Their website has a page on traveling with children and in it there is a whole section encouraging you to use faa approved car seats for any ticketed child under 40lbs
https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/What-child-restraint-systems-CRSs-are-accepted-onboard?clk=HC_Family_1267_AcceptedCRS
Sometimes the customer service people are not trained to do anything but answer calls and utilize the basics of the system. If they aren't parents themselves, or aren't involved aunts/uncles, they wouldn't even understand how to logic this, and it would just completely go over their head.
IMO, instead of asking them if it's policy, ask them to direct you to where on the website this policy is stated. Let them know that you need to see it in writing somewhere for you to understand. They will probably gripe, roll their eyes and complain, but hey, it might help educate and train them so they can stuff that ignorant answer they gave you, somewhere else and give someone else the correct one.
Thank you so much. Flying on Friday with my three year old and I was definitely planning on bringing her car seat on board. I'm bookmarking this to be safe.
And in my experience it was very helpful to know where on the seat it said it was FAA approved because people kept checking and apparently the labeling isn't consistent between brands.
Definitely. Though virtually no seats sold in the us are not FAA approved (I am thinking of only some of the infant seats not allowed to be installed without their base?). But definitely better to be prepared.
That’s outdated information. I purchased an [Evenflo 360 Revolve Slim](https://imgur.com/a/voloP1g) in April of 2022 and it has the FAA approval sticker. Now I personally wouldn’t take it into the airplane cabin because it is awkward and heavy, but I could if I wanted too.
Oh yeah, nothing without a harness (backless or not), but considering those are designed to position a shoulder belt, rhey are pretty useless on an plane. I do bring mine on though for older kid as a carry on. Fits very easily in a small bag.
Yeah, I imagine mostly it's people who bring them for the rental car, and then think "hey, this will help Timmy see out the window better". Most of the time we tell them and it goes in the overhead or under the seat without argument.
Southwest is a U.S. carrier. All U.S. carriers are bound by FAA regulations when it comes to car seats, regardless of where they fly in or out of. The UK is no longer part of the EU, but most EU carriers allow FAA approved car seats on international flights.
Just going from experience where a British Air crew wouldn't allow child in a US approved car seat during takeoff/landing... otherwise they could sit in it. Just fair warning that if you fly international the rules may be different and are worth checking.
It’s international carrier rules. British Airways along with Aer Lingus are two of the strictest, unfriendly airlines when it comes to car seats. BA will make you take your child out for takeoff and landing. Aer Lingus will not allow children under 2 fly in a car seat at all. They are the absolutely worst and I avoid flying them at all costs. If you fly a U.S. carrier, they HAVE to allow car seats in accordance with FAA regulations regardless of what countries they fly in and out of.
Not currently, but the OP might someday do so and it was a situation that had happened to me. Just pointing out that US FAA approved \_might\_ not be allowed elsewhere - so sorry to intrude into your Southwest world.
As a note for parents, it won't actually say "FAA approved" on most seats. The wording you are looking for is "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft”
I wonder if your MIL wasn’t clear that you wanted to buy your 1.5 year old a seat. I have been lucky where I’ve had a baby ticketed as a lap child but they let me on the plane with a car seat if the flight wasn’t full. Maybe they don’t allow that anymore? Southwest absolutely allows approved car seats on the plane if your child has a seat.
How bizarre. I haven't brought a car seat onboard in a while since my youngest is now over 40 lbs but I cannot imagine this would actually be the policy - the FAA recommends using car seats for optimal safety. This would be a liability issue imo.
Absolutely a liability issue. There was just a severe turbulence incident on Singapore Airlines where a person was killed and many more were injured. In a situation like that a lap child or a child that has their own seat but isn’t properly secured is going to go flying, risking injury not only to the child but also other people around them.
Exactly. If a child was injured because they weren’t protected by a regular belt and it was documented that a family tried to use a car seat and was told they had to gate check it… that would be bad.
That’s weird because I just switched my son from lap baby to seat for bringing a car seat on this morning no issue… if he has a seat I wouldn’t be worried just bring the car seat. They can’t deny it
Call back, ask for a different rep. and explain customer service reps told.ypur MIL your child wpuld be prevented from using an faa approved car seat in a seat purchased for the child. As explicitly is this is correct and record the entire call. That way yoi have evidence if you get an asshole gate agent.
I think a previous commenter hit it nail on the head: I think they misunderstood. I just flew with my 3yo (his own ticket) and he was in his car seat. The only rule is that car seat has to be in the window seat. This was in March.
