Do I need birth certificates for my kids to fly?

[girlsx4]

I should have asked this sooner......we are leaving in 10 days and I don't know if I will need anything for my kids when we fly. Do they need their birth certificate???
Thanks
Susan
mom to 4 girls
1st trip to WDW

 

[KTSMOM]

Nope you don't need them. We flew in September and they never asked to see them.

 

[all4fun]

You only need a birth certificate if you have a "lap baby" and need to prove that they are under the age of two.

If they all have their own seats then you don't need to worry about it. I have always bought seats for my ds and we have never been asked for any type of ID for him.

 

[molly2004]

I always keep a COPY in our luggage. It is the only form of ID you have for your child (unless you have a state issued one or something similar). As long as you have some type of ID for your child, just in case something bad happens, you should be okay.

 

[Downrivermama]

When my dd then 5 and I flew to WDW in 2004 another passenger in the line at the airport asked me if I had brought her birth certificate and I said no. They said I would need it to get past the TSA security. Needless to say I was a bit panicky standing there! We went through the security and no one ever asked about her bc. Whew! But I was scared there for a minute. We could of gone home to get it since we are 8 miles form the airport- but it would of cut it close with the departure time.

 

[staci]

I dont know who you are flying with, but I called southwest to confirm the policy before we left. The ONLY time we would need it on southwest would be if our child were under two and we were not paying for a seat. As it was, he WAS under two, but we PAID for his seat, so we DID NOT need one.

As long as you paid for a seat, you should have no problem. I did notice that one security person looked at ds's ticket, then got down and looked directly at him and called him by his name. I assume this was to make sure he was who I said he was?? Anyways, she said his name, my son looked at her, and that was all.

 

[tjmw2727]

Nope no Id necessary for children under 18. Exception, as others pointed out a lap baby under 2.

We have been flying alot lately, 2-5xs a year and have never been asked for ID for my dd's.

We have had the same experience as Staci with the TSA's asking the girls for their first names. Always at MCO, often at Logan and once in Philly so it may depend on the agent.

TJ

 

[missymagic]

Never needed it flying within the US. Now if you leave the country that is another story. I don't even take it with me. I have a fear of losing it and some wacko finding it then using identity etc. I travel all the time with my 2 girls.

 

[dizbizz]

I never knew that. I alwasy pack a copy of kids birth certificates, but I guess I always had a lap child. The youngest is now over 2 and the free ride is over for him, but I will probably still bring a copy of the birth certificates. I figure better safe then sorry.

 

[isla bonita]

For South West only the lap seat baby needed a birth cert.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

most airline websites say they need a birth cert or immunation records
i am bringing both you never know i dont need any issues with that

 

[dudedisney]

I had that same question and relatives insisting that I take them for our recent trip. I called Delta, the local security office, everyone and I got the same answer: any child under 18, flying regular seat, domestic flight does NOT need ID. My friend who works at Delta told me that if anyone demanded it, they were on a power trip and to immediately ask to see their manager. Relatives were panicking, telling me we wouldn't get on the flight, etc. but I had no problems in that regard (being bumped, sleeping all night in the airport, etc. is for another post).

 

[tjmw2727]

most airline websites say they need a birth cert or immunation records
i am bringing both you never know i dont need any issues with that

I have never seen an airline website requiring ID for children let alone immunization - except maybe if traveling abroad. I would be interested in seeing this however if you can point me to the link.

This is from the TSA website:
Proper Identification

If you have a paper ticket for a domestic flight, passengers age 18 and over must present one form of photo identification issued by a local state or federal government agency (e.g.: passport/drivers license/military ID), or two forms of non-photo identification, one of which must have been issued by a state or federal agency (e.g.: U.S. social security card). For an international flight, you will need to present a valid passport, visa, or any other required documentation. Passengers without proper ID may be denied boarding.
>>>

Here is a link for further information.
http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1044.xml

Also - they have a great section on preparing for screening with children, in case someone may find this helpful:
http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1020.xml

HTH
TJ

 

[keishashadow]

AirTran tells me carrying the Original Birth Certificate can speed things along @ Security...my DH & DS have the same name, must be similar to one on the watch list (they've been dragged aside a few times). I and my other children in the same boarding party, get waived through...go figure? Better safe than sorry. I value my privacy, but moreso my saftey on an aircraft.

