How to Fly With a Child Whose Last Name Is Different From Yours
Traveling with children whose last name is different from yours can be challenging. Maybe you are a cool aunt or uncle who loves to drive your nieces and nephews to Disney World. Or you are like me and you just didn’t change your last name when you got married, so your child doesn’t have the same last name as yours.
Either way, you can worry about the trip – after all, there are laws to ensure that the child you have legally belongs to you or has received proper permission to be with you.
Wear identification
Domestic flights do not require a child under 18 to have an ID if the adult has an ID. However, some airlines require you to carry your child’s birth certificate, especially for children under the age of three. It is always a good idea to have your ID with you, even if it is not technically necessary.
For international flights, you must have with you:
- Child’s passport
- Child’s birth certificate
Each airline has its own policy, which you can view below:
For international airlines, always look for their individual rules; if you are still not sure, give them a call and speak directly to support.
Additional documents
If you are not a legal guardian or parent, please bring a notarized letter from the parent to travel with the child. This letter should also include the contact details of the person granting you authorization in case the airline or TSA needs to contact them and obtain verbal confirmation of their consent.
If you are the parent of a child, any official documentation stating that you are the parent is sufficient. My son and I signed his passport so that the signature matches mine. I also travel with a birth certificate because it has my name written on it. In addition, I definitely have a marriage certificate with me, because my husband and son have the same surname, and this helps to show how we are connected if I do not travel with my husband.
Arrive at the airport early
It doesn’t hurt to spend more time at the airport. Make sure that if the airline needs to confirm who you are and the child you are traveling with, that you are not too close to your boarding time.
You may have to answer a few questions.
- How old is the child?
- When is their date of birth?
- Where were they born? (city state country)
Make sure you have as much information as possible so you don’t run into problems.