Does my 2 year old need a car seat on Southwest Airlines?

Does my 2 year old need a car seat on Southwest Airlines? A car seat is not required, but is recommended by Southwest Here's some info from southwest.com: Southwest Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly recommend that infants and small children who weigh 40 pounds or less be secured in an appropriate CRS when traveling by air.

Do car seats fly free on Southwest?

Customers traveling with children will be allowed to check one stroller and one Child Restraint System (CRS) or car seat per child without charge. This is in addition to the regular free baggage allowance.

Can a 2 year old sit on a plane without a car seat?

You can choose to keep your baby or toddler in your lap if she's under 2. But children 2 and older have to sit in their own seats. In that case, both the FAA and AAP strongly recommend using a car seat or approved harness (booster seats aren't allowed).

How do I book my lap baby on Southwest?

You can book your reservation with a Lap Child online for both domestic and international travel--as long as you are not purchasing your reservation with Rapid Rewards points. For redemption bookings or to add a Lap Child to an existing reservation, you may call us at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA.

Do kids need birth certificates to fly southwest?

Employees may ask for age verification at any point, so please travel with a copy or original form of any government-issued ID, such as a birth certificate or passport for your child. A medical release for travel is required for any infant under 14 days old.

Does a diaper bag count as a carry on Southwest?

SouthWest: SouthWest includes diaper bags as part of your carry on allowance. As a carry on, it should be no larger than 24” (L) + 16” (W) + 10” (H). If you are using your diaper bag as a personal item, it should be able to fit under the seat, 16.25” (L) + 13.5” (W) + 8” (H).

Why does Southwest not assign seats?

Southwest Airlines has long argued that its unassigned seating policy is popular with passengers and facilitates speedier boarding. That means planes spend less time at the gate and more time in the air generating Southwest money. Over the years, the airline has tinkered with the no-system boarding system.

How can I sit with my child on Southwest Airlines?

There should be plenty of available seats for your family to sit together. At the airport, if you have a “B” or “C” boarding group, and you have a young child (age 6 or younger), then you can ask the gate agent for “family boarding.”

Can you save a seat on Southwest?

Officially, Southwest has no policy for or against seat saving, and in practice actively allows it. Reps will even suggest that passengers save seats for later boarding companions.

Can a 2 year old be a lap child on Southwest?

Who qualifies as a Lap Child? One child over 14 days and under two (2) years of age, not occupying a seat, may be carried as a Lap Child when traveling with an adult (12 years of age or older).

Do airlines check toddlers age?

Friends or acquaintances may tell you that age verification is not required for your lap child, but that is absolutely not true. While children don't need an ID for TSA, to fly as a lap infant and document to the airline that they are indeed under 2 years old, you need to be prepared.

Does diaper bag count as carry-on?

Diaper bags, soft-sided cooler bags with breast milk, child safety seats, strollers and medical or mobility devices don't count toward your personal item or carry-on.

How does a 2 year old go through TSA?

Parents/guardians should remove infants and children from strollers and car seats and carry them in their arms through the walk-through metal detector. Infants may be carried in a sling/carrier through the walk-through metal detector. Children will not be separated from their parent/guardian.

Do airlines require car seats for toddlers?

Child safety seats are not required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). However, both the FAA and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly encourage the use of a car seat or other child restraint system when flying with babies or young children.