Flying next week

[Witsends123]

Me and my kids are going away next week we don’t share the same surnames will we be let on to fly ??

I’m in the same situation and have never been stopped or questioned.

It does happen but if you carry their birth certificates it proves you are there mother. You might not be asked but for peace of mind.

That’s what I was thinking regarding birth certificates thank u

Can you get written permission to take the DCs away from their father with their surname? I think different countries have different rules about these things. Definitely birth certificates but I'd also want to take a letter from DCs father to be on the safe side.

Following advice in Ireland but I'm sure same in UK:

a situation where a child is travelling with one parent only, an immigration officer may seek evidence of consent from the child’s other parent. It is advisable to have the following documentation for presentation to an immigration officer to assist with such enquiries.

Evidence that you are a parent or guardian of the child, such as copies or originals of:

• A birth or adoption certificate, or guardianship papers showing your relationship with the child

• A marriage/divorce certificate if you are the child’s parent but have a different surname to the child

Evidence of consent from a parent or guardian of the child, such as:

• A signed letter from the child’s parent(s)/guardian giving consent for travel with you and providing his/her contact details
• A copy of a document identifying the parent/guardian, for example a copy of the picture page of a passport or driving licence

i have there birth certificates but think there dad is in prison I don’t have contact with him

My kids’ dad always has to write me a permission letter to travel with them. I’ve been asked for it before so if you can I would get one. It’s not worth the risk of refusing boarding!

Yes. Different surname to ds, flown loads and have never, ever been asked for anything. First couple of times, because of the scare stories, I took a letter from his Dad, birth certificates etc. but it's bullshit so I don't bother any more.

We are going to Lanzarote if that makes a difference

Have u ever been stopped and asked for proof

I've been to the Canaries with DS about 6 times. Never asked for anything.

No. Never.

Why do your kids have a different surname to you if dad isn't in life

Before my passport was renewed last year I had a passport in a different name from my kids for 10 years (divorced around the time of passport renewal and hadn't changed the passport name on marriage) and never had an issue. The only time I was questioned was by P&O Ferries when coming back into the country - she just told me off for not having the birth certs and then let us in.

he’s been in prison most off there life’s, I’m not sure how to change them: plus I think my kids wouldn’t like it if I did, there dads an araehole ( putting it nicely) and kids are yet to find out what’s he’s really like

Thanks for everyone reply’s I feel so relieved

You can get a court order saying you’re allowed to take them out of the country for up to 4 weeks at a time or something and then you would just show that court order if asked.

I wouldn’t necessarily just accept people saying they’ve never been asked because obviously they could have got lucky and I have been asked before and people do get refused travel.

Its obviously not possible in your circumstances to get permissions letters every time so I would look into the court order just for peace of mind if I were you so you’re never the unlucky one

How do I get a court order and how long will that take

I have a different surname to my daughter. Travelled a lot on my own with her and only been questioned once and it was at the U.K. border as we were coming back- she was about 9 or 10 and was asked by the officer who I was. She confirmed that I was her mum and that was that

You’ll be fine for Lanzarote. There are issues with some countries taking a child in, such as Canada. And then South Africa, you very specifically have to have permission from the other parent.
I have a different surname - when my daughter was little they used to check when I came back into the country, which as I pointed out was a little bit late

I’ve been stopped and asked before and I have the same surname. However, it wasn’t on a holiday type flight. I think on flights to lanzarote etc it’s expected that there are a load of holiday makers going for a short trip.

Just prime yoir kids on what to say if they are asked. And it can be quite casual. ‘Dad not coming on holiday with you?’ That sort of thing. So depending on what you feel comfortable with train them up to say ‘I haven’t got a dad’ or ‘I don’t see my dad, we just live with mum’. Something like that.

One of my idiots once said ‘daddy isn’t coming because he hates England and he didn’t want us to come’. So that was fun. One of my friends kids told the officer she was American and lived in America. She’s not. She had to go and be interviewed. 😵