---
type: Airline Policy
title: Southwest Airlines — Child & Family Travel Policy
description: "Independent family travel guide summarizing Southwest Airlines' published infant, baggage, family boarding and unaccompanied minor policies for families."
resource: https://www.velivolotravel.com/airlines-child-policy/southwest-airlines/
tags: [airline, policy, us-low-cost, iata-wn]
timestamp: 2026-06-03
---
# Flying Southwest Airlines with Kids: Free Bags, Family Boarding & Lap Infant

**Quick Answer**: Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, every ticketed passenger receives 2 free checked bags (50 lb each), and families with children age 6 and under board between groups A and B.

**TL;DR**: Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, the carrier's two most family-distinctive features are its Bags Fly Free allowance — two free checked bags up to 50 lb for every passenger, children included — and family boarding for children age 6 and under (broader than the US-industry-typical under-2 cutoff). The structural trade-off is an all-737 narrow-body fleet with no bassinets and no seatback IFE. With assigned seating arriving in 2026, the open-seating adjacency challenge should ease, but verify directly at southwest.com before booking.

## At a Glance
- **Lap Infant**: Free (US + Caribbean/Mexico/Central America) — Under 24 months; 14-day newborn minimum
- **Family Boarding**: Yes — between groups A and B — Children age 6 and under
- **Stroller Check**: Free — Gate or counter; jet-bridge return at most stations
- **Car Seat Check**: Free — FAA sticker required for in-cabin use
- **UM Service**: USD 100 each way — Ages 5–11 mandatory; non-stop only

## Quick Facts
- Per Southwest Airlines' published Bags Fly Free policy, every ticketed passenger — including children — receives 2 free checked bags weighing up to 50 lb each.
- Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, family boarding is called between boarding groups A and B for families traveling with children age 6 and under.
- Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, lap infants under 24 months fly free on domestic routes and on international routes to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America (taxes/fees may apply).
- According to Southwest Airlines' published policy, the carrier operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet with no bassinet mounts on any aircraft.
- Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, unaccompanied minor service is available for USD 100 each way on non-stop flights for children ages 5–11.

## Velivolo Family Score: 6.3/10 — Decent
- **Lap Infant Cost** (8/10): Free on domestic routes and free on Southwest's Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America international routes (taxes/fees may apply).
- **Family Boarding** (7/10): Families with children age 6 and under board between groups A and B — broader threshold than the industry-typical under-2.
- **Stroller & Car Seat** (7/10): Both checked free; uniform 737 fleet means consistent jet-bridge return at most stations; FAA sticker required for in-cabin CRS use.
- **Bassinet & Onboard** (1/10): No bassinets on any aircraft; free Wi-Fi streaming to personal devices (no seatback IFE); no kids' meal; bottle warming on request.
- **Unaccompanied Minor** (5/10): USD 100 each way; mandatory for ages 5–11; optional 12–17; non-stop flights only; phone booking required.
- **Baggage for Kids** (8/10): 2 free checked bags (50 lb each) for every passenger — including ticketed children. Uniquely generous across the entire 28-airline universe reviewed.

## Lap Infant
- **Cost (Domestic)**: Free
- **Cost (International)**: Free (Caribbean, Mexico, Central America); taxes/fees may apply
- **Age Limit**: Under 24 months at time of travel; minimum 14 days old
- **Documents**: Birth certificate (recommended for domestic flights), Passport (required for international travel), Immunization record with date of birth (acceptable alternative for domestic age verification)

Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, infants under 24 months at time of travel may fly on a parent's lap at no base fare on domestic routes and on Southwest-operated international routes to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. Taxes and fees may apply on international itineraries. A minimum age of 14 days applies.

**Source**: https://www.southwest.com/help/traveling-with-children

## Family Boarding
- **Available**: Yes
- **Boarding Zone**: Between boarding groups A and B (after A, before B)
- **Age Eligibility**: Children age 6 and under

Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, families traveling with children age 6 and under are called to board between boarding groups A and B — after A-group passengers (EarlyBird purchasers and elite-tier customers) board and before the B group begins. No extra fee is required for family boarding.

## Stroller & Car Seat
Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, one stroller and one child restraint system (car seat) per ticketed child are accepted free of charge. The all-737 fleet means jet-bridge return is available at most Southwest stations, so parents can typically collect strollers at the jet bridge upon arrival.