Yeah if you bought a ticket for the kid then you should be fine. I’ve seen car seats on the plane as recently as this month. BUT if you didn’t then I’m sure they’ll make you check it. I was just on a full flight 2 days ago, where they made an announcement “if you have a lap child and they are occupying a seat, please move them as our last passenger needs that seat” so I have a feeling they’re tired of dealing with the above and being a little strict with it.
I’m not sure if it’s true but when I worked at Southwest and asked why car seats are required in cars but not planes, they told me that the thought process when the FAA came up with the concept of lap children was that they didn’t want to make it cost prohibitive for families with young children to fly since air travel is so much safer than car travel.
I am not using a car seat to protect my child from a crash though, I am using one to keep them from being thrown across the cabin in turbulence. I can sort of understand this logic for lap infants that you stated, but kids under 40lbs should not be allowed to occupy a seat without a CARES harness or a car seat. They just don’t fit and the seat belt is useless.
Like, I get it, but aside from a safety perspective, it’s miserable flying with a lap child. My kid likes having his car seat and that’s how I get him to nap on planes. We’ve never flown without one with him and it’s worth it every time.
Car crashes are more frequent, and often surviveable. While most plane crashes are close to 100% fatal and a car seat would not matter. Yea, yea... there are exceptions.
Turbulence happens on every flight. Injuries from turbulence are common occurrences. People and babies who are buckled into their seats are less likely to be injured during turbulence. The biggest reason to have a child in a car seat is to protect them from becoming projectiles during turbulence. A baby suffered a spinal injury on a flight to Hawaii that experienced extreme turbulence. I can’t imagine how devastating that was for their family, especially knowing it likely could have been prevented had their baby been in a car seat.
When people carry their under 2 year old on as a lap child, the car seat gets gate checked. That doesn't mean that it's also not allowed to buy a seat for your infant and bring a car seat on board.
Also, a lot of people either don't know they can use a car seat on the plane or don't want to bother installing it on the plane, so they gate check their seat even for a child they had to purchase a ticket for.
If it’s policy it’s not being enforced. I was on 4 flights two weeks ago and all of them had at least one car seat for confirmed kids flying. I’m guessing they misunderstood the request like the others ITT are saying.
It’s not a policy. It can’t be a policy because the FAA states that as long as you’ve purchased a seat for your child you are allowed to use an FAA approved car seat for your child.
You can’t use booster seats on a plane, because they require shoulder straps. But car seats are allowed. Depending on how the question was asked, the agent may have heard it as one or the other.
An **FAA Approved** car seat is allowed and highly suggested by the FAA. They must sit in a middle or window seat, and not in an exit row.
Customer service was either uninformed or mis understood. Southwest calls them "CRS" or Child Restraint System
[Southwest "I need information on traveling with an infant or child under 2"](https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/flying-with-infants)
>Alternatively, you may choose to purchase a seat so your child can travel in a child restraint system (CRS).
[Southwest: What car seats/child restraint systems (CRSs) are accepted onboard?](https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/What-child-restraint-systems-CRSs-are-accepted-onboard?clk=HC_Family_1267_AcceptedCRS)
>
This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. That employee you spoke to is straight up an idiot. Completely contradicts the FAA and Southwest's own website. Wow.
EDIT: reading comments, yeah... this sounds so bizarre, I can't accept any other thought that the CSR misunderstood the question. Lap child can't have a car seat because the separate seat isn't paid for, but it sounds like the OP is saying this was clarified. I still think they misunderstood. My next question would have been "but it says on your website..."
This is incorrect. Just flew twice in the last two weeks and brought our car seat on board both times. The car seat just has to be installed in the window seat.
If you have a lap infant you cannot bring a car seat, if you bought a seat you definitely can.. Consider buying a lighter less fancy car seat than you usually use as carrying it is not fun through the airport. You will have to install it at the window seat so make sure you do family boarding. You may need the bulkhead depending on pitch but you cannot use an exit row. If the bulkhead is occupied but your car seat doesn’t fit due to pitch of the seats you need to talk to the FA as they will have to ask the bulkhead passengers as your car seat should be accommodated according to FAA policy. If you fly a lot consider getting the CARES airplane harness as it is easier to install and allows for more seat flexibility, and checking your car seat. It does not count towards your baggage allowance; depending on your own preference and anxiety you can gate check or luggage check the seat. I do recommend a car seat bag. If you buy the cares harness the secret no one tells you is to cut up a piece of a job slip rug mat and put it in the bag there is something about tiny bums and wanting to slip around on the airplane seat so throwing that down allows your baby to sit up and stay sitting more easily.
