mowmow

Hi friends!

My son and DIL will be in Indiana on vacation when their daughter turns two.

They were planning on taking her along as a lap infant. Do they need to purchase an airline ticket for her on the return flight home? Will it be a one-way fare that way?

No comments about how they should buy her a seat the whole way. That was my recommendation but they aren't listening...

J62

If they have a question, have them call the airline.

If you are asking out of your own curiosity so you can pass on info they will also ignore... well we won't go there .... kids theses days.

Ben

About a year ago, I saw a family checking in next to me with a child who had also turned two on the trip. The airline had her date of birth, and would not let her on the plane without a ticket. The plane was full (no extra seats), so the entire family had to be rebooked on another flight and buy a last-minute, full fare one way ticket which probably cost more than an advance purchase of a roundtrip ticket. I think this was on American, but could have been United.

rizzo0904

IMO, you should never have a lap child. It is so dangerous. Pay the extra money for a seat. Your child's safety is worth it. And make sure the car seat is FAA approved.

mowmow

rizzo I already suggested that. For everybody's sanity, safety, comfort, and to prevent a problem when they try to check in on the way home.

They're broke college kids and want to go visit DIL's family.

I'm sticking my nose in where it's not really wanted because if they get stuck in the airport and need a last minute ticket, guess who's gonna get a phone call?

BjorkChop

Since you have to technically bring the childs birth certificate to prove age for a lap child, it will show that she will not qualify as a lap on the return. Prepare to buy a return one way ticket.

mowmow

I took the plunge, stuck in my big nose, and called the airline myself --Northwest--and don't even get me started on how difficult it was to speak to a human.

I got the famous pass-around, and spoke with four separate people before I was through. I was initially told it was fine as long as she was under two before her travel initiated, then somebody else said no, she needed a seat. A supervisor finally settled it and said she needed a seat on the return leg. She claimed it's a federal regulation. The agents I spoke to were all friendly and helpful; they just didn't seem to know how to answer my question.

I relayed Ben's story and what I had learned from Northwest to my DIL and offered to buy my GD's ticket. We couldn't purchase a child's ticket online, which necessitated ANOTHER frustrating attempt to reach Northwest (which started the controversy all over again while I was placed on a lengthy hold).

We finally purchased her ticket, and had their itineraries linked. Nobody has seat assignments though, as there are no obvious seats available except exit rows and premium. The ticket agent on the phone said there's a block of seats available that won't be released until the day of the flight, and that they'll move people around a bit so they can all sit together. That seems so stupid. Why can't they just put everybody in an appropriate seat now?

Anyway, end of saga, hopefully. Unless their flight home on NW gets cancelled... I've warned them not to let their ride to Indianapolis leave until they are sure they're actually going somewhere, so they won't be stranded in the airport. Her family lives in Richmond.

I wish they'd been given correct information to begin with. They bought their tickets 3 months ago through an online booking agency, spoke to them on the phone to add the lap infant and were told they didn't need a return ticket.

Thanks everybody for your help!

girlonthego

If they are traveling within the US, no one will care how old the child is. You don't need id for any child under the age of 16? I think. We traveled with our kids (ticketed) and they were just asked their ages at the airport. I highly doubt you would have to worry about turning two on the trip itself. We traveled with our oldest child on my lap all the way to Hawaii from the east coast. She is now 14 and all the rules are changed. Probably for the better, but she lived through it. I saw a parent give the car seat to the flight attendent yesterday when the child screamed bloody murder. They wound up letting the child ride without it for a quieter ride.
I do think the car seat is the best and safest way to go.

cjsmom

I work for a major airlines at the airport checkin and at the gates. I am not sure what airlines you are flying but our policy is espically for US travel dont question the age unless it is very very clear the child is over 2. Our policy also is that if the child turns 2 during the trip they can return as a lap child. I do agree with other posters that a seat should be purchased for the baby for safety reasons and also the comfort of the parents nothing worse then holding a squirming child during a 5 hr flt.