Anyone flown Southwest with baby?

bhjones1980 · August 2013

I am getting mixed answers from googling, has anyone flown Southwest Airlines recently with their LO?

My main question is can I gate check both the stroller and car seat? It is a travel system

OhSewCrafty · August 2013

I called them a few weeks ago to ask that and they said yes.

bhjones1980 · August 2013

OhSewCrafty said:

I called them a few weeks ago to ask that and they said yes.

Great thanks! someone in my Moms group the other day said United would only allow you to gate check one or the other... uh that makes NO sense.

smash1228 · August 2013

I flew southwest 2 weeks ago with dd. Yes you can check both stroller and carseat at the gate! Bring the birth certificate, they checked hers when we checked in. If there are extra seats you can bring the seat on the plane if you want, i just checked it and held her the whole time.

bhjones1980 · August 2013

smash1228 said:

I flew southwest 2 weeks ago with dd. Yes you can check both stroller and carseat at the gate! Bring the birth certificate, they checked hers when we checked in. If there are extra seats you can bring the seat on the plane if you want, i just checked it and held her the whole time.

Why do you need the birth certificate? I had no idea!

So if the flight isn't full they will let you use the seat at no cost?

JordynLeighx3 · August 2013

I'd gate check your stroller and pay for a seat on the plane to use your seat.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=spYWuO20fCM

Food for though

evertz · August 2013

What's pp's said! I flew with them a couple weeks ago. They did ask for LO's birth certificate and shot record. I didn't have that info and they let me go anway but they said that I should always have that info when traveling. Just FYI.

Gate checking is easy. Just check with the person at the gate ahead of time so they can get your info on the stroller and carseat. You also get to do family boarding and board the plane after the A group so you don't have to worry about checking in right at the 24 hr ahead limit to try to get a good boarding number.

chellebell82 · August 2013

I also flew Southwest recently. I only needed my LO's birth certificate but was told over the phone to bring either his birth certificate or shot record, either one of these are needed for age verification. I was also told if it wasn't a full flight I could bring the carseat on, for the flight there we brought on but I just ended up holding him the whole time so the flight back we gate checked it.

bhjones1980 · August 2013

I just called about their "affordable infant rates" and was told it would be $1000.... ok

but I can buy him a regular non refundable ticket for $550 or test my luck there will be a seat on the days of travel, she said both flights have lots of room right now (the flight is in 13 days).

Hmmmmmmmm

Ann003 · August 2013

I flew with 2! You can check a car seat and stroller for each child, but a lap child doesn't get a checked bag.

kgs0505 · August 2013

True, the lap infant doesn't get a checked bag, but each paid assenger gets two free, so it shouldn't be an issue. I highly, highly suggest carrying your LO and baggage checking your stroller and carseat. Getting those through security is just a giant PITA. That said, if you do chose to baggage check (and both items fly free BTW), get yourself a heavy duty travel bag for both, otherwise things get ripped and dirty. I like the Britax bags for the carseats. I haven't found a great one for the stroller yet. If you chose to gate check, fine, but if you have a short lay over at all (75 minutes or less), you will have a hard time because you have to wait for your items then assemble everything, and it just takes a lot of time, especially if you are by yourself. If you have another adult you are travelling with, it'll be easier.

evertz · August 2013

We didn't buy our baby a seat. On one of the flights there were open seats and they offered to let us take the carseat in if we wanted... but I just held him.

I didn't think getting through security with the carseat and stroller was difficult at all but I also had DH with me to help put stuff up on the conveyor.

ClandestineX · August 2013

That is weird because when I took my son, they didn't ask for any identification other than my ID. I didn't need to go through any scanners either. That is cool about checking in both car seat and stroller, I thought they would only do one or the other, ya know limited space and everything?

When I fly back on the 20th I am going to do the same thing I did coming here, just check the seat and stroller at baggage. I am going through Chicago this time around and I heard that O'Hare is crazy.

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