Southwest Airlines Community

Either one (TSA or Southwest) can prevent the child from flying, which is why clarification is vital. Why take chances? The original question was "is a photocopy of a birth certificate acceptable proof of age for a 1 year old with a purchased ticket?" - not "does a 1 year old with a purchased ticket NEED proof of age?"  TSA or SWA probably have the right to request proof at their discretion, why would you not have it with you? And what if the adult has a different last name from the child (i.e. grandmother)?   ... View more

Still confusing. The citation from Baby on Board:   The Customer is still required to travel with proof of age. A government issued I.D. such as a birth certificate or passport can be used to validate the age of all infants under age two.   is referring to a child in a CRS. So it would seem that any child in a purchased seat with a CRS would need proof of age.  So referring to my original question: is a photocopy of a birth certificate acceptable?  (regardless of whether or not it's REQUIRED) She just wants to be prepared in case someone along the line asks her for proof of age for the 1 year old in the car seat. ... View more

From the "Baby on Board" page: Baby On Board What special rules apply to infants and toddlers? If you're traveling with an infant or small child, you should know that proper use of a Child Restraint System (CRS) enhances child safety on aircraft. For this reason, Southwest Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly recommend that infants and small children who weigh 40 pounds or less be secured in an appropriate CRS when traveling by air. See below for additional information. The Customer is still required to travel with proof of age. A government issued I.D. such as a birth certificate or passport can be used to validate the age of all infants under age two. Which appears to conflicts with the first response. So is this really "solved"? ... View more