Southwest and a Lap Infant

[lundve]

It's been years since I have flown Southwest with a baby, but in the past I have never paid for a ticket for my under two. Question is do they still allow me to use my car seat in an empty seat if the plane is not full or will he definitely need to go on my lap?

 

[goofy4tink]

It's been years since I have flown Southwest with a baby, but in the past I have never paid for a ticket for my under two. Question is do they still allow me to use my car seat in an empty seat if the plane is not full or will he definitely need to go on my lap?

I believe that is still the case, but be aware...very few flights now have empty seats. Airlines are really trying to fill their planes. They have been cutting out flights and putting more people on the existing flights. So go ahead and bring the car seat, but don't be surprised if there are no empty seats to put it in.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Yes, but there are very few open seats on SW these days. The open seats I have seen have usually either been paid for or given to people who need an extra seat to fit comfortably. (It's amazing what you can hear if you listen to conversations during boarding!)

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

My experience lately has been that if you don't purchase a seat they will require you to gate check the car seat and not allow you the "free" seat game. And honestly that's fairer to everyone. There's no reason you deserve a "free" seat anymore then anyone else does.

Also, they can and may require that you have some evidence your child is under two regardless of how little YOU think they look Periodically there's some hysterical poster on Flyertalk screaming about how SW required proof his/her newborn was under two. Copies of birth certificates and shot records work for this.

 

[PrincesCJM]

My experience lately has been that if you don't purchase a seat they will require you to gate check the car seat and not allow you the "free" seat game. And honestly that's fairer to everyone. There's no reason you deserve a "free" seat anymore then anyone else does.

Also, they can and may require that you have some evidence your child is under two regardless of how little YOU think they look Periodically there's some hysterical poster on Flyertalk screaming about how SW required proof his/her newborn was under two. Copies of birth certificates and shot records work for this.

I flew with DS on Southwest when he was 13 months old. I was asked for a copy of his birth certificate. I was tempted to ask for a seat for him but didn't figuring it was likely a full flight. We lucked out going to MCO that no one sat next to us so he did sit for awhile in the empty seat (without his carseat though). Returning home, some one did sit next to us.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Honestly I fly just about every other week. This year I think there has been ONE time when every seat on the plane wasn't full. Generally they are packed and asking for volunteers