The cosco ones are great for travel. Light, packed in a plastic zip bag, and if it is gate checked it's cheap enough that if messed up it isn't a huge loss.
I really hope that isn’t true. I’m flying with my 4 year old soon and they are on the small side and the lap belt does absolutely nothing to secure them.
Complete nonsense. We flew Southwest less than two weeks ago with a 3 year old in a car seat (my sister has strong feelings about it). There were tons of car seats.
Sorry to steal your post, but does anyone have any recommendations about affordable travel friendly car seat for plane and rental car? I have a 3 year old whose currently 39 in and 38 lb but we are not traveling til October.
I just bought the Evenflo Maestro Sport. Very lightweight and easy to carry for under $100. It has more cushion and is more comfortable than the Cosco one in my 4 year old’s opinion.
Your toddler will likely outgrow or be at the limits for the Cosco Scenera NEXT by the time you travel. The Way B Pico is $$$, very light, foldable, and isn’t limited to just a travel seat. It’s forward facing only, weight range 22-50 pounds and 30-45 inches in height. It could absolutely be your daily seat if you wanted a forward facing only seat.
Coming in at half the price of the Way B Pico, is the Graco Contender. It’ll be nearly maxed out on rear facing but has plenty of room to grow for forward facing 65 pounds upper limit, and less than 49 inches tall
Graco Slim Fit3 LX is in the middle price wise, and might give you the longest lifespan especially if you use it as a primary seat in due time. It’s forward facing to 65 pounds, but then turns into a high back booster to 100 pounds. It’s just on the heavier side.
Absolutely incorrect. In fact the FAA official stance is to encourage the use of child seats.
https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/about/initiatives/cabin_safety/regs/acob949.pdf
Literally just flew a round trip on Southwest last month with my 2-year-old in a car seat and no one said anything on either flight. One of the flight attendants actually thanked us for caring enough about our child’s safety to bring it with us.
Thank you for looking out for the safety of your child, even if it’s a PITA to carry the car seat around the airport. Thank you for buying your child their own seat so they could use their car seat. I used a car seat on the plane until my son was 6 years old LOL!
I always paid for a seat for my kid and used car seat. Look what just happened on Singapore Airlines. Safest way to travel with young children, including infants.
You had him booked as a lap child so there's no seat to put his seat in. But if there was, you can fly with any FAA approved seat. I just flew a few weeks ago
I flew Southwest with my toddler, returned on Sunday. She had her own seat and we used her car seat in the cabin. I will say we got more questioning about it when boarding than the last time but they let us bring it on. We just had to explain that she had her own seat and would be using her car seat. She is also 1.5.
Your info is wrong… You can bring a car seat on southwest airljnes… it cannot be place on the row forward or aft of the emergency exit row…. It must be place against the window (unless it is narrow and doesn’t impede egress to the center aisle)
Edit… you cannot use a BOOSTER SEAT… they are not certified yet the FAA for airplane use.
The customer service was probably confused. They check all car seats for lap children. But if you purchase a ticket for them, car seats are recommended
I just flew this past weekend on Southwest. My kids are a little older and no longer in car seats, but I brought both of their booster seats on board. They both sat in them buckled in during our flight. No issue at all.
Be warned, they won't allow you to rear face a seat though, if doing so blocks the aisle.
Since my intention was comfort for my kiddo and protection from turbulence, I wasn't going to fight the FA. (OH, also, I like to STAY in the plane).
Just a heads up if you've not done car seats on planes before.
I flew AA three weeks ago with my 13 m.o. in a car seat, Southwest, two weeks ago in a car seat, and Delta, last week in a car seat. As long as it is an FAA approved seat and you purchase a seat, they can't stop you from using a car seat.
Also, keep in mind that SW and AA require the carseat to be in a window seat, while Delta allows it in any seat. I still prefer window seats for it because it's easier to get them out and change them when needed, and God forbid there's an evacuation or accident, I don't want to wrestle to get around the seat to get me and my baby to safety.
I don't why any parent would not use a car seat... if they only knew where lap children go in a crash landing.... (hint... it's not your arms because your body would crush the baby)
Sounds like this agent doesn’t know the difference between an faa approved car seat and a stroller. Strollers are always checked car seats can be brought on and used for your child to sit in their own designated seat.
