Southwest Rapid Rewards - First time flying Southwest..with a toddler

Ok got any advice..lay it on me. This is the first time I am flying southwest airlines and this is the first time I am traveling with my son who is 5 months old. We (wife and son) are going LGA-MKE so I got the short flight thing going...I did not go for the $10 early boarding feature because I feel like with the free checked bags and the ability to gate check the stroller I don't care about the over head space. :rolleyes:

No need to purchase $10 early boarding. You have a toddler of 5 months so you will "family boarding" AFTER the A group if you don't hold an A group boarding pass when you check in online.

I think if you are traveling with a child under 4 years old(5 maybe?), you can family board after the A group.

Yeah, family boarding is great, and makes sure you are able to sit with your kids. Will he be in lap, or does he have a seat? We went on over 20 flights with our daughter before she turned two, and always had her in our lap, and it worked out great, even on TATl flights.

As for general advice, it he nurses, I would recommend that during takeoff and landing to help with the ear pressure. Maybe get him a small new toy to pull out on the plane if he gets bored. My daughter always fell asleep when the cabin pressurized, sometimes before we even took off.

Have a great time!

Yeah, family boarding is great, and makes sure you are able to sit with your kids. Will he be in lap, or does he have a seat? We went on over 20 flights with our daughter before she turned two, and always had her in our lap, and it worked out great, even on TATl flights.

As for general advice, it he nurses, I would recommend that during takeoff and landing to help with the ear pressure. Maybe get him a small new toy to pull out on the plane if he gets bored. My daughter always fell asleep when the cabin pressurized, sometimes before we even took off.

Have a great time!

Thanks for the relpys...he will be a lap child and he no longer nurses.

Even if he's not nursing, be sure to bring something for him to suck on during takeoff and landing to help "pop" his ears and soothe him - Bottles work well.

Here's some tips: http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/pages/Flying-with-Baby.aspx

Good luck, it will be ok!

If the little one if traveling as a lap child, do not forget the birth certificate.

If the little one if traveling as a lap child, do not forget the birth certificate.

^:D

Can it be a photo copy of the birth certificate or must it be an original?

I think this is still true, but may have changed so don't kill me if its not but....

...if you bring your car seat along to gate check it, and if there is an empty seat on the plane at departure, they will (or used to) let your child and car seat have that empty seat for free.

A photocopy of the birth certificate is fine.

If the little one if traveling as a lap child, do not forget the birth certificate.

I flew with my one-year old last year. No one asked for birth certificate on the outgoing flight from CA to CO, but on the way back, they asked for birth certificate or immunization record. I used the immunization record with no problems. I assume that would still work, but you can't go wrong with the birth certificate!

I think this is still true, but may have changed so don't kill me if its not but....

...if you bring your car seat along to gate check it, and if there is an empty seat on the plane at departure, they will (or used to) let your child and car seat have that empty seat for free.

And if you take the window and your husband takes the aisle, that middle seat will likely be the last seat taken, especially if you move toward the back of the plane. ;)

A 5-month old will not be mistaken for a 2-yr old. No ID required.

I actually think boarding with the A group may be more stressful then simply waiting for them to complete the A group boarding process and board during the "Family Boarding". You don't have to wait in line and there is normally plenty of open seating left.

And if you take the window and your husband takes the aisle, that middle seat will likely be the last seat taken, especially if you move toward the back of the plane. ;)

We have 16 month old twins, and on (not full) flights, where we can leave an empty middle between us and sit in the same row - you better believe that's the last seat that gets taken on the plane.

(With twins as lap kids, we can't sit in the same row if all 3 seats are taken, since that would put 5 people in the row, and there are only 4 oxygen masks.)

A 5-month old will not be mistaken for a 2-yr old. No ID required.


Incorrect. I flew Southwest 200+ times with my lap child <2, from 2 weeks old all the way until the eve of his second birthday. I was asked for birth certificate every single time. FAA has strict fines against the airlines for any violation of the rule allowing only kids under two to share a seat.

If someone forgets the ID, they are often stuck having a hospital or doctor's office send written verification in. Or they are stuck buying a ticket for the child. Though public relations/customer service will often (always) refund the charge after flying if you contact Southwest via social networking.

Incorrect. I flew Southwest 200+ times with my lap child <2, from 2 weeks old all the way until the eve of his second birthday. I was asked for birth certificate every single time.

Wow. Glad I never had to deal with that. I just bought a seat for my daughter every time she flew.

Back! Everything went smoothly! Flights were empty and was able to bring on the car seat both ways..Southwest was nice and appreciated the baggage and snacks!