tots2teens Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 We are flying to Chicago on Sunday & it just occurred to me that I might need to show some sort of identification for the kids (we have never flown with them before). I do not have birth certificates on hand for the youngest two. If it is really needed, I could run downtown today to pick them up. But I have sooo much to do today that I'd rather not if I really don't need them. Have you ever had to show a birth certificate for kids ages 2-15 when flying? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entropymama Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Nope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 My kids never have. Since my older son has gotten his learner's permit, he's shown that, but before that they just ask the kids their names and sometimes where they're going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Only for international flights, and then it's a passport, not a birth certificate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classical Country Mama Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 The only time I've needed ID for the kids when flying is when ds was traveling as an infant; the airlines wanted proof he wasn't 2 yet. Otherwise--nope! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tots2teens Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 Whew!! Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 I just put my 15 yo on a flight to Grandma this morning, and, nope, no ID required. I sent her with an expired passport just b/c we already had it and it would be SOMETHING, but they were totally fine with that, and it was obvious that they don't REQUIRE any ID for minors (at least under 16). I've always had passports with them when they fly just b/c we've always had them, but they are sometimes expired, and that's never been an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 I just flew in July for my Dad's funeral, and although my older two had their military IDs nobody wanted to look at them. They never asked for anything for my 7 year old either. My oldest had to take his shoes off for security screening because he's 13, but the younger kids were exempt from that. Apparently the cut off for that is 13 now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In the Rain Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Nobody has ever asked my kids for proof of anything. Nobody has even addressed a question to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom in High Heels Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Only when flying internationally and then it's a passport. I always keep our passports with us when we fly within the US, but no one has ever asked to see them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 We gave the security person mil id for my kids. He looked a bit burdened because of it. :lol::lol::lol:He also made sure we knew it was not needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmoe Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Okay, I understand it is not needed, but I wonder why it is not needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 I fly out of Kennedy (ny) and Newark (nj) and am asked every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 I fly out of Kennedy (ny) and Newark (nj) and am asked every time. And this is how it SHOULD be, what with custody disputes, kidnapping, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 I fly out of Kennedy (ny) and Newark (nj) and am asked every time. And I fly out of Newark with DS 3-4 times per year, and we've never been asked for a birth certificate. Ever. In fact, the TSA says no ID is needed for minors under a certain age (16, I think). We do sometimes encounter a screener who asks DS where he's going or his name, but that's it. As others have said, airlines want it for kids who are flying as lap babies to prove that they're really under 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan in TN Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 And this is how it SHOULD be, what with custody disputes, kidnapping, etc. We were asked for a birth certificate once when flying within the country with a 2-year-old and this is the reason we were given. We didn't have it with us, but they let us fly anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoObvious Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Nope. They always ask my kids questions though. When we were foster parents and for the first year after we adopted, I carried a whole file of info with me. Now I don't bother. I'm more afraid of losing it than needing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cin Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Only when flying internationally and then it's a passport. I always keep our passports with us when we fly within the US, but no one has ever asked to see them. We always do this because our kids don't 'match' us. :D But nobody has ever asked for any ID. They say hi to the kids, ask their names and where they're going. Aside from that, no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abigail4476 Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 (edited) My daughter[14] flew with her Dad last year and needed her State I.D. along with her boarding pass. I assume it was the I.D. in lieu of other documentation. I didn't have to have I.D. for the kids when they were little, but that was pre-9/11. I would call the airline directly and ask them about their requirements. ETA: From the TSA website - "...Passengers traveling domestically (within the United States) who are younger than 18 are not required to have an ID." Edited September 4, 2012 by Abigail4476 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 We always do this because our kids don't 'match' us. :D But nobody has ever asked for any ID. They say hi to the kids, ask their names and where they're going. Aside from that, no problems. Are they adopted? That's not always the case, of course. My niece is the bio dd of my db & sil, but she doesn't "match" my sil. My sil half Filipino & my niece is blond & fair skinned like my db & her maternal grandfather. I'm not sure if they've ever flown alone together or not, but there was quite an interesting reaction once when my sil was nursing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cin Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Are they adopted? That's not always the case, of course. My niece is the bio dd of my db & sil, but she doesn't "match" my sil. My sil half Filipino & my niece is blond & fair skinned like my db & her maternal grandfather. I'm not sure if they've ever flown alone together or not, but there was quite an interesting reaction once when my sil was nursing. Yes, they are both 100% Asian. Dh and I are as American as you can get. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Excelsior! Academy Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 No. My 15 yo daughter flew alone over the summer. She didn't need any form of ID. I asked the airline how she was supposed to get home since I couldn't print a boarding pass for her less than 24 hours from flight time. The airline told me to have my daughter give her name and she would be fine. She did and flew with no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 No. My 15 yo daughter flew alone over the summer. She didn't need any form of ID. I asked the airline how she was supposed to get home since I couldn't print a boarding pass for her less than 24 hours from flight time. The airline told me to have my daughter give her name and she would be fine. She did and flew with no problem. Now that's scary, since there are adults who look 15. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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