Special thanks for this article go to Sharon, an American expat mother in France and a former flight attendant for two carriers in five countries over thirteen years.


1. Documentation

If you are at the stage of considering a journey, look into what documents you need for your child as soon as you can organize it. Obviously it's impossible to cover this subject thoroughly but make sure you have what you need. There are too many horror stories of families being turned away at the airport, if not prevented from booking in the first place.

For international travel, your child probably needs a passport. There are only a very few exceptions (i.e. within the E.U. and the new U.S passport card - good within a specific area). Many countries are switching from the system of putting children in their parents' passports to requiring every child to have his or her own. Also, because of the worldwide security situation, many countries which used to let nationals of neighboring countries visit without them are now requiring passports. For domestic U.S. travel, you will need a certified copy of the child's birth certificate. If you prefer a picture ID, it is not required but DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) offices will issue a photo ID with a photo for a small fee. Many countries have national ID cards. They are usually free but may take some time to obtain. Check expiration dates as they vary from document to document. Always double check with the airline as well. Find out what they want to see when you check in. This information is usually on the airline's website.

A big stumbling block can be the photo. Taking children's pictures is not always easy in the best of circumstances and getting a little one to cooperate with the requirements of an official document, even less so. Many insist on pure-white backgrounds. For a U.S. passport, both ears must show and the eyes must be open. A helpful trick to share with the photographer or if you are doing it yourself is to put a small baby in a bouncy seat covered with a white sheet. There can also be issues with photo sizes. Get this information clear and do not risk your file being refused or delayed for some petty detail that could have easily been adhered to if you had known.

As a reminder, U.S. citizens with other nationalities cannot enter the country on any other passport, with no exceptions for children. If living internationally, it may be easier to obtain your child's other passport but this will not be accepted by U.S. immigration. If you are American and are reading this in anticipation of an international adoption, your agency will give you the information you need but the child can enter the U.S. on his or her original passport, as long as his American nationality has not gone through yet.

If you are U.S. citizens, or any other nationality with the same requirement, I recommend having them with you any time you travel away from home, whether you need them or not. If for some reason, you have to travel to the U.S for unforeseen circumstances, such as a family emergency, you will want to head for the nearest airport so avoid complicating matters with having to return to collect your passports.

I also want to recommend that anyone with loved ones beyond their borders keep a valid passport at all times just in case of the unforeseen, even if a journey is not planned in the near future and even if they will not be living there long.

It's also a good idea to regularly check passports for expiration dates. Remember that some countries require not just a valid passport but one that is valid for the next 3 or 6 months.

Someone reminded me to bring the medical records. This is a great idea but I have to confess, this is a case of do what I say, and not what I actually do. My kids' French health records are large and bulky – a feeble excuse I will admit! This is especially important if there could be language issues or if your child has any specific health concerns.

If you are not flying with the other parent, it is a good idea to have a permission letter. When the other parent signs the passport documents, this is usually giving the other parent permission to travel with the child but many like to have the letter as well. It is rare they would ask for anything but especially for international travel, it's a good idea. If you have sole custody of your child, bring documentation of that fact. If you are flying with someone else's children, even if related to you, please make sure you have both power of attorney (in case of emergencies) and a permission letter from the parents. Find out if it needs to be notarized.

For future updates to Sharon's information, or to contact Sharon directly, please visit her Blog: http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com/

Sharon's Disclaimer: This article is not a legal document and cannot be used as proof of any of the laws or rules that I refer to throughout. Check the FAA websites, or other relevant agencies to confirm any statements that are made. I try to provide links where I can. Be aware, also, that airlines often have their own policies which might be stricter than their own government's laws. Most of the employees that you encounter do not have the power to change or make exceptions to any rule. They simply must follow them, even in cases where logic or safety is questionable.