ID for child when flying?

[Heidijs]

What do I need for ID for my 4 year old? I posted this in the transportation section but someone said I needed her birth certificate???? The original??? All I have for ID is one of those ID cards we got at work for our child safe program. And of course the middle name got mispelled, would that matter? Or with her school pictures she got a little card with her picture and I can write in all the info...would that work? What is required?

Also, what if you lose your license on your trip? What do they do at the airport? DH just renewed his and kept his spare but I don't have one. What would happen?

 

[MariDisney]

What do I need for ID for my 4 year old? I posted this in the transportation section but someone said I needed her birth certificate???? The original??? All I have for ID is one of those ID cards we got at work for our child safe program. And of course the middle name got mispelled, would that matter? Or with her school pictures she got a little card with her picture and I can write in all the info...would that work? What is required?

Also, what if you lose your license on your trip? What do they do at the airport? DH just renewed his and kept his spare but I don't have one. What would happen?

You don't need anythinig for her.

Don't know the answer to your other question. Sorry.

 

[Heidijs]

I find that so disturbing that I don't need "anything" for her. I believe you, I've googled it but wanted to ask other parents for sure...that's just nuts...you can't bring liquids on a plane but hey, don't know who that kid is but climb on board!

 

[Hannathy]

Why is that disturbing? The liquids is for the safety of all the other passengers, no other reason. Actually you can bring liquids on a plane just not thru security.

But it is true to fly with a child with in the country they need no ID or anything else.

 

[drgsjh]

Flown with my kids MANY times since 9/11 and through MANY different airports (we've lived 5 places since then). Never needed anything to ID them. In some airports I have had screeners ask my DD6 her name once she was old enough to know it (DS is still 2). But that's it. Until they are required to have ID, how could they ask for ID? A birth certificate is still a piece of paper with a name but no pic on it.

I have taken DS's milk in bottles/sippy cups through security. You just have to declare it, hand it to them separately and possibly open/close it for them. Once they opened it themselves. Beware on that one - they didn't close the sippy cup tightly and it leaked all over my bag. Didn't notice it till about 2 hours into our flight. What a mess. But that provision is only for small children.

 

[bas71873]

I have flown with DD6 many times and have never been asked for ID for her, BUT, I do carry a copy of her birth certificate just in case. Never used it, but I have it. They have asked my DD a few times, pointing at me, "who's this?"....she always says "mommy" or they have asked her her name, but that's about it.

 

[happymommy]

Your second question: In our state you surrender your old license when you get a new one, so you only have one driver's license. Just don't lose it. Not any more likely you will on vacation than any other time.

 

[GEM]

Just chiming in to agree. You won't need anything. I've never been asked for any sort of ID for my six year old son, and he's flown probably over 25 times in his life.

In addition, I regularly travel with large groups of junior high and high school kids on theatre trips all over the country and we have never had any of them asked for any kind of ID. Anyone under 18 is not required to show ID for domestic travel. International travel, of course, is a whole other story.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but don't airlines require a birth certificate?

I'm planning for next fall and DD will be 3 days past her 2nd birthday. I'm trying to avoid having to buy her a seat...

 

[Tiggs14]

As stated above you don't need a birth certificate for a child but you do have to provide the childs full name and date of birth when booking the tickets. I personally wouldn't supply incorrect information when filling out the newly required TSA information.

Not trying to hijack the thread, but don't airlines require a birth certificate?

I'm planning for next fall and DD will be 3 days past her 2nd birthday. I'm trying to avoid having to buy her a seat...

 

[MariDisney]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but don't airlines require a birth certificate?

I'm planning for next fall and DD will be 3 days past her 2nd birthday. I'm trying to avoid having to buy her a seat...

That is a different question. No ID is needed to prove identity to get on a plane for a minor. An airline may and likely will require a birth certificate for a child who is under 2 to prove eligibility to fly free. Any time after the 2nd birthday you are required to buy a seat.

 

[GEM]

That's correct, I should have mentioned that....

If you are NOT buying a ticket for your child who is under two, you will sometimes be asked for a birth certificate to prove they are under two, and thus eligible to fly for free on your lap. If you ARE buying your baby a ticket, no birth certificate will be needed.

That's a different situation, though, than just needing a birth certificate or other ID for ID purposes.

 

[Heidijs]

Okay, good to know, I'll bring her Kid ID card with though in case something were to happen in the parks....

We can keep our licenses in MN. My worry is when I use my credit cards, I'll need my ID with me...sadly, 99% of places NEVER ask me for my driver's license. They just swipe the card and I'm on my way....I hate that...if they ask for my ID I'm like, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But most clerks don't ask. So I just worry about it getting lost somewhere along the way. I lost my Visa out of my back pocket this summer as I didn't carry a purse so it can easily happen.

 

[pixiewings71]

My girls both flew alone last summer. They didn't need anything, DBF and I got passes so we could walk them to their gate and wait with them but the kids didn't need anything to board the plane.

 

[Hannathy]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but don't airlines require a birth certificate?

I'm planning for next fall and DD will be 3 days past her 2nd birthday. I'm trying to avoid having to buy her a seat...

Buy the ticket now. Otherwise you will be buying a ticket at the counter at full price or else not flying. Most airlines will ask if anywhere near 2 and Southwest ALWAYS asks to see it even if they are 6 weeks old (I know this !) Even if you slip thru at the first airport you have to come home also, which is slip to no chance of happening you probably won't luck out again. Also if you have ever flown on that airline before they will have records of it and will know how old your child is.

 

[puffkin]

Buy the ticket now. Otherwise you will be buying a ticket at the counter at full price or else not flying. Most airlines will ask if anywhere near 2 and Southwest ALWAYS asks to see it even if they are 6 weeks old (I know this !) Even if you slip thru at the first airport you have to come home also, which is slip to no chance of happening you probably won't luck out again. Also if you have ever flown on that airline before they will have records of it and will know how old your child is.

Agreed! We took many trips before DS was 2 and had to show his birth certificate each and every time to get a boarding pass for him. At 21 months they even came around the counter, and talked to him. I guess they didn't believe he was under two until she started talking with him (he was big for his age).

After age 2 no ID needed whatsoever.

 

[ilovemonk]

I have state id's for my kids. Maybe check into whether your state offers the same thing. It's offered at our DMV and you just bring in documents to get one.

As for the 2 yr old policy, I would not take a chance. I flew recently and I witnessed a family having to buy a seat at full fare for their little one. Not worth the chaos and price.

 

[msmama]

Well, I'm the odd one out I guess...

TSA has always asked to see DS's ID when going through security. He has a passport so that's what we use.

A copy of the birth certificate is fine, too, though.

Also, I always make a copy of my drivers license and whatever credit cards I take and leave one set at home and take another set with me, just in case.

 

[Swimalie]

Well, I'm the odd one out I guess...

TSA has always asked to see DS's ID when going through security. He has a passport so that's what we use.

A copy of the birth certificate is fine, too, though.

Also, I always make a copy of my drivers license and whatever credit cards I take and leave one set at home and take another set with me, just in case.

You're not the odd one out. I do as well. I have 2 copies of his birth certificate - one that is folded and in an envelope for travel and one that is not. I carry it every time he flies, just in case. And I have been asked to see it and he's 4.

 

[Hannathy]

You do not have to have ID for under 18 if they are asking they are wrong, and you do not have to show it.

The only thing I have ever been asked is who is who and that is only to see which name belongs to the adults so they can see ID for them.