Airline tickets for child JUST over 2 years old?

[SandraC]

Hi, in April 2001 ds was 15 months old so we didn't buy him an airline ticket. Good thing, because he would have never sat in his seat anyway, he was happy playing in the bassinette the airline provided or on my lap. He'll be turning 2 years old at the beginning of January so I'll have to buy him a plane ticket. However, we've been thinking about flying to WDW right around his birthday, either he'll turn 2 years old at WDW or we'd go a few days after his birthday. He's a little fella so he wouldn't really need a seat, I don't know whether I should get him his own seat or not. Officially, I guess I should. What do you think? The airline needs to draw the line somewhere and 2 years is reasonable, but he's little and the cost. I am confused?????

 

[Mickeyworker]

You have to buy a ticket for a child 2 years or older, no matter what their size.

It may be the cost of ticket now when you buy them on a sale, but the cost could
be hundreds of dollars more if the Airline Counter Personnel decide that your child
is 2 and charge you the airfare available on the day of travel (this can be a difference
between (as an example) $ 168.00 for the sale ticket and $ 700.00 for the same
day of travel ticket.

If you travel before he is 2 years old, than you don't have a problem since it is a
roundtrip ticket and technically the outbound date determines the fare.

 

[flyingcircus]

The reason for airlines charging for children 2 years and older, if because they need a seat. I cannot stress enough how important it is for your child to be in his/her own seat. A car seat is also very important, although it is not as of now required.

I have seen parents try to contain their "23 month" old on their lap for an entire flight. IMPOSSIBLE!! Not only is it extremely unsafe, but not fair to the fellow psgrs. next to you. In case of extreme turbulence, or emergency landing, there is no way a parent could keep hold of their child- I believe the G force can exceed 300 lbs, which the average person cannot hold!

Your child is too large for a bassinet, and most airlines have down away with them, as the safety factor is not optimum.

I know cost is a big factor, but I feel that there is no price for the safety of a child. With the fares being as inexpensive as they are now, it would be worth it to buy the ticket, as well as the legal way!

 

[beattyfamily]

I have flown with a 2 year old (2 and 3 months) and then a 14 month old and now it will be a just 2 year old again. I ALWAYS buy a seat, BUT when I buy when they are under 2, I get a 50% discount. So that is definitely worth it. I can certainly see trying to save money but I just find it so much easier on the ride down if she's in a car seat.

Now, I did something wrong and I regret it... when it came time to buy our tickets a couple of months ago, I did the 50% off child seat and she will be a couple weeks OVER 2. I know it's wrong and I feel terrible and regret it. I would never do it again and NOT recommend this to anyone. I feel so guilty!

Good luck!

 

[Beverly Lynn]

beatty family no need to feel guilty. relax.

 

[beattyfamily]

Thanks again, Beverly Lynn!!

 

[flyingcircus]

It Happens!!
Don't worry!

Unfortunately many people think that kids 2 and under do not need tickets- It is under 2. I have had a mother try to get her "small" 4 year old on as a "lap" passengers!!! Doesn't help your cause when your daughter is talking about how fun her 4th birthday party was and showing you she was 4 by her fingers! LOL!! Kids are really proud of their age.

 

[marciaedel]

I don't think I ever traveled just after either kid turned two, but I know of more than one person who has had travel agents suggest to lie about a just 2 yr olds age, so good or bad, I think it's commonly done. I'd definitely not want to do it on a flight expected to be crowded, but if I had gone on an unpopular travel time flight I might have considered it, given my kids are lightweights, and were the size at two of most 1 1/2 yr olds.

 

[josierac]

buy a ticket, everyone will be more comfortable and my son always sat in the car seat in the plane. When he was 9mth we didn't buy a seat and it was torture. We traveled again when he was 1 1/2 and we bought a seat and put his car seat and he sat for the whole flight (3 hrs)

I guess knowing that he can't get out of the car seat in the car made him think he couldn't get out in the plane.

Also if you travel right before your child turns 2 the price for the ticket is 50% less than yours.
so for say $125 (if the tickets are $250) it is more than worth it

 

[flyingcircus]

Just something to ponder- I am not accusing anyone of anything...

If we can not be honest and truthful, then how can we expect our children to be? They learn by our example. I took my DD to DisneyWorld for her 3rd birthday. Yes, it was pricey to buy tickets for 4 days, and yes, she is "small" and could pass for 2, BUT SHE WAS 3!!

What would that teach her, if I lied and said she was 2???? That it is OK for mommy to lie?

Like I said before, I am not accusing anyone. These are my feelings, and just wanted to share!!

 

[luvaladdin]

We were told by Southwest Airlines that we would need to bring a birth certificate to prove my son was under 2.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Please learn from my mistake. On our first trip to WDW my son was 2 years and 10 days old on the day we flew out. I bought him a ticket, but I didn't take a car seat with us because our rental van had built-in seats.
What a mistake!
This was the little guy's first plane flight and a seat belt was going to hold him! He kept squirming right out of it! Only when he fell asleep was he quiet, but we had two flights each way, so about the time he fell asleep it would be time to change planes or get off!
So my advice is not only to buy the ticket, but to take a car seat with you. Buckling him in will do you and your fellow passengers a lot of grief, and you won't be trying to hold him down when he wants to roam.
Robin M.
Poly 6/2000
BWV 6/2001
Poly 12/2001
BWV/VWL 7/2002

 

[ducklite]

I fully support the AFA in their efforts to pass legislation requiring all children to purchase a seat and those under a certain weight to use a car seat on board.

If there is turbulence, think about your darling little one becoming a projectile and hitting another passenger, seriously injuring both. It happens regularly.

When turbulence occurs, it can be impossible to hold on to a baby. The bigger the child is, the harder it is. It's physics, plain and simple. In a crash landing you might be instructed to place your child on the floor. Do you really think he'll survive? Maybe in the odds that a kind stranger fishes him out of an overhead bin after your plane crash lands and catches fire.

If you love your kid, spend the extra 1/2 price fare to buy them a ticket. Regardless of their age and size. A projectile six week old is as deadly as a projectile two year old.

The plane tickets for the entire family should be part of your budget. If you can't afford it, find a way to. Shorten your stay by a day. Skip a character meal or two. Cut down on souveniers. Or stay home. At least that way your kids will be safe.

If I lied about my kids age in order to not spend the money on a ticket for them, I wouldn't be feeling guilty about lying to the airline, I'd be feeling guilty about not safeguarding my kid.

Anne

PS- FlyingCircus--That is so funny! you are right, kids will gladly tell you their ages, and then the parents look like the childish one!

 

[ljsmom]

I'm just back yesterday with my son who will be two in two weeks. We purchased a 1/2 price seat for him on Delta and they did ask for a birth certificate.

 

[TrudyZ]

Buy the seat.

We have been traveling often with our now 3 year old since she was 11 weeks old--and always bought the seat and brought the FAA approved carseat. Yes, it is expensive--especially since we are in the Detroit market which seems to have very few discounts; but we just do it. It is more comfortable for you, for the child, and for the other passengers. (We keep her buckled in her carseat the whole trip--just as if she were in a car.) But, most of all, it is the safe way to travel with your child.

When you get on an airplane, you buckle your own seatbelt for safety reasons; why wouldn't you want to give your kid at least that minimum safety standard and be able to buckle them in too?

Trudy

PS We just returned on 10/20/01 and were asked to show our daughter's birth certificate--I assume for security reasons.