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This is the thread for all random/general questions about Southwest. The official airline code for Southwest is WN as SW was taken by Air Namibia, but many people on the forums refer to Southwest as SW since no one talks about Air Namibia ever.

For questions about any of the SW CC's, see here.
For questions about the SW Companion Pass, see here.
For questions about auto-checkin to SW flights, see here. (Follow the wiki to learn how to set it up.)
« Last edited by @Yehuda on August 14, 2014, 11:29:08 AM »

Author Topic: Southwest questions  (Read 127535 times)

Offline 12HRS

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #300 on: January 23, 2017, 02:01:01 PM »
Wth southwest makes you bring the lap child's birth certificate to verify the child's age and issue a boarding pass? None of the other domestic carriers that I have flown on has required this.

i hope you were not already at the airport when you found it out.

Offline Geshmak25

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #301 on: January 23, 2017, 02:05:34 PM »
i hope you were not already at the airport when you found it out.
BH no - I called in to add the lap child and they mentioned birth certificate. I assumed it wasn't a real thing but then I found their policy online...
PUTPAC = PITA

Offline efflpetzel

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #302 on: March 01, 2017, 07:11:00 PM »
as southwest has no seat assignment, considering I get family boarding for the entire family will that guarantee me a seat for a lap child

Offline zow

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #303 on: March 01, 2017, 07:25:18 PM »
as southwest has no seat assignment, considering I get family boarding for the entire family will that guarantee me a seat for a lap child
nice, unless the flight is totally full, and then the FA would make you give up the seat occupied by said lap child.

Offline bb1836

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #304 on: March 01, 2017, 08:10:34 PM »
nice, unless the flight is totally full, and then the FA would make you give up the seat occupied by said lap child.
But keep in mind, they may make you give up the seat even with another open seat open on the flight somewhere. Cant tell you how many times thats happened to us. Super frustrating. Make sure there are really no other seats on the plane before giving up the seat.
As @davidmal says: "Likes" feed the family

Offline efflpetzel

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #305 on: March 01, 2017, 08:48:11 PM »
nice, unless the flight is totally full, and then the FA would make you give up the seat occupied by said lap child.
There are ways to prevent that.


But keep in mind, they may make you give up the seat even with another open seat open on the flight somewhere. Cant tell you how many times thats happened to us. Super frustrating. Make sure there are really no other seats on the plane before giving up the seat.

why did they make you give up the seat if they had other seats available, also how would the flight attendant know whether the infant is in a paid seat or not?

Offline bb1836

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #306 on: March 02, 2017, 09:36:29 AM »
why did they make you give up the seat if they had other seats available, also how would the flight attendant know whether the infant is in a paid seat or not?
Incompetence on the part of the flight attendants mostly, for not realizing that there's another empty seat on the plane. I've gone over to them in the past and pointed out the other empty seat and all they had to say was oops.
Secondly they always ask us when coming around if he's a paid or lap child...
As @davidmal says: "Likes" feed the family

Offline efflpetzel

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #307 on: March 08, 2017, 12:42:46 AM »
anyone had an issue with booking flights a couple of months out, ticketing & when clicking on the reservation seeing other peoples names & totally different flights. Maddening.

something to do with them switching to a new reservation system on march 9th

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #308 on: March 08, 2017, 12:58:03 AM »
as southwest has no seat assignment, considering I get family boarding for the entire family will that guarantee me a seat for a lap child
It's worked for us many times.

Offline mb1

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #309 on: April 05, 2017, 02:48:12 AM »
My rapid reward points expired sometime in the past 2 weeks.
Any way to get them back?

Offline mb1

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #310 on: April 05, 2017, 09:16:15 AM »
My rapid reward points expired sometime in the past 2 weeks.
Any way to get them back?
Does applying a car rental help for southwest?

Offline Lou Bob

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #311 on: April 05, 2017, 10:52:20 AM »
Can I bring my kid's GE card instead of a birth certificate? (lap child)
Always use an Amex, you'll thank me one day.

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #312 on: April 05, 2017, 11:27:04 AM »
Can I bring my kid's GE card instead of a birth certificate? (lap child)
I'm pretty sure people have used GE cards for themselves as ID, I can't imagine it would be a problem for a lap child.
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Offline ShlockDoc

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #313 on: April 05, 2017, 11:46:36 AM »
Can I bring my kid's GE card instead of a birth certificate? (lap child)

Children need id?

Offline bb1836

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #314 on: April 05, 2017, 01:05:06 PM »
Children need id?
officially under 2 yrs old, yes
As @davidmal says: "Likes" feed the family

Offline thaber

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #315 on: May 22, 2017, 12:22:31 AM »
1) Just booked 2 adults + 5 kids with points. I assume we will get family boarding, and don't have to worry about sitting together? Haven't flown SW in ages.
2) booked a seat for my under 2 year old, do I need to bring id for him? how about the other kids?

Offline bb1836

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #316 on: May 22, 2017, 07:19:58 AM »
1) Just booked 2 adults + 5 kids with points. I assume we will get family boarding, and don't have to worry about sitting together? Haven't flown SW in ages.
2) booked a seat for my under 2 year old, do I need to bring id for him? how about the other kids?
1) usually not
2) under 2, officially yes (though some gate agents may not ask to see it)
    over 2, no.
As @davidmal says: "Likes" feed the family

Offline 12HRS

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #317 on: May 22, 2017, 07:24:44 AM »
1) usually not
2) under 2, officially yes (though some gate agents may not ask to see it)
    over 2, no.

agent will not ask to see it for the under 2 if there is a paid seat for the kid

Offline Geshmak25

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #318 on: May 22, 2017, 07:53:16 AM »
agent will not ask to see it for the under 2 if there is a paid seat for the kid
+1
PUTPAC = PITA

Offline NTorch

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Re: Southwest questions
« Reply #319 on: May 22, 2017, 09:54:56 AM »
To get family boarding one of the kids must be under 5.