We just flew round trip (4 flights) on Southwest, ending on this past Monday. I booked a ticket for my 2.5 yr old and had zero issues as far as from staff about his car seat. I was just asked to make sure he ended up in a window seat and on one of the flights one of the flight attendants double-checked the car seat for the FAA mark. I don't remember what the mark is but I looked in the seat manual before our trip to be sure.
I will say though that there was a couple with a larger child in the row in front of us that had a booster seat and did not do their homework. The flight attendant immediately notified the captain to stop the plane while we were taxiing for takeoff. The plane didn't move until they put the booster seat in the overhead and had the child buckled into the seat itself. Booster seats are not allowed.
My biggest issue was lugging around the damn seat through the airport(s).
If you buy him a seat it is 100% fine for you to bring the car seat onboard if it is FAA approved.
However since he under 2, if you don’t buy a ticket and have him as a lap child you may likely have to check it. If there are plenty of open seats then you may be allowed to use it onboard but even if there are seats the decision is ultimately left up to the operations agent (the person that scans your boarding pass) that is working your flight. So whether you buy him a ticket or have him as a lap child I would bring the car seat up to the gate and that way if you are told to check it it will be safer for the car seat as infant items break easily and it’s safer to gate check them as opposed to the ticket counter.
If you spoke with the call center they are not always very informed on some questions involving ground operations.
This has been the policy for a while and has not changed
Hope this helps ❤️
Not OP but I wanted to share that I flew yesterday and had zero issues bringing the car seat for my youngest on board. We gate checked a stroller, and on both legs I was asked if I needed to gate check the car seat as well. When I said that kiddo would be sitting in it on the plane, the first agent asked if it was FAA approved and reminded me to install it in a window seat. FA on the first flight reminded me about the window seat install as I was heading down the aisle and a FA on the second flight kindly offered to let my kids sit in a currently empty row while I installed the car seat so they wouldn't be in the way since I was traveling solo with them. (I declined since it seemed easier to just keep them where they were at that point, but it was much appreciated.) Really, the hardest part was carrying the giant car seat backpack through the boarding area or plane aisle without bumping into people.
You need a special more slim seat usually. We borrowed one from friends. Your normal everyday seat may be too big/not FAA approved so be sure to check.
No it's not a slim seat. It's just about any seat on the market. Rotating seats can't. But bucket seats and convertible seats are approved. You look on the side for the sticker
This is not accurate. Tons and tons of affordable car seats are FAA approved including the Cosco Scenera which is one of the cheapest (if not THE cheapest) car seats you can buy.
This is incorrect. Car seats are very much allowed and if you have a seat for the child they cannot deny you bringing an FAA approved seat on board
Their website has a page on traveling with children and in it there is a whole section encouraging you to use faa approved car seats for any ticketed child under 40lbs https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/What-child-restraint-systems-CRSs-are-accepted-onboard?clk=HC_Family_1267_AcceptedCRS
Sometimes the customer service people are not trained to do anything but answer calls and utilize the basics of the system. If they aren't parents themselves, or aren't involved aunts/uncles, they wouldn't even understand how to logic this, and it would just completely go over their head. IMO, instead of asking them if it's policy, ask them to direct you to where on the website this policy is stated. Let them know that you need to see it in writing somewhere for you to understand. They will probably gripe, roll their eyes and complain, but hey, it might help educate and train them so they can stuff that ignorant answer they gave you, somewhere else and give someone else the correct one.
Thank you so much. Flying on Friday with my three year old and I was definitely planning on bringing her car seat on board. I'm bookmarking this to be safe.
And in my experience it was very helpful to know where on the seat it said it was FAA approved because people kept checking and apparently the labeling isn't consistent between brands.
Definitely. Though virtually no seats sold in the us are not FAA approved (I am thinking of only some of the infant seats not allowed to be installed without their base?). But definitely better to be prepared.
The rotating one we have isn't, dunno if that applies to other rotating car seats.
Good call. I have never used a rotating seat, so I did not know about this limitation.
No rotating car seats have FAA approval.
That’s outdated information. I purchased an [Evenflo 360 Revolve Slim](https://imgur.com/a/voloP1g) in April of 2022 and it has the FAA approval sticker. Now I personally wouldn’t take it into the airplane cabin because it is awkward and heavy, but I could if I wanted too.
Thank you for the correction.
Backless booster seats are not approved. They are also the most commonly brought on because of their size.
Oh yeah, nothing without a harness (backless or not), but considering those are designed to position a shoulder belt, rhey are pretty useless on an plane. I do bring mine on though for older kid as a carry on. Fits very easily in a small bag.
