Airplane travel with an infant

[jenseib]

We are hoping to go to Disney in the next 2 months. My DH is a last minute kind of guy. We have a baby that will be 2 in December. I know under two is free on a plane, but over two is required a ticket. My DH says we should lie and say she is under two still, if we go after X-mas. I say they will ask for a birth certificate or something.
So my question is, do they require proof of age for infants?

 

[LIGrumpyGirl]

I do not know who you are flying with but I checked both JetBlue and Southwest's websites...as I suspected both require a birth certificate. I do know people who were asked for one when it was questionable.

If I were you, I would not risk the chance that you will be denied boarding because there are no seats to purchase at the gate (and can you imagine how much that seat would be at the airport?!)

 

[jenseib]

Thanks. It would most likely be Northwest. How do you check it on there site. Is there a section to tell you that stuff?

 

[TaraPA]

The last time we flew with one of our kids under age 2 they asked for proof of age at check-in - I can't remember for sure but I think it was USAir. It may bot have even been for proof age, rather for proof of identity. They did not however, ask the time prior to that. Ok I guess I didn't answer your question at all! Just wanted to let you know our experience.

 

[tinkwannabe2]

When we flew home last month from Disney, they asked for my newborn son's birth certificate and then gave me trouble when we didn't have one. The problem was that we had not even received it yet! So I would say that it would be very risky considering what a ticket cost two hours before the flight!

 

[drakethib]

I wouldn't chance it. Can you imagine the embarrassment at the airport if they ask and you can't produce one and they make you buy a last minute ticket for big $$$$.

Plus I really would not want to lie about something like that. Just doesn't seem right. No flames just MHO.

 

[dollcollector1]

Plus I really would not want to lie about something like that. Just doesn't seem right. No flames just MHO.

I agree. When you have kids, you have to set an example .

 

[MiniGirl]

It has been quite a few years since I had my airline job. Dh still flies, however, so I asked him. He flies, so doesn't deal with ticketing and boarding passes, but he said that if there is any question to the child's age, they ask for a birth certificate. He also thinks that the airlines tell you in advance that you MAY have to provide ID for your child(ren). So, I, like the others have said, wouldn't risk it.

Now, the former flight attendant in me says to purchase a seat. The absolute safest place for your baby during take off and landing or turbulance is securely strapped into his/her car seat. Not to mention the extra space under the 3rd seat is great; and if it is a long flight, it is nice to be able to put your child in his own seat.

Just my $.02.
Eva

 

[mdhkitten]

I always fly Southwest with my dd who is now 2, the first time being when she was 4 months old, and they have always required her birth certificate for her to fly as a lap child.

 

[jenseib]

Thanks for all the info! In a perfect world we would go before she turns two, but Who knows what will happen. I don't want to lie about it either. I really can't beleive DH would either, as he is always so honest about everything. I don't have her birth certificate yet either, so I guess I should fianlly send for it,so when we do go, we have proof of who she is and her age. It does kind of suck though that one day she is free and the next she would cost a couple hundred dollars. Our flight would be less than 2 hours I think, and I think she will sit in mine or DH's lap no matter if she has a seat or not. But now that I say that, she will probably want her own seat! LOL
I guess we could wait till Jan. and go whe nthe resorts are slightly cheaper to make up a bit for the plane ticket too. at least she willbe free at Disney this year!

 

[MomPOM]

I don't have an issue with the lying part because she'll hardly be over two. But really, I think you'd be pushing your luck. It really depends on what kind of mood the person is in if they want to bother. I have to admit though, it's MUCH easier when they have their own seat.

 

[mdhkitten]

I also had to say that when we flew in May, dd was a couple of weeks away from being 2 and she flew as a lap child. I would NEVER do that again at that age with a future child, should I have any more. She was too big to sit comfortably in my lap (and she's small for her age), and she got agitated not being able to move around like she would have liked to. Had I known this before flying I would have definitely purchased her a seat for my own sanity!

