Birth Certificate to Fly for 14 month old?

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

We are flying Air Tran for the first time (first time ever on a plane actually) in just a few months and I'm wondering, do I need to bring a birth certificate for my then 16 month old? She is riding on my lap...will I need to prove she's under 2 at the airport? My travel agent says no, but I don't want to take a chance of being turned away the day we're supposed to leave for our trip!

Thanks so much!

Step one. Find a new TA. One with some travel experience. Super sweet is not the only qualification. Knowing something about travel is!

Step two. Find the birth certificate (or I have heard shot records work)

The airline, can and will, validate and if you can't PROVE the child is under two then you won't be getting on as a lap child. I have seen them demand proof for infants so a 16 month old is VERY likely to get checked IMHO.

 

[AshleyD1983]

Is this true??? If so it would be great to know just IN THE CASE that we didn't get the birth cert. in time. I don't see why we wouldn't, but you know how sometimes things don't go as planned.

When we flew in April with Southwest, I was told by numerous reps at Southwest that shot records would work as well. (I was a little worried that I would get a different answer depending on who you talked to that day, so I called a few times... Haha!) I took both the shot records and birth certificate just in case something strange came up. If you think the birth certificate may not arrive in time, definitely get the shot records. Also try contacting the hospital where your child was born. They should be able to give you some form of birth record. That way if the birth certificate does not arrive you will at least have 2 forms of ID.

 

[LadyBeBop]

I'm wondering if the TA forgot the child was sitting on OP's lap.

I'm pretty sure the child wouldn't need a birth certificate if the child had its own seat.

 

[Minnesota!]

Hmmm. we have flown with lap kids and NEVER needed a birth certificate. This was with Airtran...we have done it 4x and never been asked!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Hmmm. we have flown with lap kids and NEVER needed a birth certificate. This was with Airtran...we have done it 4x and never been asked!

You just got a lazy GA or check-in agent, because this is their policy:

http://www.airtran.com/policies/checkin_information.aspx#children_infants

Infants under the age of two years must be accompanied by a passenger 12 years old or older and have a birth certificate for age verification purposes.

 

[pumpkinpatchquilter]

I'm wondering if the TA forgot the child was sitting on OP's lap.

I'm pretty sure the child wouldn't need a birth certificate if the child had its own seat.

Hahaha, you must be a good natured person to think this way - but no, when we asked her, my daughter was with me and I was asking the TA specifically about the airline's policy. Boo!

 

[TheSpooph]

We flew SWA last March without realizing we needed a birth certificate for my 20 mos old. The gate rep asked for any form of ID that showed her age. They called the hospital where she was born to verify her age!

The gate rep also made a note so that we wouldn't have any issues on the way home (and we didn't). But, I can tell you my heart rate spiked when she asked - I felt like one of those silly, absentminded moms!! Oh wait... I am pretty forgetful these days!!

 

[vicki_c]

We flew SWA last March without realizing we needed a birth certificate for my 20 mos old. The gate rep asked for any form of ID that showed her age. They called the hospital where she was born to verify her age!

The gate rep also made a note so that we wouldn't have any issues on the way home (and we didn't). But, I can tell you my heart rate spiked when she asked - I felt like one of those silly, absentminded moms!! Oh wait... I am pretty forgetful these days!!

Children under 18 do NOT require ID. However if you booked a child rate seat, then I believe you have to prove age. Most people don't do that, because you can usually get a cheaper fare just by booking normally.

I never heard anyone say they needed ID for a lap baby that I recall. Edited: sorry should have read up thread apparently. We always had our kids in their own seats, so I guess I missed that lap baby thing.

 

[bumbershoot]

I am on the website though for a re-issue...they can print it up same day if you go to the office so I will have to try and go Monday when my Husband is off. Sheesh!

Since you can go to the registrar's to do this, just do it! SO much easier and much less stress than waiting for it to come in the mail.

Don't you have to have the BC to get the SSN, which you pretty much *have to* get immediately nowadays (I'm 42, and only got a SSN when it was time for me to get my first job as a teen...just didn't need them before then!)? Seems you probably just misplaced it.

 

[kshattuck]

I don't know about the vaccination records, but I do know that we used a copy of our "unofficial" hospital birth certificate, which you probably left the hospital with, and that was no problem. We used that for every flight our kids went on....our originals were in a safe deposit box and I just never went to the bank to make a copy

It has all of the same info, just lacks the "seal" from your county.

As others have said, you should absolutely bring a copy with you. I was always asked for it on Southwest, other airlines I typically produced it before I was asked, so I don't know the official policy.

Good luck! Have fun!

 

[dudspizza]

A couple of thoughts as I read through this thread.....

1. You can get a certified birth certificate the same day for your local license agency, at least you can in MN.

2. The airline is regulated by the FAA on this issue. If the airline doesn't ask for proof of age and it is found out that a child is 2 and a lap baby, the airline will get fined by the FAA. That is why SWA and other airlines have required the documentation, even when a baby is clearly under 2.

Another lab baby rule is only 1 lap child is allowed per 3 seat row due to there only being 1 extra oxygen mask in case of emergency.

Duds

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

You left out one other requirement. One child per lap. I have seen parents try to put 2 kids on a lap

 

[crashbb]

You left out one other requirement. One child per lap. I have seen parents try to put 2 kids on a lap

Wouldn't that be covered by the one lap child per row rule? Unless you can have an adult sit in two rows.

 

[goofy4tink]

Children under 18 do NOT require ID. However if you booked a child rate seat, then I believe you have to prove age. Most people don't do that, because you can usually get a cheaper fare just by booking normally.

I never heard anyone say they needed ID for a lap baby that I recall. Edited: sorry should have read up thread apparently. We always had our kids in their own seats, so I guess I missed that lap baby thing.

A couple of thoughts as I read through this thread.....

1. You can get a certified birth certificate the same day for your local license agency, at least you can in MN.

2. The airline is regulated by the FAA on this issue. If the airline doesn't ask for proof of age and it is found out that a child is 2 and a lap baby, the airline will get fined by the FAA. That is why SWA and other airlines have required the documentation, even when a baby is clearly under 2.

Another lab baby rule is only 1 lap child is allowed per 3 seat row due to there only being 1 extra oxygen mask in case of emergency.

Duds

Well then..you took the words right outa my mouth..yet again!!!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Wouldn't that be covered by the one lap child per row rule? Unless you can have an adult sit in two rows.

You would be amazed at what parents will try. And it covered by the one lap child per row, but you sometimes have to spell things out very explicitly for the "entitled" LOL!

 

[jsilvers]

Wouldn't that be covered by the one lap child per row rule? Unless you can have an adult sit in two rows.

Or if you have cojoined twins who are under 2 years old, but have 2 sets of lungs. See http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2007-10-04-twins-airline-seats_N.htm.

 

[crashbb]

You would be amazed at what parents will try. And it covered by the one lap child per row, but you sometimes have to spell things out very explicitly for the "entitled" LOL!

Very true - I was just having some fun.