SWA Child Fares?

[Kanga1]

I have always thought that anyone over the age of 2 was considered an "adult" on SW and paid the adult fare. This morning, I'm looking at their website and I see that they have "Child" and "Youth" fares for VERIFIED children. Anyone ever get these fares and are they considerably cheaper than adults?

 

[bedgraynexl]

I was wondering the same thing myself

 

[Lewisc]

They'e cheaper then the full (fully refundable) fare paid by business fliers and by passengers who book their flights on short notice.

The reason you don't see them mentioned on DIS is because those fares are higher then the deeply discouned DING fares and other discounted fares most of us are able to book.

 

[NotUrsula]

They are normally about 5-10% off the full-price walkup fully refundable fare. Never less than any discounted non-refundable fare.

They are useful if you have to travel last-minute, but that's about it.

PS: A "verified" child is one who has a preexisting Rapid Rewards FF account that lists his/her birthdate.

 

[tinka-belle]

They are off the fully refunable fare, so not always a good deal. Of course if your dates only have those fares left you can save a little. For example between Manchester NH and Orlando it's about $35 dollars or so roundtrip.

Be aware that if you buy a child/youth fare for a child without a verified RR number, you cannot print their boarding pass until the age is verified at the airport. Used to be able to, but they put a stop to that due to abuses. The rest of the party can check in, but not anyone without a verified age restricted ticket, children and senior citizens too. Some of my clients have opted to forego the discount so they can get their BP's online right at the 24 hour mark for their entire party.

 

[Kanga1]

Thanks for the replies! I never buy the fully refundable fare, always the Wanna Get Away or some other deal, so this looks like it wouldn't apply to our family anyway.

 

[nemofans]

I checked the child rates too & it's so much cheaper to book them as adults w/the Wanna Get Away rates.

 

[DisneyClown]

Be aware that if you buy a child/youth fare for a child without a verified RR number, you cannot print their boarding pass until the age is verified at the airport. Used to be able to, but they put a stop to that due to abuses. The rest of the party can check in, but not anyone without a verified age restricted ticket, children and senior citizens too. Some of my clients have opted to forego the discount so they can get their BP's online right at the 24 hour mark for their entire party.

If I book both my kids, ages 9 and 21 months at time of travel, on the Wanna get Away fares as "adults" then would I still have to Age Verify them or create a separate account for them? Or can I just book all our tickets online, and then check in at 24 hour mark? Would this negate boarding between A and B boarding groups because I didn't verify I had a small child? I was steering away from Southwest because of all the hassle it seemed like I was going to have to deal with before hand, and I don't want to risk being separated from my family when seating.

 

[nemofans]

I have never had to verify DS's age when I have booked him as an adult. I got our boarding passes at the 24 hr mark & have been in the A group every time. If yo get B group, you can still board betw A & B w/out verifying them. It's only when you buy the child rate full fare that you have to do that.

 

[DisneyClown]

I am very glad to hear that. I am going to start watching Southwest fares again, knowing that I can just book em without all the extra hassle. Thanks for the info!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I have never had to verify DS's age when I have booked him as an adult. I got our boarding passes at the 24 hr mark & have been in the A group every time. If yo get B group, you can still board betw A & B w/out verifying them. It's only when you buy the child rate full fare that you have to do that.

Well, it's actually not only then. Any time you travel with a lap child - especially on Southwest - you need to provide proof of eligibility at the airport.

 

[nemofans]

Oh, we always get a seat for our little ones so I didn't know that.