Flying Southwest with 4 yo

[Anonymous]

It's been a while since I've flown anywhere. And now I'm planning to fly with my 4 yo girl to a wedding in California thru Southwest. I haven't bought the tickets yet... but I've been looking online at their policies and I have a lot of questions. When it says you need picture ID proof of your kid's age... what counts? I have no picture ID of her. I have a birth certificate. Where can I get a picture ID? Also... the website mentions a "child rate"... any idea how much that rate compares to normal rates?

And about checking in online v. in person... Which is better? How do I make sure we get boarded early enough to sit together??

Yes, it's been a while since I've been on a plane... and I've never flown with my kid before... so I'm nervous about making sure I do everything right.

[Anonymous]

Don't worry!

You don't need any ID at all for your child if you're not flying outside the US. You just need your photo ID. No need for birth certificate or anything else.

The kid's rate on SW is cheaper than the most expensive rate. If there is a less expensive ticket available, that will be cheaper than the child rate. (SW usually has a few different classes, but the cheap ones sell early) Their customer service is really good, so I would call and book the tickets over the phone to make sure you're getting the best deal possible. SOmetimes you do a kid's rate one way and a regular the other.

I would check-in online 24 hours ahead of time to get a good boarding time. You won't be in teh first group, since those are for the frequent fliers. But you'll probably make it to the second. I have been on a flight where there were not 2 seats together for a mother-child and the flight attendant asked people to move. So you'll be together regardless, but it's easier if everyone doesn't have to rearrange after boarding.

Just bring snacks and toys/books and you'll be fine! Safe travels

[Anonymous]

We have gotten the infant rate when it was cheaper than the web fare (e.g., flying to San Diego, our son's rate is $270 RT; mine was >$500), and we have used the adult web fare when it was cheaper. I am not sure about the IDs for the child rate. For infants, we had to bring his birth certificate in person, and they now have his birthdate in their system (with his own FF number) so that we are able to check in online. Definitely plan to do that if you can. We've had no trouble getting in the beginning of the "A" group, just by being sure to check in asap within the 24-hour window before the flight. (You say that you haven't flown in a while--if you've never flown SW, read through their boarding procedures as they're different than other airlines. You will understand the A group after you read them.)

TSA just waved us off when we offered his birth certificate to them--it may be that the ID request is from Southwest to verify your child's age. They told me this last time we booked that I'd still need to get a BVD, which on their website is a "boarding verification document" but the person on the phone called a "baby verification doc." It was clear that they were wrong--the BVD is only for a lap child when you don't buy a ticket; a child (even an infant) with a ticket, will get a regular boarding pass. In other words, I would go to the TSA site for ID questions; don't rely on Southwest. They are super-helpful, but not necessarily knowledgeable about everything.

[Anonymous]

huge thank you!!!