Photo ID needed for kids to fly?

[dancemomnj]

I asked today while I was on the phone with Jet Blue. I was told for children under 18 I didn't need any ID at all.

 

[PlutoPony]

This came off of LOS ANGELES INT'L website :
What kind of ID is required for children?
You need to show a valid piece of ID that corresponds to the name on the ticket. Valid ID includes a photo ID and birth certificate or passport depending
on your destination.

http://www.ifly.com/los-angeles-international-airport/airport-identification

Uh, the link above does not go to the official LAX website, but to "ifly.com" which appears to be a site with lots of information on different airports (as well as paid advertising for the travel industry) but it's not clear where all this info comes from or if it's all correct. The "official" LAX website is LAX and just sends you to the TSA website for questions about security screening, identification, etc.
Look, I'm not trying to be a pain or argumentive here, just trying to get correct info out and determine if something has changed in this regard recently (which I don't think it has). From your experience, it would seem that Allegiant may be the exception to children maybe needing ID altho we don't know why the airline wanted the birth certs (maybe the reservations didn't indicate that they were kids?) The Alligiant website doesn't have any info about ID requirements so it's not clear what their policies are. But we do know from the websites of most major airlines that id is NOT required of children generally. So if JetBlue says it's not needed, you have your answer . And if you're in doubt check with your carrier...
Happy trails!

 

[munchkin bunchkin]

Uh, the link above does not go to the official LAX website, but to "ifly.com" which appears to be a site with lots of information on different airports (as well as paid advertising for the travel industry) but it's not clear where all this info comes from or if it's all correct. The "official" LAX website is LAX and just sends you to the TSA website for questions about security screening, identification, etc.
Look, I'm not trying to be a pain or argumentive here, just trying to get correct info out and determine if something has changed in this regard recently (which I don't think it has). From your experience, it would seem that Allegiant may be the exception to children maybe needing ID altho we don't know why the airline wanted the birth certs (maybe the reservations didn't indicate that they were kids?) The Alligiant website doesn't have any info about ID requirements so it's not clear what their policies are. But we do know from the websites of most major airlines that id is NOT required of children generally. So if JetBlue says it's not needed, you have your answer . And if you're in doubt check with your carrier...
Happy trails!

I'm not trying to be argumentitive either ...your trying to get out the right info (from your experiences)and so am I (from mine).And yes Allegiant did know that they where 5&6 when I booked and no their website doesn't state any policy about child ID...I'm just glad i was smart enough to think ahead and bring it otherwise we could have been" up the creek without a paddle "and that would have been a wonderful start to very anticipated vacation!My last thought on this topic is :What's the harm in bringing it.it doesn't "eat anything and doesn't talk back!Have a day

 

[tinyrip]

Does this change if the child is flying with an adult that is not they're parent. will i need a letter or anything to say that i have permission to have the child?

 

[makinorlando]

Does this change if the child is flying with an adult that is not they're parent. will i need a letter or anything to say that i have permission to have the child?

From MY families experience, with three different family members flying to MCO with my great nephews (all on US AIR), we have never been asked for any type of document. One DGN flew one way with DD and me for the summer last year, then back to PA with my mother, and two other round trips with her as well. My sister brought the other DGN over Easter break, and she also was not asked for anything.

That being said, we did always have a letter from their mom that acknowledged they were traveling with another family member. This was also used in case we needed anything along with his insurance card in the event they needed medical attention.


Both their last names are different than everyone else they have flown with.

In any case like this, I feel the best place to get answers to these questions is from the airline itself. As we can see from this thread there seems to be differing policies.

I have also never been asked for ID for my DD when she has flown with me. Again, I did have a copy of her birth certificate and SSN with me.

 

[freckles and boo]

It just makes good sense to me to carry ID for any child you are traveling with, if only to avoid misunderstandings. In the past we have taken along birth certificates and photos but before the next trip I plan to get both state IDs and passports for our girls. Here in Illinois there is no minimum age for the state IDs. At $20 each for five years they are much cheaper than the passports will be.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I didn't realize that I needed some ID for my DD since she is adopted also! Where I am blonde and fair, she is half hispanic and has brown skin, and dark brown hair. WOW! I'll make sure I take her Birth Cert just in case! Maybe I'll get a pic ID at the DMV though instead. I really wouldn't like to take her Birth Cert if I don't have to. I didn't know a kid could get an ID! She's only 10!

Just to clarify. I've never personally been asked for ID for my child, but I have a friend who was. In her situation, she was out in public with her daughter when she became upset about something. The mother picked her up against her will and was taking her back to the hotel when she was approached by a police officer who asked them what was going on. Her child who had a language delay was too upset to answer, and the officer asked to see some kind of proof. Since the mother had left the documents at the hotel he accompanied her back there.

A friend of mine who is white and has a white, non-adopted child with autism had a similar experience one while I was with them. They were in a museum and their son threw a tantrum. The father picked him up and carried him out to the car, kicking and screaming the whole way. A police officer approached and asked what was going on. The father explained that his child had autism, the officer then pointed to the father and gently asked the child "who is this" the child replied "Daddy". The officer then asked for the father's driver's liscence, ran a quick check on it and then apologized.

Since I have ID for my son, (he has a passport which I got for a vacation outside the country), I feel safer if I carry it with me when we're traveling. I don't keep it on me at all times, because I don't want it to get wet or ruined, but I always bring it, as well as a copy of his birth certificate listing me as his parent when I travel. I'm not sure I would get a passport just for this reason.

Edited to fix mispellings.

 

[freckles and boo]

I'm not sure I would get a passport just for this reason.
QUOTE]

I agree. Hubby travels a lot for work. The passports are just in case he gets to go somewhere interesting - no excuses for leaving us at home!

And eventually I will figure out how to edit quotes so they don't look so dumb.

 

[metivier]

Per the FAA:

Question
Do minors need identification to travel?

Answer
Each airline determines identification requirements for minors. Contact your airline well in advance of your travel date to determine if they have unique policies or procedures for minors.

Typically, minors under the age of 18 do not have to present identification for domestic U.S. travel. Airlines will accept identification from the responsible adult on behalf of the minor(s).

For international travel, minors under the age of 18 must present the same travel documents as the adult.

FAA Frequently Asked Questions

 

[jodifla]

I'm not trying to be argumentitive either ...your trying to get out the right info (from your experiences)and so am I (from mine).And yes Allegiant did know that they where 5&6 when I booked and no their website doesn't state any policy about child ID...I'm just glad i was smart enough to think ahead and bring it otherwise we could have been" up the creek without a paddle "and that would have been a wonderful start to very anticipated vacation!My last thought on this topic is :What's the harm in bringing it.it doesn't "eat anything and doesn't talk back!Have a day

I've never heard of anyone not being allowed to board a domestic flight because they didn't have ID for their kids.

We normally bring his birth certificate when we travel, but not always.

 

[Esmerelda]

I have been asked on two different occasions for ID for my boys at the airport. Once with Delta..and once with American. Both times they were in the age bracket of 6-11 (this was 4-5 yrs back). They both have state issued ID's...plus we are getting passports this June to have for next year because we are cruising in 07. I had no clue they would ask for ID..I was glad I had them back then.

Esmerelda