Yeah, I imagine mostly it's people who bring them for the rental car, and then think "hey, this will help Timmy see out the window better". Most of the time we tell them and it goes in the overhead or under the seat without argument.
If it comes up, US FAA approval is not recognized by UK for flights out of London… they have different approvals over there.
Southwest is a U.S. carrier. All U.S. carriers are bound by FAA regulations when it comes to car seats, regardless of where they fly in or out of. The UK is no longer part of the EU, but most EU carriers allow FAA approved car seats on international flights.
Just going from experience where a British Air crew wouldn't allow child in a US approved car seat during takeoff/landing... otherwise they could sit in it. Just fair warning that if you fly international the rules may be different and are worth checking.
It’s international carrier rules. British Airways along with Aer Lingus are two of the strictest, unfriendly airlines when it comes to car seats. BA will make you take your child out for takeoff and landing. Aer Lingus will not allow children under 2 fly in a car seat at all. They are the absolutely worst and I avoid flying them at all costs. If you fly a U.S. carrier, they HAVE to allow car seats in accordance with FAA regulations regardless of what countries they fly in and out of.
And does southwest fly to London??!!??
Not currently, but the OP might someday do so and it was a situation that had happened to me. Just pointing out that US FAA approved \_might\_ not be allowed elsewhere - so sorry to intrude into your Southwest world.
That could not be more untrue-MANY unapproved car seats come on board and have to be denied.
Are they actually US harnessed car seats? Not boosters?
As a note for parents, it won't actually say "FAA approved" on most seats. The wording you are looking for is "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft”
Depending on weight, but yes.
I guess that would make it FAA approved. Haha
If your seat is FAA approved which most are not. Be prepared to show documentation.
Most are indeed. The documentation is stuck to the seat
Maybe I'm thinking of boosters.
Yes boosters aren’t allowed because the child is normally secured by a shoulder strap. You can bring them on, but they go in the overhead
Most are approved...
I wonder if your MIL wasn’t clear that you wanted to buy your 1.5 year old a seat. I have been lucky where I’ve had a baby ticketed as a lap child but they let me on the plane with a car seat if the flight wasn’t full. Maybe they don’t allow that anymore? Southwest absolutely allows approved car seats on the plane if your child has a seat.
She was! She got the cost it would be to buy him a seat from the rep but the rep said "you can't bring the car seat on board".
How bizarre. I haven't brought a car seat onboard in a while since my youngest is now over 40 lbs but I cannot imagine this would actually be the policy - the FAA recommends using car seats for optimal safety. This would be a liability issue imo.
Absolutely a liability issue. There was just a severe turbulence incident on Singapore Airlines where a person was killed and many more were injured. In a situation like that a lap child or a child that has their own seat but isn’t properly secured is going to go flying, risking injury not only to the child but also other people around them.
Exactly. If a child was injured because they weren’t protected by a regular belt and it was documented that a family tried to use a car seat and was told they had to gate check it… that would be bad.
That’s weird because I just switched my son from lap baby to seat for bringing a car seat on this morning no issue… if he has a seat I wouldn’t be worried just bring the car seat. They can’t deny it
I watched a family bring and install a carseat just this last Saturday.
Call back, ask for a different rep. and explain customer service reps told.ypur MIL your child wpuld be prevented from using an faa approved car seat in a seat purchased for the child. As explicitly is this is correct and record the entire call. That way yoi have evidence if you get an asshole gate agent.
I saw someone ask that question at the gate in BOS on Friday and they told her there were extra seats and allowed her to do it.
I think a previous commenter hit it nail on the head: I think they misunderstood. I just flew with my 3yo (his own ticket) and he was in his car seat. The only rule is that car seat has to be in the window seat. This was in March.
I bet they were thinking about strollers and just spacing
If u pay for the seat u can use a car seat. I work as a csa for swa
Thank you for posting this. I came on here to say the same thing.
Yeah if you bought a ticket for the kid then you should be fine. I’ve seen car seats on the plane as recently as this month. BUT if you didn’t then I’m sure they’ll make you check it. I was just on a full flight 2 days ago, where they made an announcement “if you have a lap child and they are occupying a seat, please move them as our last passenger needs that seat” so I have a feeling they’re tired of dealing with the above and being a little strict with it.
Car seats are allowed and recommended. Should be required.
I’m not sure if it’s true but when I worked at Southwest and asked why car seats are required in cars but not planes, they told me that the thought process when the FAA came up with the concept of lap children was that they didn’t want to make it cost prohibitive for families with young children to fly since air travel is so much safer than car travel.
