Flying Southwest with Children

Every flight I have taken let people with small kids board early. Also, no one will stop you if you are among the first to board. I reccommend being aggressive and being at the front of the line. Also most famillies and single passengers will allow famillies to sit together. Especially if you have kids. I wouldn't worry...

But less is more to carry on the plan. I reccomend bringing a stroller and it usually helps you to borad as one of the first. Strollers are also easier with little kids to get to connecting flights. Also try to flag down carts.

Hi M.,
I just flew SW last month with my two young boys and I didn't have any problem. Although they don't let passengers with children load first, they usually let them load after the "A" seating group (or second). Before B & C class. They also have a separate security line for families, so that is nice.

The trick is to go online and print out your boarding pass with your seating class as close to 24 hours in advance that you can. You can't get your boarding passes any earlier, but the sooner the better. This will usually assure you an "A" class seating arrangement where you get to board first.

Plus, the flight attendants are usually very good at asking people to move so that you can be seated together, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Good luck!

Arrive early. Boarding assignments are given at the gate, you may even be able to print the boarding pass online. If you are early to board, then you will have a larger choice of seats.

I know the feeling you have of being separated.

My hubby flies SW and American all the time. One thing is for sure, the attendants help you a lot and try to get you together.

I've been assigned seats rows away from daughter on AAir and never not been able for someone to switch so we could sit together. Also we were also able to board early when daughter was younger. Just this past May when we were waiting on a flight, they asked for families or anyone who needed extra time to board early, after the first class, platinum and gold members.

Most of the passengers on SW are just as nice about making sure moms are with kiddos. We've had good experiences with both SW and AAir

Enjoy.

The don't sit passengers with children first, but they do do it after the A boarding if you don't have an A boarding pass. Check in online 24 hours before the flight and you should get A boarding, but you have to do it right at 24 hours before. I did this 2 weeks ago and I boarded 35th, and there were still plenty of aisles with 3 seats in them. Worst case, you will have to ask someone to move, and when they see your infant, they'll move. On our flights, the empty seat next to me and my 4 month old was the last seat filled. No one wants to sit next to a baby, no matter how good they end up being.

you've already gotten your answer.

Check in As Soon As you hit your 24 hour mark. that will get you in the A group and near the front of the line. Even if you get a B or C group, you can board after A with children. That will ensure you guys sit together. For some really odd reason, it doesn't, people are nice human beings and will switch so you can sit by your kids.

No worries!

I fly SW all the time and I can tell you that they will NEVER make you sit apart from your child.

I've been flying with my son (now 4.5) for 4 years now and on various air lines. In my experience, SW is the best. We'll be flying again in a few weeks. AA does not (and never has in my experience) allow for family boarding btw, so forget that. SW does allow families who do not have A boarding passes, to board after all the A passengers are called and before the B passengers. It's not the end of the world. Also, if you print your boarding passes 24 hours exactly before the flight, you will get in the A boarding group. There are no seat assignments on SW -- never have been. It's open seating and people are always happy to help out a mother in need I've found.

I've never had any problems. You'll have a good time. Love Field is a breeze. They have a family lane for security so it's usually no problem -- much easier than DFW in my experience. If you plan to do some flying in the future, sign yourself and your kids up for the rapid rewards. We've gotten a couple of free tickets that way.

I have never flown Southwest, but I did fly stand by once with my family. We ended up getting 4 seats scattered throughout the plane. It was my husband, me and my two kids who were 6 and 3 at the time. We divided up and each sat with a kid and asked the person who would have been sitting next to our child to take our seat and both were more than happy to help. The lady I switched with was glad because she'd had a middle seat and I gave her my aisle seat. My husband spoke to the stewardess first and she offered the man a free meal or beverage if he'd switch, so he happily obliged. I would think if someone saw you coming on with kids, they'd be happy to help you out. I know I would. If not, then set your eight year old with them and tell her to talk their ear off :) HEHE