Is a lap baby considered a "Passenger" according to TSA?

[dizziedupbaby0127]

I am flying in Sept with my DD as a lap baby on southwest. I have searched everywhere to try and figure out if I am allowed a 1qt baggie for my DD in our carry-on in addition to my 1-qt baggie. The TSA website states the rule is "1 per passenger" but I want to be a 100% sure that a lap child is still considered a "passenger". I appreciate the help!

*please note this is not a debate on seat vs. lap baby!

 

[goofy4tink]

Nope, you have to be a paying customer to get baggage allotments, as well as qt baggie allotments. You fly with a lap baby, you get the baggage allotments for one person. This is one reason so many people don't mind paying for their infants....they get a more comfortable flight, plus the addtl baggage allowances.
So, with SW yoiu get your two free checked bags, a smaller carryon bag, that fits under the seat and a larger carryon bag that goes in the overhead, with that qt baggie in one of those bags. That's it..nothing for the baby. It would be the same as if you were still pregnant...that 'baby on board' thing. You have to have an actual seat to be considered a 'passenger'...your baby will be your 'passenger'.

 

[wnissen]

I am flying in Sept with my DD as a lap baby on southwest. I have searched everywhere to try and figure out if I am allowed a 1qt baggie for my DD in our carry-on in addition to my 1-qt baggie. The TSA website states the rule is "1 per passenger" but I want to be a 100% sure that a lap child is still considered a "passenger". I appreciate the help!

*please note this is not a debate on seat vs. lap baby!

I am not sure that goofy4tink is correct. http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm simply says "travelers." Nowhere does it exclude non-paying lap children. In fact, the quart rule is from the TSA and has nothing to do with Southwest or any other luggage allowance. I don't even know how the TSA screener who enforces the liquid rule would even be able to tell you have a lap baby. I'm no expert, but I have traveled with a lap baby and his quart baggie on several occasions and it was never an issue.

Furthermore, when traveling with children, you may bring "reasonable amounts" of liquids such as "medications, baby formula and food, breast milk, and juice" in excess of the quart limit. If you do that, you're expected to tell the screener that's what you're doing.

 

[goofy4tink]

All I know is what I've been told at the airline checkin counters and what I've seen posted here. A passenger is someone who has paid for a seat...to the best of my knowledge, each seat occupant (not on the lap of a seat occupant) gets a small, under the seat bag, a larger bag that goes in the overhead and one ziploc qt sized baggie with 3.4oz limits.

That's all I know...again, just repeating the info I've been given. I mean, seriously...I took my cat along...I paid to bring that darn thing. Perhaps I should have gotten a baggage allowance for her?? Of course she was my carryon bag allowance, but she was a paying traveler.

 

[wnissen]

All I know is what I've been told at the airline checkin counters and what I've seen posted here. A passenger is someone who has paid for a seat...to the best of my knowledge, each seat occupant (not on the lap of a seat occupant) gets a small, under the seat bag, a larger bag that goes in the overhead and one ziploc qt sized baggie with 3.4oz limits.

OK, but those are a combination of TSA and airline rules. The airline is the one ultimately responsible for enforcing the number and size of bags that you bring on the plane. The airline does not enforce the liquid rule, the TSA does. From a practical standpoint, how could the TSA possibly know whether a given baggie on the conveyor belongs to a non-paying lap baby, a paying baby with a seat, or one of the parents?

That's all I know...again, just repeating the info I've been given. I mean, seriously...I took my cat along...I paid to bring that darn thing. Perhaps I should have gotten a baggage allowance for her?? Of course she was my carryon bag allowance, but she was a paying traveler.

