traveling with a guest - documentation needed?

[VA_mouseman]

Morning all ...

We'll be flying to Orlando later this month and we'll be bringing a guest with us, a friend of our son, who is also a minor.

What documentation should we get from his parents? They have his passport which we can use, but I believe we'll also need a letter too, authorizing us to act as his guardian for the vacation (?).

Are there TSA-specific rules we need to follow? I'll check that website next.

We're flying on US Airways, and I'll check there too.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Morning all ...

We'll be flying to Orlando later this month and we'll be bringing a guest with us, a friend of our son, who is also a minor.

What documentation should we get from his parents? They have his passport which we can use, but I believe we'll also need a letter too, authorizing us to act as his guardian for the vacation (?).

Are there TSA-specific rules we need to follow? I'll check that website next.

We're flying on US Airways, and I'll check there too.

You don't need any ID for flying...minors don't have to show any and people with different last names travel together often (I've personally flown with my nieces/nephews, who have a different last name, without their parents).

A medical authorization is a nice to have, but the kids would not be denied treatment if you didn't have one. That document is most important when the parent will be un-reachable. If they can be reached by phone, they can give permission directly.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You need no id or documentation for minors for domestic flights or for any type of US travel. Do not carry his passport; no sense in risking losing this.

 

[seashoreCM]

Medical authorization (I don't know the terminology or where to get the authorization) is especially desirable since, if you do not have that, you must sign for an injured or ill child's medical treatment anyway. Without the authorization it becomes a process with two independent steps; first the arrangement between you and the hospital and second between the child's parents and you.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Medical authorization (I don't know the terminology or where to get the authorization) is especially desirable since, if you do not have that, you must sign for an injured or ill child's medical treatment anyway. Without the authorization it becomes a process with two independent steps; first the arrangement between you and the hospital and second between the child's parents and you.

With just about everyone easily contacted via cell phone, it's very easy to contact parents for medical permission.

 

[Alesia]

No parent should ever send a child's passport in a situation like this.

No ID is needed for a minor to travel inside the US. No documentation is needed to travel with a child that is not yours.

 

[disneyag]

In 2011, I took my DD and her friend, who were both 14 at the time. No ID needed. No parental permission needed. Had she gotten ill enough to need medical care, we could have easily reached her parents via cell phone.

 

[tjmw2727]

I travel with my neices often as well as friends of dd's a few times and have never needed ID for 18. This is also clearly stated on the TSA website as well as the airlines websites.

As for medical authorization they actually prefer to try and contact the parents rather than letting you authorize treatment even with a note. I do bring a copy of their medical insurance information just in case but even that just speeds up the paperwork and could also be faxed or emailed if you don't have it.

 

[VA_mouseman]

Thanks all for the comments and advice.

I'll get with his parents to have a pre-signed letter for any urgent health care issues that may (but hopefully not) arise.

Wheels up for WDW in two weeks!

 

[Lewisc]

Goes without saying you should bring his medical insurance ID card.