2 year 2 month old lap child?

[myrrha68]

You will definitely have to purchase a seat for your child if he is older than 2, they always ask for a birth certificate to prove that they are under 2. You would probably be more comfortable anyway if he has his own seat. I took a 1 hour flight with my 1 1/2 year old and it was very cramped with her sitting in my lap, I was glad the flight was very short!

 

[swilphil]

We flew with my son 3 DAYS after he turned 2, and we bought him a seat (if we had gone before his birthday we would have paid more for our family to fly during the July 4th weekend). Even though he had a ticket he stayed in our laps almost the entire trip, as he did when he was 3 and 4 years old.

When we flew with him at 13 months, and he looked about 9 months, we did have to show his birth certificate.

 

[strmtroopr96]

We had to show our youngest DD's birth certificate to Southwest both times that we flew with her. The first time, she was a tiny 11-week old baby and the second she was a tiny 15-month old. LOL Next trip she will be a still tiny 26-month old but getting her own seat this trip!

 

[Darcy03231]

Last spring we flew to Florida for a cruise and there was a couple trying to board with a "lap" child. When they couldn't produce a birth certificate they were told he couldn't board the flight without a seat and our flight was sold out (this was during spring break time). They were told they would have to take the next available flight, three days later. They were supposed to be going on the same cruise we were, which was leaving the next day. I don't know what ended up happening as we boarded, but they weren't on the plane.

 

[puffkin]

We have flown 4 times with my son (8 flights) on Airtran and Southwest. We have had to show a birth certificate EVERY time, even when he was only 3 monhts old. They wouldn't let him through security without a boarding pass. To get the boarding pass you have to go to the counter with the birth certificate.

On our last trip (he was 22 months) the agent even came out and talked to him because she couldn't believe he was under 2. He looks a lot older than he is. Once he started talking though she realized he really was under 2. I guess she thought we doctored his birth certificate

I would buy the seat now and get the best deal you can.

 

[RMulieri]

When I flew with DD on Delta, they asked for a birth certif. and that was 2 years ago.

 

[dudspizza]

On our last trip (he was 22 months) the agent even came out and talked to him because she couldn't believe he was under 2. He looks a lot older than he is. Once he started talking though she realized he really was under 2. I guess she thought we doctored his birth certificate

I would buy the seat now and get the best deal you can.

Or I guess she was doing her job. Watch in the boarding area. Gate agents will ask children their name and thier age when taking their boarding pass. You should not be offended when they do so... they are doing their job....

 

[tlens]

I'm shocked any airline would let any child on without some type of identification.

 

[Alexander]

Or I guess she was doing her job. Watch in the boarding area. Gate agents will ask children their name and thier age when taking their boarding pass. You should not be offended when they do so... they are doing their job....

To which neither of my children will answer. They don't talk to strangers. My nine year old always looks at me when someone he doesn't know asks him a question so I can tell him he can answer. My two year old won't even look at someone who he doesn't know talking to him, and ironically, he talks as well as most four year olds! This is not something I taught my children, it is just something they do.

 

[Alexander]

I'm shocked any airline would let any child on without some type of identification.

Yes, but shy of a passport, most children don't have photo ID. So you could use any birth certificate that has a date somewhere near a child's age.

 

[cbrfan]

Yes, but shy of a passport, most children don't have photo ID. So you could use any birth certificate that has a date somewhere near a child's age.

In theory, you could. But I don't know that it would be worth the effort just to save yourself from purchasing a ticket. Unless the birth certificate was for a child of your own who isn't travelling with you, I'm pretty sure airline personnel will ask for documentation from the parents listed on the certificate verifying that you have permission to travel with their child. At the very least you'd have to have all the info memorized. I'm sure some people do it, just wouldn't be worth it to me. Especially if you got caught trying to pull it off.

 

[Lewisc]

Yes, but shy of a passport, most children don't have photo ID. So you could use any birth certificate that has a date somewhere near a child's age.

I guess but you'd have to make sure your entire family knows the "new name" and "new date of birth" of your child. I'm not sure I'd like to get caught trying this strategy. I don't think it's that usual for an infant to by flying without either parent listed on the birth certificate. I'd be afraid of red flags going up. I'm not sure how you'd go about asking a friend for a copy of a birth certificate of their child.

