Airfare Question: Child vs. Adult

[mom2boys]

What's the difference?
The prices are the same for my 10 year old as they are for my 12 year old. Yet, the 12 yr old is considered an "adult"
To further complicat matters, my 10 year old will turn 11 during the trip so technically he will be 10 on the flight out and 11 on the flight back. Why do the airlines care?

 

[Nicolepa]

I have wondered this myself. Different airlines have different ages where a child can fly alone. My guess is that 12 is the magic age for this airline.

 

[DrCavin]

They certainly dont care when it comes to pricing. I bet it has to do with children who maybe traveling alone ....

 

[golfgal]

We have never gotten a discount for kids plane tickets. If you find an airline that does, let me know, it would save us a bunch of money!!

 

[ILUVMYBRIT]

It usually has to do with the child flying alone, but it also has to do with children being noted differently on the airlines flight list. A fairly accurate number has to be kept as to how many children vs adults are on a plane. Also when it comes to seat assignments people under a certain age are not allowed to sit in the exit row.

 

[mom2boys]

We have never gotten a discount for kids plane tickets. If you find an airline that does, let me know, it would save us a bunch of money!!

There is no discount for the "child" vs "adult" fare. Perhaps the exit row thing is an issue - however, my youngest is more likely to handle the exit door more efficiently than his brother. The little guy is "johnny on the spot" with aspirations of a career as a police officer or fire fighter.

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Dont know why domestic airlines care. But there are occasional deals with kids fly free sometimes. Also most major international airlines all give under 12 discounts on tickets. Like instead of 650, maybe 550.

Matt

 

[bicker]

I'm almost sure that it has to do with restrictions on exit-row seating.

 

[Amberle3]

Also because technically there has to be an adult seated with children (ie not just 3 children in a row by themselves) so that in case of emergency and those oxygen masks drop down there's someone responsible and capable seated with them to ensure they get their masks on.

I've sometimes seen parents put 3 young kids all by themselves in a row and wondered why on earth the FA's didn't say something and make them arrange themselves in a more appropriate fashion. In fact the last flight I saw this on we did run into some pretty severe turbulance and the father had to get up (while the seatbelt sign was lit, during the turbulance) and try to get the kid's seatbelts done up. During this time he was jostled around a lot, hit his head on the overhead compartments and in fact hit one of the other passengers in the head with his elbow while trying to get his balance. BTW even after that the parents didn't think to have one of them swap seats with one of the kids.