Proof of age for kids on Southwest

[mom23kids]

Can you show a photocopy of your kids birth certificate or will they want the original? Also is their a price difference for an adult ticket versus a child? I have never flown SW. After reading through the policies about kids and certain ages, what all info will they need/want? Anyone who flies them regularly please chime in

 

[tjmw2727]

99.9 if not 100 % of the time the regular adult web fare is much cheper than any of the childrens fares. If this is the case you don't need any ID for kids.

The exception is for a child under 2 who is traveling without a ticket and sitting on a parents lap. In this case you will need a birth certificate to prove the child is eligible to fly without a ticket.

 

[DCbride]

We always travel with DD's passport so I have not done this. But I agree with PP, you need to show birth cert if you are trying to get the under 2 flies free flight. I don't think they care about the kids ages if they are older than 2 because there are no special discounts for 3+.

Their site does not say anything about a photcopy-

If you are not traveling on a Youth, Child, Senior, or Infant Fare, you do not need to be age verified to request your boarding pass on southwest.com or at a self-service kiosk.

 

[3happydancers]

Can you show a photocopy of your kids birth certificate or will they want the original? Also is their a price difference for an adult ticket versus a child? I have never flown SW. After reading through the policies about kids and certain ages, what all info will they need/want? Anyone who flies them regularly please chime in

We have been traveling with my daughter on SWA since she was 7 and is now 12. We have never needed proof of age or ID for her. Last year we even took my nephew with us to the World who was then 15 and he did not need ID nor his birth certificate to fly.

We did have these documents on hand just in case of an emergency but we did not need documentation for flying on SWA.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

I've flown SW with my kids several times over the years and I've never been asked for any paperwork or ID's for them. They were all over the age of 2 though and had paid seats.

 

[goofy4tink]

I imagine we are talking about having to show proof of age for children that are booked as youth. If you are paying fully refundable fares, then yes, you might have to show proof of age, but probably not. If you are flying with a lap baby, then yes, you do have to prove they are eligible to be lap babies.

But really...the huge majority of fliers book the internet fares that are not refundable. They are cheap to begin with. So, there are no distinctions when it comes to age.

 

[mom23kids]

Thx all, I was confused about the youth, infnat, child fare. Thought they were cheaper fares.

 

[MinnieGi]

Our kids have been flying SW since they were babies and we have never been asked for birth cert. or any ID for them. We always however have those low price Internet fares.

 

[Mixie]

Usually the wanna getaway fare is cheapest - especially if you book early early! I got round trip tixs once for $99. Yes, that was many years ago, but it was still dirt cheap at the time.