- **Standard Stroller** — Fee: Free, Check at: Gate or ticket counter, Size: No published size restriction for gate check. Includes umbrella, full-size, and jogging strollers; gate-check tag available at the ticket counter or gate.
- **Child Restraint System (Car Seat)** — Fee: Free, Check at: Gate or ticket counter, Size: FAA-approved label required for in-cabin use; gate check has no size restriction. Per Southwest's published policy, an FAA-approval label is required if using the CRS in-cabin during flight; for checked transport only, the sticker is not required.
- **Booster Seat** — Fee: Free, Check at: Gate or ticket counter, Size: Treated as child safety equipment. Traditional booster seats (no built-in harness) are not FAA-approved for in-cabin use; accept as gate-checked baggage.
- **Pack-n-Play / Portable Crib** — Fee: Included in standard checked-bag allowance (free under Bags Fly Free), Check at: Ticket counter (checked bag), Size: Standard checked-bag weight limit (50 lb) applies. Because every Southwest passenger receives 2 free checked bags, the pack-n-play effectively travels free within the Bags Fly Free allowance.

## Baggage by Age
- **Lap Infant (Under 24 Months)** — Carry-on: None (shares parent's allowance); diaper bag exempt from parent's carry-on limit; Checked: None — lap infants do not receive their own checked-bag allowance; Personal: Diaper bag exempt (additional, not counted against parent's allowance). The diaper bag exemption is the key allowance for lap infants; pack efficiently.
- **Infant with Own Seat (Under 24 Months)** — Carry-on: 1 carry-on bag (same as adult ticket); Checked: 2 free checked bags up to 50 lb each (Bags Fly Free applies); Personal: 1 personal item + diaper bag (exempt). A purchased infant seat activates the full adult baggage allowance including 2 free checked bags.
- **Child 2+ (Ticketed Passenger)** — Carry-on: 1 carry-on bag (same as adult ticket); Checked: 2 free checked bags up to 50 lb each (Bags Fly Free applies to every ticketed passenger); Personal: 1 personal item. This is Southwest's key differentiator — a family of 4 checks up to 8 bags free, saving USD 200–400+ compared to legacy or ULCC carriers.

## Bassinet & Onboard
- **Bassinet Available**: No




Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, bassinets are not available on any Southwest aircraft. The all-Boeing 737 narrow-body fleet has no bulkhead bassinet mounts, and the open-seating model precludes pre-assigned bassinet positions. Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, southwest does not offer a dedicated kids' meal or in-seat entertainment, though free Wi-Fi streaming to personal devices is available on most flights.

## Child Fare
- **No child discount**

Per Southwest Airlines' published fare structure, all passengers age 2 and older pay the full published adult fare regardless of age. Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, southwest does not offer a child discount, a youth fare, or a family-bundle ticket. This is consistent with most US domestic carriers. The carrier's family cost advantage lies entirely in the Bags Fly Free policy — which saves a family of four USD 200 to USD 400 or more in checked-bag fees per round trip compared with Spirit, Frontier, American, United, or Delta. Parents should compare total trip cost (ticket + bag fees) rather than ticket price alone when evaluating Southwest against alternatives. Always verify the booking total at southwest.com before purchase.

## Unaccompanied Minor
- **Available**: Yes
- **Fee**: USD 100 each way

Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, unaccompanied minor service is available for children ages 5 through 17. The service is mandatory for ages 5–11 and optional for ages 12–17. A fee of USD 100 each way applies, and the service is restricted to non-stop flights only. Booking must be completed by phone.

## Industry Comparison
### How Southwest Airlines compares to other US carriers for family travel

Southwest Airlines occupies a distinctive position in US domestic family travel. Its single most powerful differentiator — per Southwest Airlines' published Bags Fly Free policy — is the provision of two free checked bags (50 lb each) for every ticketed passenger, children included. In a landscape where United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines charge USD 35–45 per checked bag each way for most economy fares, and where Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines charge USD 30–95 for carry-ons alone, Southwest's baseline represents a family-of-four savings of USD 200–400 or more per round trip. No other carrier in this 28-airline review set matches this across all fare types.