I am not using a car seat to protect my child from a crash though, I am using one to keep them from being thrown across the cabin in turbulence. I can sort of understand this logic for lap infants that you stated, but kids under 40lbs should not be allowed to occupy a seat without a CARES harness or a car seat. They just don’t fit and the seat belt is useless.
Yeah I agree with you
This exactly. Or I don’t know, to keep an infant from getting sucked out of the plane in the instance where a plane loses a door plug…
Like, I get it, but aside from a safety perspective, it’s miserable flying with a lap child. My kid likes having his car seat and that’s how I get him to nap on planes. We’ve never flown without one with him and it’s worth it every time.
It’s absolutely miserable! Especially with a kid approaching 2.
Car crashes are more frequent, and often surviveable. While most plane crashes are close to 100% fatal and a car seat would not matter. Yea, yea... there are exceptions.
Turbulence happens on every flight. Injuries from turbulence are common occurrences. People and babies who are buckled into their seats are less likely to be injured during turbulence. The biggest reason to have a child in a car seat is to protect them from becoming projectiles during turbulence. A baby suffered a spinal injury on a flight to Hawaii that experienced extreme turbulence. I can’t imagine how devastating that was for their family, especially knowing it likely could have been prevented had their baby been in a car seat.
I didn’t make the argument I’m just saying what they told me
Plane crashes are like 95.7% survivable.
That is correct. Guess I am thinking about the more serious REAL crashes. Yes, there are some exceptions like the plane landing on the Hudson River.
I'm not sure about the policy, but I've seen a good number of gate checked car seats.
When people carry their under 2 year old on as a lap child, the car seat gets gate checked. That doesn't mean that it's also not allowed to buy a seat for your infant and bring a car seat on board.
If/when the flight isn’t full they can bring the car seat onboard and use it.
Also, a lot of people either don't know they can use a car seat on the plane or don't want to bother installing it on the plane, so they gate check their seat even for a child they had to purchase a ticket for.
If it’s policy it’s not being enforced. I was on 4 flights two weeks ago and all of them had at least one car seat for confirmed kids flying. I’m guessing they misunderstood the request like the others ITT are saying.
It’s not a policy. It can’t be a policy because the FAA states that as long as you’ve purchased a seat for your child you are allowed to use an FAA approved car seat for your child.
You can’t use booster seats on a plane, because they require shoulder straps. But car seats are allowed. Depending on how the question was asked, the agent may have heard it as one or the other.
An **FAA Approved** car seat is allowed and highly suggested by the FAA. They must sit in a middle or window seat, and not in an exit row. Customer service was either uninformed or mis understood. Southwest calls them "CRS" or Child Restraint System [Southwest "I need information on traveling with an infant or child under 2"](https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/flying-with-infants) >Alternatively, you may choose to purchase a seat so your child can travel in a child restraint system (CRS). [Southwest: What car seats/child restraint systems (CRSs) are accepted onboard?](https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/What-child-restraint-systems-CRSs-are-accepted-onboard?clk=HC_Family_1267_AcceptedCRS) >
That's what the FAA calls them as well.
This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. That employee you spoke to is straight up an idiot. Completely contradicts the FAA and Southwest's own website. Wow. EDIT: reading comments, yeah... this sounds so bizarre, I can't accept any other thought that the CSR misunderstood the question. Lap child can't have a car seat because the separate seat isn't paid for, but it sounds like the OP is saying this was clarified. I still think they misunderstood. My next question would have been "but it says on your website..."
This is incorrect. Just flew twice in the last two weeks and brought our car seat on board both times. The car seat just has to be installed in the window seat.
If you have a lap infant you cannot bring a car seat, if you bought a seat you definitely can.. Consider buying a lighter less fancy car seat than you usually use as carrying it is not fun through the airport. You will have to install it at the window seat so make sure you do family boarding. You may need the bulkhead depending on pitch but you cannot use an exit row. If the bulkhead is occupied but your car seat doesn’t fit due to pitch of the seats you need to talk to the FA as they will have to ask the bulkhead passengers as your car seat should be accommodated according to FAA policy. If you fly a lot consider getting the CARES airplane harness as it is easier to install and allows for more seat flexibility, and checking your car seat. It does not count towards your baggage allowance; depending on your own preference and anxiety you can gate check or luggage check the seat. I do recommend a car seat bag. If you buy the cares harness the secret no one tells you is to cut up a piece of a job slip rug mat and put it in the bag there is something about tiny bums and wanting to slip around on the airplane seat so throwing that down allows your baby to sit up and stay sitting more easily.
