I'm really surprised to hear that so many people haven't been asked for proof of age for lap babies. If an airline is caught with a lap baby who is actually 2, they're in big trouble by the FAA. That's why they're usually pretty strict about it (to the point of southwest asking for birth certs for tiny babies).
You made a good decision, OP.
As for lap baby safety, here are some links to understand why kids are so much safer in their own seats appropriately restrained (just like every other passenger on the plane, and every coffee pot and carry on bag). Don't trust anonymous internet posters, but the FAA, NTSB, Flight Attendant and Pilots unions, and AAP all recommend carseats for babies and toddlers on planes, and they actually have engineers and scientists who know about these things:

http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-alerts/Documents/SA_015.pdf
http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/Pages/Children.aspx
http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/RecLetters/sr_a-95-51_diversion_analysis.pdf (Although it is worth noting that the OP almost proved the FAA's point with this one...)
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngoglia/2013/04/18/if-the-faa-thought-flying-with-lap-kids-was-unsafe-it-would-require-kid-seats-right-wrong/

That's what we did in July for my youngest - lap child up to visit family and she had her own ticket on the way back on her 2nd birthday. Yes, it was more expensive, but it was the right thing to do and the dates that worked for us.

OP here. We decided to buy two tickets there and 3 back and we are going to fly early Monday morning home because less insanely expensive. I had long car rides with my toddler... just can't do it!

I really believe we would actually get away with him being a lap child; but I'm not going to risk a Sunday evening disaster at the aiport to save a few hundred dollars. I have only been asked his birthday once ever... and they just wanted his month/year not specific date. I think it was US Air or American. My toddler talks a fair amount but I don't think he knows how old he is and like most toddlers, mainly his family members understand him.

Oh, and I don't get the drama about lap baby safety. Do you install a car seat on your metro rides? What about airport shuttle, do you avoid that too?

It's just not safe to fly with your kid on your lap, particularly at that size. Just suck it up. Would you let your kid ride in a car with no seatbelt?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you buy a one-way ticket for him for the return portion only?

Yes, considered this. Might look into it.

Husband and I both work; didn't have foresight to request Wed or Monday off and now it is a little late to request. So stuck with the worst travel day options! oh well! My own fault for not planning better. Tempted to have my parents come here instead!!

Are you trying to fly Wednesday night and Sunday? Check Thursday morning and Saturday night instead.

This would solve your lap child issue as well.

And I guess the child talks! A my birthday at the airport.

Maybe. But I bet the child can't read the calendar. Tell her her birthday is on Sunday. Then she can tell everyone her birthday is tomorrow.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you buy a one-way ticket for him for the return portion only?

Yes, considered this. Might look into it.

Husband and I both work; didn't have foresight to request Wed or Monday off and now it is a little late to request. So stuck with the worst travel day options! oh well! My own fault for not planning better. Tempted to have my parents come here instead!!

Are you trying to fly Wednesday night and Sunday? Check Thursday morning and Saturday night instead.

This would solve your lap child issue as well.

And I guess the child talks! A my birthday at the airport.

Anonymous wrote:I've probably logged at least 20 RT flights with lap babies and have never been asked for proof of age, even when my son was a tall 23 month old. In fact, after I started buying him a ticket once he turned 2, the agents often thought he was a lap child and would ask if he had a seat. I never lied, but you could probably get away with it. Call the airline (without saying your name/frequent flyer number) and ask. You could also fly back a day early, no? We will have this issue at Christmas, and I plan to fly back a day or two before she turns 2.

I even once had bought a ticket for our just-two year old and the airline tried to give her seat away to someone because she was sitting on my lap during boarding (but in her seat before take-off). They just assumed she was a lap child.

I've probably logged at least 20 RT flights with lap babies and have never been asked for proof of age, even when my son was a tall 23 month old. In fact, after I started buying him a ticket once he turned 2, the agents often thought he was a lap child and would ask if he had a seat. I never lied, but you could probably get away with it. Call the airline (without saying your name/frequent flyer number) and ask. You could also fly back a day early, no? We will have this issue at Christmas, and I plan to fly back a day or two before she turns 2.

I was asked. My kid was 18 m. I was telling the truth but the guy was not believing me. I had to beg and plead because I didn't have a copy of the birth certificate. It didn't even dawn on me to bring it.

You need to pay for one way when child is two and she can ride lap going. If you lie and get caught, you will have to pay walk on fare for your child which could be very costly. I have been asked for id for my child.

One way ticket or drive. For me personally, it is not worth that much money to fly that distance. We routinely go to southern NC, SW VA, and other areas that are often end up being 8 hours + driving, but with two drivers for 3 people, it is so much cheaper than flying. It's also less hassle because you can take whatever you need.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's a one hour flight and you have two adults who can drive? Drive. How is a one hour flight a nine hour drive? Out kid in jammies and a pull-up and drive overnight.

Yes 1 hour fly time (DC to Knoxville)- it is always posted at 90 minutes but actual air time is 60-75 minutes usually. Driving is about 8 hours (500 miles) with only adults who don't need to stop much and can be much worse with holiday traffic. I-81 is pretty bad during holiday rush.

Anyway, agree w/ above posters, it is probably too risky to go the lap route. I have flown at least 10 times with him and have never been asked for proof of age; but probably not worth the risk.

We do DC to Nashville driving in about 11. I would definitely drive to Knoxville instead of messing with all the hassle of flying.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you flown on this airline with the child previously? I know that I have had to enter birth dates for each passenger. If you've entered her correct birthdate at some time in the past, entering a wrong one this time may flag her. On the other hand, if this is the first time she flies with the airline, and you enter an incorrect birthday, it may stay in the system and cause problems in the future.

Not worth it, IMO.

You don't have to book the lap airfare ticket when you book your own. You can do it at check-in.

I've had to do this on two separate occasions, when I've unexpectedly had to bring my child along on a trip.

But wouldn't you still have to provide a birthdate?

Wouldn't an airline find it a little suspicious if you flew last month with a kid named Joey and Birthday X, and today you are flying with another kid with the same first and last name and a slightly different birthday? I know that would make me suspicious, and I'm not a naturally suspicious person.

Yes, the computer asked me to enter his birthday. I guess you could give a fake name since ID isn't required for children. The computer isn't going to question your reproductive timeline, and even if you end up with an agent, he or she is probably going to be too busy Thanksgiving weekend to play CSI. My son is now 2.5 and just started answering "what's your name" and "how old are you?".

I have only been asked on southwest flights.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you flown on this airline with the child previously? I know that I have had to enter birth dates for each passenger. If you've entered her correct birthdate at some time in the past, entering a wrong one this time may flag her. On the other hand, if this is the first time she flies with the airline, and you enter an incorrect birthday, it may stay in the system and cause problems in the future.

Not worth it, IMO.

You don't have to book the lap airfare ticket when you book your own. You can do it at check-in.

I've had to do this on two separate occasions, when I've unexpectedly had to bring my child along on a trip.

But wouldn't you still have to provide a birthdate?

Wouldn't an airline find it a little suspicious if you flew last month with a kid named Joey and Birthday X, and today you are flying with another kid with the same first and last name and a slightly different birthday? I know that would make me suspicious, and I'm not a naturally suspicious person.