Elucidation of seamless travel for a child on a plane. 

Traveling to your desired location is a hassle-free process if you know the simple tips and tricks to make it relaxing and rejuvenating. Even though children tend to travel with their parents, once they are over 18 years of age, they are treated as adults and get to travel on their own. Children below this age are considered minors and need to travel with their parents on the flight reservation that has been made. Certain aspects need to be taken care of if the child wants to travel in a plane. The specifications of the same are given here for you to look over and make an understanding. 

Details on documents needed for a child to travel on a plane. 

There are specific documents that are mandatory for the child to successfully board the plane. The listicle for the same is given here:

• Passport and Photo I.D.: For both domestic and international travel, a photo identification card is mandatory. A passport is only required if you are traveling to an international destination so that the officials can check in and let the child board the plane without any difficulty. 
• Birth Certificate: Even though almost all the airlines require a photo identification card, it is mandatory to carry a birth certificate, which would validate the age of the child. Herein, as the birth certificate is not needed for infants and older children to travel, it is best to keep it in hand for children between 2 and 18 years of age. It acts as proof of the age you have entered with the airline and acts as a form of identification in cases other documents are lost during the vacation. 
• Verification document for boarding: There are some airlines that need you to submit a separate boarding verification document to reconfirm the age that was submitted while making the reservation. This is needed for children older than 14 days and younger than 2 years of age. 

Conditions of travel of the child with a single parent:

If the single parent is flying with a kid, further documentation and verification are needed so you can board the flight easily. There can arise different scenarios under the same, the specifications of which are given here to look over:

• Widowed parent or sole custody after divorce: Under both these scenarios, the paperwork and the process tend to be the same except for a few modifications. Herein, in the case of a divorced parent with sole custody, you would need to carry a notarized court order that proves the custody you have. In the case of a widowed parent, you would need to submit the original or notarized copy of the death certificate of the deceased parent. 
• Parents with shared custody: If the child is traveling with a parent who has shared custody, there needs to be a Child Travel consent form duly signed by the non-traveling parent, allowing the other parent to travel with the child. 
• Travel with another person's child: In some scenarios, if you are traveling with another person, written consent needs to be obtained from the child's parent, allowing you to take the child with you along with the child's medical consent form in case a medical emergency arises. 

What are the documents needed if child is flying alone?

There are certain processes for unaccompanied minors with all the airlines. As part of the same, the parent or the guardian needs to travel with the child through the airport to the boarding gates. Once on the plane, the staff will take care of the child. The various documents that are needed for the unaccompanied minor to travel are the same, which are:

• Relevant I.D. and passport. 
• Birth Certificate

Apart from these two, the additional document that is needed is the consent form that is duly filled and signed by both parents, granting them permission to fly in the airline chosen. 

How to make travel easy for unaccompanied minors?

Travel can be made east for unaccompanied minors if you keep in mind the following aspects:

• Emergency cash is needed so that they can be rest assured in case of flight delays. 
• All the relevant phone numbers, along with the guardian meeting at the destination to pick up your child need to be saved and written down in the contact list. 
• The information on the complete itinerary, with details pertaining to the flight, airport name, city name, and every minute particulars, should be presented to the child in the form of a copy of the same. 

What is the main requirement to book a flight for a child?

The birth certificate or passport acts as the proof of age of the child. These are the two mandatory documents acting as a prerequisite for making a booking with the airline of your choice. In case of any doubt you have, it is best to connect with the team of airline, give in all the information so that the team can help you accordingly.