Do you REALLY need your kid's birth certificate to get on the plane?

[It'sWDW4me]

I warned her back March. It's only 8 days until we leave and NOW my mom starts looking for DB#3's (14) birth certificate! She has no clue as to where it is.

According to the airlines (Allegiant and AirTran) that our flights are booked with, you need to show a birth certificate for anyone under 18. According to TSA's website, "children are not required to show identification".

So, what is your experience (bonus points for Allegiant or AirTran passengers ) - did you really need to show a young/mid teen's birth certificate or did you just need ID for anyone 18 or older?

 

[tjmw2727]

Passengers under 18 don't need to show ID to fly or to clear security.

What you/she may be reading on the website is a section on traveling with a child fare. If so a BC can be required to prove the child is eligible for the childrens fare, most airline call it "age verify.

If you bought online you probably just bought adult fare for everyone and there is no need to age verify. In fact I think you have to actualy call to book a child fare and its often more than the online adult fare.

Just make sure his ticket is a regular adult ticket and your fine, if your still worried I would call airtran and have them check your reservation.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Passengers under 18 don't need to show ID to fly or to clear security.

What you/she may be reading on the website is a section on traveling with a child fare. If so a BC can be required to prove the child is eligible for the childrens fare, most airline call it "age verify.

If you bought online you probably just bought adult fare for everyone and there is no need to age verify. In fact I think you have to actualy call to book a child fare and its often more than the online adult fare.

Just make sure his ticket is a regular adult ticket and your fine, if your still worried I would call airtran and have them check your reservation.

Ah, that makes sense! I think a child's ticket was for kids under 13 - I could see how they would want to check to ensure nobody tried to book their 14 year old on a kid's ticket. Yes, I booked him as an "adult". Thanks for your quick response - mom will be sooooo relieved ($37 or a 4 hr trip to get a BC before we leave) and I can stop stressing!

 

[Kriii]

I would double check that policy. We were told an ID was needed for 15 and older but I believe that was Continental. My 15 year old certainly looks 18 so I don't chance anything when we fly and we carry ID. You can always get a certified copy of the birthcertificate at the courthouse.

 

[tjmw2727]

I would double check that policy. We were told an ID was needed for 15 and older but I believe that was Continental. My 15 year old certainly looks 18 so I don't chance anything when we fly and we carry ID. You can always get a certified copy of the birthcertificate at the courthouse.

I am certain that passengers under 18 don't need id, I fly montly with my dd's now 13 and 15 and have never ever been asked for ID for them.


From the TSA website:
Effective June 21, 2008, adult passengers (18 and over) are required to show a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID that contains the following: name, date of birth, gender, expiration date and a tamper-resistant feature in order to be allowed to go through the checkpoint and onto their flight.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/acceptable_documents.shtm

From Airtran (the op's airline)
Acceptable identification at TSA checkpoints: For domestic travel, all passengers are required to present a boarding pass, along with a valid, government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver's license or passport) at the security checkpoint in order to proceed to the departure gate. Children under the age of 18 traveling with their parents are not required to provide identification.

From the Continental website:
Passengers 18 years of age or older are required to have a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID that contains name, date of birth, gender, expiration date and a tamper-resistant feature for travel to/from a U.S. Territory (Guam, United States Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico). These IDs include:

 

[Alexander]

I have flown with my children (4 and 12) since they were infants and have never had to provide ID for them. When we acquired passports a few years ago, I brought them along and whenever I hand them to the TSA agents, they tell me that they don't need them for the kids, only the adults. Some are even irritated that I've given them the ID for the kids and not so politely hand them back (guess I was giving them too much work).

 

[delmar411]

we've never been asked for the kids' ids on Airtran. But we provide them anyway. A photo id is only $5 or so from the DMV and that covers any needed identification purposes as we had to show their SS card and BC (along with our own ids and info) to receive them.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We were told an ID was needed for 15 and older but I believe that was Continental.

You were given incorrect information.

 

[dis-happy]

My teens look old and I've never shown a BC for them--never even been asked to either. Just stated that they were minors and that was that.

 

[Lewisc]

TSA doesn't require ID form kids under age 18. Many airlines require proof of age for passengers using an age based fare including lap baby, infant and child fare.

Airlines are free to require ID from any age passenger to make sure parents aren't "substituting" one friend for another. I don't know of any airline that checks kids ID for that purpose but an airline is entitled to have that policy.

