Baby ID?

[cdrn1]

This is our first time flying with a baby. She is a ticketed passenger. Will we need ID for her? If so, does the hospital-issued birth record work or does it have to be a notorized certificate of birth? TIA.

 

[LittleMermaidsMom]

I've flown with my daughter several times and was always told by the airline (Northwest) that I need to show her birth certificate (the original with the raised seal). I've brought it with me everytime but have never been asked to show it.

I would think you would be ok with just a photocopy, but if you contact your airline directly, they should be able to tell you what you should bring.

 

[CarolA]

Usually childern under 16 or so do not need ID unless you are traveling with a lap child. So ID would not be required for a ticketed infant.

 

[jgmklmhem]

Be careful though...even if you have bought a seat for a child under two many airlines still require a birth certificate to verify the child's age due to the reduced fare. I was in line once and the mother didn't have the birth certificate and the ticket agent told her she would have to pay the difference in fare since her child's age could not be verified. The child was a borderline case toddler. Now an infant would probably not get such a fuss, but I would bring it anyways.

 

[Chicago526]

I was in line once and the mother didn't have the birth certificate and the ticket agent told her she would have to pay the difference in fare since her child's age could not be verified. The child was a borderline case toddler. Now an infant would probably not get such a fuss, but I would bring it anyways.

This is correct! A newborn of course has no trouble, but if you have a child traveling on a reduced ticket for being under two, and they look older or are near the cut off, bring the birth cert just in case!

As for the OP, if your child is on a full adult fare ticket, then no i.d. for either security or the airline is needed. If your child is on a reduced ticket and is over the age of, say, 18 months, then I'd have a copy of the birth certificate handy to be safe. Security wont need to see it but the airline might.

 

[JQuatt21]

You cant go wrong with a birth certificate, but if u really wanted to be safe, take your child to the Secretary of State/DMV or whatever the agency in your state is called that issues drivers licenses and id cards. If you have a state issued Identification card with your babys picture on it, that can only help your cause...Good Luck.

 

[robinb]

Be careful though...even if you have bought a seat for a child under two many airlines still require a birth certificate to verify the child's age due to the reduced fare.

I saw that happen on the show "Airline". They wanted a birth certificate for the lap child toddler and the woman went off the deep end. SWA was willing to refund her money if she sent them a copy at a later date.

 

[jl3614]

Since you are on the DIS board I assume you are asking about flying to MCO or some airport in Florida. For this travel an id is probably not needed.

If you are flying out of the country some sort of id will be required - a birth certificate, state id, or possibly even a passport. Check with the airline and/or our travel agent.

 

[leebee]

Be VERY careful if your last name is different from your child's. NWA denied us boarding when DD was 4 because our last names are different. Gate agent said without positive identification for her there was no way to determine whether I was truly her mother, or kidnapping her. BIG hoopla, I'll never fly NWA again. They threatened to take her from my custody until they could verify her identity, and mine as her mother. I ALWAYS travel with her birth certificate now, the original with the raised seal and her name, my name, and her father's name on it. (This was in New Orleans, 1997...fortunately my sister's best friend worked in child protective services in NO- we called her immediately and the situation was settled, without so much as a "we're sorry" from Northwest airlines!)

 

[robinb]

If you are flying out of the country some sort of id will be required - a birth certificate, state id, or possibly even a passport. Check with the airline and/or our travel agent.

International travel that requires a passport for adults also requires a passport for children. We travelled to England when my DD was only 6 months old and she needed a passport. You have to apply for the passport months in advance, so her passport photo was taken when she was 4 months old. It is sooooo cute! Children's passports expire 5 years after issuance, adults expire 10 years.

 

[Tabetha]

Bottom line - I'd call the airline, or check their website to verify.

 

[swilphil]

Bottom line - I'd call the airline, or check their website to verify.

I'd call the airline, too. The only time I had to show a Birth Certificate was when our son was 1 and he was flying WITHOUT a ticket.

 

[Cora]

Bottom line - I'd call the airline, or check their website to verify.

I agree call the airline and make sure you take down the name of the agent you spoke with and what call center they are in.