Plane Tickets for 2-Year Old

no.
lying sucks.
i'm appalled at how often it's recommended on this site, and how many people model it for their kids all the time.
khairete
S.

Did I ever mention that I once bought my 8 and half month old a ticket to fly him home from the Philippines??? (worth every penny)

Nope, I just wouldn't do it. It would be horribly uncomfortable for everyone. Flying is hard enough to deal with anyway without asking for extra trouble.

No, no I wouldn't. Couple of reasons.

1) My integrity wouldn't allow for it.

2) A friend of mine who was a flight attendant told me stories of seeing kids being ripped from their parents' laps when bad turbulence hit. She said she'll never forget seeing a baby fly up and hit its head on the cabin ceiling. No human arm is strong enough to hold down a 2yr old (or even younger) when the plane drops suddenly because of turbulence. I've bought tickets for my kids ever since (even when they qualified for the free ticket.)

3) It's simply more comfortable for you AND for your child when they have their own seat. It just is.

Nope. I'm a good girl. Can I have a cookie?

ETA: "Massage my dates?" What the heck does that mean?

Uh, no, because, you know, that's wrong.

If enough people told you it was ok, would you just toss out your moral compass?

No, because I'm an honest person, I run and honest company and I would not jeopardize my integrity so I could save a couple hundred bucks. My character is more important that a free seat.

For safety's sake your child needs his/her own seat in the event of an emergency.

We travel a lot and weve always bought our daughter her own seat for safety and comfort reasons.

Have you ever flown when turbulence was so bad you could hold on to nothing? Compartment doors open and luggage above your head falls out? Why put your child at that that risk? Weve been on one too many emergency landings and have see first hand what can happen.

Bottom line, is it really worth lying to save a few bucks? What will you do if they check id? Forget about bring in trouble by lying... You will be faced with paying full price for a seat IF one is available and risk ruining your entire trip. Plus look what that says about your character?

PS... As someone else pointed out, if you can't afford a seat for your child, then you can't afford to fly. Figure out other alternatives for transportation.

It depends on if I was an honest person or not.

Exactly who are we judging today?

We've never lied - about age or anything.
This is part of the cost of having kids.
If you can't afford to do something if you don't get a price break/free ticket - then you can't afford it and you don't do it.
Honesty is the best policy - stick with it!

No freaking way!

Is it REALLY worth the lying? If you are on a 5 hours flight - do you REALLY want to hold your child for FIVE HOURS?? My answer? NO!! Not only NO but HECK no!!

Pay for the second seat. If you are that cheap? Don't go on the trip or drive.

Lying is wrong. You KNOW it is.

A persons true character, is how they behave, even when no one is watching.

the question is, do you want to risk the safety of yor child? And how long is the flight? No way could I have sat on a crowded summer plane with our 2 year old daughter on my lap. Reaching for a snack, a book, then a toy, trying to put down the tray table fir our drinks.

No I wouldn't lie!! If you can't afford the ticket, stay home.

I fly several times a year with my two, have since they were tiny babies. I actually have been asked for birth certificates for both of them. They usually ask if the kiddo looks anywhere from 15-18 months and up. The reason? FAA rules require everyone over 2 years old to have a seat. Not an airline rule, it's a law, just like a car seat or seatbelt law. So if you are ever going to be asked, it is going to be when they are right on the edge of 1 and 2. Once you pay for a seat, they won't ask again until they are old enough to have their own ID. If I remember correctly, JetBlue and Southwest were the two who asked me for proof of age.

No. It is frustrating that the timing is off, but it is cheating. My youngest is a bit short for his age and I could easily get him child's tickets at movies, but I don't because doing so in front of him would make it very difficult for me to teach him how to be truthful in other situations. (I do understand that your child would not understand this at all.)

I even bought a ticket when my kid was under 2 because he was a terrible lap baby. Too much wiggle and fuss unless he was in his car seat.

It'll probably come back to bite you. Like they'll ask for a birth certificate. Not worth it. Anyway I wouldn't want a 2 year old on my lap for a whole flight. Better that he's in his own seat.

Buy a ticket. Take an approved child seat. I've heard you can buy a blow up one that can be used on the plane and in a car. I think it's the law just like using a car seat in a car. The requirement is for yours and your child's safety. I worked to guard a crashed jumbo jet right here in the city. It wasn't a pretty picture. Everyone in the first six rows including pilot and co-pilot were killed when the plane hit a tree causing the plan to break apart. Some further back too. The odds are against a 2 yo lap child surviving. I thonk a child wsd killed in this crash.Where would you put him when you needed to put your head toward your knees? If he's on the floor he will be thrown forward. If you hold him it's risky too. Both of you may not survive.

