Airline ticket required for child turning 2 on trip?

[poohbearkris]

Does anybody know if the airlines would require that you buy a ticket for a child who will not be 2 when you leave but turns 2 mid trip and would be 2 on the return flight home. We are contemplating 2 different times next year and one is over my son's birthday. It may be a deciding factor if we don't have to purchase a ticket for him. Thanks.
Kris

[mulderxcoltrane]

It depends.....
The only airline we contacted when we had the exact same issue, that would allow our child to fly free both ways was United. We call all major airlines 3-4 times and documented who we talked with each time. United was the only one (in late 2007) that would let him fly free on both legs.

[KAT1811]

You would most likely have to have a ticket for him on the return flight. Most of the time the airline will require proof of age if the child trtaveling is close to the 2 year old cut off. (When we traveled with my then 10 month old they asked if I had her birth certificate for age verification. Luckily she was so young, and small, I didn't have a problem) Depending on what airline you are flying you could just buy a one way ticket for the return flight ahead of time. If you chance it you could end up either paying an arm and a leg for the ticket if there is a problem on the return or you could get bumped from the flight all together if the flight is full.

We are in the same situation on our next trip. Our DD#3 will be turning 2 on our trip but we decided to get her a seat on both legs. I cannot imagine trying to make her sit for 3 hours if she is not in her carseat. She sat great last year (at 10 months) but this year would be torture.

Good luck!!!

[TheRustyScupper]

1) The rule is age-2-buy-a-ticket.
2) Please do not try to skirt or cheat the system.
3) It is not fair, nor is it right, nor is it justifiable.

[NLODisney]

When I was flying to MCO with my friend and her then 6 month old baby who was a tiny little guy we were asked for his birth certificate which we did not have with us. He was clearly a baby but the lady checking us in insisited that she had to see some sort of proof that he was under two. Apparently she couldn't see well- luckily my friend had his shot record with and she let us use that however then she thought he was 2 months old because he had had shots in Jan and she thought that was his birthday.

[mulderxcoltrane]

Original Poster:

As long as the airline allows him to fly free if he turns 2 over your trip - you are not skirting the system.

[Spindrift]

Airlines have been asking for proof of age for all under 2's to avoid problems. If they make everyone do it they can't be accused of "why didn't you ask that person for their babies ID?"

It's the same at my local supermarket when I buy beer. I get carded everytime and I'm 47. in fact they have to type in a birthdate or the register won't let the purchase go through.

[Jen C.]

To answer your question, you would be required to purchase a ticket for the return leg of the trip.

Since this might be a one way fare, and a round trip might be more economical, I highly suggest purchasing a ticket. I also suggest this from the standpoint of safety, and comfort for your enitre family. We bought DD a ticket at 18 months last year, and it was the BEST money we spent all trip.

[gmgdisneymom]

No matter what you do - make sure that you have the birth cert with you. They can refuse to allow you to board with out it

[Insanity Clause]

See, I don't remember then ever even asking for a birth cert. on Southwest. I flew with my daughter in '05 and I never had an official Birth Certificate for her. I don't remember showing any kind of proof if I did it would have been a shot record or a social being that was all I had at the time. I would call the airlines and see what they suggest.

[KAT1811]

See, I don't remember then ever even asking for a birth cert. on Southwest.

We never had to either but on our last couple trips they have been asking.

[Catzle]

Start Quote" 1) The rule is age-2-buy-a-ticket.
2) Please do not try to skirt or cheat the system.
3) It is not fair, nor is it right, nor is it justifiable."End Quote

I don't think she was trying to do any of things, just asking a question and looking for information and a truthful answer.

Sometimes you read these boards and some people assume you are going to cheat, steal and break the rules. But most of the time we are just looking for information.

[KAT1811]

Start Quote" 1) The rule is age-2-buy-a-ticket.
2) Please do not try to skirt or cheat the system.
3) It is not fair, nor is it right, nor is it justifiable."End Quote

I don't think she was trying to do any of things, just asking a question and looking for information and a truthful answer.

Sometimes you read these boards and some people assume you are going to cheat, steal and break the rules. But most of the time we are just looking for information.

I agree, pessimism at it's worst.

[bkfree]

I also think I would buy the ticket just in case.
The airlines have gotten alot more intense wit checking ID on children that look like they could be anywhere near the age of two. Even at the parks I know a few that were asked for ID for kids that were close to the ticketable age.

