Can anyone tell me if I will need to have ID or something for my niece and nephew when we fly to Disneyland?

I have never flown with kids, and so Im not sure....obviously as an adult you must have a picture ID but does such a thing exist for kids?

We are already planning on having medical release forms signed and notarized from their mother while we take them, (just in case something happens and they were to get hurt or sick) but we weren't sure about ID. We put their names under our last name when we booked the reservation (their mother is divorced, and she is my husbands sister so her last name is the same as ours) but now we found that the one (our niece) actually still carries her dad's name.

We can't change the names on the reservations, and so now I'm worried. Anyone fly regularly with kids? Any reason why they won't just assume they are our biological children (since they have our last name on the tickets) and we will just go on?

we are required to show birth certificates and social security cards. I have flown twice with my kids and both times we had to show these items. You should call your travel agent or airline right away

You should check with your airline in advance. You can probably find the info on their website.

I have only flown Southwest... they tell you to bring your child's birth certificate, and I always do, but I've never been asked to show it. Maybe now that he's older they will ask for it (he had just turned one on the second half of our last trip).

Also, since they are not your children, you should get a note from their parents (both of them) stating that you have her permission to travel with her children. Maybe she can also make a note of the name difference on that note in case it is questioned by the airline.

Thank so much. I appreciate the help.


I will ask to get their info and also a letter from their mom.

*sigh*

Certainly call your airline, but I've never once been asked for ID for my kids on an all-domestic trip, nor have I even carried it.

We usually fly usair, this trip its southwest. We never took their birth certificates, nor were we asked for them. Even when we had to do the "step over here and take offf your shoes" bit (being pulled out of security at random). We always have their soc. sec. cards, but again, never had to show anything on them on any trip. :confused:

K thanks.

We are flying Southworst this trip. I guess it's best to be over-prepared than to be surprised. I will get a letter from their mom as well as birth certificates and the medical releases. Hopefully we will not have to use any of them.

:) its always better to have the info on you in case you need it before a flight and do not have it. I had to show these items both times and if I did not I would not have been able to fly. I always carry this info any way. I get duplicates and carry them in my purse in case I forget to have them LOL! I would forget my suit case if it was not so big! Better save then soory. I saw the show airlines a few weeks ago and the lady gforgot info she needed and even though she had her ticket she was not allowed on the plan unless she had it. She did get it( a relative went home and got it) but she almost missed the flight. Her mom held up the plane LOL!

Ok thanks to great suggestions here and from some local friends. We have decided that we will need to have:

A letter from their mom, saying they are OK to travel with us, as well as their brith certificates and in the lettter have mom explain any 'name dicrepancies'. (since the eldest has her dads name on the birth certificate) plus Medical release forms for both children should anything happen and we need to take them to a doctor.

Shew. I cant wait for this trip. :D

Not to go too overboard, but it wouldn't hurt to have the letter notarized. Check with your work - most times someone there is already a notary (even in our little 15 person office, we have one) and can do it for you. That's what we did when we took our then 12 year old son and his friend with us to Yellowstone National Park. We never needed anything but it was a comfort to have everything. Also, if the children are covered under a medical plan, have the insurance cards with you or at the very least, the group number and a phone number to call for verification of the plan.

We fly united and have been told that anyone under 18 does not have to have ID...my brothers (15 + 16) carry theirs to prove that they are under 18 (they are 6'8 and 6'9).

TSA (security) or the airlines cannot ask for photo identification for those under 18 years of age. My husband is a pilot, we fly every other month, if not monthly, with our boys, ages 2 and 1.
The airlines will ask for a birth certificate or sometimes even copies of immunization records, don't get me started on them asking for this, to show proof of age, especially if you are holding them as a lap child, under age 2.
I doubt you will have any problems at all but it would not hurt to have a letter from the mother stating that they can travel with you with her permission. The airline will not question anything.