Need to book a flight... lie about toddler's age??

posvane · March 2012

DD1 will be 3 months shy of 3 yrs old. We want to fly JetBlue. They fly 2 and under for free. Not once of the 3 round trips last year was her birth certificate checked. Do we risk it????????

posvane · March 2012

Thanks! I'm getting flamed like crazy over at 12-24 months for this question. I looked on JetBlue's site for this:

A child between the ages of three days old until their second birthday is considered a lap child and does not need to pay for a seat.

and didn't see it. Thanks for finding it!

LoveEeyore · March 2012

3 months shy of three as in 2 yrs 9 months or 3 yrs 3 months? I personally wouldn't risk it. A year ago your LO looked under 3. What if you got busted and lost the flight, how would you explain to your 3 yr old, who you are likely teaching to not lie, why you aren't going? Your options would be lie to her or tell her you lied- that seems like a bigger conundrum to me than lying to Jet Blue.

ETA- I didn't see pp- oh yeah, I definitely wouldn't. And my response wan't meant as a flame, btw, just a gut reaction of how I would feel about the outcome. Safe and peaceful travels...

wheelsonthebus · March 2012

They have never asked us. If I were you I'd just say nothing. If they ask for a birth certificate, the worst they are going to do is say you need to buy him a ticket.

gimmietimmies · March 2012

wheelsonthebus:
They have never asked us. If I were you I'd just say nothing. If they ask for a birth certificate, the worst they are going to do is say you need to buy him a ticket.

Someone who had worked for Jet Blue already told her on the other thread what the consequences were, and they can do worse. Passing off an almost 3 for under 2, I would say you're likely to get caught. Not worth paying for a full price ticket (and it could be well more than $300), or getting bumped off the plane because they don't have a seat for your lo, or being turned away isn't a great risk. I've always been asked for ID for my dks.

posvane · March 2012

gimmietimmies:
wheelsonthebus:
They have never asked us. If I were you I'd just say nothing. If they ask for a birth certificate, the worst they are going to do is say you need to buy him a ticket.

Someone who had worked for Jet Blue already told her on the other thread what the consequences were, and they can do worse. Passing off an almost 3 for under 2, I would say you're likely to get caught. Not worth paying for a full price ticket (and it could be well more than $300), or getting bumped off the plane because they don't have a seat for your lo, or being turned away isn't a great risk. I've always been asked for ID for my dks.

Yeah, not all airports, airlines are the same. Jet Blue never once checked ids for anyone but myself and the other adult with me. Neither of my two children were ever checked. We got a nod and a smile.

With that said... consequences understood way before I asked the question. I didn't ask what the consequence were. I asked if anyone had done it. Obviously since not one person has said yes, it's not an option for us. I'll be paying for three tickets, I'm sure.

lemonJAM · March 2012

I am such a rule follower, I would be too nervous to do it! The anxiety alone wouldn't be worth it for me.

KathrynMD · March 2012

I don't think the lie is that big a deal, but frankly taking an almost 3 yo as a lap child would be uncomfortable for everyone; I'd rather just pay for an extra seat and have an eaiser trip.

penguingrrl · March 2012

The FAA is the one who regulates the rules regarding lap children, so it's not airline policy you would be breaking, it's FAA regulations. Even forgetting the lying, which you could get in trouble for, having a lap baby on a plane is really dangerous. Every other item on a plane is strapped down so it doesn't become a projectile in an accident, even pens and coffee mugs. Having an unrestrained baby is dangerous to the child and every other person on the flight. You need to buy a ticket for your toddler and you need them strapped in their carseat for their safety and the safety of everyone around them.

HeiferBaby · March 2012

Oh lighten up people she not smuggling drugs! I would say the difference between a 2 and 3yo is huge and most people would be able to tell.

We travel with our small dog and have paid $250 round trip for her to sit under our seat and that counts as your carry on! It also never says on our tickets we are traveling with a pet and she doesnt have her own ticket. So the last few time we havent paid and no one has said a word! But we do buy the 3 seats for me, my dh and dd. They are getting my $1000 and arent losing $ on my dog sitting under the seat.

