Skip Sidebar Navigation
Travel Tools
Travel Tools
Southwest Policies
Travel Tips/Airport Information
Southwest Cities
Contact Us
Help

 

Southwest Airlines Policy on Children

Special Rules and Fares for Infants, Children, and Youth

Infant, Child, and Youth Fares are not available on southwest.com. Call Southwest Airlines Reservations for details.

  • Infants:
    • One child over 14 days and under two (2) years of age, not occupying a seat, may be carried free when traveling with an adult (12 yrs of age or older). Although a boarding pass is not required for the infant, you will need a Boarding Verification Document.
    • Affordable Infant Fares are also available that enable a Customer to reserve a seat for an infant and use his/her FAA approved car seat. Online checkin is available if the infant is traveling on an Infant Fare and is age verified.
    • A birth certificate is required to validate the age of all infants under age two.
    • A medical release for travel is required for any infant under 14 days old.
    • For More Information, please see Baby On Board (Information you should know when flying with your infant or toddler).
  • Children:
    • Accompanied children ages two through 11 will be charged the applicable Child's Fare for the flight (does not apply to unaccompanied children ages five through 11).
    • Proof of age will be required at time of travel.
    • Online checkin is available if the child is traveling on a Child Fare and is age verified.
  • Youth:
    • Youth who are at least 12 years of age but who have not reached their 22nd birthday can fly to any of our cities, any time of the day or night, at the applicable Youth Fare.
    • Proof of age will be required at time of travel.
    • Online checkin is available if the youth is traveling on a Youth Fare and is age verified.

Unaccompanied Minors

These policies apply on Southwest Airlines only. Other airlines (including codeshare partners) may have different policies and procedures.

For More Information on Southwest Airlines policies, please See Policies, Procedures, and Tips for Children Traveling Alone.

  • Unaccompanied children ages five through eleven are accepted only on nonstop or direct flights which do not require a change of aircraft or flight number. Proof of age may be required.
  • Southwest Airlines will be unable to transport Unaccompanied Minors on flights anticipated to terminate short of or bypass the child's destination due to weather or other operational situations.
  • When making reservations, please advise the Reservations Sales Agent that the booking is for an "Unaccompanied Minor".
  • Southwest Airlines asks that you have the Unaccompanied Minor check in at the Departure Gate at least 45 minutes prior to departure. An Unaccompanied Minor form must be completed before Southwest Airlines can accept the child for travel. View Unaccompanied Minor form in PDF format. The Unaccompanied Minor form will be inserted in the Unaccompanied Minor lanyard. The lanyard must be worn by the child throughout the entire flight and is needed for Southwest Airlines Employees to identify Unaccompanied Minors.
  • The child will be preboarded and be identified to the Flight Attendant as an Unaccompanied Minor. Unaccompanied Minors arriving too late to be preboarded will be boarded last to ensure identification to the Flight Attendant. When the flight arrives at its final destination, the child will be escorted off the aircraft by a Flight Attendant and released to the person designated on the Unaccompanied Minor form or another designated Southwest Employee.
  • The dropping off and receiving party should follow the Suggested Airport Arrival Times in order to allow time to obtain an “escort pass,” which grants access through security checkpoint to deliver or meet the child at the aircraft’s Gate. A federally-sponsored identity verification process at the ticket counter is required before issuing an “escort pass.” The party picking up the child must be the person designated on the Unaccompanied Minor form, which is completed at the beginning city of the journey. Southwest Airlines will require the designated receiving party to produce positive identification and sign a release for the Unaccompanied Minor.
  • In some cases, there may be a wait in receiving the child if there is the need for Southwest personnel to assist in the departure of another aircraft. Southwest Airlines hopes you will understand the time spent is for the safety of your child.

Online Checkin for Youth, Child, or Infant Fares

  • If your child is traveling on an Infant, Child, or Youth Fare and is age verified, you may request the boarding pass on southwest.com. If your child is traveling on an Infant, Child, or Youth Fare and is not age verified, you MUST provide valid proof of age at the airport when exchanging the confirmation number for a boarding pass. Your child will not be able to check in online.
  • Age Verification Process:
    • If your child is traveling on an Infant, Child, or Youth Fare and does not have a Rapid Rewards or MySouthwest® Account, you must create one for him/her in order to check in online.
    • You must present a valid picture I.D. proving age (Child or Youth) or a birth certificate (Infant) to the Customer Service Agent when you check in for your flight. At that time, the date of birth listed in your child's account will be updated to indicate that age has been verified. The next time your child travels you will be able to request the boarding pass on southwest.com.
    • If you prefer, you may mail a copy of the valid picture I.D. proving age or the birth certificate to: Southwest Airlines Customer Relations; PO Box 36662; Dallas, TX 75235. Please be sure to indicate your child's account number with your request, and submit your request at least 21 days prior to your flight.
    • The date of birth field in your child's account will be updated to reflect that he/she is verified. Please allow 2 weeks for processing.
    • If you submit your request in writing, you will receive a confirmation letter in the mail once the date of birth has been verified.
    • Once the date of birth has been verified, you may check in online and request a boarding pass as long as your child's account number is present in the reservation for which you are checking in.
  • Please remember to provide your child's account number when you make future reservations on southwest.com or through our toll-free Reservations number so that you can check in online.
  • Notes: 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 an E-Ticket Check-In kiosk.