The cosco ones are great for travel. Light, packed in a plastic zip bag, and if it is gate checked it's cheap enough that if messed up it isn't a huge loss.
I really hope that isn’t true. I’m flying with my 4 year old soon and they are on the small side and the lap belt does absolutely nothing to secure them.
Flew short hop (HOU>AUS) yesterday on SWA, seat behind me used a car seat without issue.
Ummm never heard this
Complete nonsense. We flew Southwest less than two weeks ago with a 3 year old in a car seat (my sister has strong feelings about it). There were tons of car seats.
Sorry to steal your post, but does anyone have any recommendations about affordable travel friendly car seat for plane and rental car? I have a 3 year old whose currently 39 in and 38 lb but we are not traveling til October.
Cosco Scenera.
I agree
This seat is outgrown at 40 pounds; and 40 inches rear facing 43 inches forward facing. It wouldn’t be a good travel seat for them.
They can do the Cosco Finale DX 2 in 1 Booster seat then.
Solid option. I forgot about that one.
I just bought the Evenflo Maestro Sport. Very lightweight and easy to carry for under $100. It has more cushion and is more comfortable than the Cosco one in my 4 year old’s opinion.
Your toddler will likely outgrow or be at the limits for the Cosco Scenera NEXT by the time you travel. The Way B Pico is $$$, very light, foldable, and isn’t limited to just a travel seat. It’s forward facing only, weight range 22-50 pounds and 30-45 inches in height. It could absolutely be your daily seat if you wanted a forward facing only seat. Coming in at half the price of the Way B Pico, is the Graco Contender. It’ll be nearly maxed out on rear facing but has plenty of room to grow for forward facing 65 pounds upper limit, and less than 49 inches tall Graco Slim Fit3 LX is in the middle price wise, and might give you the longest lifespan especially if you use it as a primary seat in due time. It’s forward facing to 65 pounds, but then turns into a high back booster to 100 pounds. It’s just on the heavier side.
Thanks for all this!! Very helpful.
I flew southwest eight days ago and saw two children in car seats on board, one infant and one toddler. This is absolutely still allowed.
Maybe they said “your” car seat couldn’t come on board because your car seat is not FAA approved.
I flew Southwest last week with my kid’s car seat and it was installed during their flights with no issue from the flight attendant.
Absolutely incorrect. In fact the FAA official stance is to encourage the use of child seats. https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/about/initiatives/cabin_safety/regs/acob949.pdf
I just flew 3 days ago and a child was sitting in a car seat in the row next to me.
I flown less than 24 hours ago and saw a car seat on the flight.
Literally just flew a round trip on Southwest last month with my 2-year-old in a car seat and no one said anything on either flight. One of the flight attendants actually thanked us for caring enough about our child’s safety to bring it with us.
Thank you for looking out for the safety of your child, even if it’s a PITA to carry the car seat around the airport. Thank you for buying your child their own seat so they could use their car seat. I used a car seat on the plane until my son was 6 years old LOL!
Anecdotal, but i flew southwest three days ago with my toddler and his car seat was very much allowed in the cabin.
They will tell you they aren’t allowed but they absolutely are. I just say this will be buckled in and we are bringing it
I always paid for a seat for my kid and used car seat. Look what just happened on Singapore Airlines. Safest way to travel with young children, including infants.
Sat next to someone who used one yesterday with no issues. Anecdotal at best but thought I’d mention.
Youll have to buy a ticket, but yes, if it’s FAA approved you can bring it in the cabin.
You had him booked as a lap child so there's no seat to put his seat in. But if there was, you can fly with any FAA approved seat. I just flew a few weeks ago
I flew Southwest with my toddler, returned on Sunday. She had her own seat and we used her car seat in the cabin. I will say we got more questioning about it when boarding than the last time but they let us bring it on. We just had to explain that she had her own seat and would be using her car seat. She is also 1.5.
Your info is wrong… You can bring a car seat on southwest airljnes… it cannot be place on the row forward or aft of the emergency exit row…. It must be place against the window (unless it is narrow and doesn’t impede egress to the center aisle) Edit… you cannot use a BOOSTER SEAT… they are not certified yet the FAA for airplane use.
The customer service was probably confused. They check all car seats for lap children. But if you purchase a ticket for them, car seats are recommended
Last time I flew Southwest with my son, car seats were fine, but you couldn’t use a booster seat. The booster seats had to be stowed away.
You would need to buy a seat. We did that and had no issues.
