Southwest Airlines Community

Hi @mikeandpam!   This is a great question. For starters, I think it's a great decision to bring the seats on the plane with you. It's easier to manage, plus it's a familiar place to them, not to mention the safety benefits.    Next, you will have to place the car seats in the window, as per Federal Aviation Regulations the seats cannot block the access to the center aisle. So you won't be able to place seats as you suggested.    I would suggest that you seat yourselves "two and two" one in front of the other. This way you will be able to put the babies in the windows and you and your spouse can still see and talk to one another, reasonably.    A few things I'd also mention are that if the flight isn't full, there's a possibility that you can each keep the middle seat open and still have the row to yourselves. You probably won't know that until Boarding occurs.    Next, keep in mind that most infant seats these days have a base for ease of use, but they aren't required. Check the Owners Manual on your seats; you may be able to leave the bases at home. One (two) less thing to carry!   Finally, if you don't get an A Group boarding pass, your family qualifies (children 6 and under) for Family Boarding, which occurs just after A Group boards.    Best of luck in your travels, and come back to The Community with any questions!   Sarah   P.S. You might also call to ask about Infant fares for your flight. Sometimes they aren't priced better, but sometimes they are. You have to call to get them, they're not available online.  ... View more

Hi @wytetigerlily!   Yes, you can bring powdered formula on the plane. I never have brought a whole can, but usually slightly more than I think I'll need. I don't bring bottled water because you have to get it screened further at TSA (see here: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures/traveling-children). But that is allowed.   I have purchased water in the airport to mix with, or when on the plane I have also asked for a cup of hot/warm water to mix up the bottle with.    For ease of travel I also recommend the little travel packets of formula that are premeasured. Really easy to throw 5-6 of those in my diaper bag and know I have plenty of formula on hand that's ready to just pour into the bottle.   Good luck! And don't forget to use Family Boarding if you're not in the A Group boarding. 🙂   Sarah ... View more

They should be available everywhere and they are $15.  ... View more

Hi alisonli88! Welcome to the community.    1) With two paid seats, you each get two checked bags, weighing less than 50lbs, for free.    2) You may check your car seat with your bags if you'd like. It is free and does not count as one of your two free bags.    3) You may gate check your stroller. It is free. Just make sure it gets a destination tag.    4) Family Boarding is always available to families with children 6 and under. It occurs after the A Group has boarded. They will usually call for "families with small children".    5) This may be airport specific, I'd check your local airport's website for this and lots of other good-to-know info. I am unaware of an airport with a family security lane, but that's doesn't mean they don't exist!   Have a great trip! ... View more

Good morning!   you will want to keep your stroller with you and gate check it. You can get your stroller tagged like the rest of your luggage, but take it with you through security.    If your stroller folds down small enough to lay on the belt and send it through the X-ray machine, that's the easiest. However if it's too big, just tell the TSA personnel that it won't fit and they can do extra screening on it separately.    You can then then use your stroller in the terminal and once you are boarding you fold down your stroller and leave it in the jetbridge area before you board the plane (there are often other strollers there).    When exiting the plane for your layover, your stroller will again be in the jetbride for your use. This will be true anytime you leave your stroller for gate checking, whether it's your final destination, or a layover.    Best of luck traveling, and don't forget to use Family Boarding! ... View more

Hi there!   You can check two bags under 50lbs for free. And you may have two carry-on items that will fit under the seat in front of you, or in the overhead bin. Your purse counts as one of your two carry on items.    Happy travels! ... View more

Hey there!   As a lap baby your child needs to be between 14 days and 2 years old. So you may need a birth certificate to verify his or her age.    To travel as a lap baby, you just need to show up with the verification and obtain a Boarding Verification Document from the ticket counter.    You can read read more info here: https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/family/baby-on-board-pol.html   And, I always remind families to use Family Boarding if you have anything but an A Group Boarding pass. Family Boarding happens between A and B Boarding. The Ops Agent will call for families with small children, and that will be you! ... View more

Hi 5trammells!   There is no limit. Strollers of any kind can be gate checked. You'll want to make sure you get it tagged, then just leave it in the jet bridge when you board the plane. It will be there for you when you arrive on the other side.    More info here: https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/baggage/carryon-bags-pol.html   Dont forget to use Family Boarding (if you don't have A Group Boarding), which happens between A and B Groups.    Good luck! ... View more

Yes, 6 and under, you're good to go. Your 8 year old is allowed to come with you as well.  ... View more

Hi abbijasmine!    Yes! You can use Family Boarding with your family if you have a child 6 and under. Family Boarding occurs between A and B group.    Best of luck! ... View more

Hi there, welcome to the Community!   SWA seats are 17 inches between armrests, so your Britax seats might be a bit too big. Do they have an "FAA Approved" sticker somewhere on them?   If your babies are big enough, I'd highly recommend looking into the CARES harness. It's my favorite way to strap my kids (age 1.5 and 4) into their seats on the plane. It's FAA approved, safe, and super convenient. http://kidsflysafe.com/   I mostly use this when I don't need to have my car seats with me (visiting family that have our extra seats, or using public transportation). Another thing you might consider if you'd rather a car seat is the COSCO Scenara (found at Walmart for under $50). It is REALLY lightweight (i.e. easy to lug around the airport) and definitely fits into the plane seat, forward and backward. When I had only my older child, that's what we used most of the time when flying.    Don't forget to use Family Boarding, and feel free to send other questions our way! Happy travels!   Sarah   P.S. I did search and find that all Britax car seats are FAA approved. And, you can just raise the armrests. So your seats will fit. But I'd still have you to consider either of the options I gave to see if they might work for your family; I know it's hard work to carry kids, seats and carry on items all to the gate on your own. That said, I know you can make it work whichever you decide is right for you! ... View more

Hi @sgobert   As long as your child is 6 and under, you are allowed to board after the A Group. (If you have an A Group boarding pass, you're welcome to board then.)   To use this option, just stand near where the Ops Agent (ticket taker) is calling people to line up and board. Stand away from the line and out of the way. The Ops Agent will call for families with kids 6 and under to board after all the A Group folks have gone in. Then you just go on up and hand in your boarding pass.    Best of luck! ... View more

Hey there!   Family Boarding is how Southwest allows families with children 6 and under board early (after the A Group) in order to ensure seats together and get car seats and other items onboard in a timely fashion.    🙂 ... View more