Birth Certificates for Kids

[tinkerbell60]

Just wondering, we are flying SW - my kids are 13 and 10 - do I need to take their birth certificates along as ID?? We are flying Southwest.

 

[gw_lit]

Just wondering, we are flying SW - my kids are 13 and 10 - do I need to take their birth certificates along as ID?? We are flying Southwest.

No, ID is not required for anyone under 18 years of age.

 

[Mkrop]

Flew with DS9 and Ds4 in April and I photcopied their birth certificates but no one ever asked me for them, even with DS4 and preborading.

have fun

 

[DJT]

I called SW yesterday with that very question. I was told that I should take a copy of the birth certificate or an ID for my DGS 9. He has an ID with his picture on it that his parents got him from the BMV. The SW agent said that would be fine.

 

[mnasmom3]

I was wondering this too but for a different airline. So, a copy is sufficient? No original birth certificate if they request to see one at all?

 

[dcgrumpy]

The only time I've ever been asked for a birth certificate is when I wa stravelling with a lap baby or a special child's fare. If you paid regular fare I don't understand why they would need a birth certificate

 

[Detailor]

gw_lit is correct. Anyone under 18 does not need identification under most common circumstances. DJT may have been advised to bring ID for the grandson as it may be obvious that the child is not her/his son. TSA does not require ID for those under 18.

Dick Taylor

 

[bradk]

no ID was needed for an 11 year old who had a different last name than the rest of the travelers in my group and was a definite different skin color. no letter from the child's parent asked for, etc.

for a domestic flight, the TSA and airlines require nothing.

 

[californiachick26]

so an ID card isnt required for anyone under 18? my family and i are bringing my best friend with us to orlando next week, and we were panicking a few weeks ago because she hadnt had an ID card before and we were told that it was required to get on the plane...(she is a different skin color than us and definitely does not look like shes part of our family) luckily she received her card within 2 weeks so we werent worried anymore....but now i think maybe i shouldnt have worried at all. (and we're taking southwest also)

 

[Detailor]

so an ID card isnt required for anyone under 18? my family and i are bringing my best friend with us to orlando next week, and we were panicking a few weeks ago because she hadnt had an ID card before and we were told that it was required to get on the plane...(she is a different skin color than us and definitely does not look like shes part of our family) luckily she received her card within 2 weeks so we werent worried anymore....but now i think maybe i shouldnt have worried at all. (and we're taking southwest also)

Right, you shouldn't have worried. When my daughter brings a friend along we're never asked for ID for her even though everyone in our family has a passport that we use even when flying in the US. And, yes, we've flown Southwest without IDs for under 18s as recently as July without any problem.

Have fun in Orlando!

Dick Taylor

 

[californiachick26]

Right, you shouldn't have worried. When my daughter brings a friend along we're never asked for ID for her even though everyone in our family has a passport that we use even when flying in the US. And, yes, we've flown Southwest without IDs for under 18s as recently as July without any problem.

Have fun in Orlando!

Dick Taylor

thank you ive never been there before so im sure it will be an amazing experience. and my best friend has never flown before so that should be fun for her too!

 

[NotUrsula]

Not for the OP but for others reading this, SW can and does REQUIRE a copy of a birth certificate or some other proof of birthdate for any lap baby or child flying on a reduced-price child's fare. (They also require proof of age for older folks traveling on Sr. fares.)

This particular requirement has nothing to do with proving WHO they are or what your relationship to them is, it is a revenue control measure related to proving eligibility for an age-restricted fare class. Note that even very tiny infants flying as lap babies will be carded. SWA chooses to enforce the rule for ALL lap children so that agents cannot be accused of selectively judging who can and cannot fly for free.

Children under 18 who are separately ticketed in their own seats do not need to present ID at all.

 

[JanB]

Call me overly-cautious ----

But in the situation where you are traveling with a child who is not your own child, I think that it can be smart to have a copy of his/her birth certificate as well as a note from his/her parents affirming permission for the child to travel with you. And you should have his/her medical insurance card with you.

And, really, it's not a bad idea to travel with a copy of birth certificates and/or proof of adoption for your own children.

In today's world, you just never know .....

It has nothing to do with the TSA. They do not require any documentation for under age 18.

 

[DJT]

I have already prepared a Power of Attorney which my son and his wife will sign giving me permission to get medical treatment, etc., for my DGS if needed, and I already have a photocopy of their insurance card. He will have his State-issued ID (from the BMV) with him. I think that should take care of everything.

Donna

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Slightly OT what to do when Mother and Daughter have same name. SW would not accept reservation on-line with 2 people with same name. So I added Jr. to daughters name. Any foreseeable problems?
Thanks
Chris

 

[dcgrumpy]

Slightly OT what to do when Mother and Daughter have same name. SW would not accept reservation on-line with 2 people with same name. So I added Jr. to daughters name. Any foreseeable problems?
Thanks
Chris

DH and DS have the same name I add their middle initial in the same box as the first name. I don't think there should be a problem with jr.

 

[pednurse]

Have flown several times with children (both pre-9/11 and post-9/11, with most recent flight last month) and have never needed ID for them. As for the same name issue, my DH is a Jr. and DS is a III, so we just put that in the differentiate them....have done it for the past 9 years without any issues.