What does my 9 year old need to fly?

Question

He is going with my parents. Will he need anything special from me other than a birth certificate. He is flying from Dallas to Orlando.

Answer 1

In addition to your sons birth certificate, your parents will need to have a notarized letter from you and your spouse stating that they have permission to take your child on a trip by themselves. This is for their protection due to the increase of child abductions done by relatives.

You should also make sure that the letter gives them full authorization to seek and obtain any and all medical attention for your son. If they don't have authorization to seek and obtain medical attention for him, no one can help him if he gets sick or has an accident.

This document is very easy to obtain. You can get it from anywhere there is a notary. I know a lot of banks will provide notarial services for free or a very small fee for their clients who have an account with them. The post office also offers this service, as do lawyers offices, and the fee is usually no more than $5-$10.

A very simple but brief letter is all that is needed. It should include the name of the parents, the name of the grandparents, your sons name, and what is allowed. An example:

We, _________ and _____________, give _____________ and ______________   our full consent to travel alone with our child __________________. We also give ______________ and __________________  our full and unconditional consent to seek and obtain any and all medical attention for our child ________________ that they deem necessary.

You want the document to be specific enough that they won't get turned down at any point during their travels or denied medical treatment, but you also want to keep it vague enough that should the travel plans change, they won't encounter problems either.

All you must do is have the letter typed up (but not signed). You and your husband must take the letter, your drivers licenses (or other form of picture identification), and then you will have to sign and date it in front of the notary. It's a very simple, fast, and easy process.

If there is no additional fee (and there usually isn't) get at least 1-3 extra copies. Why? Well, the grandparents will need to keep the original with them at all times for the length of the travel. I always like to keep the original plus 1-2 extra with me in case something happens to one, or an airline employee takes one. You should also keep a copy with you so that if need be you can fax it to the grandparents or send it to them.

Another thing you should have them take is your sons immunization book. That way if any emergency should arise (no matter where they are) the treating physician will at least have some verifiable information to go on. This book also usually includes what your son is allergic to, and some small but very helpful notes from his doctor. Be sure your parents keep the name and number of your sons doctor handy. Along with this, be sure they bring your sons Medical ID card.

I wrote a small article about flying with children that goes more in-depth, gives security rules and regulations for the US, EU, UK, and Australia, offers tips and tricks for the travel, etc. http://www.angelfire.com/jamiehassen79/f...

If I can be of any more help or assistance, please feel free to contact me.

Answer 2

I think you need to give the airlines a signed note allowing your child to be travelling with someone other than his guardian(s).

Answer 3

You should check the TSA website for this kind of information... they should be able to help you find the answer you need.

Answer 4

i don't think so. If his parεnts arε thεrε with him thεn hε won't nεεd anything εlsε. If hε was travεlling alonε thεn somεonε from thε airport should do with him, bεcausε hε is undεr agε.

You arε finε. Also, hε isn't going out of statε. Hε is finε.