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Travel documents
- Thread starter ml123_9
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zurgandfriend
Well-Known Member
Per USA Today,
Kids under 14
According to the Transportation Security Administration, kids are not required to show any identification at TSA checkpoints; still, some airlines require a birth certificate for children under 14 to prove their age. To avoid any hassles, travel with at least a copy of your child's birth certificate, or for the best-case scenario, obtain a passport for your child.
Kids under 14
According to the Transportation Security Administration, kids are not required to show any identification at TSA checkpoints; still, some airlines require a birth certificate for children under 14 to prove their age. To avoid any hassles, travel with at least a copy of your child's birth certificate, or for the best-case scenario, obtain a passport for your child.
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Weather_Lady
Well-Known Member
The only ID I've ever had for my two kids is their state police-issued "Safe Kids ID" cards, and more recently, their "NEXUS" Trusted Traveler program cards. I always pack them, but in half a dozen trips since they were 4 and 6, we've never been asked to show them. (*Note: That's only for domestic travel to/from WDW. The one time we went on a cruise that traveled internationally, we had to bring copies of their birth certificates with the raised seal visible.)
We also made sure that before we traveled, they knew how to answer questions like their full name and birth date, parents' names, and home address, in case they were ever asked (although they never have been).
As @zurgandfriend posted, your airline might have its own requirements (e.g., if you booked an age-restricted child fare), so you'll want to check with the airline as well. Since it's better to be safe than sorry, it's better to bring an extra bit of paperwork that you never have to produce (e.g., copies of birth certificates) than to be lacking it in the rare event you're asked for it.
We also made sure that before we traveled, they knew how to answer questions like their full name and birth date, parents' names, and home address, in case they were ever asked (although they never have been).
As @zurgandfriend posted, your airline might have its own requirements (e.g., if you booked an age-restricted child fare), so you'll want to check with the airline as well. Since it's better to be safe than sorry, it's better to bring an extra bit of paperwork that you never have to produce (e.g., copies of birth certificates) than to be lacking it in the rare event you're asked for it.
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Minnie Mum
Well-Known Member
Since the forum has members from all over, can we assume you're only asking about domestic US flights, OP?
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righttrack
Well-Known Member
If both parents are present you won't need much of anything, however if only one of you are, sometimes a letter from the other parent giving permission is good to have. Having traveled so much for skating, we always carried a small wallet-sized certified copy of a birth certificate and if we traveled apart, we always had the permission letter from the other parent. This is assuming domestic travel. International, I'm not sure of. Anyway, all of this is designed to protect children and I'm sure it's the discretion of airline security to investigate any evidence of child-trafficking. Better to be safe than sorry and bring these kinds of identification.
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Hcalvert
Well-Known Member
I have never shown any ID for my kids when they travelled domestically. They both have passports, but I do not bring them with me unless we are going somewhere international. Usually the TSA agent will ask them their birthdate and name, which is visible on the ticket to be confirmed by the agent. The airline check-in desk specifically says that they only want the adult's IDs. I have travelled several different airlines with my kids throughout the years--mostly post 9/11 (United, Delta, Frontier, Allegiant, now defunct-US Airways, BMI and Continental).
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dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
I've never had to show ID for our DS. Some airlines will require proof of age, specifically if they are flying on a reduced rate fare.
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Raegansmommy
Active Member
I always pack their birth certificates. We have never been asked, but I would rather have them than not. They usually ask my daughters how old they are.
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