On family boarding, Southwest's published eligibility extends to children age 6 and under — a broader threshold than the under-2 standard at JetBlue Airways or the under-13 threshold at Delta and American. This gives parents of preschool-age children a meaningful boarding advantage to secure adjacent seats on Southwest's current open-seating model.

Where Southwest lags is in onboard experience. Unlike Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, or Emirates — all of which offer reservable bassinets on long-haul wide-body routes — Southwest's all-737 narrow-body fleet has no bassinet mounts on any aircraft. There is no seatback entertainment; passengers stream to personal devices over the carrier's free Wi-Fi (Bring Your Own Device model). JetBlue offers free seatback IFE and Wi-Fi.

On unaccompanied minor service, Southwest's USD 100 each-way fee is lower than JetBlue's USD 150 and accepts children from age 5 — a younger threshold than Frontier Airlines (which does not transport unaccompanied minors under 15) or Allegiant Air. The non-stop-only restriction is a standard limitation shared across US mid-tier and ULCC operators.

For US domestic family travel checking gear, Southwest's total-cost advantage is difficult to match.

## Family Pros & Cons
**Pros:**
- 2 free checked bags (50 lb each) for every passenger including ticketed children — no other US carrier matches this baseline
- Family boarding for children age 6 and under — broader than the US-industry-typical under-2 threshold
- Lap infants fly free on domestic routes and on international routes to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America
- Free stroller and car seat check with consistent jet-bridge return on the all-737 fleet at most stations
- Diaper bag is free and exempt from carry-on limits — an extra bag compared to ULCC peers

**Cons:**
- No bassinets on any aircraft — the all-737 narrow-body fleet has no bulkhead bassinet mounts
- No seatback in-flight entertainment — families must stream to personal devices over Wi-Fi (BYOD model)
- Open seating (until 2026 transition) means adjacent seats are not guaranteed — family boarding helps but doesn't eliminate the risk
- Unaccompanied minor service restricted to non-stop flights only, booking by phone required

## Parent Tips
- **Board in the family group, not alone**: Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, family boarding is called between groups A and B for parties with children age 6 and under. Check in at exactly 24 hours before departure to maximize boarding-position quality. Even with family boarding, an A-group position improves overhead bin access and adjacent-seat selection on the open-seating cabin.
- **Count every Bags Fly Free bag**: A family of four on Southwest can check up to 8 bags at zero cost (2 per ticketed passenger). This changes the math on weeklong vacations — Southwest's free-bag advantage often offsets a higher base fare versus Spirit or Frontier. Calculate total per-trip cost including bags before booking on price alone.
- **Confirm infant add for Mexico bookings**: Adding a lap infant to a domestic booking via Manage Reservations is straightforward. However, Mexico-bound itineraries have a known online-tool issue — always verify the confirmation email shows the infant before the flight. If the online add fails, contact Southwest through its official website to complete the addition by phone before the check-in window opens.
- **Download content before boarding**: Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, southwest offers free Wi-Fi for streaming, but connectivity at altitude can be inconsistent on transcontinental routes. Pre-load Disney+ or Netflix content on a tablet before boarding as a backup. The seatback pocket on the 737 fits a 10-inch tablet — secure it before takeoff.

## FAQ
### Are infants charged a fare on Southwest Airlines?

Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, infants under 24 months at time of travel may fly as lap infants at no base fare on US domestic routes. On Southwest's international routes to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America, lap infants also travel free of a base fare, though taxes and government-imposed fees may apply depending on the destination and itinerary. A minimum age of 14 days applies — Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, southwest does not accept newborns under 14 days for air travel. The infant's age is determined on the date of each flight segment, so if your child turns 2 during a round-trip, the return leg requires a purchased seat at the full adult fare. Always verify the total fee breakdown for international bookings at southwest.com before confirming.

### Does my infant need their own seat on Southwest Airlines?

Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, infants under 24 months are not required to have their own seat and may travel as lap infants at no base fare. However, the FAA strongly recommends that every child under 2 fly in an approved child restraint system (CRS) secured in their own seat, as lap-held infants are not restrained during turbulence. If you choose to purchase a seat for your infant, the full adult fare applies — Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, southwest does not offer a discounted infant seat fare. The purchased seat must be used with an FAA-approved CRS bearing the official approval label. In-cabin use of the car seat requires that FAA label to be clearly visible to flight crew. Always verify current seat-purchase options at southwest.com.

