last minute trip!
tripswithtykes says
Definitely worth checking those child (and also seniors) fares for last minute travel. Glad you saved some money!
Serena says
Thank you so much for this article! Just out of curiousity..... if you decide to try and keep the carseat incase there is an extra seat and don't check it in if theres not room can it count as one of your carry ons or is it to bug? Will it fit in the bins up top?
tripswithtykes says
A car seat would be too big to fit in the overhead bin or under the seat, so you need to clear with the gate agent before you board whether there is an extra seat for it (assuming you haven't bought a seat for your little one). If there is not space, the gate agent will gate check it with a baggage claim tag and you will get it get it back as you deplane right there on the jetway.
amywhitley says
Just an update: we flew Southwest last weekend, and there was a change fee for grabbing an earlier flight (or even trying standby) because we'd booked Wanna Get Away fares. The agent told me those are the only fares which are charged change fees.
tripswithtykes says
Amy - are you sure you weren't charged a fare difference? If you try a same day flight change or standby, those flights are almost always going to cost more than what you paid weeks in advance, so you would have to pay that fare difference (just as with any other airline). Southwest definitely doesn't have "change fees" on any fares (even Wanna Getaway), which are airline fees on top of what the difference in fare with the new flight costs. If the agent told you this, he/she was wrong. This is one of Southwest's big PR talking points, so that really surprises me: https://www.southwest.com/html/air/no-fees.html.
heather says
Hi- we are flying tomorrow with our 7 week old baby and we don't have his birth certificate yet. Will SWA accept other documentation in its place?? Eg. Shot records, birth paperwork from the hospital, etc?
tripswithtykes says
Thanks for commenting. Everything on the Southwest site (https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/family/children-pol.html & https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/family/baby-on-board-pol.html) indicates that a birth certificate is required, but I'd bet that they'd accept birth paperwork from the hospital given the circumstances. My advice would be to call Southwest's customer service line immediately for clarification and to explain the situation and see what they say. Don't leave it for at the airport tomorrow. Good luck!
Anita says
Great Article! I LOVE Southwest for traveling with kids. To answer the above question, I flew Southwest when my daughter was 2 weeks old and they did allow me to use the hospital verification of her birth since we did not have the birth certificate yet. I did call customer service well in advance to arrange this however so when we checked in it seemed to be in the system already and made things very smooth. Hope that helps anyone else with that question.
tripswithtykes says
Thanks for the confirmation, Anita. I suspected as much, but always good to have first-hand experience to confirm! I hate airport surprises...
Sam says
I spoke with a SW representative and he told me any hospital documentation that shows the birthdate works- even immunization records. Thank you for this great post! I was worried about the seating and how we were going to get three seats together when trying to carry on the carseat (in hopes of them having extra seats). This answered that question!
Anonymous says
They accept passports as well. I don't like traveling with my kids birth certificates, so I get them their passports as soon as I have their birth certificates, then take those with me for flights. Southwest accepted the passports without question.
Sandra says
Ah, thank you! We're in an adoption situation and we will have to "live" in the birth state for a while. Knowing the stroller and car seat won't count against us is such a relief. The website is unclear about it. We're checking the stroller and car seat on the way there and if all goes well the infant will fly home in the car seat on the way back! I know we're taking a lot, but I'd rather be comfortable while getting to know my child. Southwest and this article will help!
carley says
I found this extremely helpful. Thanks 🙂
Dina says
Do I need to contact SWA before my flight about my lap child? I couldn't register him when I bought the tickets or is that all handled at the counter when we check in?
tripswithtykes says
Thanks for commenting. No need to contact Southwest in advance about a lap child. It is handled at the counter at check-in where you get a boarding document for him/her. Remember that you MUST have a birth certificate or ID for proof of age on Southwest at the time.
Scott Johnson says
I am about to use Southwest Airlines with my family for the first time and I'm really nervous. I'm traveling with my wife, a 10 year old, and twin 6 year olds and I would like for all of us to sit together if possible. My wife says we should rely on the kindness of strangers to give up their seats so they aren't sitting next to 6 year olds. What would you recommend so that all of us could sit together?
tripswithtykes says
First, don't be nervous! Just be prepared. I wouldn't rely solely on the kindness of strangers with a family of 5 - too many moving pieces. While fellow passengers are usually super-nice on Southwest, there is a limit to what people give up for a middle seat, especially since you are dealing with slightly older kids (the threat of a toddler as a seatmate makes people move more quickly). As long as you check in online at EXACTLY 24 hours before your flight (I'm talking hit refresh every few seconds and have super-fast fingers when your 24 hour window goes live), you should be able to get a boarding group number that is low enough that you can sit together. If you don't want that pressure, pay for early-bird check-in which is $12.50 per person. It all but guarantees you an A boarding group or first few in the B boarding group. This is enough to get seats together. At the very least, you could buy Early Bird for one parent and the two 6 year olds so at least they would be together. Good luck!