If you would lose the Birth Certificate, it can be replaced for a nominal fee. When older children reached the age of 18, I presented them with their own Original Copy with raised seal - no problem w/having more than 1 on hand.

 

[tjmw2727]

AirTran tells me carrying the Original Birth Certificate can speed things along @ Security...my DH & DS have the same name, must be similar to one on the watch list (they've been dragged aside a few times). I and my other children in the same boarding party, get waived through...go figure? Better safe than sorry. I value my privacy, but moreso my saftey on an aircraft.

If you would lose the Birth Certificate, it can be replaced for a nominal fee. When older children reached the age of 18, I presented them with their own Original Copy with raised seal - no problem w/having more than 1 on hand.

FWIW its not replacing an original BC that I worry about but it falling into the wrong hands. The orgiinal long form has LOTS of information on it!

If you really want ID for your children consider getting a non driving ID at your local registry.

TJ

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I have never seen an airline website requiring ID for children let alone immunization - except maybe if traveling abroad. I would be interested in seeing this however if you can point me to the link.

This is from the TSA website:
Proper Identification

If you have a paper ticket for a domestic flight, passengers age 18 and over must present one form of photo identification issued by a local state or federal government agency (e.g.: passport/drivers license/military ID), or two forms of non-photo identification, one of which must have been issued by a state or federal agency (e.g.: U.S. social security card). For an international flight, you will need to present a valid passport, visa, or any other required documentation. Passengers without proper ID may be denied boarding.
>>>

Here is a link for further information.
http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1044.xml

Also - they have a great section on preparing for screening with children, in case someone may find this helpful:
http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1020.xml

HTH
TJ

JETBLUES website says children under 2 that are lap children HAVE TO have their Birth certificate OR immunization record with them
i would rather have them with me so if i run into a perosn who wants them it doesnt mess up my vacation

 

[tjmw2727]

JETBLUES website says children under 2 that are lap children HAVE TO have their Birth certificate OR immunization record with them
i would rather have them with me so if i run into a perosn who wants them it doesnt mess up my vacation

Actually the phrase is "could be" asked - here is the quote from JetBlue:
<<Customers traveling with an infant as a lap child could be asked for proof of age, such as a passport, birth certificate (copies are acceptable for domestic travel) or an immunization record when the infant's age is questionable.

and the link to verify:
http://www.jetblue.com/travelinfo/howToDetail.asp?topicId=6

FWIW that is exactly what I said in my original response as did others.

IE - The "exception" is a lap child. FWIW this just to prove that the child is under 2 and can fly free. A child over 2 must have a ticket and a seat and beleive it or not people do try and lap sit older children, this is why they may require proof of age.

I stand by my statment that any child under 18 who is flying on their own ticket does not need ID.

You can choose to bring them on a better safe than sorry, that's your decision but to state that airlines require them for children is incorrect.

Again we have flown 5 times this year with our dd's and never been asked for ID for them by the airline rep or the TSA rep.

Hope this helps ease someones mind who is close to a trip and dosen't have time to get ID for children.

TJ

 

[NotUrsula]

I wouldn't worry too much about a BC "falling into the wrong hands" -- those hands could get it any time they wanted to, simply by paying a small fee to a state records office. Getting an official copy of just about any American's BC is a piece of cake, as long as the person was born after about 1935. The documents are part of the public record.

As others have pointed out, children don't need ID if they are paying passengers on US domestic flights. Flights that cross national borders are another matter entirely, and the OP didn't say if this was her situation. The route does matter, and if one is flying into or out of the US (or any other nation, for that matter) ID is required for children; and that ID usually must be a valid passport. US Passports can be obtained on a "rush" basis as quickly as 24 hours, though the expedited handling fees can become quite expensive. Normal US passport processing takes about 2-6 weeks.

 

[hokiefan33]

For South West only the lap seat baby needed a birth cert.

We flew Southwest in September with a 4 month old lap baby and never needed it once.

Yes, I know, a lap baby - and she loved every minute of it, the plane never crashed, she wasn't hurt, and we saved $100 for her ticket. What a deal!

 

[fabumouse]

My DD4 has flown about 15 times over the last 4 years, including right after 9/11, and has never been requested for ID while in the country. However, as an aside, it really is a good idea for everyone to have a US passport for a variety of reasons. Including foiling the possibility of someone using your identity to give themselves a fake passport.