Airport security question

[Maloy]

First time flying commercially and need some advice from those that fly with little ones. I was reading up on the security issues and one thing still confuses me. Do children need an ID when going thru the security checkpoints? DD is 9 and DS is 6, I have read some lanquage on the security site about birth certificates and such. Well I'm not going to bring those documents just to fly!!! I thought about getting them a state ID, but just dont know if its needed or not. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[gw_lit]

Only those 18 and older need ID according to the TSA.

http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1044.xml

 

[mrFDNY]

in the past our 5 y/o only needed a boarding pass to go thru checkpoints.

 

[disneycm25]

Last year my 16 year old did not need any I.D.

 

[CLEO Z]

We brought our kids' birth certificates, but were never asked for them. They did ask DD 3.5 her name though!

 

[SueM in MN]

Only those 18 and older need ID according to the TSA.

http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1044.xml

the last time we traveled, my oldest DD had to practically beg for them to look at her ID. She is over 18, but they thought from looking at her that she was a high schooler and they kept telling her they didn't need to see her ID.
Ohhhh, wish I was still in the situation of wanting to look older than I am! LOL

 

[princess aurora]

Our experience: you only need their boarding passes to get through security but we were asked for their ID the first time we flew with them at the check in desk (perhaps though b/c we were canadians travelling thru US airport). It really is a security measure. Honestly how can you prove those children are yours?? This issue usually only comes up when it is one parent travelling with children.

TIP: ensure you have a little one in a stroller!!!!! We actually bypast a HUGE security line b/c we were traveling with small children. We were told by some awesome airport workers who just happened to be walking by as we were standing in line. There is another line for strollers wheel chairs etc.

We found this immensely helpful since we were 2 families with 4 small children in total travellling together. In my experience it tends to be to the right of the big, main security line.