Southwest Airlines Baby Birth Certificate

[maxiesmom]

I completely agree the consumers should read and know the rules, but if you have a 3 month old and they say "sorry they can't sit on your lap without a birth certificate" and then turnaround and say "but if you pay full fare for this additional seat, sure they can sit on your lap", then that is a bit of a money grab. They basically say it's okay if you don't follow this rule as long as you pay for it. I just think common sense should play a part on some of this.

If you pay full fare you also get a seat. So no, no where are they saying it is ok to not follow the rule.

 

[supersnoop]

Really? American says nothing about a birth certificate.

I think you missed this at the top of the page:

"You may be required to present proof of age (such as a birth certificate) for any children under the age of 18."

 

[JimmyBean42]

If you pay full fare you also get a seat. So no, no where are they saying it is ok to not follow the rule.

Yes but the SW Rule states that in order to be a lap infant you need a birth certificate correct? But if you pay for a full seat you can be a lap infant without a birth certificate - thereby sidestepping SW birth certificate / lap infant rule by paying money. That's why I said it's about money. If the rule is birth certificate or no lap, then that's the rule. But with $$$$ you can sidestep that "rule".

 

[JimmyBean42]

I think you missed this at the top of the page:

"You may be required to present proof of age (such as a birth certificate) for any children under the age of 18."

"May Be" is not "required" now is it? And the discussion was on lap infants and I posted what the site says and nowhere does it state it's required. So yeah, I read it right. And have flown and it's not required.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yes but the SW Rule states that in order to be a lap infant you need a birth certificate correct? But if you pay for a full seat you can be a lap infant without a birth certificate - thereby sidestepping SW birth certificate / lap infant rule by paying money. That's why I said it's about money. If the rule is birth certificate or no lap, then that's the rule. But with $$$$ you can sidestep that "rule".

You can chose to hold your child in your lap, yeah. But to fly for a whole flight without access to a seat, you need to be under a certain age.

 

[maxiesmom]

"May Be" is not "required" now is it? And the discussion was on lap infants and I posted what the site says and nowhere does it state it's required. So yeah, I read it right. And have flown and it's not required.

It states clearly "A birth certificate is required to validate the age of all infants under age two." There is a whole page dedicated to traveling with infants and toddlers called Baby On Board. It explains all of the rules in black and white. And includes that quote. Not much wishy washy about it.

 

[TreeFalls]

In my experience, Southwest always asks. We fly a lot, and no other airline (American/Delta) has ever asked for it, but SW consistently does. If you can't get it in time, I'd call the airline and ask what else they would take.

 

[mainemouselover]

Southwest will require it. On our last trip my daughter brought the wrong birth certificate (she brought her daughter's who was 5!). But she was able to log into her Doctor's website and use his shots record with a date of birth on it. So

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

"May Be" is not "required" now is it? And the discussion was on lap infants and I posted what the site says and nowhere does it state it's required. So yeah, I read it right. And have flown and it's not required.

Wow, no need to be so argumentative! Your personal experience is meaningless. Any airline can ask for age verification for a lap baby. Be prepared with a birth certificate.

 

[JimmyBean42]

Wow, no need to be so argumentative! Your personal experience is meaningless. Any airline can ask for age verification for a lap baby. Be prepared with a birth certificate.

Not argumentative, but like you and everyone here, I can have a difference of opinion. I don't agree with the methods but if it's a rule they should stick to the rule and not bend it when money is involved. That's just my opinion. Everyone else stated theirs so I should be able to state mine. Not agreeing with someone is not being argumentative. Apparently you don't like others not agreeing with your opinion.

 

[Alesia]

Not argumentative, but like you and everyone here, I can have a difference of opinion. I don't agree with the methods but if it's a rule they should stick to the rule and not bend it when money is involved. That's just my opinion. Everyone else stated theirs so I should be able to state mine. Not agreeing with someone is not being argumentative. Apparently you don't like others not agreeing with your opinion.

It's not a "rule," It's federal law. The federal government requires every passenger over the age of two to have a paid seat.

Southwest requires a birth certificate so that they don't have to leave it up to the discretion of their employees. The fine for allowing a child over two to fly without purchasing a seat is very steep and they don't want to risk an employee screwing up either out of pity or being bullied by a customer. I don't see how that's unreasonable.

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes but the SW Rule states that in order to be a lap infant you need a birth certificate correct? But if you pay for a full seat you can be a lap infant without a birth certificate - thereby sidestepping SW birth certificate / lap infant rule by paying money. That's why I said it's about money. If the rule is birth certificate or no lap, then that's the rule. But with $$$$ you can sidestep that "rule".

