Survey for ALL who have flown with kids - Did you need kids' birth certificates?

[skeezixspud]

The only time I've seen them ask parents for ID has been with a walking lap child, and they do that VERY frequently. (They usually take your word for the age if the child is obviously still unable to walk.) SWA does sell children's and infant's tickets, but they are fixed-price -- I don't know anyone who has ever bought one because usually the adult sale airfare is cheaper.

I could also see an adult-looking teen being asked for ID if the agent thought he/she was really an adult trying to dodge the photo ID rule.

I keep the originals of DS' birth certificate and passport in our safe deposit box, and photocopies in several places, including laminated small-size copies in my wallet. It's easier to have them and not be asked rather than deal with hassle that will ensue if you are asked but do not have them!

 

[ducklite]

When you flew with your kids, did you need their birth certificates?

Not as long as it was a domestic flight.

Please post which airline you flew, when, and whether or not you were asked for their birth certificates.

DL, AA, CO, US

Also, if you were flying without both parents, did you need a notarized letter from the other parent saying that it was OK to take the kids out of state?

Nope. Only if you are leaving the country.

This is all assuming that they are your kids, you are not an escaped felon, and you and the kids are all US citizens domiciled in the US. If you answered yes to all the above, you're fine. Any "no's" and you might have problems. In fact depending on which you answered no to, you might have problems bigger than worrying about your kids birth certificates.

Anne

 

[lindaso]

We fly Delta and I've never been asked for ID or birth certificate for my kids. I do buy seats for them as infants under 2. I was concerned one time when getting the half price seat for my almost 2 year old who looked about 4 but nobody said a word.

Someone posted above about the crash procedure and infants...this is what compels me to spend the money on a seat. Everything must be stowed and secured...except our children under 2!!

Linda

 

[sha_lyn]

Maybe we were asked for ID because we were flying to a city close to the border.

 

[Beanie]

We have been flying since my 4 year old son was 8 months old and the only airline who asked us for Birth Certificates was Southwest...No other airline has asked for them...We just flew SWA in August and again, they asked for birth certificates for both of them in which my son is 4 and my daughter is 2...We have flown USAir, Delta, Continental and Midway and have never been asked for them by those carriers...

 

[kel3420]

Unless you fly internationally, you should not need any documentation.