### Can I reserve a bassinet on Southwest Airlines?

Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, bassinets are not offered on any Southwest aircraft. The carrier operates an all-Boeing 737 narrow-body fleet — the 737-700, 737-800, and 737 MAX 8 — none of which are equipped with bulkhead bassinet attachment points. Additionally, Southwest's current open-seating model makes pre-assigned bassinet rows structurally impractical. Parents of infants who need in-flight sleeping support should bring a soft-structured carrier or baby carrier for use during the flight. For families who specifically need bassinet availability, long-haul international carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, or Singapore Airlines offer reservable bassinets on their wide-body aircraft — a fundamentally different product category from Southwest's domestic and near-international network.

### What is the child baggage allowance on Southwest Airlines?

Per Southwest Airlines' published Bags Fly Free policy, every ticketed passenger — including children with their own purchased seat — receives 2 free checked bags weighing up to 50 lb (approximately 23 kg) each. This applies to every fare type on every Southwest route. A family of four with two ticketed children can check up to 8 bags at no cost, saving USD 200–400 or more compared with most US legacy carriers or ULCCs that charge USD 25–45 per bag per direction. Lap infants (no purchased seat) do not receive their own checked-bag allowance but benefit from the diaper bag exemption, which does not count against the accompanying adult's carry-on allowance. Always verify the baggage summary at southwest.com before your trip.

### What are the Southwest Airlines unaccompanied minor rules?

Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, unaccompanied minor service is available for children ages 5 through 17. For children ages 5 to 11, the service is mandatory — these children may not travel alone without the UM program. For children ages 12 to 17, the service is optional. The fee is USD 100 each way. A critical restriction applies: Southwest's UM service is limited to non-stop flights only — connecting itineraries are not accepted under any circumstances. Booking must be completed by phone through Southwest's official reservations channel; online self-service is not available for UM bookings. A responsible adult must accompany the child through check-in and remain at the airport until the flight departs; a receiving adult with matching government-issued photo ID must be present at the destination before the child is released. Always verify current UM rules at southwest.com before booking.

### What age qualifies for Southwest Airlines family boarding?

Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, family boarding is available for parties traveling with at least one child age 6 or under. The boarding group is called after the A group (which includes EarlyBird purchasers and business-select customers) and before the B group begins. This age threshold — 6 and under — is notably broader than the US-industry norm, where most carriers (including JetBlue) pre-board only families with children under 2. The practical result is that parents of kindergarten-age children can use the family boarding window rather than being separated into general boarding. As of 2026, Southwest is transitioning to an assigned-seating model; the family-boarding mechanic is expected to be preserved in some form, but verify the current boarding procedure at southwest.com for your specific travel date.

### Does Southwest charge for checked bags for children?

Per Southwest Airlines' published Bags Fly Free policy, no fee applies to the first 2 checked bags for any ticketed passenger, including ticketed children. Unlike Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, or Spirit Airlines — which charge USD 30–99 per bag per direction on most economy fares — Southwest's checked-bag allowance is included in every fare type at no additional cost. Children traveling as ticketed passengers (age 2 and older with their own purchased seat) receive the full 2-bag allowance. Lap infants do not receive a separate checked-bag allowance but the diaper bag is exempt from the parent's carry-on limit. This Bags Fly Free policy is the primary family-cost differentiator Southwest holds versus the rest of the US mid-tier and ULCC market. Verify baggage policies at southwest.com before booking.

### Will Southwest's open seating end in 2026 and how does that affect families?

According to Southwest Airlines' published announcements, the carrier is transitioning from its longstanding open-seating model to assigned seating in 2026, with the addition of extra-legroom seats. For families, the open-seating model has historically meant that adjacent seat selection depended on boarding position — family boarding between groups A and B gave families a practical advantage but no formal guarantee of sitting together. Under assigned seating, families will be able to select seats at the time of booking, which should eliminate the uncertainty about adjacency. Southwest has published that the family-boarding mechanic will be preserved in some capacity through the transition. The Bags Fly Free checked-bag policy is confirmed to remain unchanged. For any booking with travel dates that may fall during or after the 2026 transition, verify the current seating model and boarding procedure directly at southwest.com before purchasing.

