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

[Huff]

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.

Great advice! I'll be sure and get such a letter. Any particular wording it needs to have?

An example of the issue with itinerary permission is noted when some estranged relative of the child decides to cause problems. They call the airline and tell them the child is not supposed to be traveling out of state or maybe be with me. The notarized letter from the custodial parent ends the discussion without a ton of delays and phone calls. While that has never happened to me it has to others I know.