The thread below got me thinking a bit. We're flying to Disneyland Mar 10-14, 3 children ages 10, 7, and 2.5. What, if any kind of ID do I need for them? We booked E tickets online, so of course my husband and I will show our driver's license as ID. Do I need photo ID's for the kids? The girls do have school photo ID's, our son (age 2.5) has nothing w/a photo. We do have copies of their birth certificates. Well, actually I'm not sure we have an official copy for our son yet. What will be asked to present? Thanks.

nvmom

You are only required to have an official government-issued photo ID for members of your party who are 18 and over.

I was worried about this too when my hubby and I took our niece and nephew to Disneyland in September. I made sure I had as much stuff as possible. I probably went overboard but I'm of the 'better safe than sorry' mindset.

Since they werent our biological children we had:

Signed and notarized letters from their mother saying it was OK for us to have them with us
signed and notarized medical release forms
copies of their birth certificates


Turns out we didnt need any of it. The airline didnt ask anything. Asked for my ID and hubby's ID and we went along our happy way.

I was worried about this too when my hubby and I took our niece and nephew to Disneyland in September. I made sure I had as much stuff as possible. I probably went overboard but I'm of the 'better safe than sorry' mindset.

Since they werent our biological children we had:

Signed and notarized letters from their mother saying it was OK for us to have them with us
signed and notarized medical release forms
copies of their birth certificates


Turns out we didnt need any of it. The airline didnt ask anything. Asked for my ID and hubby's ID and we went along our happy way.


We are traveling Southwest next week to Anaheim with our 8 month old son and when we booked the flight they did tell us we needed some type of id for him which could be a copy of his birth certificate or even his immunization record. Whether they actually ask us for it when we get there reamains to be seen, but better to be safe than sorry! :rolleyes:

Since they werent our biological children we had:That was a really good strategy, mystycalchyk. Although it's not always required, it's especially important if you are traveling with minors who are not your own children. Also, if you are traveling with say your son's friends as well, what happens when they get hurt or become ill? You would need parental permission to take them to a doctor.

Also, for international trips, all that paperwork is an absolute necessity, especially if only one parent is traveling, or you are not the parents. There are unfortunately noncustodial parents who abduct their own children and take them overseas, and so you need to make sure you have a notorized letter from the other parent giving permission for you to take the child overseas.

At Dallas international as we were boarding a plane 4 kids in teir early teens were refused entry to the plane because they didn't have notarized permission from BOTH parents to fly. This was their CONNECTING flight. They were on their way to compete in a worldwide sports competition. They were with a large group, their bags were already on board, and most of the others were on the plane. I dont know what happened to them, they were canadian kids stuck in texas on their way to mexico.

We are traveling Southwest next week to Anaheim with our 8 month old son and when we booked the flight they did tell us we needed some type of id for him which could be a copy of his birth certificate or even his immunization record. Whether they actually ask us for it when we get there reamains to be seen, but better to be safe than sorry! :rolleyes:

I'm going to guess that either your child is riding free, or on some sort of ticket that requires the pax to be under 2. if this is the case this is so that the agents have proof of the age. if your child is obviously under the age they won't ask, but anything close they may as for proof. this is to preveynt parents from insisting their 5 yr old is really only 2. don't laugh it has been tried.

At Dallas international as we were boarding a plane 4 kids in teir early teens were refused entry to the plane because they didn't have notarized permission from BOTH parents to fly. This was their CONNECTING flight. They were on their way to compete in a worldwide sports competition. They were with a large group, their bags were already on board, and most of the others were on the plane. I dont know what happened to them, they were canadian kids stuck in texas on their way to mexico.

this seems really odd. how do they know the kids have both parents, that both parents are alive and active in their kids lives. there are way to many single moms and dads out there who have little or know contact with the childs father/mother to make this a policy.

Thanks for the info. I think I'll just be safe and bring the girls student photo ID's and a copy of our son's bcertificate or immunization record. Better safe than sorry these days.

nvmom

:rolleyes: I travel with kids all the time...I have never been asked for their ID's. Never. Not when they were little (course that was pre 9/11)...nor since 9/11 now that they have been 'tweens' and young teenagers.

I even have an 18 year old with Down syndrome...and they don't even ask her. Course, she whips out her ID though, as we have told her it is very important to have it with her...and to show them...at the airports. But, they never ask... :)

But, I never fly Southwest...unless it is the last plane I can book on. I usually fly American or United...
Interesting how different airlines have different requirements.

I dont know what happened to them, they were canadian kids stuck in texas on their way to mexico.Exactly! Any time there is international travel involved, make sure they have their papers!

The thread below got me thinking a bit. We're flying to Disneyland Mar 10-14, 3 children ages 10, 7, and 2.5. What, if any kind of ID do I need for them? We booked E tickets online, so of course my husband and I will show our driver's license as ID. Do I need photo ID's for the kids? The girls do have school photo ID's, our son (age 2.5) has nothing w/a photo. We do have copies of their birth certificates. Well, actually I'm not sure we have an official copy for our son yet. What will be asked to present? Thanks.

nvmom

We are going to WDW in May with our 2 and 5 year old. My travel agent suggested we go to our Secretary of State office and have picture ID's made for them. She said she had just went to Universal with a friend and her children for a week and that's what her friend did. She didn't think it cost anything or very little and that way she didn't have to carry birth certificates. Also she had the children keep them in a pocket etc. as ID in the parks in case the child got lost.

I have a friend who's child has no father. (she got pregnant via donor) and whenever they travel she brings a copy of the birth certificate to prove she's a single parent.

We are traveling Southwest next week to Anaheim with our 8 month old son and when we booked the flight they did tell us we needed some type of id for him which could be a copy of his birth certificate or even his immunization record. Whether they actually ask us for it when we get there reamains to be seen, but better to be safe than sorry! :rolleyes:

Each Southwest station is different. Some will ask for the proof and some will not. This is usually for kids that are under 2 and do not have a seat themselves. Two is the cutoff for lap children with the airlines and the FAA. However, I had a friend fly with her son, who was 3, to Idaho to visit us, came from Phoenix without any question, he had his own seat, obviously. But when she tried to leave Boise they asked for his immunization records. She didn't have them and they told her he could not travel because she needed to prove that he was current on his immunizations. DH and I were there, I use to be a flight attendant and he is a commercial pilot and we argued with them that that is not required to travel domestically. She tried telling us it was a new policy and then finally let us go. We found this odd, considering that we travel all the time and have never been asked to show that. And the fact that immunizations are voluntary made is seem even more odd to us.