### Can I add a lap infant to my Southwest booking online?

Per Southwest Airlines' published booking information, lap infants can be added to domestic bookings through the Manage Reservations tool at southwest.com after the adult ticket is purchased. This is more convenient than many US carriers that require a phone call for all infant additions. However, there is a documented edge case: some international bookings — particularly to Mexico — have known issues with the online infant-add tool. If you encounter an error during the online process for a Mexico or Caribbean itinerary, note your booking confirmation number and contact Southwest Airlines through its official website or reservations channels to complete the addition. Always verify the updated booking confirmation email before travel to confirm the infant appears on the reservation manifest.

### Is Southwest Airlines on the DOT Family Seating Dashboard?

According to the US Department of Transportation's published Family Seating Dashboard — which tracks US airline commitments to seat children adjacent to accompanying adults without a fee — Southwest Airlines is on the commitment list as of 2026. The DOT initiative identifies carriers that have publicly committed to seating children near an accompanying adult without charging an additional seat-selection fee. Southwest's inclusion on the dashboard reflects its overall family-seating approach, supported by the family-boarding policy that enables families with children age 6 and under to board early and self-select adjacent seats. With the planned 2026 transition to assigned seating, Southwest's commitment under the DOT framework is expected to continue under the new model. Always verify the current DOT dashboard status at transportation.gov and Southwest's current seat-selection policies at southwest.com.

### Are strollers and car seats free on Southwest Airlines?

Per Southwest Airlines' published policy, one stroller and one child restraint system (car seat) per ticketed child are accepted free of charge at either the ticket counter or at the gate. These items are in addition to the standard 2 free checked bags per passenger under the Bags Fly Free policy — they do not consume any portion of the baggage allowance. The all-Boeing 737 fleet means jet-bridge return is available at most Southwest stations, so parents can typically collect strollers at the jet bridge upon landing rather than at baggage claim. If using a car seat in-cabin during the flight, an FAA-approval label must be visibly affixed to the seat. For gate check, no size or weight restriction is published for strollers. Booster seats without a built-in harness are not FAA-approved for in-cabin use but are accepted for gate-checked transport at no fee. Verify current policies at southwest.com before travel.

## Related Airlines
- [JetBlue Airways](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/jetblue-airways.md) (family score 6.1/10) — Free seatback IFE + Wi-Fi on every flight; family boarding for under-2s; DOT-committed mid-tier alternative.
- [Alaska Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/alaska-airlines.md) (family score 6.7/10) — West Coast hub rival; DOT-committed; lap infants free on all Alaska-operated routes including Hawaii.
- [Frontier Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/frontier-airlines.md) (family score 5.3/10) — Ultra-low-cost DEN hub rival; free stroller and car seat check; no UM service under age 15.
- [Hawaiian Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/hawaiian-airlines.md) (family score 6.2/10) — Hawaii-direct competitor with inter-island and mainland routes; lap infants free; no bassinets on narrow-body.
- [Emirates](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/emirates.md) (family score 7.8/10) — Long-haul contrast: auto-allocated bassinets on A380/777 wide-body fleet; the bassinet benchmark Southwest cannot match.

## Related Concepts
- [Back to Airlines Catalog](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/index.md)
- [Flying with a Baby item × airline guides](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/flying-with-a-baby/index.md)

## Sources
- [Southwest Airlines — Traveling with Children (2026): Lap-infant, stroller, car seat, family boarding, and UM policies](https://www.southwest.com/help/traveling-with-children)
- [Southwest Airlines — Checked Baggage (Bags Fly Free) (2026): Bags Fly Free policy, checked-bag allowance per passenger](https://www.southwest.com/airfare/checked-baggage.html)
- [US DOT Family Seating Dashboard (2026): Southwest Airlines commitment status for adjacent family seating without fees](https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/family-seating-dashboard)
- [FAA — Flying with Children (2026): FAA child restraint system certification requirements and in-flight safety guidance](https://www.faa.gov/travelers/fly_children)

**Last Updated**: 2026-06-03
**Author**: Lia Tuso — Founder & CPST