Is there any legal issue she can use to stop this from happening to anyone again?

The agent pushed her to prove her maternity with a facebook post??

If they do it to anyone for having a different last name, then it's a bad guess.

Though I don't know why they think they can prevent kidnappings/parental abductions this way. If the kid has a passport, then there is no issue, as a kid can't get a passport without both parents' consent.

This sounds insane to me.

(And the woman was carrying the baby's passport. But somehow FB was supposed to confirm his identify.)

P.S. My daughter has flown with babies, all by herself, and never been asked to give extra ID. (And she didn't have a passport.) So this practice isn't universal.

I get they don't want to be sued if someone takes a kid on a plane and it turns out to be a parental abduction, for instance, but if the kid has a passport, that's a good ID. When are people required to prove the kids they take on the plane with them are theirs? What if some kid travels with his aunt? Or grandparents? So something is screwy. But a racist would probably be more guilty of being so careful on behalf of white kids and let black kids go even if they are being kidnapped.

In part due to various airline polices. However it is generally advisable that if one is taking a flight with minors who are unable to speak for themselves, that one have some documentation of parentage or lawful authority to do so. For children who can speak for themselves, it is often less of an issue.

First, were they all booked on the same itinerary? If his ticket was purchased separately from hers, then the fact that some guy has the same last name as the baby with whom she’s flying doesn’t mean much. A passport does not identify the child’s parents, and this child is to young to speak.

I have been asked to prove I was my childrens’ parent when flying. It happens.

https://www.rocketlawyer.com/blog/travel-kids-dont-share-last-name-924312

As for traveling with children who are not your own, there are a variety of resources as to what you might need (such as a notarized travel consent form).

as the man traveling with the mother, in favor of a FACEBOOK entry?

I think it makes more sense to have a birth certificate (if a parent) or a travel consent form (if unrelated), which is why I provided the link above.

But why does it make more sense to bring a birth certificate than a passport?

Both parents' signatures are required in order to obtain a passport. And a passport, unlike a birth certificate, includes a picture of the child.

And the TSA doesn't require any identification for children traveling with a parent, so I don't understand why an airline would insist on something beyond a passport.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification

Children
TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States. Contact the airline for questions regarding specific ID requirements for travelers under 18.

https://www.tripsavvy.com/what-to-know-about-kids-passport-rules-2998153


Recent Changes to Kids' Passport Rules
In 2001, the U.S. government began requiring both parents' signatures on kids' passport applications. This rule applies to new passports for children under the age of 14. Up until that point, it was possible for one parent to complete a child's passport application without the other parent being in agreement with it or even knowing it was happening.

I answered that. A passport does not identify the parents. Yes, both parents signatures are required for the application, but so what? It doesn't identify the parents IN the passport.

Yes, you are correct, the TSA doesn't require one. The airlines, however, are a different story. That's noted at the link I provided and which you didn't read. It's not up to the TSA to decide what an airline should do to limit their potential liability.

If your question is about what this particular employee among thousands of agents at airports serving millions of passengers did in this particular instance, then you'll have to ask her.

If your question is whether it is advisable to carry proof of parentage or legal authority to transport an infant who is unable to speak for themselves, then it is advisable to do so.

Perhaps things have been resolved to her satisfaction. All her previous tweets are gone (and she is still actively tweeting).

Link to tweet

?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2018%2F05%2F31%2Fus%2Fsouthwest-airlines-lindsay-gottlieb-biracial-baby-trnd%2Findex.html


@SouthwestAir I’m appalled that after approx 50 times flying with my 1 year old son, ticket counter personnel told me I had to “prove” that he was my son, despite having his passport. She said because we have different last name. My guess is because he has a different skin color.

https://twitter.com/CalCoachG

Everything about Southwest is gone.

Her tweets jump from May 27 (birthday shoutout) to May 31 (national smile day).

Nothing on the feed from May 28.

You will see that it jumps from May 27 to May 31. There are no tweets on the feed from May 28.

have at least one stop. So one round-trip could comprise 4 flights.

Flies around the country for the games?