Flying Southwest with a LAP baby-

[undertheseas]

I called SW to get my daughter added to the tickets and she said a copy of a birth certificate is fine.

 

[eangel12]

I called Southwest directly and we are purchasing a seat for my son. One of my girlfriends had an issue with them NOT allowing her to fly until she produced paperwork for her daughter, so I figured I would check. I was told by Airtran AND Southwest that I needed to take a copy of my son's birth certificate with us for proof of age and we are purchasing the seat for him! Hope that helps!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I was told by Airtran AND Southwest that I needed to take a copy of my son's birth certificate with us for proof of age and we are purchasing the seat for him! Hope that helps!

Sorry, but if your child has a purchased seat and is under age 18 flying domestically, you don't need to carry any proof of age. It is not unusual for customer service reps for the airlines not to know the rules.

 

[tjmw2727]

Sorry, but if your child has a purchased seat and is under age 18 flying domestically, you don't need to carry any proof of age. It is not unusual for customer service reps for the airlines not to know the rules.

Agreed, either the rep didn't understand the question or they are told when in doubt to have the passenger bring proof of age.

SWA.com has details on when you do need proof of age - here:
http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/faqs.html?topic=age_verified

In summary, any fare not purchaesd online and subject to age requirements; over 65, under 2 and other "child fares" that are usually higher than the web specials anyway. If you booked your childs airfare online then there are no age restrictions and no need to age verify. This proof of age is for the airlines to prove the child/adult qualifies for the fare purchased. It has nothing to do with the ID requirements necessary to clear the TSA screening.

TSA.gov has details on acceptable forms of ID and the requirements for clearing security, only passengers 18 and over are required to show ID. FWIW a birth certificate is not an acceptable form o of ID for clearing security anyway.

SWA is one of the few airlines that requires proof of age for lap babies - all airlines face a substantial fine if caught with an unticketed child over 2 onboard. SWA also issues a "boarding verification document" to be used as a boarding pass for an untickted infant wheras other arilines often just note the baby on the parents boarding pass.