Flying with kids- have to have ID?

[Funny Face]

We are flying in September for the first time with the older two kids (5 and2) but I flew with the baby earlier this year. We are planning on using United and their website says you have to have photo ID for the kids?

Anyone flown with kids? Did you have to have ID? How did you go about getting it if you did? 

[rcr]

I have flown with my DS (now 3) dozens of times. I have always brought a copy of the birth certificate an passport, and nobody has ever asked me for it (except the international flights when he had to have a passport).

[chel]

International, yes passports a must.
But for domestic, it's only for when you have a lap child. They want proof that the kid is under 2. I fly a lot and have never been asked. Often the ID checker will ask my oldest what her name is.

In reality all a birth certificate proves is that you a parent. Doesn't prove that the child beside you is yours.

[Agatha_Ann]

We were all on a trip last week and none of our kids were asked for anything on either flight.

[Funny Face]

I emailed United but haven't heard back. I'm seriously hoping there is a way around this. If we have to have photo IDs that means I have to order all the kids birth certs (because I haven't yet) and then have photo IDs made ON TOP of the fact that this trip is already costing me so much I could pass out. 

We are going for my best friend's wedding and thought ds would be free because he's two, but he has to be UNDER two. :/ And we have to buy another baby carrier, another carseat and a double stroller. 

Traveling with kids is HARD!

I'm wondering if I should risk the photo ID thing, I mean, seriously?! I've never heard anyone say that!

[JBaxter]

I've never been asked for ID for my kids and we a have flown a couple times a year.   I have seen many lap baby parents been asked for ID.    Yes UNDER 2 is not required to have a seat ( we ALWAYS ALWAYS bought a seat for safety reasons).   You may be required to prove age if you are flying with a lap baby.

My kids do have passports and I do bring them but no one has ever asked ( unless we are flying international)

[34me]

My kids have flown dozens of times alone - that is why they have state issued ID.  If they are flying with us they are never asked, even at 17, 14 and 12.

[new2this]

I flew with DD but all I needed was her Birth Cert. I was asked for it both at the counter and security when I flew out. But on my return flight neither place looked at it. She was a lap baby too. 

[skreader]

Anywhere we fly, we will cross a border. So, my kids have had passports since they were a couple of months old. They are checked several times - at Immigration before we get to the departure gates. When queuing at the departure gate to board the plane, and sometimes again before entering the plane.

Then we have to pass through Immigration/Customs wherever we arrive. A couple of times entering the USA or Canada, my kids were asked "Are these your parents?".

[leighi123]

We fly all the time mostly on United, and get asked for ID for ds about 50% of the time.   If you don't have ID, when they ask, you don't get on the plane.  So for sure make sure you have it in case they ask. 

Its not just to varify age for under 2's, its also to varify that you are allowed to take that child out of state or whatever, if you have their ID, you are much more likely to have permission to take them on a trip.   

You can use a birth certificate.   You can also get an ID from the DMV, it looks like a drivers licence kind of but is just an ID, nice to have if you travel a lot because its easier to carry (I tend to loose or rip paperwork in my bag, cards just live in my wallet)

[Peony]

I carry all the kids BCs with me when we fly but I've never been asked. They do question all the kids about what their names are and sometimes their ages.