Spirit is starting to charge a fee for lap babies. Combine that with the luggage allowance paying for a baby gets and famlies may be better off just paying for a ticket.

 

[mdhkitten]

Just curious, but do think that with the way gas prices are that the FAA will wind up changing the fact that they allow "lap children" under the age of 2 and will eventually require everyone to purchase a seat?

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm shocked any airline would let any child on without some type of identification.

My dd has been flying for years with no ID...actually since she was 4. Now, at 14, she carries her school ID or her passport, but she's never been asked for it. I'm sure that now, at 5'8", she will be needing her passport...even though she isn't going to be 16 for another 18 months. Or is it 18 that they need IDs?? Can't ever remember.

I would just buy a seat for your lap baby now, rather than worry about it. It's much easier flying that way in any case.

 

[cbrfan]

Some airlines are already starting to charge for lap babies. I would love to see the rules changed so everyone has to have a seat. I hope that requirement isn't far off. It should have been long ago regardless of fuel prices.

 

[emmababy]

You will definitely have to purchase a seat for your child if he is older than 2, they always ask for a birth certificate to prove that they are under 2. You would probably be more comfortable anyway if he has his own seat. I took a 1 hour flight with my 1 1/2 year old and it was very cramped with her sitting in my lap, I was glad the flight was very short!

They don't always ask. I have flown with my now 22 month old on 15 flights, and noone once gave her a second look. Also, we were completely comfortabel and she behaved great. So for those who like to flame the parents of lap children, it isn't always a nightmare for those around us.

 

[mdhkitten]

Some airlines are already starting to charge for lap babies. I would love to see the rules changed so everyone has to have a seat. I hope that requirement isn't far off. It should have been long ago regardless of fuel prices.

I learned my lesson flying with my daughter as a lap child, and if I ever had another would buy a seat. I also hope that they make this a requirement just for the child's safety (although I do think for tiny babies they will and should offer a lower fare since their parent would be holding them most of the time). Until this ever happens, though, I think that they should always check for BC's for lap children since they're now even having to charge for checked bags.

 

[dis-happy]

I'm shocked any airline would let any child on without some type of identification.

Why???? We don't live in a police state, at least not yet.

I've flown for years many, many times with my children, and even in the most recent level of heightened security was never asked for id for my children...because it's not required. My high-schooler had been mistaken for a college student at different times outside of the airport, but airlines have never asked for her id once I said she was 17 or under (now she's 19 and brings her id).

And while airlines may ask for birth certificates for lap children as has been posted here, my personal experience is that I have never been asked. Most recently I flew over Christmas, 4 flights, different airlines (USAir and Alaska), with a 3 month old and was never asked for a birth certificate. Good thing, because in our state it takes a few months before they even have it available to send it to you (welcome to NC!). I assume our health insurance card with his birth date would have sufficed in a pinch.

The OP needs to get another seat purchased asap. Good luck!

 

[Interpol]

Yes, but shy of a passport, most children don't have photo ID. So you could use any birth certificate that has a date somewhere near a child's age.

And how would you explain the discrepancy between the names of the parents listed on the birth certificate versus the names on the airline ticket?

Not saying it can't be done, but most likely it's not worth all the hassle to conjure up such an elaborate lie.

 

[CarolA]

Yes, but shy of a passport, most children don't have photo ID. So you could use any birth certificate that has a date somewhere near a child's age.

Every time I think I have seen it all a new one appears!!!



Let's get some stranger's BC and have our child IMPERSONATE him/her!



I mean those rules aren't REALLY there to protect your child from a dangerous situaton are they????


I have a friend who adopted two children from China. She was so worried that someone would challenage her on her right to travel with these kids (whose Birth Certifcate is in CHINESE LOL!) that the VERY first thing she did upon arrival in the US was send off all her stuff to the US Passport agency to get a new passport with child's new name etc. on it.

(And she had to FIGHT with the adoption agency because she and her DH were willing to PAY for seats for the kids on the flight HOME from China. The agency said "you can hold them in your laps they are under two" She said "It's not safe. I didn't do it with my first two children and I am not endangering these either")