Oh, I know, isn't that pet carry-on charge a scam? Not only do they charge a fee that can be just as high as the human passenger's fare, but then the cat counts as one of your carry-ons. For a cargo pet, I can see significant charge as the pet has to be tracked, carefully loaded and unloaded into an area where it is taking up space, etc., but for one in the cabin, it's not taking up any space at all.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

TSA and airline definition of a traveler is a ticketed passenger. Fido and lap children are not ticketed so no baggage allotment

 

[lizzygreen]

From my read of the post, she's not looking to bring extra baggage on the plane - she wants to know if she can put two quart sized ziploc bags on the conveyor when she goes through security. Since at my airport you show your tickets to one person and get yourself and your carry-on screened by others, I don't think it would be an issue - two people going through the baggage screening area - two baggies.

 

[dizziedupbaby0127]

Nope, you have to be a paying customer to get baggage allotments, as well as qt baggie allotments. You fly with a lap baby, you get the baggage allotments for one person. This is one reason so many people don't mind paying for their infants....they get a more comfortable flight, plus the addtl baggage allowances.
So, with SW yoiu get your two free checked bags, a smaller carryon bag, that fits under the seat and a larger carryon bag that goes in the overhead, with that qt baggie in one of those bags. That's it..nothing for the baby. It would be the same as if you were still pregnant...that 'baby on board' thing. You have to have an actual seat to be considered a 'passenger'...your baby will be your 'passenger'.

My question doesn't have anything to do with SW, I am aware of the baggage allowances and have no issue with them, my question is concerning the TSA.

I am not sure that goofy4tink is correct. http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm simply says "travelers." Nowhere does it exclude non-paying lap children. In fact, the quart rule is from the TSA and has nothing to do with Southwest or any other luggage allowance. I don't even know how the TSA screener who enforces the liquid rule would even be able to tell you have a lap baby. I'm no expert, but I have traveled with a lap baby and his quart baggie on several occasions and it was never an issue.

Furthermore, when traveling with children, you may bring "reasonable amounts" of liquids such as "medications, baby formula and food, breast milk, and juice" in excess of the quart limit. If you do that, you're expected to tell the screener that's what you're doing.

Thank you, You compeletly understood my question. I'm glad to know you didn't have an issue.

From my read of the post, she's not looking to bring extra baggage on the plane - she wants to know if she can put two quart sized ziploc bags on the conveyor when she goes through security. Since at my airport you show your tickets to one person and get yourself and your carry-on screened by others, I don't think it would be an issue - two people going through the baggage screening area - two baggies.

See this was my thoughts! I know we get a boarding verification document for DD so we can get through security then load our stuff onto the conveyor but how would the scanning agent know at that point that DD was a lap baby?


I'm not trying to "SNEAK" extra baggage or anything, I just know that my toiletries take an entire 1 qt bag, and I want to bring DD her own shampoo and body wash, plus desitin and neosporin but I also don't want to have to throw away items to get through security. 10 days is a long trip without the toiletries

 

[wnissen]

I'm not trying to "SNEAK" extra baggage or anything, I just know that my toiletries take an entire 1 qt bag, and I want to bring DD her own shampoo and body wash, plus desitin and neosporin but I also don't want to have to throw away items to get through security. 10 days is a long trip without the toiletries

I also meant to extend kudos to you for traveling carry-on. Since I take it this is the first time you've done this, I had a couple other tips. First, you can bring the stroller to the gate, and it counts as a mobility item so it doesn't count against your carry-on. Second, you can, if you want, also bring the car seat to the gate. It's actually kind of handy to stick the car seat in the stroller. If the flight isn't full, you can use it in an empty seat. If not, they will just check the seat at the gate, again no charge. Third, even if you don't bring the car seat, you know how to get the empty middle seat, right? Just take the window seat in the second row from the back of the plane. People who really hate being around kids will avoid you, and the seats at the back are the last to be occupied anyway. However, for parents the back is often better because the extra noise drowns out the crying! Sometimes I feel like the back of the Southwest plane is the Romper Room.

One caveat is that you can be sitting in the security line with what looks like a preposterous amount of luggage. One passenger tried to give me *#&$ about having too much stuff. Well, there were three of us traveling, including my toddler, all with paid tickets, so we were occupying half a row on the plane. It was true we had, numerically, a lot of bags, carry-ons plus lunch plus the stroller and car seat, but we were strictly within the limits. Furthermore, we only put up one bag overhead! So in fact we were leaving extra bin space for the other passengers, and this guy was still making a rude comment. Just goes to show that people can't be bothered to open their eyes.