Tosalyn says
I read on their website that Southwest will also provide a bag for your stroller for $15. That way it keeps it safe from anything where it is stored.
Frommy says
If you were to do that, maybe next time you fly, you can maybe use a garbage bag for the stroller. I figured it would be a good idea so you wouldn’t have to buy the stroller bag the airline produces. Just thought it would make life easier
rchia says
I found this post very useful. But I still need to make one thing clear and maybe you can help out: if I take my 1 yr son on my lap I don't need to buy or reserver anything before getting to the counter? Just go there on the day of the fight and ask for the BVD?
Thanks a lot.
tripswithtykes says
That is correct - no need to do anything until you go get a BVD at checkin for a lap child on all domestic routes. On international flights with Southwest, however, you need to call in advance to pay required taxes and fees for lap children.
Kari says
Hi, this was very helpful! I am flying alone with a lap child (almost 2) and a 4 year old and am very nervous about the whole bring car seat or not to bring. How much of a hassle would it be to fly with 2 car seats? I would only be guaranteed 1 & hope the flight is not full to grab extra seat for my lap child!
tripswithtykes says
Thanks for coming by to comment! Can you physically transport two car seats when traveling by yourself with two kids? I still haven't been able to master that! Have you considered a CARES harness for the almost two year old? It's really compact and if you aren't able to get an extra seat to use, no harm, no foul - just leave it in your bag. The four year old is old enough that a car seat isn't a necessity (at least on the plane), so that gives you more flexibility. I have a ton of tips and car seat questions answered in my recent 3 part guide to car seats and airplanes - check it out and let me know if it gives you any ideas! https://tripswithtykes.com/2015/06/17/car-seats-on-airplanes-part-1/
Anonymous says
Great article thanks for this!
Patti says
Great article, I did not know of discounted child fares as my grandchildren 7 and 3 have flown for full price since they had to pay when they reached 2, so I contact Southwest directly to book their flights? Their parents will also be coming home for Christmas. I plan to book tickets next week, thanks!
Julie says
Hi! Our 2 year old is flying southwest domestically with his grandparents next week. Do we need to give them some sort of letter of consent to fly? And if so, how official need it be? Thanks!
Sara says
What if I have a 2 week old infant who obviously doesn't have a government issued birth certificate yet ( still in process) can i still travel with the hospital issued birth certificate that has the name of the baby, both parents's name, date, time, and place? Would that be sufficient enough? Thanks
tripswithtykes says
My understanding from several others is that the hospital certificate works just fine, but you should call Southwest to confirm.
Anonymous says
I'm traveling with my 4 year old who has her own ticket, regular fare. Will she need to have her birth certificatr? Thx!
tripswithtykes says
Good question! No, you will not need a birth certificate for a child who has his or her own seat purchased.
Ang says
This has me totally freaking out. In MI you are not required to file for a birth certificate until 1 year. Plus I had a homebirth.... So no hospital records and my midwife does the first 2 months if baby checks. So my LO is like, not a real person because the government and the medical system hasn't validated her as a living being...
We fly SW on the 14th.
Any suggestions? I am flying "alone" with my 3 daughters.
Maybe I can show them the picture of her crowning during birth?
Anonymous says
I don't have a birth certificate yet for my 1 year old and we have flown with him 12+ times. I just bring a print out from our insurance company that has his birthdate. They seem to be fine with anything that's official.
Brittany says
When flying with a lap baby (7 months), am I still only allowed carry-on plus one personal-sized bag, or am I allowed carry-on, personal bag, AND diaper bag?
tripswithtykes says
My understanding (although the Southwest rules are currently not specific on this point) is that you do not get an additional bag allowance with a lap child. I would plan on counting a diaper bag as your "personal item."
Megan says
You should be fine to carry on the diaper bag in addition to your two other bags, I would just make sure that one of them is rather small. For example I carried on my backpack, my diaper bag and a grocery bag with our lunches in it with no problem.
