Ok, I realize that this may be a silly question, but this is the first time I am traveling on a plane alone with my son. Do I need to show any “proof” from his father (a letter or similar) that it is OK for me to be traveling solo with him?
We are not leaving the country – it is a domestic trip and is just for the weekend.
Thanks in advance!
No you don't need any permission from his father. All you need is a birth certificate.Thats what they told me when I flew with my son. I had it the entire time and I was offended that they didn't even to ask to see it. Made me think about how someone could kidnap a baby and fly with no proof the baby belongs to them. I would just take the birth certificate. :)
Are you married? If you aren't or dad is an ex is get a notarized letter (my town clerk does this) just to be on the safe side.
My son is five and I've flown with him a handful to times. At most, the security person who checks my id has asked him "What's your name?" and "Who is this?" (referring to me). TSA says only people 16 and up have to show id, so you should be fine.
HTH
T.
No permission letter needed. If your son has the same last name as you, no one will even bother to ask. Good luck on your travels.
3 years ago we went to Arizona for a wedding and my son and I have different last names (he has my maiden last name) and we didn't have a single problem at all and we even went across the border during our trip.
if there is any custody issue, then you would need a letter of acknowledgement that the Dad knows you are travelling. If there is no custody issue, then no, you don't need any permission.
You can call the airline to be sure, but in my experience, you don't even have to prove you are his mother.
I have traveled domestically with my daughter (different last name) and my niece (lives with us but we do not have physical custody/we do have POA) and thought it would be much more involved process than it is. I was not required to show any sort of identification for them, nor prove my relationship to them. It surprised me!
International flights are another story.
It does not hurt to have a notarized letter from his father. You didn't specify if you are married to his father or not, but even if you are, you may want to have that in hand. Just get him to write a travel letter and take it to the bank to be notarized.
i don't think so. in my custody papers it says my ex has to sign papers on my son's passport or whatever if we went out of the country, but you're staying in the country and he's YOUR son...no, i say you can & should be able to do what you damn well please! i hope you have fun!
