picture id for children under 18yrs?

[Tiffany]

Hi,

We will be traveling to WDW with friends of ours and their three children. The children will be 15yr, 13yr and 8yr at the time of our trip, Nov 2005. Is picture id required for passengers under 18yrs? Is any type of id required? Just not sure since we have never flown with anyone under 18 before. We are flying on Song from Bos to MCO and back. Any help will be appriciated.

 

[golfgal]

We have never had to show a picture id for our kids. Usually it is for adults only.

 

[NotUrsula]

The normal age threshold for ID is 16, not 18. There is an assumption on the part of most TSA personnel that an American teen will have a driver's license at age 16, so if it appears that the teen is that old, they *will* usually be asked for an ID. For a domestic flight, if a kid that age just politely tells the officer that he doesn't have a license yet, the kid will be almost always be allowed to pass without any delays.

The truth is that NO ONE *has* to show photo ID when travelling domestically. (Internationally is a different matter, of course, and the US issues an "adult" passport to any applicant 16 or older.) You cannot be prevented from flying domestically for lack of ID as long as you hold a valid ticket, and so long as the name on your ticket does not match any name on the US "No-Fly List." Adults (and sometimes older-looking teens) who have no valid photo ID will be subjected to VERY close scrutiny by TSA, however. All hand baggage will be thoroughly searched and the contents questioned, and a pat-down is a certainty.

 

[tiggerbell]

When we flew in May, the airport personnel directed their question to my girls (ages 15 & 13) "What is your name?" I was a little worried becuase I have a different last name tha my girls, but we had no problems.

 

[the kabuki]

I had thought that it was required that an adult have a photo id when flying?

 

[Microcell]

They want adult photo ID here in Kansas City. Not kids though. traveled too much with my kids and didn't need a birth certificate even!

 

[WebmasterAlex]

I don't know where you got the information that ID isn't "required" but this is from the TSA web site:



Access Requirements
<TABLE class="" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=50 align=right summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>

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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Boarding Pass and Photo ID Required To Get to Your Gate

At most airports, a boarding pass and ID are now required to pass through the security checkpoint. TSA is consolidating passenger screening to the passenger security checkpoints in an on-going commitment to enhance security and improve customer service. Tickets and ticket confirmations (such as a travel agent or airline itineraries) will no longer be accepted at these checkpoints.

Proper Identification

If you have a paper ticket for a domestic flight, passengers age 18 and over must present one form of photo identification issued by a local state or federal government agency (e.g.: passport/drivers license/military ID), or two forms of non-photo identification, one of which must have been issued by a state or federal agency (e.g.: U.S. social security card). For an international flight, you will need to present a valid passport, visa, or any other required documentation. Passengers without proper ID may be denied boarding.

For e-tickets, you will need to show your photo identification and e-ticket receipt to receive your boarding pass.

There are four ways to obtain a boarding pass:

• Go to your airline's ticket counter at the airport
• Use curbside check-in
• Use your airline's self-service ticket kiosk in the airport lobby
• Print the boarding pass from your airline's website

Note: Persons with parental, official, medical business or similar reasons may be able to access the checkpoint, but should check with their airline for required documentation.

 

[n2mm]

Not required for kids, but we insist that our grandson have a picture ID. He got his from DMV when he was 6 years old. He flys with us several times a year. Since he has a different last name I don't want there to be any question of who he is. It cost $10 in WV/DMV, and it expires in 2 years. At 8 he went back and had a renewal done for $5. It has always been helpful that he has his own picture ID, not only for flying but he's also an AP holder. Airport employees just smile when he shows his ID and there's never been any questions asked. It was well worth the price of piece of mind, and we'll continue to renew his ID, until he gets his license. Not sure if all state's offer this. BTW: by having his picture ID from DMV, his finger print and eye scan are also on record, which is a great resource that we hope we never need to use in regard to Missing Children.

 

[Tiffany]

Thanks for all of the replies. Our friends will be very happy to know that photo id is not required for the kids. Thanks to all.

 

[NotUrsula]

I know it contradicts the information on that TSA website, but it is true; you can usually still get onto a domestic flight without a photo ID, as long as your name is not on the No-Fly List and you have a valid ticket. Call any airline and tell them your wallet has been stolen, and you will find that they will tell you to bring any documents you have that look official and have your name on it, and to give yourself lots of extra time because they will have to search you carefully, but they will tell you that you will most likely still be allowed onto the flight.

Now for any adult who HAS an ID, deliberately refusing to present it would be just plain stupid, and a colossal waste of time for everyone concerned. For one thing, the TSA folks will find it when they search you and your belongings, and will certainly decide you are up to something nefarious at that point. Secondly, the search procedure for an adult passenger who lacks ID is VERY thorough, and only an idiot (or a billionaire with time on his hands like John Gilmore) would subject himself to such a search if there were a simple way to avoid it.

Notice that the TSA website says that you *may* be denied boarding without ID. The law as it currently stands puts the onus on the airline to refuse to let you board, and it gives them the right to refuse to let you board if you refuse to submit to a search; it says nothing at all about presenting photo ID. The law that governs this is 49 CFR 12, section 1544.201, Subpart C.:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/...gpo.gov/cfr_2004/octqtr/pdf/49cfr1544.201.pdf

Gilmore, BTW, is one of those billionaire software pioneers; these days he is a philanthropist and civil liberties activist. He has filed suit in federal court challenging the ID requirement for domestic flights, the case is still pending. The name of the filed case is Ashcroft v. Gilmore.

 

[AJKMOM]

Our school district issues a picture ID, and we take that along for our non-driving child.

 

[puggymom]

I have traveled several times with nieces and nephews and all I bring with me is a notarized letter from their parents that I have permission to travel with them. I have never had to shown this letter to anyone.