Comprehensive Handbook for Flying Southwest Airlines With Children in the Year 2025
=====================================================================
Southwest Airlines, renowned for its customer-focused approach, offers a range of family-friendly policies that make traveling with children a more enjoyable experience. Here's a breakdown of some key aspects of their services.
Boarding
Families with children six years old and under are given a special privilege called Family Boarding. Up to two adults traveling with a child six or younger may board after the "A" group and before the "B" group, allowing families to board early and have a better chance to find seats together due to Southwest's open seating policy. This family boarding is designed so about one-third of the seats remain open when families board, making it easier to sit together [1][3].
Lap Children
Infants under 2 years flying without a seat must typically sit on a caregiver's lap. There are no fees for lap infants, but Southwest's updated policies as of 2025 do not specify additional changes [1][4].
Unaccompanied Minors
Southwest does not have a formal unaccompanied minor program for children traveling alone under a certain age. Unlike some other airlines, Southwest’s policies on unaccompanied minors are not detailed in the current results, implying that you may need to contact Southwest directly for the most current rules [1][3].
Snacks and Beverages
Southwest Airlines provides complimentary non-alcoholic beverages on flights, and passengers can purchase snacks and alcoholic beverages onboard. Although specific details on kids' snacks are not listed here, Southwest generally offers standard inflight snacks for sale, and water or juice are typically complimentary for children [1].
Additional Note
Starting January 27, 2026, Southwest will transition from open seating to assigned seating, allowing passengers to pick seats in advance beginning July 29, 2025. This change will affect how families select seats in the future but does not change current boarding benefits [5].
Fare Classes and Additional Services
Southwest offers 4 categories of fare classes: Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select. The airline also has 3 boarding groups (A, B, and C) that are determined by the class of ticket bought and check-in time. Southwest's unaccompanied minors program is for children between 5 and 11 years old, and the refundable fee for the unaccompanied minors service is $50 each way in addition to the cost of the child's ticket [2].
Loyalty Program
Southwest Airlines' Southwest Rapid Rewards program is a loyalty program with several ways to earn rewards besides flying. The Southwest Companion Pass grants travelers essentially a free ticket for the duration of its validity, less taxes and fees. To earn a Southwest Companion Pass, you'll have to earn 135,000 qualifying points [6].
Traveling with Documentation
Always travel with a copy of your child's birth certificate to present to whoever may ask to see it to prove your child's age.
Destinations
Southwest Airlines flies to over 120 destinations across the U.S., Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
In summary, Southwest supports families traveling with young children mainly through their family boarding policy, includes lap infants without extra charge, but lacks detailed public policies on unaccompanied minors as of now. Complimentary drinks and purchasable snacks are available onboard. Assigned seating will begin in 2026, which may further assist families in sitting together. Southwest Airlines often ranks among the top airlines for families due to its customer-focused approach.
[1] https://www.southwest.com/html/help/family-travel/family-travel-policies.html [2] https://www.southwest.com/html/help/unaccompanied-minors.html [3] https://www.southwest.com/html/help/infant-travel/infant-travel-policies.html [4] https://www.southwest.com/html/help/family-travel/family-boarding.html [5] https://www.southwest.com/html/travel-information/seating.html [6] https://www.southwest.com/rapidrewards/companion-pass/earn/qualification.html
- The news about Southwest Airlines' transition to assigned seating in 2026, as mentioned in the article, is a significant development that could impact the travel lifestyle for families, as it may further facilitate finding seats together.
- In addition to family-friendly policies, Southwest Airlines provides a loyalty program, Southwest Rapid Rewards, offering various ways to earn rewards, including the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, which offers a free ticket for the pass's validity, less taxes and fees.
- The entertainment options on Southwest flights include the purchase of snacks, alcoholic beverages, and, although not explicitly stated, kids' snacks are typically available for purchase.
- For those planning to travel with children, it's essential to keep updated on Southwest's policies regarding unaccompanied minors, as their rules are not currently detailed in the public results, necessitating direct contact with the airline for the most current information.
