Traveling with Children

Traveling With Children

Special Rules and Fares for Infants and Children

Infant and Child Fares are not available on Southwest.com. Contact a Southwest Airlines Customer Representative at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) for further details.

• Infants:
  • One child over 14 days and under two (2) years of age, not occupying a seat, may be carried free of charge when traveling with an adult (12 years 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 allowing 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.
  • To book Infant Fares for international flights, please contact us to book via phone at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792). After booking, you can view or cancel existing international itineraries for any of these fare types online at Southwest.com.
  • Southwest Employees may ask for age verification at any point within the Customer journey, so Customers should travel with a copy or original of any government-issued ID, such as a birth certificate or passport, for their Lap Child.
  • A copy of the child's birth certificate is required to validate the age of all infants under two.
  • A medical release for travel is required for any infant under 14 days old.
  • For more information, please see Baby On Board.
• Children:
  • Accompanied children ages two through 11 may purchase the applicable Child Fare for the flight (does not apply to unaccompanied children ages five through 11). Please contact us via phone at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) to confirm if a child fare is available for a specific flight.
  • To book Child Fares for international flights, please contact us to confirm if a child fare is available and to book via phone at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792). After booking, you can view or cancel existing international itineraries for any of these fare types online at Southwest.com.
  • Proof of age will be required at the time of travel.
  • Online checkin is available if the child is traveling on a Child Fare and is age verified.

Unaccompanied Minors

Minors under the age of 18 are not permitted to fly unaccompanied on international flights or any itinerary that includes an international flight. If a minor is traveling with an adult age 18 and over, they must be listed on the same flight itinerary.

These Unaccompanied Minor policies apply on Southwest Airlines only. Other airlines may have different policies and procedures.

For more information on Southwest Airlines policies regarding Unaccompanied Minors, please see Unaccompanied Minors Terms and Conditions.

Online Checkin for Child and Infant Fares

If your child is traveling on an Infant or Child Fare and is age verified, you may request his/her boarding pass on Southwest.com. If your child is traveling on an Infant or Child 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 or Child Fare and does not have a Rapid Rewards or Southwest account, you must create one for him/her in order to check in online.
  • An Infant Fare or Child Fare can be purchased as a non-lap ticket and will still require age verification either at the airport or within the child’s Rapid Rewards account prior to travel.  Age verification for Infant/Child fares will require a copy or original of any government-issued ID, such as a birth certificate or passport, for their Infant/Child.
  • You must present a valid Government-issued I.D. providing age (child) or a birth certificate (infant) to the Customer Service Agent at the airport 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.
  • If you prefer, you may mail a copy of the child's valid Government-issued I.D. proving age (for children) or the birth certificate (infants) to: Southwest Airlines Customer Relations; PO Box 36662; Dallas, TX 75235. Be sure to include your child's Rapid Rewards or Southwest account number with your request and submit it at least two weeks prior to your child's flight.
  • The date of birth field in your child's account will be updated to reflect that he/she is age-verified. Please allow two 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 Rapid Rewards or Southwest account number when you make future reservations on Southwest.com or with a Southwest Airlines Customer Representative over the phone so that you can check in online.

Note:

If you are not traveling on a Infant, Child, or Senior Fare, you do not need to be age verified to request your boarding pass on Southwest.com or at an Self-Service kiosk.