Right now, due to COVID, some airlines permit cancelling a flight at the last minute due to COVID, with no penalty.
I want to fly with my infant child, and not pay for his seat. The flight has a connection on the outbound leg, and is direct on the inbound leg.
Would it be ethical for me to book my child his own seat, and then, if the first leg of the outbound flight is not sold out, cancel his ticket the morning of the outbound flight so that his seat (next to mine) hopefully remains empty (and instead pay for a lap infant fee)?
Now, let's say we agree that the above is not unethical-- do I further need to confirm that all the other flights are not sold out? And does it make a difference if the inbound flight is sold out, as there remains a week after the outbound flight for someone else to purchase that ticket?