Just curious about children and planes.. need ID?

[AmandaChan]

Kids don't need an ID for the plane trip do they??
Talking about a 10 year and 4 year old... or even a 1 year old?

[DisneyGirl85]

Not sure which airline you are flying, We always fly SouthWest, my brother is 10 and has never needed an ID.

[Buttercup]

Not entirely sure how it works for Americans because you're flying domestically. If it were an international flight then yes, the kids need passports. I would imagine your kids should have their birth certificates at the very least, so you can prove that they're your kids and you're not running away with someone else's children! But like I said, I'm not positive about US rules.

[DisneyGirl85]

or even a 1 year old?

If the 1 year old is sitting on your lap and not occupying his/her own seat, you probably need his/her birth certificate for proof of age.

[BrerGnat]

You don't need anything. Minors don't require i.d.

If your child is flying as a lap baby, and looks like he's older than 2, bring a copy of birth certificate in case you get questioned.

[princessgirls]

I've have never been asked to show ID for my children.

I work in adoption, and get this question a lot from clients that travel domestically before finalization.

I agree with Natalie, that when traveling with an un-ticketed lap baby, that you should bring the child's birth certificate.

Julie

[princessjojo]

Neither of my kids have ever had an id to fly before, nor did my sister last time we flew and she was 16 then. That said, my older DS will probably have his with him for our coming trip, only because it makes him feel older than "almost 16" to be required to show it. And since we'll be flying with so many kids in July to Yellowstone, he'll probably have it then as well, just as a precaution.

But I don't think it's required.

[brownie]

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) only requires adults age 18 and older to present a photo-ID to get through the checkpoint. You can all the details from the TSA website.

[SuzieBell]

No, they do not. I did have to show proof when he was a lap baby - he was a big baby! DS is now 11, and I still carry his BC - just in case! And his school gives out photo ID's - he likes to keep his in his wallet, makes him feel grown up! 27 more days!

[RBrooksC]

If you have a lap child and there is a question about the age of the child due to any reason, you had better have a birth certificate. If you do not, you will have to purchase a ticket for that child.

I have seen more than once parents on the phone to their pediatrician trying to get some proof of age faxed to the airline so they would not have to pay the seat for the child.

[Mickey'sGirl]

My children have had passports since they were babies (We are Canadian), and TSA never even looks at them when they are presented at Security. We do need to show them at Customs and Immigration. I doubt you will need any formal ID for a child. I would make sure to have ID for my "Lap" child, however. Just to avoid any possible hassles at the airport.

[Rosemickey68]

When we fly from Texas to Orlando we bring xerox copies of our kids birth certificates as suggested by someone who works at SW because we had/have teens that weren't driving age, no ID or passport, and look older than they are.

So, I think it really depends on what age your kids are or look like, in other words if you have teens and they look like they could possibly be 18 & up.

It did come in handy to bring those copies of their birth certificates as my DS just handed the TSA agent/security the copy of his birth certificate with the boarding pass, and the man asked him to state his whole name, birthdate and how old he was....it was no problem at all.

[jodijo]

They don't need one but I like to have them. We got passports for our kids years ago and use them anytime we fly. Without them TSA would question the kids about their age, where they were going, and even if we were really their parents. My kids are shy and this was almost painful for them. With the passports, we are never questioned. I will be taking the passports on our next WDW trip in 34 days.

That being said, I would not buy passports just to fly. It is very expensive and not necessary.

[mudpuppysmom]

I totally never even thought about this when travelling with DS#2 when he was 6 months old! On the way down we had no "problems" but on the way back SW required me to show proof he was my son! We made it thru security without any questions, but when it came time to board they asked me for ID for him.....birth cert, passport, something the gate agent said.
We were held up and eventually boarded the plane, but it made me think about the situation.

We now travel with birth certificates AND passports for both boys.

[Marcya23]

On our trip to WDW 2 wks ago, flying SW, we were not asked for anything for our 4 yr old or our 8 month old. On the way home, the agent in Orlando required a document for the baby. A birth cert, passport, or even just shot records would work.