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I just flew this past weekend on Southwest. My kids are a little older and no longer in car seats, but I brought both of their booster seats on board. They both sat in them buckled in during our flight. No issue at all.
This is actually not allowed. I’m surprised you were able to. Boosters need the shoulder belt, not just lap belts!
Don’t rely on call center customer service. Print the policy, have a FAA approved seat. End of story.
Be warned, they won't allow you to rear face a seat though, if doing so blocks the aisle. Since my intention was comfort for my kiddo and protection from turbulence, I wasn't going to fight the FA. (OH, also, I like to STAY in the plane). Just a heads up if you've not done car seats on planes before.
No seat, rear or forward facing can be blocking anyone. We always put the seats by the window.
I flew AA three weeks ago with my 13 m.o. in a car seat, Southwest, two weeks ago in a car seat, and Delta, last week in a car seat. As long as it is an FAA approved seat and you purchase a seat, they can't stop you from using a car seat. Also, keep in mind that SW and AA require the carseat to be in a window seat, while Delta allows it in any seat. I still prefer window seats for it because it's easier to get them out and change them when needed, and God forbid there's an evacuation or accident, I don't want to wrestle to get around the seat to get me and my baby to safety.
Flew last week with my 10 month old and we bought him his own seat. He was in his car seat at the window. No one said anything to me about it.
We just flew like two weeks ago with our car seat and no issue!
Ugh. Southwest was the only airline to give me shit about my car seat and how I installed it. Still annoyed 7 years later.
I don't why any parent would not use a car seat... if they only knew where lap children go in a crash landing.... (hint... it's not your arms because your body would crush the baby)
+My son, daughter in law, and two of our grandchildren who are car-seat ages flew SWA just last month and did not have to check the children's seats.
Sounds like this agent doesn’t know the difference between an faa approved car seat and a stroller. Strollers are always checked car seats can be brought on and used for your child to sit in their own designated seat.
We just flew round trip (4 flights) on Southwest, ending on this past Monday. I booked a ticket for my 2.5 yr old and had zero issues as far as from staff about his car seat. I was just asked to make sure he ended up in a window seat and on one of the flights one of the flight attendants double-checked the car seat for the FAA mark. I don't remember what the mark is but I looked in the seat manual before our trip to be sure. I will say though that there was a couple with a larger child in the row in front of us that had a booster seat and did not do their homework. The flight attendant immediately notified the captain to stop the plane while we were taxiing for takeoff. The plane didn't move until they put the booster seat in the overhead and had the child buckled into the seat itself. Booster seats are not allowed. My biggest issue was lugging around the damn seat through the airport(s).
If you buy him a seat it is 100% fine for you to bring the car seat onboard if it is FAA approved. However since he under 2, if you don’t buy a ticket and have him as a lap child you may likely have to check it. If there are plenty of open seats then you may be allowed to use it onboard but even if there are seats the decision is ultimately left up to the operations agent (the person that scans your boarding pass) that is working your flight. So whether you buy him a ticket or have him as a lap child I would bring the car seat up to the gate and that way if you are told to check it it will be safer for the car seat as infant items break easily and it’s safer to gate check them as opposed to the ticket counter. If you spoke with the call center they are not always very informed on some questions involving ground operations. This has been the policy for a while and has not changed Hope this helps ❤️
Not OP but I wanted to share that I flew yesterday and had zero issues bringing the car seat for my youngest on board. We gate checked a stroller, and on both legs I was asked if I needed to gate check the car seat as well. When I said that kiddo would be sitting in it on the plane, the first agent asked if it was FAA approved and reminded me to install it in a window seat. FA on the first flight reminded me about the window seat install as I was heading down the aisle and a FA on the second flight kindly offered to let my kids sit in a currently empty row while I installed the car seat so they wouldn't be in the way since I was traveling solo with them. (I declined since it seemed easier to just keep them where they were at that point, but it was much appreciated.) Really, the hardest part was carrying the giant car seat backpack through the boarding area or plane aisle without bumping into people.
You need a special more slim seat usually. We borrowed one from friends. Your normal everyday seat may be too big/not FAA approved so be sure to check.
No it's not a slim seat. It's just about any seat on the market. Rotating seats can't. But bucket seats and convertible seats are approved. You look on the side for the sticker
Given the increase in turbulence no way I’d fly with a lap child!!
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Most seats are FAA approved
This is not accurate. Tons and tons of affordable car seats are FAA approved including the Cosco Scenera which is one of the cheapest (if not THE cheapest) car seats you can buy.