 

[tjmw2727]

I don't think you will have a problem but I do think the TSA wording means ticketed passengers - even though it just says passengers.

Since you will have a verification document for the lap baby instead of a boarding pass TSA will be able to tell the baby isn't ticketed.

If it were me I would try and get by without a 3-1-1 for the baby but since I fly often I don't like to call any TSA attention to myself or my family. The smoother it goes for me the better!

OT - but IMHO important, SWA requires a birth certificate for every lap baby so be sure and bring that along.

 

[goofy4tink]

My question doesn't have anything to do with SW, I am aware of the baggage allowances and have no issue with them, my question is concerning the TSA.


Thank you, You compeletly understood my question. I'm glad to know you didn't have an issue.



See this was my thoughts! I know we get a boarding verification document for DD so we can get through security then load our stuff onto the conveyor but how would the scanning agent know at that point that DD was a lap baby?


I'm not trying to "SNEAK" extra baggage or anything, I just know that my toiletries take an entire 1 qt bag, and I want to bring DD her own shampoo and body wash, plus desitin and neosporin but I also don't want to have to throw away items to get through security. 10 days is a long trip without the toiletries

I don't think anyone said anything about your trying to 'sneak extra baggage' on. That wasn't the issue. My point is to be prepared for the worst case scenario. I understand your issue isn't actually with SW. It is with the TSA...and here's the issue. It all depends on what TSA person you end up with. Some are lax, while others are, how do I say this nicely....um, more stringent, about what they percieve to be the rules.
I usually go with the worst case scenario and am then thrilled when it all works out to my benefit.

So, sure..go ahead and bring two qt sized baggies. Some seem to have had no issue with it at all. Be sure to come back and let us know how it works out....it's good to have current info.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Having gone through security many, many times, I don't see a problem with an additional 311 bag, whether or not your child has a ticket. The TSA agents really don't pay attention to how many bags you put in the bins and don't match them up to individual passengers unless there's a problem.

What I would like to know is why you need 311 bags anyway, as infants need so much stuff when you travel, can you really manage with carry-ons only?

 

[Lewisc]

Isn't baby food, and medicine, exempt from the 3-1-1 rule. I have no idea what the TSA agent would say if an adult passengers had two 3-1-1 bags, filled with HBAs obviously used by an adult, but said one was for the infant.

There isn't a problem with a DH having his DW stuff in his 3-1-1 bag but I have no idea if a passenger without a carryon bag allowance is allowed to have a 3-1-1 bag.

Again I don't think you'll have an issue if the baggie is filled with stuff for the infant.

 

[ccgirl]

TSA and airline definition of a traveler is a ticketed passenger. Fido and lap children are not ticketed so no baggage allotment

This. It is a ticketet passenger and the lap baby does not have a ticket. They are on the ticket of the passenger whose lap they will be on. Make sure to bring the birth certificate too. I forgot my son's when he was just 10 mths old and had to have my DH go back to the car to get it and we almost missed the flight.

The baby supplies are exempt from the 3-1-1 rule. When we travelled with my son as a lap baby, we carried the bottles and baby food right in his diaper bag. NOt sure where you are staying but you may find a grocery delivery service more convenient. A lot of diapers are needed for a 10 day stay. I found it easier to have a grocery service deliver the diapers, baby supplies, and other cosumables to the hotel. Much less I had to juggle while travelling with little ones.

Straight from the TSA website:

Medications, baby formula and food, breast milk, and juice are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding 3.4 ounces (100ml) and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Officers may ask travelers to open these items to conduct additional screening and passengers should declare them for inspection at the checkpoint.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Isn't baby food, and medicine, exempt from the 3-1-1 rule

Yes, it is exempt

Declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint. Officers may need to open these items to conduct additional screening.

