<p>I’m not worried about his flying alone - it’s a short, nonstop flight and he will be met by relatives. I’m wondering what the airline will require for ID, since he has only a school ID with a photo but not much other information. We are also pretending that he is already 15 to avoid a $100 surcharge. His birthday is only weeks away, and he is quite capable of managing this trip without help. Anyone with recent experience with USAir?</p>
<p>I travelled with my son and he forgot to bring an ID. At least if a parent is along they don’t require an ID for the kid if he’s under 18. We lied.</p>
<p>My kids started flying alone at age 9. At that time, they could stop using the airline service when they turned 14. </p>
<p>Key knowledge is: how to use a payphone (even if they have a cell phone), knowing what numbers to call (not just one), have $20 so they can eat something.</p>
<p>I recall having to go to driver’s license office and getting an ID for son ($3). It looked just like a driver’s license, and did include birthdate. This was not for USAir. I would call the airline or check their website so you don’t get into trouble.</p>
<p>He can manage all that, and he’d die of embarrassment if he were treated as an unaccompanied minor. Even a year ago it would not have seemed right to have him treated as a helpless child. He’ll have a phone card and cell phone, money, phone numbers of the relatives who are meeting him. I’m not worried about the traveling itself, just about beaurocratic problems, like a last-minute demand for a “real” ID, or proof of age. He certainly looks 15, he is nearly as tall as I am now and I am 5’8".</p>
<p>bookworm, was it for another airline? USAir did just say that an ID would not be required, but I would hate to have him run into trouble at the airport.</p>
<p>School ids, with pictures, work. As do passports.</p>
<p>Go with him to the counter and walk with him to security. You can explain to security that he is under 18 and has no ID. That’s what I did for my son–post-9/11–when he had no driver’s license but still was flying unaccompanied. </p>
<p>(The UM stuff is really only useful if they have a connection–when it can mean they hold a plane rather than be responsible overnight for a UM.)</p>
<p>My d flew alone this summer, we used her school id., however, I did have to show my id as proof at the counter and sign a waiver saying I was her parent. By doing this it also allowed me to go through security and take her to the gate (good thing to b/c her flight was cancelled, found out 20 mins. prior, had I let her go through by herself I would have had to drive back to get her …70 miles)</p>
<p>Remember if you go through security you will have to clear your purse also before security (hand lotions, etc.)</p>
<p>School ID has worked fine for us.
My youngest flew alone at age 12 without even a school id. She flew the first leg with a relative. At the 2nd airport my sister had to take her through security and stay with her till the plane left. (the policy of Southwest)
When my son flew at 14 we were told he could fly alone. When my husband brought him to the airport they made him pay to be accompanied. You can bet my son was not happy walking around with something around his neck. On the way back we were worried that he would have a problem. He was attending a camp so no relative to help him at that end. On his return they gave him no trouble letting him fly alone.
I think so much depends on the person at the counter.</p>
<p>this is why they need passports- worth the money</p>
<p>don’t forget they need to return home, so whomever is on the other end also needs instructions</p>
<p>when my D lost her CAL ID card, we brought allt hat we had, debit card, school ID, library card, birth certificate, etc…didn’t really “need” it</p>
<p>the place you really need ID is going through security- we don’t much go to the counter anymore, printing out our boarding passes at home, and THAT is where it is possible to have an issue</p>
<p>matching ID to boarding pass</p>
<p>But the passport would show that her son is a few weeks shy of 15. I’d verify with the airline that school ID is okay and then go with that.</p>
<p>How many 15 year olds have any type of photo ID other than a school ID? Except for a passport, I don’t know why anyone would have one. They’re too young for a drivers license. It would seem like they would accept the school ID for him. (But with the airlines these days, who knows…)</p>
<p>What they all said. We’ve put the boys on airplanes without state-issued IDs with no problems. They will even allow you to accompany him through security without a ticket if he’s a minor. Then you can embarrass him terrifically by hugging and kissing him at the gate. It’s even worse if you can cry a little.</p>
<p>In california you can get a state id- I got my girls them when they were 12- it was after 9-11, and I knew that they needed someting when they traveled- going to camps, etc</p>
<p>and before they go to college you should def get them a passport- you never know where life will take them, and its best to have it ready</p>
<p>and I never paid a surcharge when my kids flew- my kids flew at 13 etc with no assistance</p>
<p>remember its the TSA that looks at the ID, NOT the airline alone</p>
<p>If you get your boarding pass online, the kid just walks through security, and they won’t care if his passport says 15 or not- just want ID to match the boarding pass</p>
<p>First thing that ours wanted to do was get a State ID card when he turned 15. He didn’t go for the learners permit until he was 17> We didn’t really like to have our joint passport being taken on domestic trips to visit relatives or to go to college. Cheaper than a drivers license-No car needed.</p>