Lindsey H. says
If you have a child that is two, do they have to be in a carseat while sitting in their seat?
tripswithtykes says
Car seats are not required at any age by either FAA or airline rules, but if you have a particularly active 2 year old, a car seat or CARES harness might be a good idea. There have been a few stories of families being kicked off of flights (although not Southwest as far as I know) when they couldn't restrain a tantruming toddler on taxi when seat belts are required. Just a good insurance policy for particularly active kids, in my opinion! Plus, safety too. We always carry our CARES harness with our 2 1/2 year old.
Jeremy says
How do you know what car seats you can or can't use on the plane? we'd rather not check them. Our 3 year old is still using a 3 point harness front facing, our 6 year old uses a highback booster that you thread a shoulder seat belt through.
Jason says
Good article but Southwest Airlines sucks! Horrible customer service and horrible connecting flight times.
CeCe says
Great article... What about formula and water for formula? Can this be carried on?
Anonymous says
Will they accept a photo copy of a birth certificate or does it have to be a certified copy? This is for my 9 month old lap rider.
Megan says
Depending on the airport you might be able to check in curbside with your lap child and they will give you your BVD. At Oakland we were made to check in at the counter (and ended up missing our flight) because they said we "had to"; at Atlanta we were checked in curb side and they printed out the BVD for us right there.
Leann H says
Thanks for the information! As far as car seats go, will most seats fit comfortably on Southwest flights? I noticed that they have their seat dimensions online, but all of our car seats seem to be bigger than what they say they can accommodate...This will be our 2 year olds first time flying, so I'm a little nervous about all the details. ????
tripswithtykes says
The published dimensions of the airplane seat are at the armrests but most car seats aren't at their broadest at that point, so you are likely ok. I've never witnessed someone whose car seats haven't fit. That said, I wouldn't take a heavy monstrosity of a car seat on board if you can help it - I really like the Cosco Scenera NEXT ($44 at Walmart) for air travel. It has always fit and is so light I can lift it with a single index finger.
R Burg says
Can a 27 month old travel as a lap child?
tripswithtykes says
Nope, the cutoff is 24 months to the day. Southwest checks birth certificates for all lap children (not all airlines consistently do) so there is no way to fudge it!
Lauren says
I have questions is the birth cert able to be a copy or original. Also what snacks can I bring for my baby? Will they allow anything for them plus juice? And one last one.. I plan to do family boarding since I'm gonna be crazy mom with a stroller baby bag and carseat getting on the plane. Do I put those 2 items with the flight attendants? I don't want to check them incase they get banged up or incase I can have an extra seat to put the carseat in.
Nessa says
Hi, I noticed that you sort of answered this question, but I just wanted to be sure! Have you ever had any issues with discussing extra seats with the employees at the gate? I'd like to bring my 3 month old's car seat, and possibly use an extra seat if there are some, but I'm worried about having an altercation with them if I ask.
T. Franklin says
Thank you so much for posting this article! We're about to travel with our 4 month old and your tips make me feel a little more confident about traveling with her. Also good tip on the birth certificate. I wouldn't have thought of that.
Glenda says
I just saw a video online in which a Dad traveling with a toddler who looked about 2-years-old was made to de-plane, because she was having a tantrum. By the time the supervisor came, the toddler had calmed down and was sitting quietly in her seat. The flight attendant and supervisor very nastily informed the Dad that he would have to de-plane and take another flight, citing airline policy. Passengers who came to his defense (reasonably, without screaming or acting out) were told they would also be forced to de-plane, if they continued to defend the Dad and toddler. This would definitely put me off using this airline.
Aimee says
I purchased 3 flights on the wanna get away fare and then called in and added my lap baby and was told they had to remove all three of our flights and rebook to add her. In doing this, they changed the flight to the "anytime" fare WITHOUT notifying me of the charge of $111. I used to really like Southwest and after some recent flight issues with them, I will not be flying them anymore.
Adam Hales says
Valuable Information. I really liked it
Christina says
Super helpful! To clarify, if I purchase a ticket for my infant on southwest, I don’t need to show a birth certificate? I can arrive empty-handed in regards to baby paperwork? And would only need A birth certificate in hand if they were flying free as a lap child? We are doing our first flight in a few weeks and this is really helpful! Thank you!
tripswithtykes says
That's right. If your little one has a ticket, no birth certificate needed.
