What identification does a child need to fly?

Has anyone flown with a toddler recently?  We're flying next week and it occurred to me that my 3-year-old son has no I.D. besides a birth certificate (and um, let's see, where would that be filed...) and a health-insurance card.  Does anyone know if current rules require the child to have I.D., and if so, what kind?  

[shishka]

I have been flying with my son a lot. Never needed any ID. We just came back from East Coast and did not need any ID. He is 2 years 4 month.

[RockRose]

Hi Annie. Last time I flew was a year ago,  but kids under 16 flying domestic didn't need any ID at all.  

Just call the airline you're flying with and ask.   If you're flying internationally it will be different.

[AnnieBrooke]

Domestic only.  Dh said he would call the airline, but I haven't seen him do it yet.  Time for some self-help, I guess.  :)

[AnnieBrooke]

The airline's website says "No photo ID is required."  That is about halfway helpful, since it doesn't say whether I'm supposed to bring non-photo ID or if "none" is fine.  I hate the long waits on the phone lines, but my husband is flying tomorrow, so I'm just going to remind him to ask someone.  

[tiredbuthappy]

when I flew with my 2 yr old, no ID was needed. Makes life easier, but also kinda scary if you think about it.

[meiram]

My friend flew from Ohio to Oregon within the last 2 months and needed a birth certificate for her son, but no photo ID.  Not sure which airline she used.  I think it was to verify his age since he was almost 2, which was the cut off for not paying for a separate seat.  

[shishka]

I have been flying with my son a lot. Never needed any ID. We just came back from East Coast and did not need any ID. He is 2 years 4 month.

[spade22]

Jazmine flew domestically on American Airlines just after her 2nd birthday and we had "assumed" she needed ID so we brought along her passport (shes been to NZ so had a PP) - no one really told us that we "needed" to bring ID though.

With all the recent crackdowns by TSA I would suggest you get your son a form of photo ID just to be on the safe side.  Even if it isnt required now (dont know if it is or not), you just never know when the rules will change.

Also, in my opinion, EVERYONE that flies should have photo ID.  What if someone abducted a toddler and flew them across country just because ID wasnt needed?  

[AnnieBrooke]

My husband asked the airlines when he was flying this week, and (this is as of November 2011) Alaska Airlines does not require I.D. for small children.  Seems a bit odd but I'll take that as a clue not to worry.

[beachbunn1986]

when  we went on vaction (still on vaction)    they said no id was nesscessary but i being the way i am i brought my sons birth certificate ,social , and shot record lol      they did ask to see some id for him so i was thankful i was prepared

[AnnieBrooke]

To follow up, they did not ask for any I.D. for my son.  (Possibly if he had looked distressed or like he didn't want to be with us, someone might have said something -- those TSA guys are mighty serious.)  This was a domestic flight on Alaska Airlines.  Also, we e-ticketed and carried on our bags, so the ticket agent never even talked to us.  The only people who wanted to see our boarding passes in conjunction with photo ID were the TSA employees, not the airline employees.