Our family has grown to love Southwest airlines over the years. We fly with them nearly 98% of the time as we have found them to be amazing with our children.
They actually care
Since we are a blended family, we do have some kids that fly or have flown alone between parents at times. Southwest employees have been so accommodating, especially when there are tears from traveling from home to home.
Our kids have reported being cheered up with jokes and smiles from flight attendants to pilots. And for that alone, we are profoundly grateful, and I think we have a sense of loyalty to them. As our kids have grown, the tears have disappeared and love of flying has increased.
On a solo flights a few years ago, I watched a flight attendant help a mom out with a little, bitty girl who was nearing a tantrum. This mom was traveling with several kids alone – something I have done before, so I felt her pain.
The little girl seemed interested in the snack distribution that was about to go down to passengers. This flight attendant took the time to walk her a few rows and let her help pass out them out.
When I say it was the cutest… it was heart melting! She was happy. Tantrum averted. Eardrums saved.
Babies on Southwest
Stories aside, flying kids on Southwest is easy. Did you know they offer Infant fares for children under two so they can travel in their flight-approved car seat?! I didn’t until recently and wish I would’ve researched that before our youngest child’s first flight.
Read all about our experience flying our toddler as a “Lap Child.” (birth certificate for lap child now required) Check out this link for more details on flying with babies and toddlers with Southwest airlines.
Unaccompanied minors
Once your kids are between 5-11 years old, they can travel as an unaccompanied minor for a $50 additional fee each way only on nonstop or direct flights within the U.S.
Other airlines have charged an additional $150 one way, on top of the fare, for a child to travel unaccompanied. This makes me love Southwest Airlines even more. At a cost like that you might as well go along too!
Young Travelers
Once our children were between 12-17 years old, they could fly without an accompanying passenger that was 18 or older as a Young Traveler.
I think this phase of their flying careers has been the best. They know what to expect, are comfortable, and are gaining more independence. I have truly watched them blossom into Young Travelers.
They keep them safe
Obviously parent/guardian information is required on file and authorized pick up person specified for Unaccompanied Minors. Southwest will not release your child to anyone except them and only with proper identification.
A gate pass is required for parents escorting their kids through security to and placing them in or retrieving them from the care of the flight attendants at the gate. This is optional for a Young Traveler, if they are mature and experienced enough to go it alone from security, they can.
Call me a protective mama, but I am going straight to the gate to get my babies, as long as I’m allowed!
Our kids love Southwest Airlines
We were nervous at first, but as I have mentioned before Southwest employees have been stellar with our kids. We flew enough altogether to get them comfortable before we got to that point. Their first solo flights were pretty short and one of our children started flying this way around 7ish years old. Today she is our bravest little adventurer!
Have your kids flown solo before? Who did they fly with? How was their experience? Please share below!