kids, flying & ID?

groovygrl · May 2013

i know kids are not required to have a form of i.d. to fly domestically but I read somewhere that some airlines want to see proof of age or something- is it a good idea to bring a copy of their birth certificates? my kids are over 2 and the airline website says no i.d required if age 2-18 but I don't know if there are any reasons we should?

Margaret Lemon · May 2013

I always bring the birth certificate. Since I still have a lap baby, sometimes they do want to see proof that the child is not yet 2.

For international travel, you do need a passport for them.

MammaBear81 · May 2013

We just flew (domestic) and the only one (out of the 5) we needed proof of age was for my youngest, because he was a lap child. If you are buying a seat for a child, they don't care how old they are Stick out tongue

. International is a PP said, they would need a passport.

EastCoastBride · May 2013

As long as you have a seat for them, I don't think they care. If you're trying to claim a "around" 2 year old as alap child and it's clear they aren't- they might want proof. But aside from that, There shouldn't be an issue.

daisy662 · May 2013

I'd bring a copy just in case. Can't hurt to have it though if they are not a lap child you likely won't need it.

giggles0918 · May 2013

I flew with my DD and didn't need to show any ID for her - but she was under 1 and it was pretty obvious she wasn't 2 yet.

hansa11 · May 2013

I've flown multiple times domestically with my kids (both alone and with my husband) and never had to show any proof of age for whether they were a lap child or not.

The only hassle we've ever gotten was on our most recent trip when we bought a seat for my 18-month-old and that was because they assumed he was a lap child and kept trying to give away his seat to other passengers who were trying to switch seats for one reason or another.

financialdiva · May 2013

We flew when DS1 was 3 months old, so clearly not even close to two and Southwest wanted his birth certificate to prove he was under two. Same thing happened to my friend when they flew with their infant daughter and they were going to make her buy a seat for her since they couldn't prove she was under two. Luckily they had time to run home and bring back her birth certificate. So thankfully I was prepared and was able to provide his when they asked for it. However, when we flew with him last time and bought him a seat, they didn't want to see it.

FemShep · May 2013

Southwest has asked for ID for DD2 when she was a lap baby, even though she was obviously under 2 (5 months and 7 months). They made a pretty big deal about it. Other airlines didn't ask, but you may want to bring it just in case.

jess9802 · May 2013

My stepson flies to and from his visits with us, and we never have to show his birth certificate or other proof of age when checking him in for his flights at PDX (he has flown Alaska and Southwest) - even when he started flying solo rather than as an unaccompanied minor. His mother doesn't have to either, and that's at LAX.

kristennd · May 2013

We've made 6 round trip flights with LO so far and have never been asked for any proof of age, etc. We do always buy him a seat. United, Delta, and Alaska.

rockychryslerb2010 · May 2013

Only flown domestically with E, but I always had a copy of his birth certificate. Most times we get him a seat, smaller, shorter flights he is lap child, and we were never asked to show proof of age.

I would at least bring a copy of the birth certificate.

fryrat · May 2013

ALWAYS BRING ID!!!!

If you get separated for any reason or if there is cause for additional security/safety measures, you will be glad you did. Just imagine someone in the terminal losing track of their child and suddenly security is stopping everyone with a child. If you have the birth certificate, it's quick proof that the child belongs to you, and you are on your way.

MammaBear81 · May 2013

fryrat:
ALWAYS BRING ID!!!!
If you get separated for any reason or if there is cause for additional security/safety measures, you will be glad you did. Just imagine someone in the terminal losing track of their child and suddenly security is stopping everyone with a child. If you have the birth certificate, it's quick proof that the child belongs to you, and you are on your way.

How is a birth certificate proof that the child is yours? It's proof that (at one point) you had a child and they are X years old, not that the child you are walking with belongs to you. There is no photo on a birth certificate, it could be any child roughly the same age. Not that I want to think there are crazies out there who want to "replace" their child (maybe one that died) but if someone was missing a child, I don't think a birth certificate would give you a "by" in this situation.

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