1-2 year old flying for Free?

[bnlbebes]

Ok, I have read preachy posts before about the need for infants/toddlers to have their own seat on an airplane, and I think we all agree to disagree on that issue. But... this post is on a different issue.

My DS will be flying on Airtran form Philadelphia to Orlando near the end of the summer, and we have not purcahsed a ticket for him. (he usually takes his nap on either DW or me during the flight.) We are departing on June 20th and returning July 1st. His 2nd birthday is June 26th. Therefore, he is technically free on the flight down but not the flight back. Has anyone ever been asked to show verifiaction of age at check-in or the gate? Will we be made to pay for his flight back? If it is only done by sight inspection, we may be OK as he was a preemie born 3 months early (perfectly healthy, thank God) and looks slighty smaller for his age.

Any stories/advice would be appreciated.

 

[disney4us2002]

Yeah, I know what you mean about the preachy posts. We have flown over the years with our kids before they were two and were never asked for birth certificates but that was before all the 911 changes. Our kids did NOT look small but we were never asked for proof. He will be required of course to sit in someone's lap without a ticket.

 

[DVC-Don]

I've heard the Southwest boarding crew asking for birth certs for lap children.

 

[NotUrsula]

According to AirTran's website, "a birth certificate may be required". There is no info there about what the policy is if a child turns 2 in the course of a trip. The FAA regulation states that a child over 2 must have his/her own seat, so I'm thinking that AirTran cannot post a policy that defies the regulation.

Bottom line on this one is, call AirTran and ask. I don't think that you have to tell them who you are, just tell them that you want to know what the policy is in these situations.

 

[Aisling]

The new reality Airline show had a situation like this with a family flying Southwest. They were on their return flight and were asked for proof for their lap child, and they didn't have proof. They complained that they were not asked for proof when they flew in. The agent would not budge, saying the child looked like it might be older. The agent let the mom call the birth hospital, but it got nowhere. The family ended up having to pay for a ticket and then could submit proof of age for a refund. This was after a long time of bitter arguing.

So you may or may not be asked for proof. Keep your fingers crossed that you aren't asked!

 

[Lewisc]

You don't want preachy post BUT since you asked for advice:

1) Lap babies are not safe. People have posted links documenting it. There is no other side.

2) 3 year olds don't qualify as a lap baby.

So your question is will you get caught doing an unsafe, illegal (federal regulations REQUIRE A SEAT) ACT? Most airlines tell you to bring a birth certificate. SW checks and if you "forget it" will make you buy a ticket on the spot. Buy the ticket now and you may get a better fare than if you wait unitl you have to.

 

[sgtdisney]

Technically you would need to purchase a one way seat for your son on the return part of the trip. I have flown a number of times with my kids and have never been asked for their birth certificate, although we have always had it with. You never know when they will ask for it. You would kind of be taking a chance by not buying a seat on your return leg because if they do ask for ID you will have to pay the going fare at that time. You would need to decide if you want to 'roll the dice' and see if they don't ask for id.

 

[jel0511]

I've flown many times and have been ask for my children's birth certificates, and they had seats. If you purchase a seat for an under 2 YO, the seats are usually half price.

 

[bnlbebes]

I saw the same show about the family getting on the Southwest flight, and that made me a little jittery. I think that calling ahead (anonymously) is the best option, so I'll go that route and post the info that I get.

 

[madge]

Originally posted by DVC-Don
I've heard the Southwest boarding crew asking for birth certs for lap children.

we have been asked twice by SWA. once, when our daughter was clearly an infant and once last year when she was almost 2. The second time the gate agent didn't realize we had purchased a ticket for her...I got the impression she was asking out of habit.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I haven't flown a lot with my children when they were young, but they've never been carded. I've had the flight crew assume that I hadn't bought a ticket and "inform" me that I wouldn't be able to bring my carseat onboard unless there were empty seats. Of course I then told them that the baby had a seat.

That would be a good question for the airlines since they should have a policy concerning this. I agree that the official policy probably is to have the ticket. Probably not much more $ to just buy the round trip ticket and then you will have the security of your baby being strapped in.

Having said that, the last time that we flew with our son he was 2 1/2 and therefore had a seat. We brought his carseat and that was a disaster. Sure, he was safer, but he kept kicking the seat in front (I think we put one of our family in that seat since there are 6 of us) and he cried and complained whenver he was in that seat. We then had to carry the carseat quite a ways across the airport to make the connection. Ugh. On the return flight we buckeled him in with just the seatbelt and checked the carseat. We always use a carseat in our car, whether our child screams or not, but on an airplane filled with unrelated people it was a little harder. Now I remember why we stopped flying with Jake! lol Hopefully he is better now at 4yo!

T&B

T&B

 

[Padre Disney]

We have a group of 13 flying with SWA in March but only have 12 tickets because one will be 17 months when we fly.
SWA said that the parents would be asked to show the childs birth certificate when we board.