Originally Posted by
Often1
The FAA requires that every passenger 2+ be in their own seat for takeoff and landing and that there be a seat available for that person when the Captain has the seatbelt sign is illuminated.
How the carrier assures that is up to the carrier. WN chooses to require a birth certificate. As a private company, it's up to WN. Other carriers eyeball the kid. They are willing to take the risk.
I can assure you that I am no fan of WN. I dislike its business model intensely. But, the one thing it does have going for it is uniformity. If they say "X", it's "X".
Still does not explain the logic in the thinking "Nope. 4 forms of National Photo ID and 8 official secondary IDS are not acceptable. We will only accept a piece of paper with no authority".
I mean, at this point, I could just print off some fake birth certificates. I own a printer, and we have Kinkos and whatnot here. But I should not have to. It is one of the silliest things I have ever heard...