SW boarding with toddler

[LuckyDuck]

We'll be flying Southwest for the first time in May with a 2-year-old and an 8-year-old. My understanding is that, regardless of our boarding number, we'll be able to board between the A and B groups. Does that mean that all 4 of us will be able to board at the same time, or could they have one adult board with the toddler then, and the other wait and board separately with the older child (if we were to have B passes)? This will be the first flight for both of our kids, and we'd really like to be close together.

 

[mom2carlee]

When we flew on SW 3 years ago we were able to pre board because we had a small child, did they change this policy??

 

[DebbieB]

We'll be flying Southwest for the first time in May with a 2-year-old and an 8-year-old. My understanding is that, regardless of our boarding number, we'll be able to board between the A and B groups. Does that mean that all 4 of us will be able to board at the same time, or could they have one adult board with the toddler then, and the other wait and board separately with the older child (if we were to have B passes)? This will be the first flight for both of our kids, and we'd really like to be close together.

You should all be able to board together. They will sometimes restrict it to parents and siblings (no grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc).

When we flew on SW 3 years ago we were able to pre board because we had a small child, did they change this policy??

Yes they did. Family boarding is now between groups A and B. If you have an A boarding pass, you board with your number. If you have B or C, you can board after A with a child 4 or under (or is it under 4?).

 

[dburg30]

From the soutwest site here http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/checkin.html

An adult traveling with a child four years old or younger will board between the “A” and “B” boarding groups. If you have an “A” boarding pass, please feel free to board with that boarding group. With an all-jet fleet outfitted with comfortable, leather seats, our families with small children are easily accommodated together.

If you take it exactly as it says, it says 'An adult' meaning one. Now, if it's a mom and dad, and one under 4 and another 'youth' I would say more then likely they will just board you all together, BUT, to take it for how it's stated, one adult with one child.. Again, probably they will just have all 4 of you board at the same time.