MrsCripe10 · March 2012

They have checked DD's but she's a big girl

AmandaP678 · March 2012

I think I'd be too nervous to try it even though Tim could very easily pass for 2 because he's so tiny.

shopgirl78 · March 2012

No. I just paid 1200 for all 4 of us (minus MH who didn't come). DS2 was only 26.5 months and looks younger.

eta: he DID ride in my lap for 2 of the 3 flights on the way home. AA changed out flight time without informing me and we missed it, all direct flights were gone so we had to fly through 4 different airport to get home and they split us up...that was not an option, so he road on my lap even though he was over 2

and eta (again): I read on 12-24 months that you DC has flown before, wouldn't her bday be in the computer already?

Radler · March 2012

I always buy DS a seat now and get totally annoyed when they assume he's a lap child and ask me to put him in my lap. And then he ends up in my lap for most of the flight anyway, and there's an empty seat next to me. I think it depends on your kid and whether he'd actually sit on your lap ... 3 seems to be kind of pushing it, but I have definitely been kicking myself for not passing my 28 month old as a lap child on the last couple flights, when they assumed he was, anyway. (He is on the short side, though.)

licoricecat · March 2012

Even at 5 mo the airlines asked for proof of age.

blackqueen416 · March 2012

Every single time i have flown with a lap child they asked for a birth certificate. I have flown Southwest. American, Delta, Continental, and they all asked.

blackqueen416 · March 2012

They dont ask for id or birth certificate for children if you have bought a ticket for them but as a lap child they ask. They usually have to put their info in the system because they need a boarding pass.

sucredee · March 2012

We have flown many, many times with DD and she has been a lap child on all but one trip. They have never asked for proof of age but I always called the airline before our flights to have her added on as a lap child. They ask for her DOB when you do that. I know you don't technically have to do that ahead of time so maybe when you add LO at check- in they're more likely to ask for proof of age.

I would not try to pass off an almost 3 y/o as a under 2. If they bust you and make you buy a ticket it will likely be a lot more expensive than what you would've paid for it otherwise. We had to change a ticket last year because DH was too sick to travel so we had it changed to a day later (hoping the meds would make him well enough to travel as it was important). We had to pay $150 each to change it but also pay the difference in price of the ticket which was about $350 EACH. It just wouldn't be worth it IMO.

DD turns 2 in May and we fly out a week later. Chances are she will pretty much be on my lap anyway but at least we will have some extra wiggle/play room. I guess I am glad we haven't had to pay for her up until now.

stever · April 2012

gimmietimmies:
wheelsonthebus:
They have never asked us. If I were you I'd just say nothing. If they ask for a birth certificate, the worst they are going to do is say you need to buy him a ticket.

Someone who had worked for Jet Blue already told her on the other thread what the consequences were, and they can do worse. Passing off an almost 3 for under 2, I would say you're likely to get caught. Not worth paying for a full price ticket (and it could be well more than $300), or getting bumped off the plane because they don't have a seat for your lo, or being turned away isn't a great risk. I've always been asked for ID for my dks.

frlcb · April 2012

blackqueen416:
Every single time i have flown with a lap child they asked for a birth certificate. I have flown Southwest. American, Delta, Continental, and they all asked.

I have never been asked on Delta, and we have flown with both kids as lap childs many, many times. It totally depends on the person checking. But there is no way I would risk it.

wheelsonthebus · April 2012

posvane:
gimmietimmies:

wheelsonthebus:
They have never asked us. If I were you I'd just say nothing. If they ask for a birth certificate, the worst they are going to do is say you need to buy him a ticket.

Someone who had worked for Jet Blue already told her on the other thread what the consequences were, and they can do worse. Passing off an almost 3 for under 2, I would say you're likely to get caught. Not worth paying for a full price ticket (and it could be well more than $300), or getting bumped off the plane because they don't have a seat for your lo, or being turned away isn't a great risk. I've always been asked for ID for my dks.

Yeah, not all airports, airlines are the same. Jet Blue never once checked ids for anyone but myself and the other adult with me. Neither of my two children were ever checked. We got a nod and a smile.

With that said... consequences understood way before I asked the question. I didn't ask what the consequence were. I asked if anyone had done it. Obviously since not one person has said yes, it's not an option for us. I'll be paying for three tickets, I'm sure.

I've never actually done it. I paid for my 2.5 year old's ticket last time we flew jet blue. I was simply stating that they have never once asked for proof of age from us and was sharing my thoughts. It's none of my business whether or not she does it or now!

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