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Planning a plane trip with a small baby is not an adventure for the timid. It used to be that airlines would pretty much wave families with infants through quickly but now all documentation and security requirements apply to every traveler. The need for a passport applies to babies too and obtaining infants passports means preparing at least a couple of months prior to the departure date. It is a requirement that all first time passport applicants, including children, must appear in person at a center authorized by the U.S. government.

The first order of business is getting the babies photos taken. While it is easy for adults to use computer technology to take and crop their own pictures to meet requirements, it is harder with an infant and using a professional is a good idea. The photo has to be two inches square and the baby’s eyes must be open with the face in full view. Two identical copies are needed.

The child must be accompanied by both parents or guardians that are named on the birth certificate when visiting the passport office. Should the parent be single and sole guardian, they must provide proof of this at the application proceeding. The application may be found online and filled out beforehand but should not be signed until in the presence of an issuing agent.

A passport will cost between $80 and $85 depending on which location processes the application. There are also private service providers that can help to expedite the application process, returning the passport sooner than the government locations, for an additional fee. Should the family have the time to wait, the normal process time is anywhere between four to six weeks.

Flying alone is a chore in and of itself and the addition of a baby can make it an experience to remember. Doctors will advise against travelling by air with a child that is 2 years old or younger. The reason for this is that they are much more prone to infections and planes with their re-circulated air systems can be a breeding ground for germs and colds. Preventative measures before travel may be taken by the parent by visiting their pediatrician first.

Those individuals that are travelling with small children will find the airlines to be most helpful when getting to the gate and boarding the plane. They will offer assistance in navigating the crowds in the airport and will assist by pre-board those people traveling with children. The pre-boarding will be announced a few minutes before the regular passengers so listen carefully for the announcement.

The majority of airlines do not require a parent to purchase a separate seat for a child less than two years of age. They will allow the parent to hold the child in their lap to free the seat up for a paying adult and while this may save the parent money, it can make the flight a tad uncomfortable, particularly if it is a long one. Domestic flights differ in that there are rarely extra seats so finding an unused one for some relief may be an issue.

You’ll find that children’s passports, along with the rest of the family’s can be easily obtained by searching out the proper forms online before ever going to the issuing office. As security is increased at the airports, the need to have all the proper passport documents in hand is also. These will also help to reunite separated parents and children should the need ever arise.

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This entry was posted on Friday, July 2nd, 2010 at 2:53 am and is filed under Cruise Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.