2 year old on Southwest

[lynn71092]

Does a 2 year old require a ticket to fly on Southwest? And do they ask for a birth certificate?

 

[kerstfan1]

what i have seen on tv take a birthcerticate i have seen people have to pay lots of money to get their child on the flight when they did not have prove of age

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Ticket is required once a child has had their second birthday.

And proof of age is often required, especially for a kid who looks close to age 2.

 

[lynn71092]

I guess what I mean is, when a child has their 2nd birthday do they have to have a ticket? Or does a 2 year old fly for free with the parent.

 

[Shagley]

From the Southwest website...

One child over 14 days and under two (2) years of age, not occupying a seat, may be carried free of charge when traveling with an adult (12 years of age or older). Although a boarding pass is not required for the infant, you will need a Boarding Verification Document.

A copy of the child's birth certificate is required to validate the age of all infants under two.

It looks like the child has to be UNDER 24 months in order to fly free. Once they have their 2nd birthday they will need to have a ticket. It also looks like a birth certificate is required to prove they are under the age of 2.

 

[lynn71092]

Thanks, the Disboards come through again

 

[Hannathy]

And southwest is very adamant about having the birth certificate!!!

I needed one for my DS when he flew at 6 weeks.

 

[dudspizza]

And southwest is very adamant about having the birth certificate!!!

I needed one for my DS when he flew at 6 weeks.

Yep, the FAA will fine any airline if it is found out that they allowed a child to fly as a lap child when they have reached their 2nd birthday. That is way airlines such as SW as so picky, even when it is obvious a child is under 2.

OP, there was a person here on the DIS who had a child fly to WDW as a lap child, their child then turned 2 while there and they hadn't purchased a seat for the ride back..... they were required to purchase a ticket for their ride home.

All passengers who are 2 or older require their own paid ticket and must sit in their own seat. No birth certificate is needed once they are 2 since they are in a paid seat. Kids under 18 and flying in their own seat do not need any kind of ID.

Duds

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I have seen SW deny boarding to families who could not prove kid was UNDER 2. I have also seen it on Delta.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have seen SW deny boarding to families who could not prove kid was UNDER 2. I have also seen it on Delta.

Not an issue for OP, as the child is two and must fly on a paid ticket.

OP - this type of information is always posted on an airline's website.

 

[LadyBeBop]

She wouldn't need a birth certificate if the child was two and had his own seat.

In fact, I don't think a birth certificate is necessary if the child was under two, but had his own seat, right?

 

[NotUrsula]

And southwest is very adamant about having the birth certificate!!!

I needed one for my DS when he flew at 6 weeks.

I know asking at that age kind of seems silly, but for the sake of not opening the airline up to possible charges of preferential treatment of some passengers, SWA has made it their policy to require proof-of-age ID for *any* situation where you are seeking to fly on an age-dependent reduced fare.

FWIW, they also require legal proof-of-age for older folks who want to fly on a Senior fare as well.

If the passenger has a personal Rapid Rewards account, the DOB can be verified once by a SWA employee and entered into the record so that you don't have to show documentation again, but that doesn't work for lap babies, because only paid passengers earn any miles. You have to show proof-of-age for a "free" lap baby each and every time they fly.

My kids had their own Rapid Rewards accounts before they were 2 months old, but they never flew as lap children on SWA. Those birthday cards from SWA come regularly as clockwork to our house.

 

[crashbb]

She wouldn't need a birth certificate if the child was two and had his own seat.

In fact, I don't think a birth certificate is necessary if the child was under two, but had his own seat, right?

You are correct. If the child has his or her own seat, regardless of age, they do not need a birth certificate. The only exception that I can think of is if they purchased special age-based fare (though that would be an airline, not FAA rule) or if they are really, really little (there is a minimum age one has to be before one can fly).

 

[LadyBeBop]

You are correct. If the child has his or her own seat, regardless of age, they do not need a birth certificate. The only exception that I can think of is if they purchased special age-based fare (though that would be an airline, not FAA rule)...

Quite understandable.

...or if they are really, really little (there is a minimum age one has to be before one can fly).

That, I did not know. How old do you have to be?

 

[crashbb]

That, I did not know. How old do you have to be?

I may have made it up - sorry. I don't see anything on the FAA site, but a scan of airline sites shows many airlines won't take an infant less than 7 days old (some have limits up to 14 days old). Delta will allow it, but you need a doctor's note if the baby is under 7 days.

So, it looks like an airline rule rather than an FAA rule.

 

[gmeh1]

Quite understandable.



That, I did not know. How old do you have to be?

14 days without a medical release on SWA. http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/family/baby-on-board-pol.html