Airfare for a 23.5 month old?

[Cinderumbrella]

My SIL and her family are planning on joining us on our Dec trip. Her daughter will turn 2 during the trip. Will they need to buy her a plane ticket or can she just sit with them?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

She will require the ticket for the return flight.

Some airlines do half price on ticketed infants--you might check if she can at least qualify for the reduced rate since she is under 2 at departure.

 

[B9erSteve]

Also remember, how far are you flying? A long crowded flight with a toddler confined to your lap is not a good plan. I happily pay for that extra small amount of real estate.

 

[Schucraig]

You need proof of age, either a shot record or birth certificate to prove the age of your child. We needed it on both the departure and return flight, once they turn 2 you need a ticket. Have fun!

 

[pooh4evr]

Buy the ticket!! Our DD was the same age when we went in May holding her on our lap the entire time would have been a nightmare- no room for the tray, = no coloring, snacking surface, just a very tight fit!

 

[all4fun]

I agree. They'll have to have a ticket for the return flight anyway so they might as well just buy r/t ticket. There is no way I would have been able to hold my ds on my lap for that long at that age anyway.

 

[mamacatnv]

We encountered the same thing a few years back and since DS was not 2 to begin the trip with round trip tickets we were not required to purchase one for him. I would check with the airline, then if they don't require the purchase of the seat, I would evaluate the length of flight etc. to decide whether to purchase an additional ticket.

MamaCatNV

 

[eeyoreiscool]

Our experience is they are getting strict on the age of children now. It may just be safer to get a r/t ticket for them while the prices are still low than to take a chance and have to buy a more expensive one later.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Thanks everyone-- that is my thought too, but this is a super budget trip for them so they were hoping to save the $200 on the flight. I told them just to knock a day off the trip to compensate so we'll see....

 

[Danaans]

check with your airline for their policy on Lapchildren. I believe it is two years old, but call your airline to be sure.

 

[Leah and Emily's mom]

I would suggest calling the airline and ask them. Each airline is different. We flew ATA and were not asked to show any documents on our daughter.

 

[NotUrsula]

The rule that children age 2 and over must have their own seats is not an airline rule, it is an FAA rule. Whether the airline pretends they don't know the child's age or not is not universal, but they can be fined by the FAA for letting kids who have reached their 2nd birthday ride as lap babies.

I can tell you absolutely that if they are flying SWA they will need to purchase a seat for the return leg. SWA checks proof of age on lap babies, and if the child is over, they will be required to purchase a seat on the spot or the child will not be allowed to board. They will normally discount the seat price if this happens, but it will not be as cheap as if the seat was purchased in advance.

Traditional carriers tend to charge more for a one-way ticket that for a round-trip, so price carefully with those airlines. The parents should call and ask about special pricing for a one-way in this situation.

 

[Hannathy]

Yes Southwest is very strict about birth certificates! They almost didn't let me on once with my son. It was an emergency flight my Mom was admitted to ICU in critical cond and I got the first flight I could grabbed the baby stuff and the first clothes I reached and left for the airport without Id for my son. I had to have them call a Superviser to ok it. Now the real kicker was he was 6 weeks old at the time! I can see being strict but that was really stretching it. So on SW I wouldn't try it.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

SWA is a good idea if they want to take advantage of lap baby status. Then they'd only have to purchase the return leg. (Then they'll wonder--wow, we should have done this on the way down ).

 

[dcgrumpy]

If you don't buy a ticket on the way down, when you check in ask if there is an empty seat to put the carseat in.

 

[beattyfamily]

Under 2 years old with a seat is 50% off with most airlines. You have to call them to get it OR you can also get the discounted fare at Expedia.com

I just checked with Expedia.com and Delta and American Airlines had the 1/2 price fare for children under with a seat.

 

[dcgrumpy]

Under 2 years old with a seat is 50% off. I just checked with Expedia.com and Delta and American Airlines had the 1/2 price fare for children under with a seat.

That actually depends on the airline and the fare. The 50% is usually off of full price fare not discounted fares. I've always had to pay the same price as everyone else for my kids under 2.

 

[beattyfamily]

That actually depends on the airline and the fare. The 50% is usually off of full price fare not discounted fares. I've always had to pay the same price as everyone else for my kids under 2.

Sorry I didn't make it clear enough. I went to Expedia.com and got half fare for children under 2 for both Delta and American. That was my experience today when I checked for the OP and it was also my experience when my 2 girls were under 2. It was 50% the current fare and NOT full price.

I'm talking about Delta and American and booking through Expedia. You may not get the 50% off if you go to Delta or American's websites directly. You have to call them to get the 50% off fare but with Expedia you do not have to call.

This is MY experience.

 

[dcgrumpy]

I understood I was just giving MY experience

 

[beattyfamily]

I understood I was just giving MY experience

Oh, thought you were correcting me.