Southwest Air and Baby?
I am traveling from Midway to Jacksonville on Southwest Air with my then 4 month old son. He will be in my lap.
My questions are:
- Will I be able to board first?
- Will they check my stroller and car seat at the gate? Will I be charged anything extra?
- Does Southwest Air over sell their seats consistently?
- How do I get my son's milk past security? Do I need a note from his Pediatrician?
Any advise?
I highly doubt Midway sells breastmilk....
I flew Southwest Airlines (WN) with my children from California to Texas. I'm a former Flight Attendant but it works differently than other companies.
They have open seating in categories by letter. They do preboard families but they go on between groups A and B. They also boarded them by the age of the child. With a four month old, you would be among the first.
It would be better though to be in Group A. You do that by going on line, exactly 24 hours before departure and checking in on line. It doesn't cost extra.
http://www.southwest.com/flight/retrieveCheckinDoc.html
When you get to the airport, ask if the flight is full. If it isn't, see if you can bring your child's car seat on board and place it in a window seat. This is actually the only way to fly safely with a baby. Lap babies are allowed because air travel itself is statistically safe so there is little chance of anything going wrong but these children are not protected. The FAA, AAP and other organizations recommend the car seat for all children.
They do fly a lot of full flights so if you can't do this, be sure to *gate-check* your stroller and car seat. Never check a car seat in as luggage. Especially leaving from such a busy airport, the chances of your car seat being lost and/or broken in transit are high. Gate-checking is not a guarantee but it is better. Strollers are not allowed on board by most companies and are dangerous in over head bins so please don't try this. Also, they take up a lot of space, which your fellow passengers would not appreciate. WN is good about gate checking baby items and these are free of charge.
http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/infants.html
The TSA allows any liquids in "reasonable" quantities through security if it is meant for a baby. The 3oz. limit does not extend to babies so bring what you need. You only have to show them what you have as you pass through security.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm
Please note that it's a myth that babies need to suck on take-off and landing. If you manage to get the car seat on board, make sure he's safely strapped in during those critical times. The AAP only recommends that the child be awake a the TOP of descent, landing is too late. This is about 40 minutes to an hour before landing and you'll feel your own ears switching pressurization. I would take my babies to the ped a few days before flying to make sure they didn't have a symptomless infection or similar. Healthy ears can handle the pressurization changes.
http://www.aap.org/patiented/flyingbaby.htm
Here are my non-commercial flying tips including a section on getting the car seat through the airport;
http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com
Have a good trip!
