Choice Extra, Choice Preferred, and Choice Fares
- You can select seats at the time of booking (if available). We encourage families to choose adjacent seats when booking.
- If adjacent seats are not available at booking, you can check back and choose seats up to 60 minutes before original scheduled departure.
- If available, you may also purchase seats, either during booking or up to 60 minutes before original scheduled departure.
We encourage families to purchase Choice fares, or to purchase seats at booking, to improve their chances of receiving adjacent seats prior to arriving to the airport.
Basic Fares
- Seats will be assigned at check-in (which begins 24 hours prior to original scheduled departure). We encourage all Customers, including families, traveling on a Basic fare to check in at 24 hours to review your seats and obtain your boarding pass.
- If available, you may also purchase seats, either during booking or up to 60 minutes before original scheduled departure by clicking “Manage Reservation” in the Southwest® mobile app and following the instructions.
Southwest® will endeavor to seat a child (age 12 and under) next to one accompanying Passenger (13 and older) on the same reservation to the extent practicable and at no additional cost. Although we attempt to give adjacent seating to families, we encourage families to choose a fare (Choice or above) that allows seat selection at booking, or to purchase a seat at booking, in order to improve your family’s chances that you can sit together.
If you are not seated together
If your child (age 12 and under) is not assigned to a seat next to an accompanying Passenger (age 13 and over) on your reservation, please speak to a Southwest Gate Agent or Flight Attendant for assistance.
- If no adjacent seats are available on your flight, the Gate Agent will give you the option to move to the next available flight with adjacent seats available.
Note: For Basic fares purchased on or before December 17, 2025, we will endeavor to seat a child age 13 and under next to one accompanying Passenger 14 and older on the same reservation.
Learn more about the boarding experience when traveling with children.