The problem with calling and asking the airline, to me, is this. Even if an airline rep on the phone tells you that since your child is under 2 at the time she redeems the first part of the trip ticket and can return home the same, without a ticket, that person is not the one who will check you in at the airport. Whether or not to let her fly free will be up to their discretion and I would hate to have that issue at boarding time. Telling them that someone on the phone told you that you did not need a ticket for her return would really not hold much water.

For us personally, we always bought our children a ticketed seat when we flew, once they were a year old. They were much happier not being in our lap. They were much more content to have a place of their own to play, nap and use the tray table for snacks and toys. They were much happier flyers and so were we, as were the people sitting around us.
So for us, it wasn't really an age thing but a comfort thing, so we bought a ticket for them.
It was also a safety thing, because they were safely strapped in the car or booster seat in their own seat. This would not have been possible in our laps.
If I were flying with a child that was 2, then their is no doubt I would buy a ticket.

[LisaP]

My son just turned 3, and when we went in June I did not purchase a ticket for him. He is small for his age and US Airways did not ask us for any proof of age. I carried him through security and he sat on our laps for the flight.

I would not do it again because lightning usually doesn't strike twice



I wanted to add when DH asked the reservationist on the phone, she told him that if DS was small enough to sit on our lap, we would not need to purchase a ticket. So I didn't "intend" to cheat ... and you better believe we had her name/info handy

[MegaDisney]

I agree, pessimism at it's worst.

I doubly agree!!!

The world would be a better place if people didn't always assume that others are trying to cheat!

Assume positive intent!!!

[Jen C.]

My son just turned 3, and when we went in June I did not purchase a ticket for him. He is small for his age and US Airways did not ask us for any proof of age. I carried him through security and he sat on our laps for the flight.

I would not do it again because lightning usually doesn't strike twice



I wanted to add when DH asked the reservationist on the phone, she told him that if DS was small enough to sit on our lap, we would not need to purchase a ticket. So I didn't "intend" to cheat ... and you better believe we had her name/info handy

I am really surprised by one's desire to even try this. I'm curious, was it a saving money thing that led you to do this? The rule is quite clearly under 2 no charge, 2 and over pays a fare. I don't mean to sound as though I'm judging you, but I could never personally imagine doing such a thing. Just curious for the motivation behind. "Small enough" is so open to interpretation. There is nothing that I've seen that says, "under 30 lbs, and under 34"". And wouldn't the ability to fit in an adult lap deoend on the size of the adults lap? I'm quite petite, and I'm sure that a person of a larger stature could "fit" a larger child on their lap then I could mine. Also, I'm not sure what good a reservationist name would have done you at the point of checking in and boarding an airplane. It would sort of be like, "that lady over there said I could!" A true roll of the dice. I guess I just never roll the dice where my kids are concerned. I'm too worried about the message it sends to their sponge like minds.

[Jen C.]

I doubly agree!!!

The world would be a better place if people didn't always assume that others are trying to cheat!

Assume positive intent!!!

I agree to this too, but look at the other example in this thread of someone blatantly cheating the system. This pessimism does come from somewhere.

[mulderxcoltrane]

The problem with calling and asking the airline, to me, is this. Even if an airline rep on the phone tells you that since your child is under 2 at the time she redeems the first part of the trip ticket and can return home the same, without a ticket, that person is not the one who will check you in at the airport. Whether or not to let her fly free will be up to their discretion and I would hate to have that issue at boarding time. Telling them that someone on the phone told you that you did not need a ticket for her return would really not hold much water.

However - if you get names/ID/Badge #'s from the agents (be sure to talk to more than one), exact time/date you spoke to them - I would doubt an airline would deny you - as long as you had documented your calls.

Again - the only airline I found that would allow a child to fly free on both legs who turned two over the trip, was united, so we flew them. If you don't feel safe - buy a ticket - but any travel agent will tell you (as ours did) if you have names, times, etc - you should be fine.

[Dyanna]

We are flying on Delta this coming Nov with our DD whom will turn 2, 5 days after we return from our trip. We did not have to purchase a seat for her after I booked the seats for the rest of our family I called Delta to let them know that we will have a Lap Baby flying with us. They asked me for her name & birthdate & told me to make sure I have a copy of her birth certificate with us prior to boarding. Once they turn 2 a seat must be purchased for them but at a discounted rate.