Help Me Please! Flying Southwest tomorrow, need advice...............

[Emmaline Lola]

I am flying tomorrow to St. Louis from Orlando to visit my SIL on Southwest Airlines.

We have a Britax Marathon car seat--will this fit on Southwest airplanes?, or is it too big? I called SW and the rep was pretty much clueless about what size fit. So I ask my disboard friends for help!

Also, are you able to preboard in Orlando w/ a baby?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

el

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

If this is your first flight with your child...have fun

I've always been able to preboard when I've traveled with my daughter and I'll always been pulled out of line at the security checkpoint to get checked ahead of people but that might have just been some good old fashioned pixie dust!

Britax may be able to fit. My suggestion is to bring it with you and if it doesn't fit, the flight attendents can always store it under the plane if need be. Of course, this means that you won't have a carseat on the plane to put your baby in.

 

[Vickie46]

make sure to get your baby's first wings...southwest always give a wings pin.. very neat for your scrapbook! and keepsake!

 

[Colinsmom]

Yes, it will fit. You must install it in a window seat where the armrests go up (not a bulkhead row), and not an exit row or the row just in front of or just behind the exit row. And if she's under a year OR under 20lbs, you must install it rear-facing per the car seat manual - you can show the manual to the flight attendant if there are any issues raised about this.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

I don't know about SW, but we have the Marathon and it fits just fine on United and American coach classes. Forward-facing, that is, it doesn't fit rear-facing. Those seats are so close together, SW couldn't possibly be any closer, could they?

Good luck, and have fun!

 

[Colinsmom]

I don't know about SW, but we have the Marathon and it fits just fine on United and American coach classes. Forward-facing, that is, it doesn't fit rear-facing. Those seats are so close together, SW couldn't possibly be any closer, could they?

Good luck, and have fun!

We've used the Marathon on both American and United rear-facing, though it might not fit on certain planes. You have to raise the armrest next to the seat that the Marathon is installed in.

 

[GoofyGirlnPrincessV]

That is what my DD has and if fits fine, but when you buckle the seat belt turn it over so that the flip up side is toward the airplane seat. If not you will be stuck!

And yes you can pre board on SW with any child under the age of 4 or 5

Good luck!!!

 

[AnaheimGirl]

We've used the Marathon on both American and United rear-facing, though it might not fit on certain planes. You have to raise the armrest next to the seat that the Marathon is installed in.

That's funny. I don't recall having to raise the armrest (but that doesn't mean we didn't ). Our bigger problem was depth, rather than width. The back of the seat in front of us was just too close and we couldn't cram the seat in there. It probably is the make/model of plane that makes the difference, and I have no idea what we flew (though my dh probably does).

(Of course, one way to ensure there's enough room would be to pay the extra to fly economy plus or business class.)

 

[pooh4evr]

We flew SW out of STL in May we had no problems- we did not bring a carseat however for our 23 month old. So I can't help you there. We did the curbside check in- I don't think they weighed our bags there but they did in Orlando and they were too heavy!!! Anyway we got to the airport @ 1 and 1/2 early - got in the preboard line@ 30 min before flight. We had an umbrella stroller that we brought just for the airports which we gate checked- no problems- The girls (DD4 and almost 2) did fine on the flight we were in the second and third rows we brought coloring books, amall toys and snacks and juices. The flight attendants passed out bags of pretzels and drinks. When we left we got to the airport and found out the return flight was cancelled (for some unknown all SW flights to STL were cancelled that day) so we were put on a flight to Chicago and then they held the last flight out to STL for our flight. So make sur you check your flight before you leave the hotel hopefully that won't be an issue for you. Have a great time I am sure everyhting will be great!! GO CARDS!!

 

[Emmaline Lola]

Thanks so much everyone! We have decided to bring the infant car seat. She still fits in it, and it is MUCH smaller that our Britax car seat.

We leave in about 1 & 1/2 hours. I am praying for a sleepy baby! Unfortunately, she takes after me, and is TOO NOSEY for words! She will probably be up checking out EVERYTHING going on!

I will post about our trip when we return on Monday!

Sincere thanks!

el

 

[Emmaline Lola]

Thanks to all on this board we took our infant carrier rather than our Britax marathon, and everything went GREAT!

Paige was very comfy feel asleep during takeoff and landing, and watched her FAVORITE Toy Story I on our dvd player going there and Baby Einstein coming home! Thank God for portable dvd players! I can't believe she is 8 months old today and is ADDICTED to her DVD's. Too funny!

She got her "wings" from our FA Jonathan--thank you Vickie46!

Thanks again to all!

el