Flying with little children question

[MNmama]

We are taking Sun Country if that matters at all, but was wondering if the children need " id" to fly... such a birth certificate? Obviously hubby and I have our id's but didnt know what the kids needed. One will be 4 and the other is 2 months.

Thanks!!!

 

[klynn]

Minor children do not need ID's to fly.

 

[Carriemel]

The PP isn't quite right. Your 4 year old will not need ID. The 2 month old, however, will need some proof of being under age 2. This is an FAA requirement of some sort. And yes, you do need that ID to prove that a TINY baby is under 2 years old. Otherwise, you may wind up buying a last-minute seat for that child.

 

[PoohGal05]

The PP isn't quite right. Your 4 year old will not need ID. The 2 month old, however, will need some proof of being under age 2. This is an FAA requirement of some sort. And yes, you do need that ID to prove that a TINY baby is under 2 years old. Otherwise, you may wind up buying a last-minute seat for that child.

Is this something that has happened in the last couple of years? I took my son a couple of years ago when he had just turned a year old and we were never asked for any id for him. But we did do two things ~ we purchased a seat for him even though he could have flown for free if he sat on our lap and our travel agent advised us to take a copy of his birth certificate with us in case we were asked for proof of his age which never happened.

 

[goofy4tink]

You need IDs for lap babies...to prove they fall within the age bounderies for lap babies. If you have purchased seats for everyone, then no, you do not need ID for the kids.
But, I always had some form of ID for my dd when we flew. She never needed it, but I figured better safe than sorry. I just made a copy of her birth certificate and tucked it in my carryon. Again, I never needed it, and it was purely my choice to bring it.

 

[klynn]

The PP isn't quite right. Your 4 year old will not need ID. The 2 month old, however, will need some proof of being under age 2. This is an FAA requirement of some sort. And yes, you do need that ID to prove that a TINY baby is under 2 years old. Otherwise, you may wind up buying a last-minute seat for that child.

The OP was asking about "ID's" for her minor children. The only time you might need a birth certificate is if you child under the age of 2 will be a lapheld child. A birth certificate is for age verification for a lapheld child. Every airline is different in their requirements. The OP should check with Sun Country as to their requirements for lapheld children. If the OP is buying the infant a seat, then it is not necessary to contact Sun Country.

 

[crashbb]

Is this something that has happened in the last couple of years? I took my son a couple of years ago when he had just turned a year old and we were never asked for any id for him. But we did do two things ~ we purchased a seat for him even though he could have flown for free if he sat on our lap and our travel agent advised us to take a copy of his birth certificate with us in case we were asked for proof of his age which never happened.

No, it is an old thing. It is just that the PP doesn't have it quite right (as other people have said). Since your son had a seat, there was no need to prove that he was under two; therefore, you didn't need any id for him.

There is no general FAA (or other) requirement that you need to prove that your child is under two years of age.

 

[Minniemouse07]

If both of your children (regardless of the age they are as long as it is under 18yo) will not need ID if they are ticketed passengers.

The only time a child would need ID is if they are a lap child (not ticketed w/ their own seat) since only those under 2yo can ride on their parent's lap and you need to have proof.

SO...

If your 2mo has their own seat (which the FAA recommends) then you will not need ID.

If your 2mo will be a lap child, then you need to bring ID proving his/her age.

 

[MNmama]

They really reccommend that my 2 month old have their own seat?!?! Crazy. LOL How would that even work? I guess with the travel system base and car seat? I havent flown in so long so I would just assume that a tiny baby such as mine would just be in a sling or sitting on my lap.

Thanks for all the feedback. I will make sure I have Birth certifcates on hand for both kids. We are excited to go, but lots to figure out. Its always the small details.

 

[PrincessDuck]

You might want to ask the question of where does a 2 month old lap child go if you are put into crash position. How is an airplane safer to hold a child?

They really reccommend that my 2 month old have their own seat?!?! Crazy. LOL How would that even work? I guess with the travel system base and car seat? I havent flown in so long so I would just assume that a tiny baby such as mine would just be in a sling or sitting on my lap.

Thanks for all the feedback. I will make sure I have Birth certifcates on hand for both kids. We are excited to go, but lots to figure out. Its always the small details.

 

[goofy4tink]

You might want to ask the question of where does a 2 month old lap child go if you are put into crash position. How is an airplane safer to hold a child?

That is NOT the question here, nor will it be the question. The airlines allow this practice, it is not up to us to debate it or try to make a parent feel like an ogre for doing it.
No further discussion will be allowed....period.

 

[crashbb]

They really reccommend that my 2 month old have their own seat?!?! Crazy. LOL How would that even work? I guess with the travel system base and car seat? I havent flown in so long so I would just assume that a tiny baby such as mine would just be in a sling or sitting on my lap.

Thanks for all the feedback. I will make sure I have Birth certifcates on hand for both kids. We are excited to go, but lots to figure out. Its always the small details.

Just a note - most airlines do NOT allow your baby to be in a sling during take-off, landing, or when the seat belt sign is on. You just hold them (outside of your seat belt), during those times.

 

[MNmama]

Thanks!!! Its our first time flying with both kids, so I am all new to the rules and what is best. Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it.

We plan to gate check our two strollers, but can we also gate check the base? For example we are taking our travel system... but will have to also bring the base that the carseat sits in for our rental car. Can that be gate checked as well or doees it depend on the airline?

 

[zumbergc]

i have a different question. When you fly with an infant as a lap child. do you enter that into the reservation at all when booking the flight? or you just show up with kid and it works?
we are flying southwest.. so yes from the above i need a birth certificate

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

When you fly with an infant as a lap child. do you enter that into the reservation at all when booking the flight? or you just show up with kid and it works?

On SWA, you must call the airline to add a lap infant to the reservation. He/she will then be required to check in at the airport, not online, unless you do age verification with SWA before your trip (explained on SWA's website).

 

[Lewisc]

You'll need ID for any child who booked an age qualified fare. That includes lap baby, infant fare, child fare, youth fare....Generally the deeply discounted fares we book online are cheaper then child fares but not always.