It's true, the odds against your plane crashing are low. The same for car seats. More children survive now that car seats are required.
It's the letter of the law when lives are in danger.

Well, the morality of lying/stealing aside, since you have to bring a copy of the birth certificate to prove it in case anyone asks - not a good idea.

And, FWIW, some airlines do ask. A friend didn't take his child's with him (his child was just over age 1, not even close to the cutoff). They questioned his age and when he couldn't produce ID with the birth date, they said he had to buy a ticket for a seat. But there were no extra seats on the plane to buy, so they bumped him and child off the plane. They had to wait in the airport for hours for the next flight that had 2 extra seats AND he had to pay for the extra seat at the most expensive price because it was last minute. I think that they did refund him the ticket price once he got home and produced the birth certificate. But it was a nightmare trip all because he didn't think anyone would actually ask.

ETA: I know this story sounds crazy - I've flown with some lap kids and never been asked. And it was my friend's 3rd kid and he'd flown with lap kids before, which is why he didn't really think he needed it. But it just goes to show you that Murphy's law is alive and well, and the one time he didn't take the ID was the time the airline asked.

No, because as soon as I did this (if I had a young child) something would go wrong and I would have to pay for the seat at the last minute or be booted off the flight for a later one.

Yes the child looks young, but the airline states a said age and that is what they want. Might as well get use to the rules and don't go around them. That's why there are so many "new" rules in place.

the other S.

PS My luck my child would tell on me and tell their age. So I would still be stuck with buying that ticket.

PPS I once was on a flight that was almost empty and the parents asked if I would switch my seat so that they could all be together. The stewardess made them go back to the original seating and and a squirmy baby for the flight. The other thing was the fact that they did not prepare the child for takeoff and landing thus a screaming child due to the pressure. Not a fun flight.

I would never fly with a child on my lap, no matter the age. A ticket for everyone and an FAA approved car seat for the littles is the only way I would do it. Don't care if it's free to have them on my lap.

You have to bring proof of age. No proof, no fly! Just made reservations with a 17 month old. I was told to bring birth certificate. It's a short flight so it's doable. Long flights we buy a seat.

Is the rule free ONE year old or free for TWO year old? Because if it's ONE, then they check his birthdate, it doesn't work. But if it's TWO, then he's TWO until he's 2 years 364 days old.

I think the better question is why would you want to?? I had a lap child for 4-1/2 years and rejoiced the day each kid turned 2!

The better reason is safety. It is simply safer for the child and parent to have them properly restrained in their own seat. Btw, a great device is called Kid Cares harness. It turns the airplane lap belt into a 5-pt harness. Keeps kiddo much more secure and in place than the easy-to-open lap belt.

Finally, when people decide to disregard the rules, it creates problems for everyone else down the road. It means everyone being checked for proper age, or even requiring that the baby get a seat. Please don't ruin the lap child option for everyone else. Thanks!

Not a chance. First, it's theft. Second, after 18 months old, it would have been hell to fly with my kiddos as a "lap child."

No. Because I wouldn't want to jeapordize my professional licenses by engaging in fraud. If I had little to loose, and thought I could get away with it, it might be tempting.

Looking forward to seeing the responses.

F. B.

No. What will you do if they ask for id or his birth date? I have seen the gate personnel ask parents for id for kids who look older. You theoretically are supposed to carry some. I always brought my son's social security card when he was little and his passport when he got one. The last time I didn't purchase a seat for DS was for a cross country trip when he was 18 months. By that age he really did need his own seat and it is pretty unusual now for there to be a lot (any) open seats on a flight that you can just use.

ETA: @ Patty - The rule is free until they turn two. NOT until they turn 3.

Ethics aside, I think you will regret not having a place to put the kid down, not even for a second. With his own seat you'll have the space to set him up with all the bribes needed to get through it without event.

:)

No, I would not lie.

We bought seats for babies and toddlers under two just to have the space for ourselves and so we wouldn't bother others. It makes things so much better for everyone when the baby has his/her own seat.

No, I'd get a ticket in case you are asked for ID. It will cost less than trying to buy a ticket right then. Besides, you will be more comfortable.

I've flown with my children from about 6 weeks onwards. I've been asked from about 18 months forward for proof of age on flight so I carry passports for babies flying without a ticket.

It is "so letter of the law" because it is the law - same as you have to be 18 to vote and 21 to drink. Simply the law, whether you chose to try to skirt it or not.