 

[drakethib]

Just a FYI because I love the website for deals


www.airfarewatchdog.com

 

[jenseib]

Thanks all for the tips. One thing we plan to do when we go is bring along our portable DVD player. She loves Barney and Elmo, so that should help a bit!
I totally understand everything you all are saying too and a seprate seat does sound nicer as well. My DH is just so cheap, he will think of it as a waste. I probably should've never mentioned she could be free before the age of two!
I'm going to check out that arefare site too!

I haven't been on these boards very long, but already I am learning alot!

 

[Donald - my hero]

1st off to bunches of you! Come on in and join the

Now my answer NO short and sweet. If she falls outside of the age limit you risk having to buy a ticket at gate (lots of money) on a flight that is full! Make sure you have legal proof of her age as well.

Enjoy your trip

 

[jenseib]

I guess this is turning a bit a different way than I intended. I am not the one who wanted to lie about it. DH did, as he is CHEAP!!! I mostly wanted to know if I needed a birth certificate, as I never did order one. I would've definately checked all this info out before not buying a seat for her as well. But I thought I would find out what others experiences were.
I dug out the paperwork for he B/C and will send it in this week, so I can get her B/C here before we go anywhere.

Another question though. If booking airfare online, How can I be guarenteed that our seats will be together. I mean we will have to have at least one of us next to her.
And is there any rules about carseats? I DONOT want to drag that big thing through an airport and onto a plane.

 

[Donald - my hero]

Yuppers you will get a seat next to her since, if nothing else airlines let families with children under (most is it 5) board 1st. So if you fly Southwest that has no reserved seating plans you will get on 1st and choose seat wherever you want TOGETHER. Other airlines when you book seats will give them to you in advance together.

Most carseats, I'm not sure if they are even approved for air travel. Maybe someone else has the answer to this.

 

[wrighter]

Now isn't this interesting: We have flown with my DS3 at least, say, 15 times. Round trip. All cross country flights, most with layovers. Sometimes we purchased him a seat (when he was under 2) and sometimes we didn't. We have NEVER ONCE been asked to provide proof of age for him. We quit bringing it because nobody ever asked for it. We fly mainly United, Delta, and Continental.

My DD 1 has flown on four trips and they have never asked for any proof for her, either. Very interesting, indeed.

That said, after having done it both ways, you'll be MUCH happier by getting her her own seat. It's totally worth it. Good luck!

 

[Denise Thies]

We flew with United airlines and they wanted a birth certificate.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It does kind of suck though that one day she is free and the next she would cost a couple hundred dollars.

It's not that one day she 'is free' and the next day she's not; it's that airlines allow children under two to fly free in the parents' lap, despite it not being particularly safe in the case of turbulence or even a rough takeoff/landing. The FAA permits it because it flying is safer than driving - but pretty much everyone discourages not buying a seat for even a small child.
As for the age cut not being fair? One day you're not old enough to drive; you wake up the next day and despite no change in judgment, maturiti, experience, poof! You are old enough to drive. Same with getting married, entering into any contract, even drinking - at 20 years and 364 days, you can't legally imbibe alcohol; enter a bar after midnight on that same evening, when OBVIOUSLY nothing's changed in you, and voila! Magically, the law allows you to drink.

I totally understand everything you all are saying too and a seprate seat does sound nicer as well. My DH is just so cheap, he will think of it as a waste.

Oh, really? Is he going to keep her in his lap for three hours straight? Have him practice at home. Now, granted you probably don't have a chair in your house that's as limited in size as an airplane seat, but if you've got a dining chair with arms, or some other small seat, plop your daughter in his lap and see how long they last like that.

Now isn't this interesting: We have flown with my DS3 at least, say, 15 times. Round trip. All cross country flights, most with layovers. Sometimes we purchased him a seat (when he was under 2) and sometimes we didn't. We have NEVER ONCE been asked to provide proof of age for him. We quit bringing it because nobody ever asked for it. We fly mainly United, Delta, and Continental.

Better to have it and not need it than... anybody watch that show "Airline" on A & E? It's been cancelled, but one of the incidents they aired was a family with a child of questionable age, and they didn't have the birth certificate. NONE of the options the parents were given included Southwest just overlooking it. They ended up getting a copy of the birth certificate faxed to the airport by someone back home.