To lap child or not to lap child
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 232
To lap child or not to lap child
I perused the FAQ in this sub forum an didnt see what I was looking for. I suppose I am just looking for other travelers opinions on this matter. My wife and I will be traveling from Denver to Chicago then down to Atlanta. Prices for tickets in the month we need to go are quite pricey. I can save about 600$ if I put our child as a lap child. The problem is she will be 2 years old and about 4 months and I see on the web site Uniteds cut off says 2yrs old. She is very small for her age though compared to other children. I guess my question is will United want proof she is in fact less then 2yrs old? What would some of you other parents do. Money is kinda tight but my sister is getting married and we all need to get there for her big day. Advice?
#2
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: France
Programs: United Plus
Posts: 1,761
The FAA is strict about the 2 year cut-off for "lap babies". The burden of proof is on the parents to prove that the child has not yet had his or her 2nd birthday. Many airlines ask for the birth certificate but I didn't see this mentioned on UA's website. You will probably be asked her birthdate at check-in.
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,1051,00.html
Once we did have a child over age 2 without a seat. The mother didn't speak English and was returning to Africa. Her child had turned 2 on the trip. We believed she was just misinformed and not trying to get away with anything and begged the ground staff to remove an employee to accommodate the child. We couldn't risk keeping the child on her lap as that would have been a FAA violation and we could have been personally fined.
If you are caught, you could end up paying the full fare for a place or removed from the flight.
Perhaps there is someone she can stay with there in Denver while you attend the wedding?
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,1051,00.html
Once we did have a child over age 2 without a seat. The mother didn't speak English and was returning to Africa. Her child had turned 2 on the trip. We believed she was just misinformed and not trying to get away with anything and begged the ground staff to remove an employee to accommodate the child. We couldn't risk keeping the child on her lap as that would have been a FAA violation and we could have been personally fined.
If you are caught, you could end up paying the full fare for a place or removed from the flight.
Perhaps there is someone she can stay with there in Denver while you attend the wedding?
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 232
The FAA is strict about the 2 year cut-off for "lap babies". The burden of proof is on the parents to prove that the child has not yet had his or her 2nd birthday. Many airlines ask for the birth certificate but I didn't see this mentioned on UA's website. You will probably be asked her birthdate at check-in.
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,1051,00.html
Once we did have a child over age 2 without a seat. The mother didn't speak English and was returning to Africa. Her child had turned 2 on the trip. We believed she was just misinformed and not trying to get away with anything and begged the ground staff to remove an employee to accommodate the child. We couldn't risk keeping the child on her lap as that would have been a FAA violation and we could have been personally fined.
If you are caught, you could end up paying the full fare for a place or removed from the flight.
Perhaps there is someone she can stay with there in Denver while you attend the wedding?
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,1051,00.html
Once we did have a child over age 2 without a seat. The mother didn't speak English and was returning to Africa. Her child had turned 2 on the trip. We believed she was just misinformed and not trying to get away with anything and begged the ground staff to remove an employee to accommodate the child. We couldn't risk keeping the child on her lap as that would have been a FAA violation and we could have been personally fined.
If you are caught, you could end up paying the full fare for a place or removed from the flight.
Perhaps there is someone she can stay with there in Denver while you attend the wedding?
#4
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,091
Perhaps you can cash in some miles for your wife (assuming you can all get on the same flight). As a 1K, you'd still be entitled to have them all fly with you in E+ and could still bring your wife through security, priority boarding, etc although on a separate PNR. I actually bought tix to HNL for my wife/daughter while I and my other daughter were on paid tickets. Ditto for a trip to LAX once. Otherwise, perhaps a road trip or another airline? I was loathe to fly DL to DEN last year for my uncle's wedding, but it actually wasn't too bad as a general member since families with young kids (our youngest was 2 1/2 at the time) could board early.
#5
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS-TLV
Programs: Lots of them, no status
Posts: 1,318
There's no question here. You don't have a choice because of her age. It's very unfair of you to even consider taking away from the comfort of others with a child far over age in order to keep money in your own pocket.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,909
I don't see a problem with trying to sneak a very small kid on a plane as a lap child even if s/he is over the age of 2. For all practical purposes the airline only needs to verify the age to comply with FAA regulations so if you state "under 2" they won't care. That being said parents have to be ready to face the consequences if things don't go as planned so consider your own risk/reward ratio.
Personally as a 1K I would book an award ticket for her and keep an eye on flight loads and kid's weight. If by travel time she still looks small enough and there are empty seats I would seriously consider canceling the award and trying lap child approach.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 232
Anyways, I dont want to risk getting thrown off the plane so I may have to bite the bullet. My current plan is use miles for my wifes ticket, use my 350$ e cert I have saved up for mine, and then just pay for my daughters ticket. I found a much cheaper ticket to get there for only 320$ but it will require a long detour to Chicago instead of a strait shot. Would suck, but it is definately cheaper.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,110
Having just done a transcon trip with a 19 month old, I now totally see why a 2 year old has to buy a seat. Regardless of their size, 2 year olds are just squirmy...
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 232
Because she likes to sit in mine and my wifes lap. Like I stated, in a restaurant she doesnt last long in her own seat. She prefers to be in our lap or trying to walk around the joint. If I bought her her own seat, it would remain empty for 98% of the flight, hence why I am reluctant to purchase one for her.
#11
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: IAD
Programs: No Loyalty to any airline
Posts: 2,378
Because she likes to sit in mine and my wifes lap. Like I stated, in a restaurant she doesnt last long in her own seat. She prefers to be in our lap or trying to walk around the joint. If I bought her her own seat, it would remain empty for 98% of the flight, hence why I am reluctant to purchase one for her.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 232
Your reluctance is irrelevant. She's over two years old and legally, you must purchase a ticket for her. Advice? Buy the seat and avoid embarrasment and additional cost when you are asked for her birth certificate at check-in or the gate, and you must purchase a ticket at the walk-up fare.
#15
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,110
Okay, OP... I agree with you that some folks on this thread may come across as a little, well, assertive in their tone.
But I have to agree that a 2 year old probably needs his/her own seat. I say this relunctantly but realistically. It doesn't matter how small/well-behaved/[fill in word here] your child is. Airplanes are crowded, there isn't a lot of room for passengers, much less for lap children. I do think it's unfair to encroach in other people's very limited space, and with a 2+ year old lap child I don't see how you could possibly avoid it.
So I say, buy the ticket and get her a frequent flyer number.
Now excuse me I must go post in the thread about seat changes for families.
But I have to agree that a 2 year old probably needs his/her own seat. I say this relunctantly but realistically. It doesn't matter how small/well-behaved/[fill in word here] your child is. Airplanes are crowded, there isn't a lot of room for passengers, much less for lap children. I do think it's unfair to encroach in other people's very limited space, and with a 2+ year old lap child I don't see how you could possibly avoid it.
So I say, buy the ticket and get her a frequent flyer number.
Now excuse me I must go post in the thread about seat changes for families.