 

[dizziedupbaby0127]

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply people are saying i'm trying to sneak extra baggage, I just wanted to clarify my question.

I appreciate the tips, we are flying with my dh and will have a check bag with extra clothing, but we have had our luggage delayed and "misplaced" before so we pack everything we need in carry-on with only extras in checked luggage.

I'm not using the 311 for baby food or formula I would be using it for baby shampoo baby bath wash, desitin,baby advil and baby benedryl and the biggest room taker of all LOTS of baby sunblock!

Maybe I should be asking "what is considered medicine" therefore exempt from the 311 if declared to the agent?

I have tried to contact the Tsa but only received an email that had copy and.pasted from the website.

 

[Alesia]

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply people are saying i'm trying to sneak extra baggage, I just wanted to clarify my question.

I appreciate the tips, we are flying with my dh and will have a check bag with extra clothing, but we have had our luggage delayed and "misplaced" before so we pack everything we need in carry-on with only extras in checked luggage.

I'm not using the 311 for baby food or formula I would be using it for baby shampoo baby bath wash, desitin,baby advil and baby benedryl and the biggest room taker of all LOTS of baby sunblock!

Maybe I should be asking "what is considered medicine" therefore exempt from the 311 if declared to the agent?

I have tried to contact the Tsa but only received an email that had copy and.pasted from the website.

Medicine is medicine. Advil, benedryl, stuff you take to alleviate symptoms of illness - that sort of thing. Sunblock is not medicine so it must go in the 311 bag. I would pack enough for the first day in the carry on and put the rest in the checked bag.

 

[DebbieB]

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply people are saying i'm trying to sneak extra baggage, I just wanted to clarify my question.

I appreciate the tips, we are flying with my dh and will have a check bag with extra clothing, but we have had our luggage delayed and "misplaced" before so we pack everything we need in carry-on with only extras in checked luggage.

I'm not using the 311 for baby food or formula I would be using it for baby shampoo baby bath wash, desitin,baby advil and baby benedryl and the biggest room taker of all LOTS of baby sunblock!

Maybe I should be asking "what is considered medicine" therefore exempt from the 311 if declared to the agent?

I have tried to contact the Tsa but only received an email that had copy and.pasted from the website.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1059.shtm

I think you will be fine. The agent that checks the boarding passes is not the same as the ones who work at the scanners so I don't know how they would know if your baby is ticketed or not.

The rules say 1 per traveler, not one per ticketed traveler.

TSA and our security partners conducted extensive explosives testing since August 10, 2006 and determined that liquids, aerosols and gels, in limited quantities, are safe to bring aboard an aircraft. The one bag limit per traveler limits the total amount each traveler can bring. Consolidating the bottles into one bag and X-raying them separately from the carry-on bag enables security officers to quickly clear the item

 

[ccgirl]

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply people are saying i'm trying to sneak extra baggage, I just wanted to clarify my question.

I appreciate the tips, we are flying with my dh and will have a check bag with extra clothing, but we have had our luggage delayed and "misplaced" before so we pack everything we need in carry-on with only extras in checked luggage.

I'm not using the 311 for baby food or formula I would be using it for baby shampoo baby bath wash, desitin,baby advil and baby benedryl and the biggest room taker of all LOTS of baby sunblock!

Maybe I should be asking "what is considered medicine" therefore exempt from the 311 if declared to the agent?

I have tried to contact the Tsa but only received an email that had copy and.pasted from the website.

Medicine is medicine. Baby wash, Baby shampoo, and sunblock are not medicine. I would look into garden grocer to deliver all that stuff if you don't want to pack it. They could delivery the diapers too. I don't think you would be able to fit enough baby shampoo, baby wash, and sunblock for 10 days in three ziploc bags along with everything else.

 

[dudspizza]

I don't think you would be able to fit enough baby shampoo, baby wash, and sunblock for 10 days in three ziploc bags along with everything else.

and each one has to be 3.4oz or less bottles... that's a lot of small bottles. We always put that stuff in checked luggage with maybe one small one in the quart baggie if needed.