First time flying SW with kids - questions

[marthachick]

Flying with 4 kids, ages 8, 9, 10 and 13. Do they all need accounts with Southwest? Do we need to send in copies of all birth certificates? If so, do they need to be certified copies? Anything else we need to know?

 

[sponica]

I only needed a birth certificate when flying with a lap rider. If you want to enroll them in a frequent flyer account, you can enroll them.

 

[kevgraub]

Flying with 4 kids, ages 8, 9, 10 and 13. Do they all need accounts with Southwest? Do we need to send in copies of all birth certificates? If so, do they need to be certified copies? Anything else we need to know?

Its been a couple of years since I flew with kids on Southwest, but I am not aware of any need to send in birth certificates or to have them open an account on Southwest. Unless something has changed recently, you should have no problem just booking their tickets, printing their boarding passes, and showing up at the airport (or printing their passes at the airport).

 

[nangosix]

Last time I flew SW with kids, I just made sure I had copies of their birth certificates on me but truly that was just to get through the security check. No other accounts needed to be created.

 

[FCDub]

You do not need birth certificates for TSA, nor at all for children of those ages.

You'll want to think about how you want to sit. Your kids are too old to qualify for family boarding, so you'll board with your numbers. Depending on where those fall, you might not be able to get six seats all together (two rows of three). Think about who needs to sit next to whom, are kids OK sitting together by themselves, etc.

 

[ColoradoMill]

I love flying Southwest and do it regularly with kids. I think it makes sense to sign each person up for a Rapid Rewards account, so they can start accumulating points. Otherwise, they don't need an account if you booked their tickets.

Your kids are too old for family boarding (6 and under) so try to check in right at 24 hours prior to get the best possible boarding group. Without status, you will likely be in boarding group B if you check in right on time, or boarding group C if not. This could make the difference between getting seats together or not (it's usually not a problem with boarding group B, in my experience, but you may be toward back of plane).

You are probably aware of Southwest's unique boarding procedures....seats are first come, first served. We travel in a group of 6 often and typically like to get a whole row across so we can talk across the aisle....or you can do two half-rows, one in front of the other. Just think about your preference before you get on the plane, i.e. whether you prefer middle or back and how you want to arrange seating. No one likes waiting behind you while you debate seat choice.

I have never brought kids birth certificates to the airport for a domestic trip....just bring boarding passes for everyone and ID for the adults.

When we were on Southwest last week, they had restarted a basic beverage service....just 4 drink options, but still better than last fall when it was nothing. They also handed out a small snack. Masks were enforced, but no one gave us a hard time about removing masks to eat and drink. Have fun!

 

[Sandiz08]

Nothing for young kids but prepare them to be asked questions by TSA. Sometimes they will ask them for their name. This can be nerve wracking for the shy ones.

 

[boomchip]

You do not need birth certificates for TSA, nor at all for children of those ages.

You'll want to think about how you want to sit. Your kids are too old to qualify for family boarding, so you'll board with your numbers. Depending on where those fall, you might not be able to get six seats all together (two rows of three). Think about who needs to sit next to whom, are kids OK sitting together by themselves, etc.

What ages are appropriate for family boarding? We are going in 2022 most likely on SW and will have 3 adults and 2 kids ages 6 and 9, so hoping this would apply and make the boarding easier?

 

[Sandiz08]

What ages are appropriate for family boarding? We are going in 2022 most likely on SW and will have 3 adults and 2 kids ages 6 and 9, so hoping this would apply and make the boarding easier?

I believe the 6 year old would qualify. They have changed the ages over the years. It’s technically only one adult per kid 6 and under that can family board but we have never had a problem boarding all together. I’ve heard of the policy being enforced for some, but we have never encountered it. Just know that the rule is one adult per kid.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

I believe the 6 year old would qualify. They have changed the ages over the years. It’s technically only one adult per kid 6 and under that can family board but we have never had a problem boarding all together. I’ve heard of the policy being enforced for some, but we have never encountered it. Just know that the rule is one adult per kid.

