ID needed for flying infant?

[dumbo_buddy]

do i need to bring the original birth certificate? or will a copy suffice?

 

[happymommy]

No, don't worry, kids don't need any ID. Just the adults.

Only if they are a lap baby, and appear close to 2, the airline may request proof that a baby is not two years old yet. Then I'd bring a birth certificate or passport just in case.

 

[dumbo_buddy]

oh, yeah he looks nowhere near two

wonder if i should bring it anyway just in case? with all the security issues lately i'd hate to get there and they change their rules (DH just flew back to jfk from vegas last night on business and said the security both ways was a total PITA).

thanks!!!!

 

[disneyaway]

I would bring it. Even when DD3 was no where close to 2, the airline people wanted to see her passport. For southwest, I had to go to the counter to show it to them. And I think it is has to the original certificate- at least that was what I was told a couple of years ago.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Someone just reported on another thread that they checked a 6 week old.

Be sure to take the orginal or his passport.

 

[my 3 princesses]

A copy should suffice, but definitely bring one if you're flying with a lap child. I've always been asked to show a copy of my child's birth certificate upon checking in. Actually, we usually fly Southwest and upon showing them your child's birth certificate they actually provide you with a special boarding pass that shows you're flying with a lap child. I've been asked to show a birth certificate for my babies when they were 2 1/2 months old and quite obviously nowhere near 2 years old! (That's the earliest we've flown with them).

 

[katied]

DS has a passport, so that's what we normally took when he was under 2. But once, I did forget any ID for him. Southwest let him fly one way provided I had proof for the return (I got lucky). DH faxed me a copy o the birth certificate, and I printed at the hotel - so they will take just regular photocopies (or maybe again, they were just being nice to me). Birth certificate, immunization records, or passport are all viewed as acceptable (at least by Southwest).

 

[msmama]

I never needed one checking in but I've always needed ID to get through security (or maybe they just look at it because I have it out with ours, he's got a passport so that's what I use).

I'd take it just in case.

 

[donaldsgirl]

I have always had to show a copy of a birth certificate. I definitely wouldnt bring the original. Call the airline to see if a copy is ok, or even a certified copy if they are really ticky.

 

[RangerPooh]

Is this new? We haven't flwon in a littl eover a year, but we never had to show any sort of ID for either of our girls. Our youngest started flying at 2 weeks and regulalry thereafter for the last few years, and never were we asked. Perhaps it's airline specific? We usually flew Frontier, Alaskan, American, Horizon, and a few timnes on Delta/Ted.

 

[Hannathy]

Is this new? We haven't flwon in a littl eover a year, but we never had to show any sort of ID for either of our girls. Our youngest started flying at 2 weeks and regulalry thereafter for the last few years, and never were we asked. Perhaps it's airline specific? We usually flew Frontier, Alaskan, American, Horizon, and a few timnes on Delta/Ted.

It is only if you are flying with a child that is flying free as a lap child, If the child has a ticket then you don't need any ID for them no matter the age (of course to 18)

Some airlines are more demanding of a birth certificate. Southwest demands it no matter the age of the infant for their free seats. Others like United for example have let mine fly as lap babies without a certificate. If you are flying with a free baby it is always better to come prepared to prove it and if on Southwest ALWAYS come with the certificate.

 

[bumbershoot]

If baby is going to be on your lap, bring legal ID. And that means passport or certified copy of the bc. Might be the original one you got, doesn't matter, b/c the "original" just means the first certified copy created! But it needs to be legal.

Better to have it and not need it rather than not have it and need it!

 

[pilotwife_02]

We travel quite often and always bring ID for both boys (passports) but have never been asked for their ID. However, both boys have always had their own seats so that's probably why. Children usually aren't asked to show ID unless they are lap children, but to be safe we bring it.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

You can take it along if it makes you feel better.

When DS went to WDW last fall with my parents, they took along a free child ID card that we got at a local festival (the IDs are sponsered by a children's hospital here in the state). It has his picture on it and all of his vital statistics, including parents names and numbers. Check around your area and see if that is a viable option. I know places like Walgreens will make a little ID too, but why pay for it if you can get it for free?

 

[RangerPooh]

It is only if you are flying with a child that is flying free as a lap child, If the child has a ticket then you don't need any ID for them no matter the age (of course to 18)

That's interesting becuase we only flew with our girls as lap kids for their first 2 years and were never once checked. That would have been between 2005 and 2008.

 

[puffkin]

It is only if you are flying with a child that is flying free as a lap child, If the child has a ticket then you don't need any ID for them no matter the age (of course to 18)

Some airlines are more demanding of a birth certificate. Southwest demands it no matter the age of the infant for their free seats. Others like United for example have let mine fly as lap babies without a certificate. If you are flying with a free baby it is always better to come prepared to prove it and if on Southwest ALWAYS come with the certificate.

Yes, that is true. We ALWAYS had to show DS birth certificate when flying as a lap baby (southwest and airtran). He has been flying since 3 monhts. Once he hit 2 and had his own seat, we don't take any type of ID for him anymore.

 

[waltskids]

Someone just reported on another thread that they checked a 6 week old.

Be sure to take the orginal or his passport.

Southwest checked our daughter back in August and she was 9 weeks old. She was a lap baby and their policy, as told to me in the airport, is they check the id's of all lap babies, regardless of their age. A ticketed baby would not need ID but we always bring copies of our childrens' birth certificates.

 

[camouseketeer]

If your baby is a lap child, bring a copy of the birth certificate.

in 2003, I flew with my DD just after she was born, she was around 4-5 weeks old. I had not received her birth certificate in the mail yet. Southwest gave me a horrible time during check-in. They asked for her shot records instead. Um, 4-5 week babies don't get shots yet!

So yes, they do check even for the youngest of infants!

 

[stinkerbellsmommy]

Yes, that is true. We ALWAYS had to show DS birth certificate when flying as a lap baby (southwest and airtran). He has been flying since 3 monhts. Once he hit 2 and had his own seat, we don't take any type of ID for him anymore.

We're flying with DD in a seat (she'll turn 2 over the trip), but I was thinking about bringing her certificate just in case. Now that I think about it, it makes sense that she wouldn't need one, but I guess these days I was worried about not having "enough" information, and getting turned away.

Still might bring it as a precaution, but that's just because I'm overly cautious

 

[msmama]

Call your airline to see what you need.

I think SW accepts, passport, birth certificate, shot records and even some kind of baptismal record or something like that I think.