I don't know how old your others are but also think about whether you really want to teach them to lie. I see a lot of parents teaching that lying is perfectly okay if it benefits me to their children.

No. I'm just an honest person. Plus, they do ask for a birth certificate--especially when they're not babies.

No. Traveling with a two year old is hard enough, why make it worse by holding the child on your lap? Everyone is more comfortable, including the passengers around you, when your child has his/her own seat. I've seen toddlers squirm constantly when sitting on their parent's lap. It's exhausting just to watch. Do yourself a favor - get your child his/her own seat, get yourself a drink, and try to enjoy the plane ride.

Wouldn't lie, even if I knew they weren't going to check. However, they do require proof of age. I had to have my 14 month old's immunization records faxed to IL to avoid paying for a ticket on the way home on Southwest, and that was 3 years ago.

What Julie S said in great big capital letters. And I feel the same way about movie theaters, and anywhere else that I have to buy a ticket for lol.

Wow. We've always bought seats bc I couldn't imagine dealing with a child in my lap so long but I'm shocked almost no one would try it bc 7 days. I do wonder if the child has to be under two though. I thought it was two and under. I feel like I've seen kids who look over two so maybe the general population isn't as honest as everyone here.

Heck no. We flew when our youngest was shy of 18 months the first time and got him a seat. It just never made sense to us to not give them their own space if they wanted it.

And there's the fact that prices go up for others when too many people do things like that. So no, I wouldn't do it.

I used to bring birth certificates for my kids when they were babies. The people who are supposed to check would say something like: 'I don't need to see that, I only ask for it when the child looks close to the cut-off age.'

They now have passports, so I no longer need to worry about bringing the birth certificates.

I'm horrible. Yep - I'd do it in a heartbeat. Lots of people do. I wouldn't think twice about it. And to be clear, I'm usually quite the honest and respectable person. But I'd take advantage of this one.

I don't do lap kids. I've bought tons of international seats for all three of my kids. There isn't enough space for lap kids. I sat next to a woman with a lap kid years ago and decided then that I would always pay for seats.

I'm surprised with the responses saying that airlines ask for birth certificates. I've flown with children from infancy to age 9 quite frequently and have never had to produce a birth certificate.

I had to show a copy of my child's birth certificate at the counter when we checked in to prove she was under two.

I would buy a ticket, take a car seat and strap him in.

I never flew with my kids on my lap. It's uncomfortable and unsafe. They always had their own seats. By 2 they should be sitting in their own seat so they can't bother the people in front. There just isn't enough room unless you're in first class. Just my .02.

Clearly the black and white answer is to get a ticket.

My motivation for getting toddlers tickets is that it truly is more comfortable for everyone.

With that said, I will admit on one short flight between Phoenix and OC (John Wayne) which is a 45 min flight, my youngest 2 year old DD who was also only a week past her 2nd birthday and was the size of a 16 - 18 month old, I did not purchase a ticket. She was a little thing and I knew would prefer to sit on my lap. But that is a dynamic you have to assess for you and your 2 year old prior to flying. How long is the flight and how long can you both endure lap sitting?

Interesting I don't recall ever being asked for birth certificates while flying. For international travel, we have passports.

I always had to show a birth certificate. So, no you are not going to be able to lie about your kids age.

Now, would I lie? No I would not. Not setting a very good example to my child regardless of age.

Geez...so many self-righteous people on here! Do you really think that big business cares about you? Do you realize how fat the 1% is getting on your middle class broken backs? It sure does feel good to think the world is a fair place but it's not. I am not saying to cheat your neighbor or a local farmer or business but these corporations have money coming out of their ears that gets embezzled and wasted left and right. If you can save a few bucks then go for it! I only wonder if they will ask for proof. In that case, you might have to pay for a very pricey ticket or have to take a later flight if its full. That would make me nervous, personally.

It would depend on a few things - is my child above or below average size? That because it effects the odds of the people at the gate questioning the age. And equally important bc it impacts the flight of the people next to me. Along those lines, how long a flight is it? We always bought seats for our kids bc I think it's unfair on a long flight to have a big, wiggly, fussy toddler on someone's lap the whole time bc no way does that not bother the person in the next seat. And then is it a $99 ticket so just pay it or an unlucky situation where it's a short flight but the ticket is expensive bc of timing - so over $250 or so. No matter what, it's ethically wrong but to me the airline isn't impacted so much vs your flight neighbors. So if I had a small, calm child and it was a short flight, I wouldn't feel like i was really negatively impacting anyone.