Flying with lap baby-delta?

[amy-momofthree]

I was told when adding dd 17 months To flight reservation, that I will not need a birth certificate for her. She will be a lap baby. Now, I have been hearing that babies sometimes DO need a birth certificate for travel.

I have searched and searched and can't find her sealed copy of thebirth certificate but I do have the mothers copy (hospital issued). Is this good enough?

Anyone have experience?

I would call again to verify but from reading, I've heard these calls go to a call center in India and don't always have the correct answers.

We leave in 13 days!

Thanks!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I would bring what you have. Delta doesn't require it, but the FAA says they can require proof. I have seen Delta deny boarding to a child (this one was WELL over 2 however. It was very apparent to everyone)

 

[malibuconlee]

I agree, bring what you have. Southwest always asked for a birth certificate when we flew with a lap baby while getting their boarding verification document.

 

[amy-momofthree]

Ok, thanks!

I will bring what I have, I hope it's good enough. Its not a state sealed bc but it is the hospital issued one with all our names on it.

 

[dizzy203]

I don't know what Delta or the FAA will accept but if you have time you could go to your town/city hall and get a copy of the birth certificate. At my city hall it doesn't cost that much (less than $20) and it only takes a few minutes.

 

[Jestocost]

Don't know why Delta would tell you that as it is an FAA requirement. Not all of the airlines are consistent about checking (SWA is one that almost always does), but if they ask for it and you don't have it you will be required to pay the full walk-up rate for a ticket if you want to fly. The good news is that the requirement generally is for a "copy" of the birth certificate, which should mean that a photocopy without the raised seal will be OK.

You may have noticed that there are a lot of qualifiers in the paragraph above as there are with many things related to air travel. That's because application of the specific policies at any given time frequently depends on the interpretation of the individual airline or TSA employee that you are dealing with at that moment. As a result, it's always advisable to be prepared for more than you technically should be required to provide, since it's generally not worth the time and effort to argue about policy interpretations while you are trying to get to a flight. Sometimes it's unavoidable, but if you have a chance to minimize the potential for such situations you should do whatever you can.

 

[amy-momofthree]

Thanks again! And thanks for the tip to go to city hall! I just looked it up online and I can have an official one made while I wait so I'm gonna do that. Better be safe than sorry

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't know what Delta or the FAA will accept but if you have time you could go to your town/city hall and get a copy of the birth certificate. At my city hall it doesn't cost that much (less than $20) and it only takes a few minutes.

that was my thought as well. Just be aware that it has to be the city hall of the town in which the family was living when the child was born. That could be different than the town they currently reside in.

 

[tjmw2727]

Thanks again! And thanks for the tip to go to city hall! I just looked it up online and I can have an official one made while I wait so I'm gonna do that. Better be safe than sorry

I thnk that's your best bet as you are going to need it agian in the future for programs, sports, school eventually etc.

Most airlines don't ask for the BC if the child is obviously under 2 but some ask all the time (SWA) and some spot check. In this case better safe than sorry truly applies since they could make you pay full fare on the spot $$$.

 

[malibuconlee]

I don't know what Delta or the FAA will accept but if you have time you could go to your town/city hall and get a copy of the birth certificate. At my city hall it doesn't cost that much (less than $20) and it only takes a few minutes.

Just an FYI...in many states to get an official birth certificate you must contact the state's Office of Vital Statistics, usually in the capital. Iowa and Kansas are two I know this to be true of. I used to work in medical records at a hospital in KS. We would get calls all the time. There the hospital didn't even give a hospital birth certificate anymore. I also needed to get an official one, because all I had was a hospital one. Just called, ordered and gave my credit card for payment and it was mailed to me.

 

[amy-momofthree]

Just an FYI...in many states to get an official birth certificate you must contact the state's Office of Vital Statistics, usually in the capital. Iowa and Kansas are two I know this to be true of. I used to work in medical records at a hospital in KS. We would get calls all the time. There the hospital didn't even give a hospital birth certificate anymore. I also needed to get an official one, because all
I had was a hospital one. Just
called, ordered and gave my credit
card for payment and it was mailed
to me.

Yep! That's who I got the info from. The office of vital statistics. It is in the capital but luckily that's only 20 min away

 

[DebbieB]

In PA, you have to get it from the state.

 

[ancestry]

Where you get a birth certificate from varies by state. The town hall/city thing is a New England thing. The rest of the country usually has vital records handled on a state level.

 

[malibuconlee]

Yep! That's who I got the info from. The office of vital statistics. It is in the capital but luckily that's only 20 min away

Cool, I just didn't want everyone thinking all they had to do was go down to their city hall.

I used to get so frustrated, we were less than an hour from the capital and the military recruiters would want me to verify birth dates for them. I figured you have a government car, just drive them over and pay for a real birth certificate for them. I'm charging you for looking up the records anyway. Those kids would need one eventually I'm sure!

 

[gmeh1]

Where you get a birth certificate from varies by state. The town hall/city thing is a New England thing. The rest of the country usually has vital records handled on a state level.

Right you are. I was born in Worcester and that is where the record is located. I think it is much easier this way, but, that is just mho.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Where you get a birth certificate from varies by state. The town hall/city thing is a New England thing. The rest of the country usually has vital records handled on a state level.

In MD, you just have to go to your local courthouse. Makes it easy.