In mid-July we're going to be flying to CT with Katie. We bought her a seat but now I'm wondering if she'll need identification at the airport. Anyone know??

I took Jackson's birth certificate with us when we flew back to South Dakota last week, and no one ever asked to see it. (we bought a seat for him) I'm thinking they only care if you don't buy a seat, and are therefore claiming she's under 2. :dunno:

If you want to take something but don't have a birth certificate, I know that Southwest accepts shot records as proof as well. :)

We've flown with Rebekah twice and they never asked for identification. I'd take her birth certificate with you, though.

Also, you can probably get a photo ID from your DMV/MVA (whatever it's called out there). They are $5 here for anyone under 16. You get them where you get your driver's licenses.

We've traveled both ways (lap and bought a seat) and we've never been asked for proof of age or any ID for Matthew. I think that they require that for out of the country flights???

I believe they only require photo identification for those over 16. If she was flying as a lap baby they could make you prove her age or make you purchase a seat if she looked older then she really was but that isn't an issue with you. Never hurts to bring a copy of the birth certificate along but 99.99% of the time you won't need it.

Go to the website for the airline you are flying and they should have the definate answer for you on their FAQ page.

You don't need ID for a baby. As Nichole said, the only time they might ask is if you didn't buy her a seat and they want proof she is under 2.

Dennis

I flew with John last month (he was 3 months old), but didn't buy him a seat. The ATA website said that only travellers 18 and up needed ID, so I didn't worry about it, and nobody asked for any. They did ask how old he was (though it's hard to imagine they could've thought he could possibly be 2 years old :lol: ).

Kate

When I flew with Emma last August, I was on Southwest and they did ask to see her birth certificate going both ways. I always bring the birth certificate and shot record whenever traveling for proof of identification. If you are unsure, bring the birth certificate. It can't hurt to at least have it.

Also, you can probably get a photo ID from your DMV/MVA (whatever it's called out there). They are $5 here for anyone under 16. You get them where you get your driver's licenses.
We did this for Katie. We're flying out of the country and just wanted it to be sure. I didn't want to get her a passport since it would cost over $80 and will only last for 4 or 5 years. In Connecticut the non-driver photo ID's are $10 and last for 4 years. What was funny though, is on her ID it says: UNDER 21 UNTIL 2024 :lol2:

Thanks for this thread, Sarah! We are leaving to fly to Dallas on Saturday and I didn't even think about this! Will have to put her Birth Certificate on my list of things to pack!

According to Southwest's website, birth certificates are the only acceptable form of identification:

Is your tot under two?
Southwest Airlines offers very affordable Infant Fares for children under two years of age that enable you to reserve a seat for your little traveler to fly along safely and comfortably in his or her approved CRD. We'll even board you early so you'll have plenty of time to buckle up your baby.

Southwest Airlines Infant Fares have no restrictions, are fully refundable, and are offered on every Southwest Airlines flight (although seats are limited). Not only will you have the security of knowing that your baby is flying safely at a very reasonable price, you'll also have a convenient way to bring along his or her CRD so it will be available for ground travel when you reach your destination.

Although not recommended, if your child is under age two and you would prefer to hold him or her on your lap when traveling, you may do so on Southwest Airlines without charge, and we'll be glad to check your CRD for use at your destination. FAA regulation requires any child who has reached his or her second birthday to occupy his or her own seat during takeoff and landing. Please keep in mind that Southwest personnel must ensure compliance with this regulation, so be sure to bring along a copy of your baby's birth certificate for age verification.

Here is the link to their page about this:

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/infants.html

I just checked the US Air website and found this...
"Customers under the age of 18 are not required to present ID for domestic U.S. travel. Identification from the responsible adult will be accepted on behalf of the minor(s)."

I think I'll still bring her birth certificate just in case. :nod:

Interesting.... LynnMSH was traveling (I believe through the Canadian border) and they asked for ID. They wanted her to prove her son was hers, and that she didn't abduct him! :eek:

Mandy

Oh, well maybe it's different for international travel--we're staying in the States.

Oh, well maybe it's different for international travel--we're staying in the States.:nod:

When travelling with a child of any age internationally, you do need ID for them. If you are going to Mexico you probably just need a birth certificate, but we got Katie a photo ID. If you are travelling to a country where a passport is required, even an infant child will need a passport.

Additionally, if only one parent is travelling with a minor child you need a notorized letter from the other parent saying that you can take the child out of the country.

I've heard that about the notarized letter before and it makes me wonder what they expect single moms to do. :dunno:

Do you mean single mom's whose partner is MIA, or single mom's who have contact with the father? If the father is MIA, she would need a judges order stating that she has sole custody and that the father doesn't have parental rights or something similar. However, if the parents are divorced/separated/never married, she would need to have a letter from the other parent (my sister needs to do this with my niece whenever we leave). Lastly, if a father was never named, he wouldn't show up the birth certificate, so there wouldn't be a problem there.

The first time we took Lauryn on a trip was to the USVI. It's an international flight but since it's US territory, all they required was a birth certificate. However, I just wasn't comfortable just carrying a birth certificate-- I mean, Couldn't I just snatch up any kid from the USVI and use the birth certifcate as ID? So we got her a passport. Even when we travel within the US, I carry her passport as ID.

We just returned from our Cancun trip. First, when we boarded the plane to go to Cancun, we were never asked for her ID. However, when we went through immigration in Cancun and when we got back it was looked at, whether it was necessary is something else entirely, but it was checked. Plus, as I was looking at museums to go to this summer, many have "free if under age 1, 2 etc..." Well that would be a great way to show proof that Katie is within the free age.