Good point. She got rejected for a part in a local production she wanted really badly (and rejected in a fairly nasty way ... but if I go on there we'll be here for a while listening to my rant), and had a tough few hours but was then fine. I need to discuss that one with my spouse.

Am thinking of flying somewhere with the smaller Ty, who is three. Is there a way to avoid paying full fare/mileage redemption for him, short of putting him in my carry-on bag?

you once could drag them on for free, if willing to have in your lap. then you hope for an empty seal next to you. better to spend the bucks for the seat though, if thats an option, since the more room the better for kid control/time passing.

I pursued this possibility extensively a few years back, and could find no way. Used to be, they could sit on your lap, but the new regs require single-occupancy. I think you're stuck.

the seal for entertainment, I presume? Even better, a full seal, with a balancing ball.

He specified an empty seal -- maybe the seal is intended to eat the kid, like Jonah and the whale?

You didn't capatilize first letter in your first sentence. Timmy moment.

His name here is L'il Ty, not Timmy, but we can call him that if you like. And thanks for the suggestion, but he's not sitting on my lap for a x-country flight. It would be hard for both of us to see the DVD player.

Haven't airlines essentially eliminated children's and seniors' fares?

Bilmore, have you looked into the latter?

Reduced Fares
 

If they are under 24 months, you can carry them on your lap for free or (at least on American Airlines), you can get a half-fare seat for the kid -- but s/he must be under 24 months. As recently as a year ago, you could get reduced fares for kids between 2-11, but no longer (again, I'm only talking about American Airlines), which begs the question, why do they ask if there are children between the ages of 2-11 travelling, as they're payin' the same price anyway.

But I digress...

Reduced Fares
 

Exit row seating, perhaps? Not allowed there.

not sure why they care about 2-11. i know that there is an oxygen mask issue, i.e., there are only certain rows on the plane with more oxygen masks then seats and so there is a limit on each flight for how many lap children can fly in case they actually need to use the oxygen.

I normally ride on an air freight rate, but I'd never recommend it unless you get the casket with the comfy padding on the bottom.

You are supposed to trade off using the oxygen with someone else. Don't you listen to the spiel?

Yeah, but that 3 y.o. next to me might not have gotten the sharing lessons. What are you going to do, rip an oxygen mask off of a 3yo with a plane-load of people watching? Child killer!