Purchasing airfare for baby BEFORE baby born?

[chipscinderelly]

We have a family trip to Disney planned in October and would like to purchase our airfare now (to save money), however the baby is due in July and we are not finding out the sex. This would be easy - if we were not buying the baby a seat. Does anyone have any idea if we can buy the ticket now and put "baby xxxxx" as the name? I called American Airlines today (we live in DFW area) and was on hold for more than 30 minutes waiting for an answer when I was disconnected (probably our phone).

I would appreciate any insight!

 

[SueM in MN]

Since the baby won't have or need any ID, my thought is that it won't matter whether the ticket says "Baby XXXXX" since there won't be any ID to match it with.

 

[chipscinderelly]

Thanks Sue - that was my take but some friends asked if we needed a birth certificate to fly with the baby?

 

[I believe]

Oh, this is so cute. You will be able to tell your child as he/she grows that the first thing you ever bought for him/her was a ticket to fly to Disney! I love it!

Have a wonderful trip! Best wishes!!

 

[revrob]

You do not need ID to fly with a child. We do it often, and have never once been asked for ID.

 

[chipscinderelly]

Thanks I Believe! It will certainly be the first ticket we have purchased

revrob - great news!

 

[Princess Roo]

I booked a lap baby "ticket" (not really a ticket, but they asked for a name) for mine before she was born and they told me to just put "baby" as the first name. But I agree with the others that they don't ask for any ID as long as you stay in the country, so you could also choose any gender-neutral name you wanted.

 

[danx2plus3more]

i was asked once on sw airlines..i was going from st louis to phoenix..lady asked my other 2 kids if the baby was thier brother they said yeah she said next time technically your supposed to have a birth certificate..this wa 4 yrs ago and i had no problem but i could have had a problem..my son was 5 monthes at the time of travel

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I've flown several times on SW with my DD. I've never been asked for a birth certificate for her. She was 2 1/2 the first time we flew so I'd purchased a seat for her. The closest I got to having a problem was a TSA agent in Tampa. DD and I have different last names. I presented our boarding passes and the agent questioned me about it. I felt like she was going to accuse me of kidnapping DD. Luckily DD was 3 1/2 at the time and could give her full name and my full name as well.

Before our first flight, I called SW and asked if I needed to bring ID for DD. I was told I didn't need to since I wasn't trying to have her fly as a lap baby.

 

[Microcell]

Even as a lap baby I never had to show ID for my DS when he was little(er).

I have a great idea, why don't you go ahead and name the baby Alex or Sam?

Problem solved!

 

[DevilDuckie]

Thanks Sue - that was my take but some friends asked if we needed a birth certificate to fly with the baby?

Given the lack of a name on the ticket I might go ahead and take a copy of the birth certificate just in case someone needs placating, but I flew with my son a dozen times in his first year and never got asked for ID. (That was pre 9/11.)

 

[chipscinderelly]

I have a great idea, why don't you go ahead and name the baby Alex or Sam?

Problem solved!

That would be so much easier!!! But not in the cards at this point.

 

[chipscinderelly]

Given the lack of a name on the ticket I might go ahead and take a copy of the birth certificate just in case someone needs placating, but I flew with my son a dozen times in his first year and never got asked for ID. (That was pre 9/11.)

Thanks - that is what we plan to do

 

[stacy6552]

So give the baby a ticket name like Terry or Pat. Later you can tell your child its his "covert name."

 

[Laura.bora]

Am I the only who HAS been asked to see ID for the babies?? I flew SW and Jet blue.

 

[tjmw2727]

Am I the only who HAS been asked to see ID for the babies?? I flew SW and Jet blue.

No ID is necessary for children under 18 for domestic travel.

The exception is for children 2 weeks to 2 years when flying free on parents lap. This is to verify that the child is eligible to fly free on a parents lap per FAA regulations.

In my experience SWA is the most strict and will ask to a BC for every lap baby even if its obvious they are under 2. Fact is that there is pretty big fines the airlines face if they allow a child over 3 to fly free as a lap child.

I travel often with my kids (5 round trips since January ) and I have never, ever been asked for ID except for international travel.

OP- I would try sending an e-mail if there is an addresson the website. This way you will have an answer in writing without lots of hold time. I can't imagine this is the fist they have faced this situation. Personally I would just purchase the ticket for "Baby Smith".

Since your purchasing a ticket you won't have any issues as ID won't be required. Occasionally the TSA agent will ask my dd's what there name is but even when my shy girl has a hard time answering and I answwer for her and they pass us on through.

TJ

 

[bear74]

we are thinking of flying SW in Sept. Debating on buying a ticket for DD who will be 11 months at the time.

What would you do?

 

[juliana_sd]

we are thinking of flying SW in Sept. Debating on buying a ticket for DD who will be 11 months at the time.

What would you do?

I would absolutely buy the seat. For kids who do well in the car, their carseat is familiar and they tend to be a lot more comfortable. For kids who hate the carseat and are wiggly, you will definitely appreciate the extra elbow room.

 

[stacy6552]

we are thinking of flying SW in Sept. Debating on buying a ticket for DD who will be 11 months at the time.

What would you do?

Buy the precious baby a ticket! Put her in a FAA approved carseat and rest assured that she is traveling the safest way she can.

 

[Candikayne]

You know.....My first daughter went to Disney when she was 6 weeks old. My hubby and I found out she was a girl and bought her ticket when she was in the womb.

I never thought of the significance until I read this thread. Now I have a wonderful story to tell my seven-year old.

Thanks!