Southwest Airlines and its passengers are subject to all the rules and regulations of air travel as laid out by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration. Southwest's own policies can vary from those of its competitors, especially regarding seating and baggage.
Seating
Seats on board Southwest are not reserved. Ticketed passengers are placed in three groups depending on when they reserved their flight, and each group is boarded one at a time and allowed to choose their own seat.
Baggage
Passengers are allowed two checked bags (with no fees) and one carry-on bag, plus a personal carry-on item (purse, briefcase, laptop). Checked bags have a limit of 50 pounds and 62 linear inches. Carry-on bags are limited to 40 pounds and 10-by-16-by-24 inches.
Food
Personal snacks are allowed on board the flight. Food containers will count as personal carry-on items unless they are disposable
Children
Children age 5 to 11 may be unaccompanied on a direct flight (nonstop or no change of plane), but may require proof of age like a birth certificate. Children under five must be accompanied by a ticketed passenger at least 12 years old.
Emergency Exits
Per federal regulations, passengers may not sit next to an emergency exit if they are not able to locate, properly operate and quickly exit through the emergency exit should it be needed.
Tags: emergency exit, personal carry-on
