Airline Question - Daughter turns 2 while on trip

[becky_AK]

Good morning,
I apologize in advice if this the wrong board to post this question. Wasn't quite sure where it would best fit.

Anyway, we are traveling to WDW January 29-February. My daughter's 2nd birthday is 1/30. So on the way down to FL she would be considered a lap child and receive a free ticket on Southwest Airlines. My question is, do I need to purchase a ticket for her return flight or would she be a lapchild for the round-trip since the departure date was before her 2nd birthday? Probably a silly question but was hoping to find an answer here. Thank you!

 

[chimilady]

You'll probably get a quicker/better response on the Transportation board.

 

[ghtx]

You'll probably get a quicker/better response on the Transportation board.

Agreed.

Or, an even better response if you call Southwest Airlines.

 

[becky_AK]

Thanks!

 

[merentha]

Technically you need another ticket which is what the airline will tell you. But, you could tell them they are under 2 on the way back, though I doubt they will ask.

 

[CourtneyL]

She would need a ticket for the return trip.

Also, flying with a lap child is not safe for the child or the other passengers on board. They become a projectile and can injure themselves or other passengers during turbulence or rough take offs and landings. Infants and children should be properly restrained in their car seats (installed on the plane seat).

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Technically you need another ticket which is what the airline will tell you. But, you could tell them they are under 2 on the way back, though I doubt they will ask.

WRONG! SW not only asks they want PROOF! You need to take a birth certificate when flying SW to prove your lap child is under two. I posted this on the thread the OP started on the Transportation Board but I have seen hissy fit posts on Flyertalk where SW denied boarding to infants who could not provide age proof.

If you child is this old you better bring that birth certificate. SW can, and very well may, just deny boarding if they believe the child is over two.

And yes, you will need a ticket for the flight home

The entire under age two thing amazes me but... I am not going to debate the safety because it brings out the 'hysteria' posts.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Transportation board.

 

[ses1230]

Technically you need another ticket which is what the airline will tell you. But, you could tell them they are under 2 on the way back, though I doubt they will ask.

Southwest won't only ask, they want proof. We flew SW when DD was 9 months old - she was clearly an infant - and we had to show her BC.

 

[merentha]

Southwest won't only ask, they want proof. We flew SW when DD was 9 months old - she was clearly an infant - and we had to show her BC.

See a year ago they did not ask for any type of proof for my 23 month old and he's very tall for his age. Lol no need for an all caps wrong. Sheesh people.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

....
Also, flying with a lap child is not safe for the child or the other passengers on board. They become a projectile and can injure themselves or other passengers during turbulence or rough take offs and landings. Infants and children should be properly restrained in their car seats (installed on the plane seat).

OP is not asking for opinions about flying with a lap child. Please don't let this thread get off topic.

OP, yes, you will need to buy your daughter a ticket for the flight home.

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

I actually had called Southwest a few months ago about this very question. I was told that the child did not need a ticket for the departure flight but would need a ticket on the return flight home.

Also, I have never been asked for my son's birth certificate nor my daughter's. We travel with my children's passports but they are always handed back to us without being checked. And we are always told the same thing, that they only need the adult's id.

My husband and I wish that they would be more strict. It scares me that anyone can fly with a child without having to see that child's identification.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Also, I have never been asked for my son's birth certificate nor my daughter's. We travel with my children's passports but they are always handed back to us without being checked. And we are always told the same thing, that they only need the adult's id.

My husband and I wish that they would be more strict. It scares me that anyone can fly with a child without having to see that child's identification.

Why is this scary? No one under 18 needs to show id for a domestic flight unless they are a lap baby or flying on a child's fare (very rare), and then the id is only shown to the airline, not TSA.

Do you really think we need a national id for under 18 year olds?

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

Why is this scary? No one under 18 needs to show id for a domestic flight unless they are a lap baby or flying on a child's fare (very rare), and then the id is only shown to the airline, not TSA.

Do you really think we need a national id for under 18 year olds?

Calm down with the attitude. We think it's scary because people can kidnap kids and then take them on an airplane. However, if they had to show proper id for the child, they wouldn't be able to do this.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Calm down with the attitude. We think it's scary because people can kidnap kids and then take them on an airplane. However, if they had to show proper id for the child, they wouldn't be able to do this.

I think you are trying to make the airlines and/or the TSA into some type of "security force" The airlines don't really care and the TSA's 'role' does not include this type of security...

And can you imagine the nightmares... For every child in America there would need to be some ID that lists all the adults who he/she can travel with...

But folks SW does check birth certificates...

This is an oldie but a goodie
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trav...eling-infant-arms-pack-birth-certificate.html

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

I think you are trying to make the airlines and/or the TSA into some type of "security force" The airlines don't really care and the TSA's 'role' does not include this type of security...

And can you imagine the nightmares... For every child in America there would need to be some ID that lists all the adults who he/she can travel with...

But folks SW does check birth certificates...

This is an oldie but a goodie
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trav...eling-infant-arms-pack-birth-certificate.html

Seriously? Children would have nightmares because they need to have a birth certificate or passport to get on a plane?

Don't you have have anything better to do than to comment negatively on my comments?

 

[Gracie09]

Calm down with the attitude. We think it's scary because people can kidnap kids and then take them on an airplane. However, if they had to show proper id for the child, they wouldn't be able to do this.

Most people who kidnap kids are relatives like noncustodial parents. What is having a kid id going to do? Nothing. I'm a foster parent an if we are going to Disney we take along any foster kids we have. These kids don't have clothes that fit most of the time when they come here, never mind an Id. I always carry a letter that says I'm a foster parent and lists the kids in my care but that would be way to easy to fake to be used as Id. What do you propose be used? A birth certificate? Easy to fake and if birth parents still have them they are not giving them up to me. Besides it would cause issues with the parents privacy.
It's easy to say make everyone have an Id but unless there is a mandatory national id its impossible to practically achieve

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Calm down with the attitude. We think it's scary because people can kidnap kids and then take them on an airplane. However, if they had to show proper id for the child, they wouldn't be able to do this.

What attitude? I am confused.

You may find it scary, but I think this is not a valid concern. It's not like kids are kidnapped and flown about the country every day. Minors have never had to have id to fly domestically, except in limited cases. I can remember when NO ONE needed to show id to fly. You didn't even have to fly under your own name.

Just what kind of id would the average child have anyway? This is silly.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Seriously? Children would have nightmares because they need to have a birth certificate or passport to get on a plane?

Don't you have have anything better to do than to comment negatively on my comments?

Apparently everyone who comments on your posts "has nothing better to do" or needs to "calm down with the attitude".

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

What attitude? I am confused.

You may find it scary, but I think this is not a valid concern. It's not like kids are kidnapped and flown about the country every day. Minors have never had to have id to fly domestically, except in limited cases. I can remember when NO ONE needed to show id to fly. You didn't even have to fly under your own name.

Just what kind of id would the average child have anyway? This is silly.

A birth certificate

Apparently everyone who comments on your posts "has nothing better to do" or needs to "calm down with the attitude".

No, just you.