Are kids required to have ID to go on planes?

[St_Francis]

My homeschooled 13-year-old is going to tracel by plane–does he need an id card? I’ve been looking online and only finding out regs for TSA and children…

Thanks!!!

 

[St_Stoli]

I would start here:

Adult passengers (18 and over) are required to show a valid U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID in order to be allowed to go through the checkpoint and onto their flight.

tsa.gov/traveler-information/acceptable-ids

Also, from their Q&A:

Q. What ID is needed for minors traveling domestically/internationally?

A. Minor children (younger than 18) are not required to provide an ID at the airport security checkpoint. They will just need their boarding pass. All passengers, including children, on international flights are required to have a passport in their possession.

If you are still not sure, try contacting the TSA directly. They have a phone-line and e-mail:

TSA Contact Center Information
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. Eastern Time
Weekends/Holidays: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Eastern Time
Email: TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov
Phone: 1-866-289-9673

tsa.gov/contact-us

 

[St_Francis]

Thanks so much!

 

[St_Stoli]

I was just thinking as well, the airline may have specific rules for an unaccompanied minor travelling. I’m not sure by your first post if your child is travelling alone, or with an adult. If travelling solo, I would call the airline as soon as possible to see if they have any specific rules, as most do depending on age.

For example:

United Airlines

Children 5 to 11 years of age who are not accompanied on an aircraft by a parent, legal guardian or someone who is at least 18 years of age are considered unaccompanied minors and are subject to specific restrictions. Travel arrangements for these young travelers can be booked at united.com, through United Reservations or with your local travel agent.

Rules for unaccompanied minor travel

Unaccompanied minors can only travel on flights operated by United or United Express®. United does not offer unaccompanied minor service to or from other airlines’ flights.
Children younger than 5 years of age are not accepted as unaccompanied minors.
Unaccompanied minors ages 5 to 7 can only travel on nonstop flights.
Unaccompanied minors ages 8 to 11 can travel on any flight operated by United or United Express; however, travel will not be allowed on the last connecting flight of the day, unless the connecting flight is the only published service to that destination.
Unaccompanied minors are not allowed on flights that require an overnight stay in order to make a connection.
Children ages 12 to 17 can pay the service charge to use the unaccompanied minor service, or they can travel as adults. Contact United Reservations or your local travel agent to make arrangements for unaccompanied minor service.

united.com/web/en-us/content/travel/specialneeds/minors/default.aspx

 

[St_Francis]

Thanks so much, Stoli You are right–my post was totally unclear on that point He will be traveling with other relatives who are not his parents.

 

[Aggie414]

You might want to see if your department of public safety (or whatever it’s called in your state) can issue him an ID card. I know in Texas you can get a state-issued ID card – not a driver’s license – that is valid for all kinds of ID purposes. I have no idea how long it takes or how much it costs, but it’s probably not a bad thing to have.