Airlines forcing you to sign your child's passport?

[Applemomma]

Was just working on getting my kid's their passports and noticed one of the misc. faq's was about them communicating with airlines about leaving the signature line blank on a child under 11's passport. Has anyone had trouble with this? Just curious...not really concerned but wondering if I should print this page out in case it happens to me in November!

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/support/faq.aspx?lang=eng&id=04668

 

[siobhan1997]

Not the airline by US Border Patrol made our DD sign hers at the border patrol while she was in the vehicle, I believe at the time she was 13 years old.

 

[vacation_junkie]

Our son signed his own when he was 8. He printed his name nice and neat! They always smile when they see it cause it looks like a little guys writing!!!

 

[photomama]

never had a probelm with my dd unsigned passport. She's 8 and we go to the US at least twice a year.

 

[pooksma]

We did on our first trip to WDW. FLew from Canada to Boston. They guy in Boston told us that our then 3 yr. old needed a signed passport.

I seem to recall that the Canadian passport documents say that children under a certain age do not sign...

 

[b-1]

A US border guard said that if we wanted to fly then the 6yo's passport had to be signed by the mom. I signed it so we could keep going which effectively voided the passport.

When we returned to canada I went to the passport office to renew my passport and asked about DD's now signed passport. the agent said the passport is void and we had to get a new one. she also said that if i get asked to sign again that I should ask to see a canadian customs official. it says right on the kids passport that it should not be signed.

 

[Kat&Dom]

We just flew on Monday and US Airways in Phoenix made me print out my son's name on the signature line before they would let us board the plane. He's 4. Grrrr - that annoys me if it voided his passport. I have to renew mine this fall so I will check on his then - we don't have any out of country trips planned at the moment.

 

[bluebelle99]

From what I recall, children under 11 (I think) are not supposed to sign the passport and it is actually printed on the passport "signature not required" where the signature line is...

 

[dancin Disney style]

From what I recall, children under 11 (I think) are not supposed to sign the passport and it is actually printed on the passport "signature not required" where the signature line is...

This is correct....it says on the page that has the photo and all the personal info....right beside the expiry date.

 

[seashoreCM]

The web site mentioned up above does say that the signature space must be left blank but what happens if the child himself puts his name there?

Maybe those affected should start a fad, write to the airline asking for reimbursement for a new passport.

 

[FLVacationGirl]

It does say right on the passport that they do not need be signed if your child is under a certain age. We had the same problem at a US airport, Fort Lauderdale or Minneapolis, where I was forced to sign for my 3 year old or infant. (and just one of them for some reason?)

 

[safarihatguy]

Airlines are not too quick to get the point on this issue. We flew from Detroit 2 weeks ago and the Delta desk attendant notices our child's passport was not signed and requested us to sign it. I refused as I knew the rules and she was very rude to us and almost didn't let us continue onto our flight. The manager (red coat) was called and she told us the same thing but at least let us continue without signing it saying it was on our heads if we ran into troubles.

The stupid thing is it was a domestic flight and I didn't even need to show ID for my children.

I have reported this to the Airline and thinking of reporting it to the Canadian passport office.

If asked for ID at the check in desks at the airport I would not offer up your child's passport at all. Only offer it to customs officials.

 

[Alderbrook]

It's says right on the picture page "Signature Not Required". Can't you just show them that.

 

[safarihatguy]

It's says right on the picture page "Signature Not Required". Can't you just show them that.

We did show them. They didn't care. It was Delta's policy that all passports be signed. They had never heard that Canadian child passports are not to be signed. US child passports are signed by parents which is likely where the confusion comes from but we were flying from Detroit, so it's not like Canadian flyers are uncommon there.

Again, I recommend never handing over a passport for a child to one of these airlines.

 

[grantclaire]

Hi all, Our passports just came today and with them there is a notice that everyone that is 11 and over must sign the passport, also in bold letters parents must not sign a childs passport.

 

[TagsMissy]

The web site mentioned up above does say that the signature space must be left blank but what happens if the child himself puts his name there?

Maybe those affected should start a fad, write to the airline asking for reimbursement for a new passport.

What does it have to do with the airline? They don't control US Customs agents telling parents to sign.

Definitely barking up the wrong tree.

 

[DbleTheFun]

What does it have to do with the airline? They don't control US Customs agents telling parents to sign.

Definitely barking up the wrong tree.

Not sure, but if I'm reading the previous posts correctly, it's not US customs demanding the signature, it's the airline employees working at the gate/check in that are making these requests. I'm most certain the border services employees know the rules, or at least I would hope so!

Maybe I'm reading the pp wrong, but that was what I got from it....

WOW just reread thread and it sounds like some of the issues ARE coming from border patrol. All I can say is WOW.

 

[b-1]

the problem is with the signature line that is on the page facing the photo page. that line says signature of bearer. only the signature line on the photo page says sig not required.

 

[jtdl]

My 9 year old son had to sign his last year at Detroit airport as well. It was at the security desk though - where you go through the scanner and your carry-on bags are scanned - I'm not sure but I think those are Homeland Security agents. We live in a border city and had never been asked to have him sign it when crossing over the bridge - quite frequently!

 

[Daisy-J&D]

Has anyone tried to fly SINCE they've signed their child's passport and been denied? What an awful situation to be in. I can see not want ing to argue but also doing whatever you can to get on a flight. If this was to happen with DD I'd probably just sign it.