Flying With Kids: What Documents You Actually Need (Domestic & International) + Travel Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’ve ever stood in an airport with kids in tow wondering, “Do I have everything I need… or am I about to be THAT person holding up the line?” this one’s for you.
I get asked all the time about flying with kids, especially around documents, passports, lap babies, and international travel, so here’s a clear breakdown based on FAA rules, airline policies, and real-life experiences (including one memorable moment where I (+babe) almost didn’t make it out of Amsterdam 😅).
Domestic Flights in the U.S.: The Easy Part
If you’re flying within the United States, here’s the good news:
Kids under 18 do NOT need an ID to fly domestically.
Your older kids just need tickets.
Lap infants (under age 2) don’t typically need documentation, but airlines can ask for proof of age, so I always bring her passport, but if your babe doesn’t have a passport, simply bring:
A photo or copy of their birth certificate (on your phone is fine).
Adults just need their IDs (driver’s license is sufficient).
No passports required for domestic travel!
International Travel: Passport Rules I Live By
If you’re heading outside the U.S., this is where planning matters.
✔️ Passport Expiration Rule (My Personal Standard)
Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months PRIOR to your travel dates.
If it were me?
I renew well before that 6-month window. Why risk it?
✔️ Same-Day or Next-Day Passport Renewals (Yes, It’s a Thing)
Here’s a travel hack I swear by:
If:
Your passport is expired, about to expire, or
You don’t want to mail it in and be without it for weeks
👉 You can book a same-day or next-day passport renewal appointment at a passport agency as long as you have international travel booked within 14 days with proof of tickets.
I’ve done both of my girls’ passport renewals in Minneapolis this way. I don’t love sending my passport into the mail abyss with no clear return date, this avoids that entirely.
TSA PreCheck & Global Entry: Why We Have Both
Both my daughters and I have TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, and it’s one of the best travel decisions I’ve ever made.
TSA PreCheck:
Shorter security lines
Shoes, jackets, laptops stay on/in bags
Huge stress reducer when traveling with kids
Global Entry:
Faster U.S. customs re-entry (skip the lines)
Includes TSA PreCheck automatically
Bonus tip:
You can often do your Global Entry interview upon arrival from an international trip, no separate appointment needed, if an officer is available at customs.
Time saved = energy saved = happier travel days.
Single Parents, Divorced Parents, or Traveling Solo With a Child: READ THIS
This part matters more than people realize.
On a trip routing through Amsterdam on our way to Norway, I had an 8-hour layover and planned to head into the city with my daughter.
Instead… I got pulled aside.
Because I was:
A single parent
Traveling alone with a child
Crossing borders
Authorities flagged it as a potential child-abduction or fleeing-the-country situation.
They asked me to:
Call my daughter’s dad
Get his approval
In the middle of the night
On an 8-hour time difference
With no guarantee he’d answer
Thankfully, I had my divorce decree saved on my phone.
It showed:
I had primary custody
Our travel timeline
Our next flight
Once I pulled it up, everything changed. We were cleared to go.
And yes, after all that, we:
Walked the Amsterdam river path
Had a “toasty” (basically a panini)
Drank lots of European coffee
Enjoyed a stroopwafel (mandatory)
Worth it… but it could’ve gone very differently.
Word of Warning:
If you are divorced, separated, or traveling solo with a child:
Keep custody paperwork, court orders, or consent letters
Searchable, downloadable, and accessible offline
On your phone (be sure it’s charged) AND ideally backed up
This one document saved our trip.
Jet Lag, Espresso, and Survival Mode
That trip was also the one where:
My daughter slept all day
I was up all night
I ran entirely on espresso and dreams ☕✨
Single mama life abroad hits different.
The Travel Stroller That Changed Everything
One final travel MVP: a carry-on sized, plane-approved travel stroller.
I swear by one that:
Fully reclines
Has a solid sunshade
Gives jet-lagged babes a safe place to sleep
Folds small enough to fit under the airplane seat
Does not require a gate-check (aka pink tag)
Why this matters?
Because once in Mexico, on a tight connection, stowage was closed + my stroller wouldn’t fit, and we missed the flight.
Never again.
I switched to the GB Pockit All City, which folds tiny enough to slide under the seat. Game changer.
It’s linked here: https://liketk.it/5L3EK and you’re welcome 😉
Final Takeaway: Plan Smart, Then Go Explore
Traveling with kids doesn’t have to be stressful but it does reward preparation.
✔️ Check documents early
✔️ Keep custody paperwork handy
✔️ Get Pre-Check + Global Entry if you travel often
✔️ Choose gear that works with you, not against you
Then go explore the world, rivers, coffee, chaos, stroopwafels and all! 💛✈️
-Britta