I don't think you're looking at the "rule" correctly. ANYONE can be a "lap infant". I can sit on my wife's lap if I want (except for take off and landings). The "rule" is children under 2 do not have to pay for a seat.

 

[JimmyBean42]

It's not a "rule," It's federal law. The federal government requires every passenger over the age of two to have a paid seat.

Southwest requires a birth certificate so that they don't have to leave it up to the discretion of their employees. The fine for allowing a child over two to fly without purchasing a seat is very steep and they don't want to risk an employee screwing up either out of pity or being bullied by a customer. I don't see how that's unreasonable.

I never disagreed on the law. That's a completely different topic then what I was discussing. And I don't disagree with their rule either. I disagreed with the application of the rule and the bending of it. I think the simple solution would be to have a unified rule for all children under 2 for all airlines and maybe have TSA handle it so that the airlines don't have to.

 

[JimmyBean42]

ANYONE can be a "lap infant". I can sit on my wife's lap if I want (except for take off and landings).

I was dying laughing reading that. That's hilarious.

 

[gwynne]

I never disagreed on the law. That's a completely different topic then what I was discussing. And I don't disagree with their rule either. I disagreed with the application of the rule and the bending of it. I think the simple solution would be to have a unified rule for all children under 2 for all airlines and maybe have TSA handle it so that the airlines don't have to.

The last thing TSA needs is additional duties.
Customers can easily call their airline for specific compliance information.

 

[sam_gordon]

I never disagreed on the law. That's a completely different topic then what I was discussing. And I don't disagree with their rule either. I disagreed with the application of the rule and the bending of it. I think the simple solution would be to have a unified rule for all children under 2 for all airlines and maybe have TSA handle it so that the airlines don't have to.

I'm not sure how TSA would handle it. The rule is everyone over age 2 needs a seat. So airlines need a way for passengers to prove the child is under 2.

 

[tjmw2727]

I never disagreed on the law. That's a completely different topic then what I was discussing. And I don't disagree with their rule either. I disagreed with the application of the rule and the bending of it. I think the simple solution
would be to have a unified rule for all children under 2 for all airlines and maybe have TSA handle it so that the airlines don't have to.

There is a unified rule - the FAA will fine any airline caught with an un- ticketed passenger over 2 - I "think" the fine is 25,000. Its up to the airline to enforce the rule as they see fit. This has nothing to do with the TSA and everything to do with the airlines therefore they can decide how to comply with/enforce the rule, the TSA won't bear the fine the airline will.

Apparently some airlines are willing to trust the judgment of the ticket agents/gate agents when it comes to enforcement and more willing to risk the fine. SWA is not one of those, since day 1 SWA has required a birth certificate in order to prove a child is eligible to fly without a ticket. It is clearly marked on the website and when / if you call to add your lap child to your itinerary SWA reps will remind you. SWA isn't charging for the seat they are charging for the ticket.

I don't find it unreasonable for any airline (or business) to require proof of eligibility for a discount, or in this case a free fare. Just because one store at Disney gave me my AP discount without requiring my pass or ID doesn't mean I should now expect the same at every other store.

Just because other airlines are lax in their enforcement doesn't mean SWA is wrong to require the BC - especially when the policy is clearly stated in many places on the website.

 

[KrazeeK120]

OP...your kid must be a lot calmer than mine! There's no way my son would sit in my lap on an airplane!! If we flew with him, I'd buy him his own seat. I wouldn't want to deal with the inevitable meltdown he would have if I forced him to sit on my lap.

I still live in the county I was born, and I'm pretty sure when I got my driver's license, my dad just went down to the county clerk's office and got a copy of my birth certificate as my parents didn't have one at home for some reason. It was very easy as I recall. When my son was born last year, I sent off for 5 copies of his birth certificate within the week he was born. A few are here at home and the rest are in our safe deposit box at the bank. I didn't want to run into a situation where we would need it and not have one. It's his only identification for the time being, since he is a toddler.

I wouldn't chance not having the birth certificate. My son is 13 months now...at 12 months, he was 31" and 26 lb 10 oz. He could probably pass for a small 2 year old until you start interacting with him and realize that he doesn't walk or talk.

 

[puffkin]

We fly a lot. We have ALWAYS been asked for a birth certificate when the kids were babies, no matter what airline!

I would call and ask what else you can use as proof of age and then make sure to document who you spoke with and have that with you at the ticket counter just in case.

 

[nkereina]

As someone who does not have children and is not around children often, I have no idea how big or small kids are at various ages. To me, an 11 month old could look how I'd expect a 2 year old to look - I don't really know the differences at those stages. If I were an airline employee, I'd be carding every kid because I wouldn't be capable of assuming kids' ages. I agree that you should be prepared to present a birth certificate or buy a seat.