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My 16-year old is considering a non-stop cross-country flight by herself. She does not have a driver's license or an unexpired passport. She does have a school ID with a picture. Will that be sufficient to get her through the TSA checkpoint? Or do we need to panic and try to get an expedited passport or official state ID? I could accompany her to the checkpoint, and I do have ID. The airline is probably United, but we could consider a different one if that would make any difference.

(TSA means this question is for the United States.)

Ari Brodsky
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mob
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3 Answers3

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There is surprisingly little explicit information on this, but I do see anecdotal reports that teenagers traveling alone (old enough not to require special unaccompanied minor service) can go through TSA with just a boarding pass and stating that they are under 18. The one official source I found with an explicit statement is Frontier Airlines:

Minors traveling alone between the ages of 15-17 are not required to have identification. However, it is recommended to have one of the following:

  • Driver's license
  • Passport
  • School ID
  • Library card
  • Birth certificate
  • Social security card
nanoman
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TSA's ID requirements state that those under 18 do not need ID for their purposes:

TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States. Contact the airline for questions regarding specific ID requirements for travelers under 18.

So we look to the airline's policy.

United won't care about her ID unless she's checking a bag at the check-in counter, at which point they may ask. United says a school ID is sufficient for "children ages 15-17 traveling alone" within the US, including to/from US territories.

Zach Lipton
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As others have stated, it's not required for someone of that age to have identification. However, if you're worried about it (especially if you're concerned about being profiled, etc), I'd recommend simply getting a state photo ID. If you have time, it may be worth getting a passport, as they last quite a long time and are a very valuable piece of identification.

Rob
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