Best way to book with a lap baby?

[Lamping3]

I was hoping someone could help me with the best way to book my flights on SW with a lap baby and still be able to check us all in. Please no flames for flying with DD on our laps. I have gone back and forth on this decision and I believe that this is best for our family at this time (the extera money was not a factor).

It will be me, DH, DD5, and DD 14 months flying out of STL to MCO on Feb 23 (Saturday). If I do EBCI (I usually just do in for our flight home) will I get checked in with a lap baby on our ressie? Would it be best to take her birth certificate to the airport before our date so I can check in at T 24? Also when booking online how do I add her? Is it just a phone call to SW. If I go to the airport a few weeks early to show her birth certificate does she need to be with me?

Also would it be better to fly out the first flight 6am? I'm thinking less people would be on this flight so early on a Saturday.

Thanks in advance!

 

[anonymousegirl]

It would be best to call Southwest and ask these questions. I believe they do not allow online check in with lap child but I do not know if that extends to all passengers on the booking.

 

[kaytieeldr]

With a lap child, at least those two passengers must check in in person. You need to prove the child's eligibility to the airline by presenting the child and the birth certificate.

I won't ask how you've gone back and forth and decided this is the best option with it not being about tge money.

I WILL say you shouldn't be planning on a lap child combined with looking for the flight with the fewest passengers. If you want a seat for your lap child, pay for that seat. Most flights go with few, if any, empty seats. Plus, you'd be surprised how manypeople like the early start to their vacations.

 

[Lewisc]

Not sure why you care how full the flight is. You're flying with 2 adults, a 5 year old and a lap baby. Either pay for EBCI or check in at T-24 and you shouldn't have any problem getting 3 seats together.

Flights going to MCO have many parents with kids under 2 who'd like a free seat. GA typically won't let any parent with a lap baby board with a car seat unless there is enough extra seats for every parent with a lap baby leaving a lot of other empty seats to accommodate walk-ups, passengers with missed connections, passengers who want to take an earlier flight........

Not saying that's what you want to do but other people reading this thread may get that idea. All evidence says a child is safer in his own seat. Cost is the almost only reason for a lap baby.

You'll have to excuse those of us who think you've either not been careful with your research or your not being honest with your reason.

From Southwest's website
A Seat For The Baby Yes, they can fly for free in your lap until they're two but the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly recommends that all children who fly, regardless of their age, use the appropriate restraint based on their size and weight. Children in approved restraint systems are far safer in turbulence or an accident. The American Academy of Pediatrics concurs. A baby will be a lot more comfortable in a familiar seat. You'll be more comfortable too. Under 20 pounds, they should be in a rear-facing seat; from 20 to 40 pounds in a forward-facing child restraint. Children over 40 pounds may safely use an aircraft seat belt. Read more recommendations from the FAA.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Southwest's Baby on Board page http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/family/baby-on-board-pol.html is very informative.

 

[Hannathy]

You must bring the birth certificate to the airport or you will have to buy a ticket and South West is very much a stickler about this. I needed one for my 6 week old DS.


No comment from me about lap babies mine have flown thousands and thousands of miles as lap babies and have never had a problem. Even in turbulence, rough weather and a landing where we had to assume emergency landing positions. So enjoy your flight.

 

[goofy4tink]

Southwest's Baby on Board page http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/family/baby-on-board-pol.html is very informative.

Does my infant need a boarding pass?
If you choose to purchase a seat so that your infant may travel in his/her CRS you will need to obtain a boarding pass for the infant. If you purchase an Infant Fare, you may use online checkin if your infant has been age verified. If your infant has not been age verified, you will not be able to use online checkin, unless you purchase a fare that that does not have age restrictions. See below for more information on the age verification process.

If you choose to travel with your infant on your lap (at no additional charge) the infant will not need a boarding pass; however, you will need to obtain a Boarding Verification Document (BVD) for the infant. The BVD will allow the infant to board the aircraft. BVDs are available at the Southwest Airlines ticket counter on the day of travel. In order to complete your BVD, the Customer Service Agent will need to verify that your infant has not reached his/her second birthday, so be sure to bring along a copy of your infant's birth certificate.....

You beat me to the punch..but I figured I would post the actual info here.

 

[anonymousegirl]

What about emergency oxygen masks? if there are three people sitting in a row of three seats and one has a lap baby, are there 4 masks available?

 

[goofy4tink]

What about emergency oxygen masks? if there are three people sitting in a row of three seats and one has a lap baby, are there 4 masks available?

Yes, there are four in each row...just for that reason.

I know where these threads tend to go...lets be careful not to go down that road..thanks.

 

[anonymousegirl]

Yes, there are four in each row...just for that reason.

