Southwest Airlines has different ID rules for minors depending on their age and travel situation. If a child is under 18 and flying domestically with an adult, the child doesn’t need an ID at all. TSA doesn’t require it and neither does Southwest. However, the adult they’re flying with will need a government-issued photo ID as usual.
If the child is under 2 years old and flying as a lap child, Southwest does require proof of age. This can be a birth certificate or passport. They won’t accept hospital certificates or things like school IDs. You need to show this when you check in.
For kids aged 5 to 11 flying alone under the Unaccompanied Minor service, you’ll need to show a birth certificate or passport to prove the child’s age. The adult dropping the child off and picking them up will also need a valid photo ID. They’ll be issued a gate pass to walk the child to or from the gate.
If the child is between 12 and 17 and flying alone, Southwest doesn’t require ID, but it’s smart to send them with something like a school ID or a copy of their birth certificate just in case. For international travel, every minor, no matter their age, must have a valid passport and sometimes additional documents depending on the country.