They have recently announced when I have flown 1 adult with child under 6.

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

They have recently announced when I have flown 1 adult with child under 6.

Just out of curiosity if this is a new thing since SW's own website states for family boarding:
Two adults traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding. If the child and the adult are both holding an “A” boarding pass, they should board in their assigned boarding position.

 

[ypv]

I’m pretty sure they said 2 adults when I flew a couple weeks ago. That was one direction. The other direction I think they allowed more like 20 adults. We had mid B numbers for that flight, but had to split up amongst a bunch of non-mask wearers. Not a comfortable experience for us.

 

[supersnoop]

Just out of curiosity if this is a new thing since SW's own website states for family boarding:

I heard them announce "two adults" when I flew last month, but the gate agent can change the procedure if the situation dictates. I've seen the family boarding line stretch into the food court at Orlando. They've been known to tell people to just line up with their boarding position because everyone on the flight has kids, skipping family boarding altogether.

 

[Jswins87]

I always travel with a non certified copy of my kids birth certificate, as a safety precaution. And I have a picture of it on my phone. It’s not required for traveling, but it sets my mind at ease.

I would recommend signing the kids up for a reward account now so they can accumulate points as they grow up.

you can also pay for boarding group A when you buy your tickets or pay for spots 1-15 in group A at the gate

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

I heard them announce "two adults" when I flew last month, but the gate agent can change the procedure if the situation dictates. I've seen the family boarding line stretch into the food court at Orlando. They've been known to tell people to just line up with their boarding position because everyone on the flight has kids, skipping family boarding altogether.

Its our first time flying with our 16 month old. We did not get EBCI but we did buy him a seat. Now wondering if we should get the EBCI.

 

[EACarlson]

you can also pay for boarding group A when you buy your tickets

This is not true, you pay for Early Bird Check In which checks you in automatically 36 hours before the flight. While this usually results in an A boarding group, not always. There are quite a few reports in the last week of people that bought EBCI that are getting B boarding groups. Speculation is all of the temporary A list status is pushing EBCI down the list. The only way to be sure you get an A boarding group is to buy a Business Select ticket which guarantees you an A1-A15 boarding spot. If they don't sell all of the Business Select tickets they will sell the remainder of the boarding positions at usually $40 a piece.

 

[focusondisney]

you can also pay for boarding group A when you buy your tickets or pay for spots 1-15 in group A at the gate

Just to clarify... you can’t pay for boarding group A when you purchase your tickets. You can add Early Bird Check In, which usually gets you an A position. However, it does not guarantee an A. And before the pandemic, more people were beginning to complain of getting a B position with EBCI. All EBCI does is get you checked in at the 36 hour mark, before anyone who didn’t purchase it. There are only 60 slots in each group. If 70 people buy EBCI, 10 of them are going to get a B.

You can pay to upgrade to A 1-15 at the gate *if* they are available.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Just to clarify... you can’t pay for boarding group A when you purchase your tickets. You can add Early Bird Check In, which usually gets you an A position. However, it does not guarantee an A. And before the pandemic, more people were beginning to complain of getting a B position with EBCI. All EBCI does is get you checked in at the 36 hour mark, before anyone who didn’t purchase it. There are only 60 slots in each group. If 70 people buy EBCI, 10 of them are going to get a B.

You can pay to upgrade to A 1-15 at the gate *if* they are available.

Actually, there may be only 45 slots in the A boarding group available for EBCI, A16-A60, since A1-A15 are used for Business Select travelers plus at-airport paid upgraders. Flying out of Midway, we’ve been in the B group with EBCI many times.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I always brought a copy of birth certificate for my children, just in case.
Happy planning!

 

[rwdavis2]

Nobody will ever ask you for a birth certificate unless you have a lap baby. TSA does not care. The kids may be asked their age.