Katie West says
OMG! Thanks a lot for sharing such an informative page about Complete Guide to Flying Southwest With Kids. I have read your valuable page and gotten much information. I have learned a lot from you that I did not know before. I confused for choosing the fly with kids information what would be the best for everything but now my confusion has cleared by your review 12 tips. I hope your all information on next year with my family. Thanks again Leslie and Keep it up………..
Ewokmama says
I love this article. It came at the perfect time, as this Christmas is the first time I'm flying Southwest with kids! I am wondering if I need to check in right at that 24 hour mark if I have a young child. Is it still a good policy, even though I will have access to early boarding? Also, we have 2 adults, a 4yo and a 12yo. Will we all be able to board as a family or only 1 adult with the 4yo??
tripswithtykes says
Both great questions. I don't think there is a need to race to check in right at 24 hours if you have a younger child. I do if I remember at the time for the chance at a slight better A group boarding pass, but don't stress it if I don't remember. I usually end up checking in a few hours later most of the time. As for family boarding, your entire family of 4 -- both parents, the 12 year old, and 4 year old -- will be able to board together. The only time Southwest restricts is when there is a family with more than two adults -- like grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc. But an immediate family of two parents and all the kids can always board together.
Christina Clanton says
Thanks for sharing this helpful information. You are inspiring me to flying southwest with kids. I love traveling to different places. But I was worried about flying with kids? I was wondering how it is with flying with kids. Actually, I got a lot of information from your blog which you have written your blog. Review this article my confusion is clear, Thanks.
lweezar leanald says
Thank you for information , it is very helpful. Especially i did not know this part to travel with southwest , "Birth certificates are required for ALL lap children" Goodness, this save me and my baby a lot , thank you again.
Daniel Oconnell says
If I was traveling with my girlfriend and we a had a baby would we be the first ones on the plane
Jay says
I just got off the phone with a Southwest agent. Discounts for children is no longer a thing, even though the Southwest website says it may provide "Anytime" fare discounts for some flights. I spent over 3 hours in total waiting on the phone to discover this. So don't repeat my mistake! The agent was very rude and unhelpful. Disappointing experience given I use Southwest a lot for business travel. Guess Southwest isn't looking to support families anymore. Note that today's date is 18 Feb 2021, so maybe after all the COVID stuff runs its course Southwest will go back to offering child fares? I don't know. Very disappointing that Southwest's website is out of date. It literally tells you to call them when booking kids' fares to discover the discount. Don't waste your time!
Griffin says
Here’s another good one. If you and your partner sit in an aisle with two lap children, they can’t fill the third seat because each row only has four oxygen masks. So as long as the flight has 1 leftover seat, you’ll always receive that one free seat between you and your partner no matter what.
Liz says
I replied below already, but I wanted to make an independent comment. The age verification is to prevent child abductions and trafficking, it's not just because of fares and fees. Even if it's a custodial interference situation where the person is actually the parent and has legit paperwork, it still allows for tracking and for the agent to check the system for flags if the abduction has been reported to law enforcement. These policies are in place because Southwest actually cares about its guests and kids and wants to keep everyone safe. I understand it can be frustrating if you show up without the documentation, but please realize how grateful you'd be if that agent stopped a stranger from taking your toddler. Please work with them and be patient, the agents realize travel is stressful and I'm sure 99% of them will do everything they can to help you. Do your research and call ahead. Good luck in your travels as we all set out into the world again!
Krista says
Thank you for your research and helpful tips. They're all wonderful!
Mary says
We are flying southwest for the first time next week. We have 4 children, but only the youngest is under 6. Do people save seats? I know only 2 of us can board with our youngest (thinking one parent and our second youngest). Can those three save seats for the rest of us until we board?
Ed Baugh says
Are more than one adult escort allowed to go through tsa to boarding area either with a single unaccompanied minor departing or by themselves to pick up an unaccompanied minor?
Kathryn says
Hey Leslie! Do you usually still get to sit together even when flying to places where everyone is a family (e.g. Orlando). We listen to you and Joe all the time and I was so thankful to find your article (as I was about to panic buy early bird check-in for all of us). Our kids (5 and 3) have never flown before and I've never flown with Southwest before, so I just want to know what we're getting into here. Thanks!
Ian says
"Southwest is the last of the U.S. domestic airlines to still offer free checked bags - 2 bags per person up to 50 lbs each. Southwest's leadership team has made clear that it has no intention of changing this benefit"
Errr....this has already been changed.