Dropping off infant during layover
 

Wasn't sure about this one...

I may try to drop my infant son off with my parents in Atlanta during a layover. So basically, fly with him on the first segment to Atlanta, during my layover take him out to the arrivals/departures area, drop him off with them, go back through security and get on my connecting flight. Pick him up on the way back.

Would this be an issue/allowed? He is under the age where he would require a ticket I believe. Would be about 9 months at this point.

What if IROPs happen and you're rebooked through a different connecting airport? Do you have a backup plan for who will take care of the child, either at your destination or after the end of your trip? If you haven't booked the ticket with a stopover at ATL, i.e., as multi city with more than four hours for a domestic itinerary, DL is free to reroute you.

Yeah good points. Probably won't do it, but just thought I'd see what FT thought.

Another consideration: Unless your son sees your parents frequently, it might sort of freak out a 9-month-old to be handed off at the airport. If you could take a day en route, you could go to your parents' house and help the baby make the transition before leaving him with them.

I know, that's not what you asked about. Just a thought.

Yep, good point. Thanks!

I have done this with Master PVDProf several times, albeit on UA. Sometimes I bothered to use multi-city to guarantee the routing (UA doesn't require 4 hour stopover, just make sure there's an O rather than X in the fare construction), but other times I decided to absorb the risk that there might be irrops and I wouldn't be able to request a reroute through the airport I at which I met the grandparents.

My parents were always able to get a gate pass to meet me, so you wouldn't need to worry about security.

I don't think anyone here is telling the OP not to try this, just to make sure that there are adequate backup contingency plans if the baby "misconnects" in either direction.

Well, a cruise is on the other end, and we aren't bringing him on that....so I probably won't attempt this, but I do appreciate the viewpoints.