What age is child fare for Southwest?

Accompanied children ages 2 through 11 may be charged the applicable Child's Fare or purchase a Wanna Get Away Fare or Anytime Fare for the flight. At the time of travel, proof of age may be required. Same conditions described above apply when exchanging the confirmation number for the child's boarding pass.



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Need to know about the Southwest lap child policy? For domestic flights, kids under the age of 2 can fly for free when sitting on an adult's lap. They don't need a ticket, but you'll need to bring proof of age, such as a birth certificate, when you check in.

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YOU WILL NEED TO PURCHASE A TICKET FOR YOUR CHILD IF YOU: Have a child that is 2 years old or older. Have a child that turns 2 during the trip. Prefer the child sit in a seat with an FAA-approved child safety seat. Already have a child that will be sitting in your lap, regardless of age.

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?Parents of children over the age of 2 are typically required to pay the full adult fare for their kids. ? Whereas kids fly free with an accompanying adult if they are sitting on the adult's lap and are under 2, they would then be considered a lap infant.

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Although children who have not reached their second birthday are permitted to travel as lap children, the FAA strongly discourages this practice and recommends that you secure your child in an approved CRS in their own seat for the entire flight.

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Southwest offers Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding. Up to two adults traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding.

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We consider children ages 12 through 17 traveling alone to be Young Travelers (YTs). Our Unaccompanied Minor (UMs) procedures do not apply to unaccompanied Passengers ages 12 through 17.

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Planning your trip
  • Infants on lap. Children under two can sit on a parent's lap during flights to any destination.
  • Infant seats. Alternatively, infants can have their own seat if you bring an approved car seat.
  • All other kids. Children older than two will need a ticket and their own seat on the plane.


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Many airlines offer discounts for children, which is usually considered ages 2-11. Some of the discounts vary and are not available for every route.

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Will minors need an ID to fly domestically? Neither Southwest Airlines nor the TSA require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling within the United States. There is, however, an exception for Unaccompanied Minors traveling on Southwest Airlines.

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Standard Pillows These pillows are generally allowed on the plane if they can be stored under your seat. In cases where your pillow is too big to be stored under your seat, it will need to be stashed in your carry-on bag.

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The Southwest family boarding process starts after the “A” group has been boarded but before the “B” group begins boarding. The family boarding policy allows up to two adults traveling with a child six or younger to board earlier and, hopefully, secure seating together.

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Other family members such as grandparents can board with family boarding but they have to be the only adults. So for example you could not have both parents and a set of grandparents boarding in the family boarding group. Instead, Southwest would likely limit you to only two parents (along with the kids).

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Customers who purchase an Anytime fare will automatically be checked in to their flight 36 hours prior to scheduled departure—that's 12 hours before our traditional 24-hour check-in. You will receive an earlier boarding position, improved seat selection, and earlier access to overhead bins.

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Each airline will have its rules about who can sit where, but a bulkhead seat is generally considered an excellent option for families traveling with young children. The bulkhead is at the front of the cabin and sitting in those seats usually guarantees you some extra leg room.

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