Holiday with my son who has a different last name,

[Thismumrunsonhugsandtea]

Morning mums,

I'm going on holiday soon with my 13 year old son first time since he was 2 years old,I have never flown on my own before.We have different last names has anyone had any problems with this at the airport.

Many thanks Sarah

Never caused an issue in our family. Including one mum with 3 children with different surnames to her own, and each other.

Thank you for your comment that makes me feel a bit better,X

I’ve been stopped once, ridiculous really, but was just a couple of questions.

Use the auto gates and no one will know!

Take the birth certificate

My mum and dad regularly take the grandkids on holiday. Mine nor my DN/DN have same last name as my parents. They have never had any issues. Maybe due to them all looking like my dad 😅
Only issue I've ever had at an airport was in 2001 when my siblings and I flew home on a photo copy of my mums passport (without mum)😂(the days when you didn't need your own) got out no problem getting in they weren't happy

I have flown lots with dd who has a different surname. I carry a copy of her birth cert and often get asked for it. No issues after they see the birth cert.

Depends where OP is going, not everywhere in Europe allows under 18s to use the auto gates.

OP I would take extra certification, like a birth certificate or something. I know people who have been stopped and questioned at border force.

I have been asked several times - I have copies of their birth certificates on my phone. Although it hasn’t happened since they reached mid teens

Yep - stopped and questioned going into the USA, showed them the birth certificate and a letter from DC’s dad giving ‘permission to travel’ and they let us in! Also stopped and questioned leaving France, had same documents, they called DC’s father to check as well.

We travel a lot and haven’t had any other issues - but I always carry the BC and a letter from DC’s dad just incase.

I've had this coming into the Netherlands. I had to call DH (who has the same name) and have him give permission. The next time, I brought a note from him.
Stupid really. But I get it. Child trafficking is a thing.

I think a birth certificate would work just as well.

I’ve never had an issue. My child has been asked a couple of times (in a friendly manner) who I was but nothing more. I do carry a letter from his dad though but never needed to show it.

I carry a copy of DS' birth certificate, a scan of my DH's passport and a signed/dated letter from him specific to the trip. I've been stopped coming back into the UK before and they've checked my documents quite thoroughly.

I’m flying solo with my baby next month, he has my surname double barrelled with DP’s. I’m taking his birth certificate and a letter from DP giving permission for me to travel with him just in case! Hopefully won’t need it but would much rather have it just in case we are stopped.

Although they might just look at him and see that I’ve essentially cloned myself so he can’t possibly be anyone else’s child

I travel frequently with DC with a different last name. Never have any problems leaving the UK or entering any of the EU countries we visit. But always get questioned on the way back in to the UK, which makes absolutely no sense to me. If I was kidnapping them surely the questions should be asked on the way out??!

Border control usually direct all questions to DC, like where have you been, where did you stay, where do you live, who is this lady (me)? Takes a couple of minutes and they do it at the passport checking desk, don't take us away to a room or anything. I've never carried birth certs, they are always happy to accept the DC answers.

Planning a trip to the US next year and will definitely be taking birth certs and a letter from father then. Have heard US border control can be much trickier with different last names. A Scandi family travelling together must blow their minds.

I used to travel with a notorized letter from DH - though I did not want the word 'permission' as it's not his permission I needed, rather the acknowledgement that I was travelling with our kids without him and he knew about the travel. I've had to use it a few times going into the States and also Canada. Never in Europe or elsewhere. Letter no longer needed due to ages.
Didn't have copies of their BD as we all share the same surname

If you're travelling without the other parent, legally you need a letter of authority to travel or other court order stating you have permission.

Yes it's true, yes I'm sure many people have traveled without but better safe than sorry.

If I was kidnapping them surely the questions should be asked on the way out??!

Kidnapping (which is usually someone's own biological children) is a lot more complicated than "grab kids and run away". Maybe you had a plan to build a new life in France with them, but after two days realised that it was going to be a bit hard to get work or get DC into school seeing as neither of you speaks French, so now you're putting plan B into action and heading for the Hebrides.

I met someone who worked for a European border force at a social event once. He told me "You would not believe the complexity of some of the stories we have to deal with". So I think it makes sense for them to be able to ask everybody, if they have doubts. 🙏

I’ve never had a problem with it

My DDs have their dad's surname not mine (my choice) I always travel with copies of their birth certificates but don't always get asked for them.

by the British, not in another country. I’ve never heard of being stopped on entry except South Africa where you MUST carry the long form birth cert

I hadn't even thought about this. DH and I have different surnames, and the kids surname is both of ours double-barrelled. If we're all travelling together will it be fine, or do I need to take extra documentation?

Do you though? Which law says so?

It'll be fine. At 13 they may ask your DC who they are travelling with and where their other parent is.

I've been asked for clarity more times travelling with my younger children who share my name, than I ever was with my older children who don't.

It's not about a name that more people get asked questions now, they just take child safety more seriously now than before.

the laws of the country you plan to visit

Erm, the law of England and Wales? First hit from the .gov website, is that sufficient?

Edited to add - whilst the picture uploads, this, from the website -

*You must get the permission of everyone with parental responsibility for a child or from a court before taking the child abroad.

Taking a child abroad without permission is child abduction.

You automatically have parental responsibility if you’re the child’s mother, but you still need the permission of anyone else with parental responsibility before you take the child abroad.

You can take a child abroad for 28 days without getting permission if a child arrangement order says the child must live with you*