 

[ShariB]

We just flew Allegiant this week. We had our kids ranging in age from 22 to 7. They asked for the 15 yo id but all he had to do was state he was 15 and they said OK. My DS's GF who is 22 but looks about 14 wasn't even asked to show id but of course she did since she was of age. The younger two (12 and 7) were just asked which was which.

 

[Elmo007]

I always bring Birth certificates (9 & 3) and have been asked for it only 1 time (Flying out of San Juan on Jetblue).

Also I have never neede them but if I am flying seperately from DW or if I have my nieces with me (Differnt last name) I also bring along a permission to travel to letter signed by DW or nieces parents. I have never yet needed it but with sensitivity to kid snatching I thought it to be prudent. It costs 5 minutes to type and the paper to rprint it up on, so no big dal

 

[Julia M]

TSA doesn't require ID form kids under age 18. Many airlines require proof of age for passengers using an age based fare including lap baby, infant and child fare.

Airlines are free to require ID from any age passenger to make sure parents aren't "substituting" one friend for another. I don't know of any airline that checks kids ID for that purpose but an airline is entitled to have that policy.

My 15 year old daughter flew American from SFO to SAV in July, SHe flew with 2 adult friends (not barely 18 year old adults, but middle aged and senior adults). They wanted to see her license and when she explained she didn't have one because she was 15, she was asked for her school ID. Luckily she had it.

I wasn't there, and she did produce it, so I'm not sure what would have happened if she didn't have it.

Julia

julia

 

[Lewisc]

We just flew Allegiant this week. We had our kids ranging in age from 22 to 7. They asked for the 15 yo id but all he had to do was state he was 15 and they said OK. My DS's GF who is 22 but looks about 14 wasn't even asked to show id but of course she did since she was of age. The younger two (12 and 7) were just asked which was which.

My 15 year old daughter flew American from SFO to SAV in July, SHe flew with 2 adult friends (not barely 18 year old adults, but middle aged and senior adults). They wanted to see her license and when she explained she didn't have one because she was 15, she was asked for her school ID. Luckily she had it.

I wasn't there, and she did produce it, so I'm not sure what would have happened if she didn't have it.

Julia

julia

Is "They" the airline or the TSA?

 

[Huff]

In my case I am traveling with a friends daughter. I will have a notorized letter from her mother giving permission for her to travel with me on noted flights and destinations. I have never been asked for such but if any problems arise I am told it could save a lot of hassles.

 

[mamapajama]

I 've never needed any ID for my kids, they are now 13 and 17. Whenever I bought a seat, the fares I got for us were always better than the child's fare anyway so I never bought one of those. He proabably has a school id so maybe just bring that but uness he looks like an adult, he probably won't need it.

 

[tjmw2727]

In my case I am traveling with a friends daughter. I will have a notorized letter from her mother giving permission for me to travel with me on noted flights and destinations. I have never been asked for such but if any problems arise I am told it could save a lot of hassles.

No worries, I travel with my neices and my dd's often as the solo adult. They range from 11 to 16 in age and we all have different last names and different etnic backgrounds. I have never ever been asked for information as to who I was traveling with or why. TSA or the airlines don't care who is flying with whom, or why, just that the name on the BP matches the passenger.

I travel often, almost monthly and I have never ever been asked for ID for anyone under 18. We approach the TSA agent, I give the agent my ID and all the boarding passes for our travel party. They check me first and hand me back my ID. Then they motion one by one for each of the kids to approcach, ask them their full name and their age, mark the boarding pass and motion for the next minor and repeat.

Honestly most of the suggestions for ID's for minors are not "acceptable forms of ID" anyway, except for a passport which isn't required for domestic flight. So folks don't need to be carrying around BC's or spending money on state id's or running around obtatinnig additional copies of BC's to fly with minors.

OT - but Huff, In addition to (or instead of!) your itinerary permission letter I highly recommend a letter giving you permission to authorize medical permission in the event of emergency. That and a copy of the insurance card, unfortunately I have had to seek medical treatment for my Godson twice and this was mandatory before anyone would see him.

 

[Julia M]

Is "They" the airline or the TSA?

The airline asked to see her school ID

Julia

 

[mmouse50]

Mine have always shown tix/boarding pass and school id.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the replies. We've flown before with the kids (last time was August 2008) and have never had to show birth certificates but I know the times are constantly changing! My DS does have both a passport card and a state ID ($12 in PA) - both thanks to Boy Scout trip requirements. But my youngest DB doesn't have a "formal" ID and, because our mom can't find his BC, won't be able to get one until she gets a copy of his BC. He does have a school ID, though, so I'll make sure he brings that along just in case they (airline or TSA) ask.

In 6 days we'll be at CBR!!!!!