I know where these threads tend to go...lets be careful not to go down that road..thanks.

I wasn't making a judgement or intending any confrontation--just curious as to how many masks are availabe.

 

[goofy4tink]

I wasn't making a judgement or intending any confrontation--just curious as to how many masks are availabe.

I know...and as soon as I wrote that I wondered if you were going to think I meant you!!! Sorry, that wasn't my intention.
I meant that for everyone.

 

[anonymousegirl]

Whew!
I remembered what got me thinking about masks. Some time ago, someone was planning on traveling with twins as lap children and sit in the bulkhead seats and someone figured out that there would not be enough masks for the family with the 2 lap children.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Actually this does vary by airline. Some airlines have some rows where there is not an extra O2 mask.

To the OP take the Birth Certificate no matter what. SW is pretty strict on that. Every so often on flyer talk.com there is a hysterical post because "SW wanted proof my 3 month old was under age 2"

 

[Lamping3]

Thanks for all the replies. I had planned on calling SW. I just haven't had the time to be on holdto get my answers. I figured someone here would have the experience.


The fullness of the flight had nothing to do with hoping for an extra seat for the baby....I just wondered how to tell which flight would make buying EBCI get me a better number. My main reasons for keeping DD on my lap are because I would rather have us all in 1 row so DH and I can tag team keeping both kids entertained. The baby will probably end up on my lap anyway if she had her own seat and we are not taking a carseat because we are using ME and Disney busses.

 

[Lamping3]

I guess my main questions didnt come across too well posting from my phone leaves my thoughts kinda jumbled. ......it seems everyone got hung up on the fullness of the flight comment.

I know we can't do check in at T 24 with a lap baby.

If I purchase EBCI does that give us a boarding # before we bring the birth certificate to the airport?

Or

I seem to remember someone saying they took the birth certificate a few weeks in advance to the airport (or mailed it in) to get the baby age verified. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Even if you get it verified, take it too.

 

[dawnball]

EBCI has less to do with how full your flights are, and more to do with how far in advance you booked, and how many of those people booked EBCI. EBCI allocates boarding numbers in the order that EBCI was paid for. If you switch your flights, you go to the end of the EBCI line for the new flight.

I'm not anti-lapbaby. On the other hand, it made for a pretty crowded row. You might be happier if you planned to go four-abreast with the baby in the window, then a parent, then a child on the aisle, and then a parent on the other aisle. Or sans carseat, with an empty seat/carseatless-baby (maybe in a CARES harness?) in the middle of one side and a parent across the aisle. Having a little extra space to rummage in the bag for baby things, or to set her down, or set down all the stuff we seemed to need made for a much happier flight. Especially once she was more than a year old.

As far as getting EBCI with a lap baby? Yes, you can do that. When you go to the counter (or better yet, the skycap) to get your BVD for the baby, they'll reprint your boarding pass, but you'll keep the same place in line.

You can age-verify in advance, but I'd still travel with at least a photocopy of the birth certificate.

 

[Lamping3]

EBCI has less to do with how full your flights are, and more to do with how far in advance you booked, and how many of those people booked EBCI. EBCI allocates boarding numbers in the order that EBCI was paid for. If you switch your flights, you go to the end of the EBCI line for the new flight.

I guess I was more wondering if there was a way to tell how many were booked on the flight. (sorry i tend to overthink things and not get them across very clearly). I know with other airlines when you go to pick your seats you can tell how full the flight is. Im newer flying SW so if like the 6am flight is 50% booked and the 8am flight is 75% booked when you purchase tickets and EBCI you are more likely to get a higher boarding pass with the 6am flight. It was just some random thought I was having and I am sorry I didnt explain better.

 

[Lamping3]

As far as getting EBCI with a lap baby? Yes, you can do that. When you go to the counter (or better yet, the skycap) to get your BVD for the baby, they'll reprint your boarding pass, but you'll keep the same place in line.

You can age-verify in advance, but I'd still travel with at least a photocopy of the birth certificate.

Thanks! This is the exact info I needed! I will most likely do EBCI for both legs of the trip then.

Do you know if I age verify in advance (ie driving to the airport about a month from our leave date) can i do this by myself or do I need to have DD with me?

I had also read something about not putting the lap baby on the reservation until the day of the flight (when we check our bags)....that way she could be age verified before departure, we could save the EBCI fee, and still check in at T24 hours. This option makes me very nervous though!

 

[srberubenh]

When we fly with our baby, we never worry about checking in because Southwest has family boarding. Please see the information from their website below:

An adult traveling with a child four years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the "A" group has boarded and before the "B" group begins boarding. However, those Customers holding an "A" boarding pass should still board with the "A" boarding group.