2 yr old and southwest

[hanncam7]

I know that you are supposed to pay the adult fare for a child that is 2 when you travel. Are they that strick regarding this rule? My little girl just turned 2 so I didn't know if they would allow her just to sit in my lap. Any help is much appreciated!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

It's not so much that you have to pay a adult fare if you want your daughter to have her own seat, it's just that adult fares are sometimes less than an infant fare. Either way, if your child does not sit on your lap, you have to buy a seat.

HTH.

I just checked the Southwest site. Unfortunately, infant fares do not apply to children 2 and over and all children 2 and over have to have a seat and cannot sit on laps.

 

[Microcell]

No. As a matter of fact, my just turned 2 DS (like 25 months old) fell asleep in my lap just prior to take off, and we would have had a seamless takeoff with a sleeping baby, when the stewardess made me put him in his own seat, thus waking him up and screaming the entire takeoff!

That was three years ago, though, so any more recent knowledge people?

 

[skjuls]

You will have to buy a seat for the 2 year old........and seat them in a FAA approved car seat........

The only time they would probably allow the 2 year old to sit in your lap is during the flight, not during landing and takeoff.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

You will have to buy a seat for the 2 year old........and seat them in a FAA approved car seat........

The only time they would probably allow the 2 year old to sit in your lap is during the flight, not during landing and takeoff.

You are not required to have the car seat. You do have to buy a ticket for a 2 yr old. But they may sit in the seat with the seatbelt.

If you think your child will take off the belt or refuse to sit in the seat, I highly recommend the car seat, though. The airline requires them to be seated and buckled for takeoff/landing.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

You are not required to have the car seat. You do have to buy a ticket for a 2 yr old. But they may sit in the seat with the seatbelt.

If you think your child will take off the belt or refuse to sit in the seat, I highly recommend the car seat, though. The airline requires them to be seated and buckled for takeoff/landing.

I would highly recommend a car seat. When my daughter was that age, we put her in her car seat in the plane. I figured she already knew that when she was in the car seat, we were going someplace and she could not get up. She never put up a fuss. She just thought she was in a car. Albeit at 25,000 feet.

PS: It helps them to see out the window better!

 

[Manda]

It just depends. It's not a SW rule - it's an government rule. When I flew with my one year old with no ticket, I didn't bring a birth certificate. I had no problem on the way there, but on the way back, I had big problems when they demanded proof that he was under 2. I was scolded and threated with $10,000 fines and told I wouldn't be able to fly. I finally ended up being able to sign a sworn affidavit promising that my child was under 2 and they let me fly. I wouldn't risk going through that. Just buy a seat.

 

[TravelinGal]

To directly answer your question. Yes, you DO need to purchase a ticket.

They can (AND DO!) ask to see a birth certificate on children that LOOK close to the 2 year old mark if they're flying free. Southwest is one of the airlines that checks this most often. If they find you are flying without a birth certificate (for a child under 2/free) or with a child over 2, they can demand that you purchase a FULL FARE ticket at that time if you want your child to fly that day. I've seen them "ID" a 1 year old that looked quite a bit older (was a tall child). The family had to have someone fax a copy of the child's birth certificate to the airline to avoid having to buy a seat for the child.

To join in the car seat discussion -
Use of a child seat is not simply one of convenience or keeping a child in the seat, it's a safety issue. The US Federal Aviation Administration, the US National Transportation Safety Board, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all endorse/encourage the use of car seats for flights. (American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/108/5/1218) Hopefully you will never need the safety of the child restraint, however, if there is severe turbulence and/or a crash you will be glad you had your precious child(ren) secured properly. Crashes are rare but turbulence is really common. Children under 40 pounds should NOT use the airline lap belts. In most cases they cannot be secured snugly enough and if there is turbulence or a crash, the seat belt can even inflict significant injury to the child.

 

[dcgrumpy]

SWA routinely asks for birth certificates for lap children. If they are 2 you have to buy a seat.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

To join in the car seat discussion -
Use of a child seat is not simply one of convenience or keeping a child in the seat, it's a safety issue. The US Federal Aviation Administration, the US National Transportation Safety Board, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all endorse/encourage the use of car seats for flights. (American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/108/5/1218) Hopefully you will never need the safety of the child restraint, however, if there is severe turbulence and/or a crash you will be glad you had your precious child(ren) secured properly. Crashes are rare but turbulence is really common. Children under 40 pounds should NOT use the airline lap belts. In most cases they cannot be secured snugly enough and if there is turbulence or a crash, the seat belt can even inflict significant injury to the child.

I couldn't agree more!!! Not only was it convenient it was also safe! We used the car seat in the plane until she 4 years old. But, my daughter is big for her age and was 40 lbs at 3 years old.

 

[skjuls]

SWA routinely asks for birth certificates for lap children. If they are 2 you have to buy a seat.

Every time I have flown on SW when my son was under 2, they always checked for a birth certificate at check in and then you get a slip of paper that says you are good to go.......

I have always put my on in a car seat when he wasn't a lap child anymore. Now, I have the CARES system which makes it easier. my son is small and only weighs 28 pounds so I will always makes sure he is fastened more than what the plane seat does.

