Can you buy an online ticket at SW for an 8 year old?

[maryj11]

I was reading on the SW site and I read that you have to call them for a child ? On the area where you search for flights it say 2+ adults on the drop down menu. Im confused, does this mean I cant get a web fare for my girl ?

 

[ColinCodyMom]

I have web fares for both of my kids; it's just that there aren't child fare types. I did them on the southwest site. Not sure how it is if they are traveling as unaccompanied minors but with adults, it's fine.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I've purchased flights online for my kids but they always have an adult travelling with them when I purchase the flights. Sometimes I do buy theirs on separate itineraries for price reasons. When I do this, I make sure that at least 1 adult ticket is purchased first because the site does ask for the confirmation number of an adult who is responsible for the child. Wanna Get Away fares are cheaper than child fares so I don't see any point in calling. The site knows they're kids because it is necessary to include birthdates for each passenger.

 

[dudspizza]

Yes, you can purchase online for kids. Simply put them in as adults. You have to call SW if you are looking for a "child fare", but that fare is typically higher than the normal web fares they have on their site.

Duds

 

[maryj11]

Yes, you can purchase online for kids. Simply put them in as adults. You have to call SW if you are looking for a "child fare", but that fare is typically higher than the normal web fares they have on their site.

Duds

Ok good I thought I was going to have to call and the web fares are pretty low right now !

 

[Hoopfamily]

We flew Southwest for the first time this year, and we have a 6 y/o. I called them with the same question, and was told that the "child"fare is typically higher than a web fare. Also you need to prove your childs age at the gate.

 

[csjordan]

We flew Southwest for the first time this year, and we have a 6 y/o. I called them with the same question, and was told that the "child"fare is typically higher than a web fare. Also you need to prove your childs age at the gate.

We just flew SW from Vegas to Raleigh in August with our two kids, ages 12 and 8. SW never asked for any identification for the kids. Obviously, you have to provide something to security. Both of my kids have new passports (planning a carribean cruise next Summer) which they proudly displayed to security!

 

[malibuconlee]

Children do not need identification to go thru TSA security.

 

[csjordan]

Children do not need identification to go thru TSA security.

I know...but the kids had just received their passports and wanted to show them off. They actually got the TSA guy to smile!

 

[goofy4tink]

I know...but the kids had just received their passports and wanted to show them off. They actually got the TSA guy to smile!

That's an entirely different thing than 'obviously you have to provide something to security'. If a child is under 18, nothing is required as fas as ID goes. My dd has always shown her school ID and then her passport, but she doesn't 'have' to show anything. She is only 17.
If you are flying with a lap baby then yes, you do have to show prood of age.

Generally speaking it is always cheaper to pay the web fares than to look for a regular child's fare. I have never found one to be cheaper than the web fare.

 

[csjordan]

That's an entirely different thing than 'obviously you have to provide something to security'. If a child is under 18, nothing is required as fas as ID goes. My dd has always shown her school ID and then her passport, but she doesn't 'have' to show anything. She is only 17.
If you are flying with a lap baby then yes, you do have to show prood of age.

Generally speaking it is always cheaper to pay the web fares than to look for a regular child's fare. I have never found one to be cheaper than the web fare.

"You" meaning You the adult, not the kid...

Not meaning to get flamed here, but I think we have the idea that the kids don't have to show id to anyone...although security always asks my kids their names and ages...

 

[Hoopfamily]

We've never been asked how old our daughter is. If someone at TSA or gate is asking they are probably just being nice and like to chat with kids. You do not need ID for your kids though. Unless like I said you book a childs fare and then you need to prove age to SW. But they have on their website that you have to do it before the flight, by sending the a copy of birth certificate etc.

 

[clanmcculloch]

We've never had to show any identification for our kids to TSA or the airline. When they were under 2 we bought seats for them so no need them (lap babies do need ID showing that they're under 2) and they still have several years before they hit 18 so still no need for ID. The TSA agent does always talk to each of them confirming that they're the ticket holders but that's it. I'm not even sure that's required since our autistic daughter sometimes won't respond to the agent.

 

[luvmy2babies]

They are right…only child or infant fares have to be booked by phone. We are going next month and I have me and my 7 year old dd as adults and got the web fare. I later decided to get a ticket for my infant instead of holding him and when I called to ask about the best way to do it, a nice lady helped me book the infant fare for him because the web fare was sold out at that point.

Actually the outbound flight had the web fare available, but the return flight didn't, so the lady told me to book him on the webfare for the outbound flight and she would simultaneously book the infant fare for the return flight. Saved me $40 which I'm using to get the Scenera car seat for the plane.

 

[goofy4tink]

"You" meaning You the adult, not the kid...

Not meaning to get flamed here, but I think we have the idea that the kids don't have to show id to anyone...although security always asks my kids their names and ages...

That would be because they don't have to show any ID if they are under 18. My dd has been flying since she was 4...and not once has she been asked for ID. Now, like I said, once she got a school ID, she started handing it over when we were asked for IDs at checkin or at security. And we were told, almost every time that we didn't need to worry about ID for her. Told them that yes, we knew that, but she felt 'grownup' when she could show ID.
Unless a child is flying alone or is under 2 and flying as a lap baby, then no ID is needed or asked for.

 

[ccgirl]

They are right…only child or infant fares have to be booked by phone. We are going next month and I have me and my 7 year old dd as adults and got the web fare. I later decided to get a ticket for my infant instead of holding him and when I called to ask about the best way to do it, a nice lady helped me book the infant fare for him because the web fare was sold out at that point.

Actually the outbound flight had the web fare available, but the return flight didn't, so the lady told me to book him on the webfare for the outbound flight and she would simultaneously book the infant fare for the return flight. Saved me $40 which I'm using to get the Scenera car seat for the plane.

Just curious...if you don't mind me asking; what was the infant fare? I have always wondered how much $$ that would be. Thanks.