Key Facts

• A mother posted on Reddit about a $382 fee to ensure her family of three could sit together on a Southwest flight.
• The family's trip aims to let their 2-year-old visit her grandparents.
• Southwest Airlines recently introduced assigned seating, ending its open seating model.
• Southwest's family seating policy allows selecting adjacent seats at booking for certain fares.
• For basic fares, Southwest attempts to seat children next to an adult at no extra cost.
• If adjacent seats are not available at the gate, families may speak to an agent for help.
• The Reddit post received widespread attention with nearly 400 responses.
• Newsweek reached out to the woman and Southwest Airlines for comments, but could not verify the details.