 

[lulu5]

When I took my under 2 son, I had to show his birth certificate. The lady next to me also had a little one, but didn't have their birth certificate. They told her she either had to provide it (they said to have someone fax it to them) or she would have to buy the child a ticket. They were adamant she had to show proof and she was not happy. Personally, I would not chance it.
I now have a two year old son who will fly next month in his carseat. He will be in his carseat because he does not like to sit still and this will help to settle him down a little. Does anyone have any advice how to get a carseat and a stroller around an airport easier?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Do you have time and resources to purchase a combination? Please note, I am NOT being nosy - I don't expect a response, just something for you to consider. Here's http://dreamtimebaby.com/miblsitnstst.html one that specifically states it's approved for airplane use.

 

[TravelinGal]

. Does anyone have any advice how to get a carseat and a stroller around an airport easier?

If you're using the stroller to get to the gate (and then gate checking it) you can get backpack type car seat cover/carrier to free up your hands as you travel to the gate - here are a few

Carrier 1

Carrier 2

Carrier 3 - one strap - over shoulder

Carrier 4

Lots of choices out there!

If you want to check your stroller and wheel your child to the gate in the car seat, check out this cool gadget!
You can buy or RENT this one!

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

To directly answer your question. Yes, you DO need to purchase a ticket.

To join in the car seat discussion -
Use of a child seat is not simply one of convenience or keeping a child in the seat, it's a safety issue. The US Federal Aviation Administration, the US National Transportation Safety Board, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all endorse/encourage the use of car seats for flights. (American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/108/5/1218) Hopefully you will never need the safety of the child restraint, however, if there is severe turbulence and/or a crash you will be glad you had your precious child(ren) secured properly. Crashes are rare but turbulence is really common. Children under 40 pounds should NOT use the airline lap belts. In most cases they cannot be secured snugly enough and if there is turbulence or a crash, the seat belt can even inflict significant injury to the child.

My 2 year old weighs 43 pounds.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well...when we flew with our 2 year old last October, I had his carseat and had a seat for him.

Waited in the pre-board section with two other women and their respective two year olds, and we were VERY vocal about the age of 2, etc etc etc.

And then they got on board, and BOTH of the kids sat on their moms' lap the entire flight (and in the same row, which I thought wasn't allowed), it didn't seem they had purchased tickets for their kids.

Very very odd.

And, I'll preface it by saying that we did use a carseat for that trip and will in the future, I think it's the FAA who is now saying that carseats are NOT required, as flying is statistically safer than driving, and someone being required to buy another/bring their own carseat might then decide to drive instead, and they will be less safe driving, statistically. So they'd rather have them flying and statistically safer, than driving and statistically UNsafer. em, er, if that's a word.


But despite my post, buy the seat (get a cheapie or Ding! fare, do NOT go for any "kid" fare that's going to be half of the FULL rate), bring the carseat and lots of fun toys/books/stickers, and then let the child charm the flight attendants so much (or act up enough that they want to shush her, like I think what happened with my boy ) that they bring the child a little pack with stick-on wings, pencils, coloring book, and so on.

 

[strmtroopr96]

During our last trip to WDW last year, we didn't have to show our youngest DD's birth certificate in ALB. But they did ask for it in MCO on the way home. Funny thing was, she was only 3 months old at the time, and tiny at that (about 11 lbs.). LOL It was quite obvious that she was under 2 but they were just doing their job.

 

[neonurse]

My neice will be just under 2 when we go in Nov. so is everyone saying that she doesn't get a seat/car seat she just sits on mom and dad's lap???

 

[My2Cinderellas]

My neice will be just under 2 when we go in Nov. so is everyone saying that she doesn't get a seat/car seat she just sits on mom and dad's lap???

Because she will be under 2, she is not required by the FAA to have her own ticket. If that is the case, then yes, she will have to sit on someone's lap unless there are empty seats on the flight. If you want the child to have their own seat guaranteed, then you need to purchase a ticket.

Personally, I always bought a ticket for my child regardless of their age. Both for the child's safety and for my sanity. Holding a squirming child for 3 hours is no fun, when the alternative is them sitting/sleeping in their familiar, safe carseat.

Southwest does not have child fares, so a ticket for a child under 2 years is the same price as for the rest of the family.

The traditional airlines have a 1/2 price fare for children under 2. If the adult fare is $218 ($200 fare and $18 taxes) then the under 2 price is half the fare plus full taxes or $118 ($100 fare and $18 taxes). If Southwest is not an option in your area, then this can be a great deal.

 

[TravelinGal]

My neice will be just under 2 when we go in Nov. so is everyone saying that she doesn't get a seat/car seat she just sits on mom and dad's lap???

She does not NEED a seat/car seat but she will need a birth certificate for proof of her age if she's flying free.

A seat can be purchased for her at the going rate (and a copy of the birth certificate will not be necessary in this case). Again, I strongly recommend a seat for every person on the plane.

Editing to clarify - if you get the child's seat (under 2) for a discounted rate, you still need to provide proof of age (birth cert). It is only if you pay the regular published rate (same rate that you, as an adult, would pay) that you won't need proof of age for the child.

Use of a child seat is not simply one of convenience or keeping a child in the seat, it's a safety issue. The US Federal Aviation Administration, the US National Transportation Safety Board, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all endorse/encourage the use of car seats for flights. (American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/108/5/1218) Hopefully you will never need the safety of the child restraint, however, if there is severe turbulence and/or a crash you will be glad you had your precious child(ren) secured properly. Crashes are rare but turbulence is really common. Children under 40 pounds should NOT use the airline lap belts. In most cases they cannot be secured snugly enough and if there is turbulence or a crash, the seat belt can even inflict significant injury to the child.