I am not sure you are going to be able to have both seats in same row as you must have carseat in the window seat. if you are able to have both seats in one row the seats will have to be next to each other, not with you in the middle. I would talk to Southwest to be sure you can have 2 carseats in one row
There is no way you won't get 3 seats together. A two year old cannot sit in a row without a parent. The flight attendants will make people move if they have to.
The other thing you can do is check the car seats at the gate. That way you have them when you land for the rental. Do you really need them on the plane? We've never put our daughter in a car seat. We just buckle her in. She's flown as young as 2. Maybe that makes us bad parents, I don't know! Just an idea.
@Betty Rohrer they will allow two seats side by side (window/center). They just dont allow the seat to block the passage of an adult passenger.
@Aurora0427 I am a CPST aka car seat tech. It is not safe to check car seats as you risk damage to them. Also I find that my kids travel better in their car seats since they are used to traveling in them. Also they are far safer from turbulence, etc in a harness. I am not worried about the actual install part, it is the what to do with the kids while I am installing part!