My daughter and I are planning a trip and are planning to take a 15 year old family member that is my cousin's kid with us. It will be myself, my daughter, and my cousin's child. It will be a domestic flight. Is there anything special I need to do when I book the reservation for the 3 of us? Her last name and address are different than ours. And are there any particular documents that she will need to go through security and to board the flight?
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Traveling with kids that aren't yours
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Last: 7 days ago by Cinco Ranch Aggie
For a domestic flight, no. If she is 15, she doesn't even have to show ID. The TSA agent may ask her a few questions about where she is going and who she is with, but it's not guaranteed.
Booking tickets for people with different names/addresses is no issue.
If you were flying international, the airline agents (if you went to the desk) might ask questions. But if you have digital boarding passes, it's not likely you would get stopped or questioned by anyone at the airport. However, you might get questioned at immigration when you landed at the overseas airport.
Booking tickets for people with different names/addresses is no issue.
If you were flying international, the airline agents (if you went to the desk) might ask questions. But if you have digital boarding passes, it's not likely you would get stopped or questioned by anyone at the airport. However, you might get questioned at immigration when you landed at the overseas airport.
Hopefully, they don't ask her where she is going. I plan on keeping all 3 boarding passes on my app because this trip is a surprise trip that she has no idea about. We are trying to keep the destination a secret until we board the plane if possible.
In that case, may not be a bad idea to have a letter authorizing travel signed by the kid's parents in case anyone asks. Doubtful you'd be asked for a domestic trip but with the surprise element you never know.
That, and have a parent ready to answer their phone if anyone has questions.
It's unlikely that you'll have any issue at the airport, but if mom is at the gym and dad is swimming when Blake calls from a TSA checkpoint it might get stressful.
It's unlikely that you'll have any issue at the airport, but if mom is at the gym and dad is swimming when Blake calls from a TSA checkpoint it might get stressful.
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How are you planning to get the pilot not to say the destination? What about the flight destination written above the gate? Seems like a lot of headache possible to keep a secret for 7 more minutes. Just tell the kid so the kid can answer the question if asked.
I fly domestically with my best friend's kids 2-3 times a year. They're very clearly not mine (different ethnicity). I always carry a notarized letter from their mom just in case, but we have never been asked for it. In fact only once, at ATL, has anyone asked them anything at all. The TSA agent there asked them their names, how old they were, who I was to them, and where we were going.
When my kids have traveled with others, I have drafted a letter granting them permission to make medical decisions for them in the event of something happening, along with copy of their insurance cards.
I don't know if those letters have any legal meaning, but I do it anyway. If their life is in danger of course they would receive emergency care regardless.
I don't know if those letters have any legal meaning, but I do it anyway. If their life is in danger of course they would receive emergency care regardless.
My daughter knows where we are going but was hoping to keep the surprise as long as we can from her cousin. My daughter even thought maybe we can sit at the gate next to ours so that the location makes no sense to her cousin. If we have to tell her before security we will.
And I will get a letter from her parents with permission just in case.
However, I thought that at the age of 15 the a minor can fly completely unaccompanied by any adult so why would there need to be parent permission in terms of TSA? I had looked at the unaccompanied minor information when my daughter went to a camp out of state and had to fly there but ultimately my husband ended up flying with her so it become a non issue. My daughter was 15 at the time and she was fine flying by herself but I didn't want her to just in case a flight was diverted or something.
And I will get a letter from her parents with permission just in case.
However, I thought that at the age of 15 the a minor can fly completely unaccompanied by any adult so why would there need to be parent permission in terms of TSA? I had looked at the unaccompanied minor information when my daughter went to a camp out of state and had to fly there but ultimately my husband ended up flying with her so it become a non issue. My daughter was 15 at the time and she was fine flying by herself but I didn't want her to just in case a flight was diverted or something.
The potential issue isn't with the child flying.
The issue is that the child is flying with adults who don't appear to be her parents.
For better or worse, airlines, TSA, and immigration/customs are looking out for parental abductions and human trafficking.
Some countries won't let you in without both parents present and/or a signed/notarized letter from the absent parent (Canada often does this). So, the airlines will sometimes ask about it before boarding an international flight (assuming you check in at the desk).
The easiest questions for TSA to ask the kid are those about who they are, who they are with, and where they are going. Not that those questions are any guarantee the kid isn't being forced beyond his/her will, but at least they aren't turning a completely blind eye.
Even if flying unaccompanied, sometimes the agents will ask these questions. I think that has more to do with not showing an ID, though (ie, they want to know the kid isn't old enough to need one).
The issue is that the child is flying with adults who don't appear to be her parents.
For better or worse, airlines, TSA, and immigration/customs are looking out for parental abductions and human trafficking.
Some countries won't let you in without both parents present and/or a signed/notarized letter from the absent parent (Canada often does this). So, the airlines will sometimes ask about it before boarding an international flight (assuming you check in at the desk).
The easiest questions for TSA to ask the kid are those about who they are, who they are with, and where they are going. Not that those questions are any guarantee the kid isn't being forced beyond his/her will, but at least they aren't turning a completely blind eye.
Even if flying unaccompanied, sometimes the agents will ask these questions. I think that has more to do with not showing an ID, though (ie, they want to know the kid isn't old enough to need one).
The kid probably already knows you're going to Orlando!
I would tell her the destination before you get to security. It seems like textbook human trafficking if a 15 year old had a flight without her parents, but didn't know where she was going. I'm a high school teacher, and maybe I've been in 1 too many trainings. It would be different if she was 40 years old.ag97tx said:
Hopefully, they don't ask her where she is going. I plan on keeping all 3 boarding passes on my app because this trip is a surprise trip that she has no idea about. We are trying to keep the destination a secret until we board the plane if possible.
FYI - This letter must be notarizedag97tx said:
My daughter knows where we are going but was hoping to keep the surprise as long as we can from her cousin. My daughter even thought maybe we can sit at the gate next to ours so that the location makes no sense to her cousin. If we have to tell her before security we will.
And I will get a letter from her parents with permission just in case.
However, I thought that at the age of 15 the a minor can fly completely unaccompanied by any adult so why would there need to be parent permission in terms of TSA? I had looked at the unaccompanied minor information when my daughter went to a camp out of state and had to fly there but ultimately my husband ended up flying with her so it become a non issue. My daughter was 15 at the time and she was fine flying by herself but I didn't want her to just in case a flight was diverted or something.
The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But, it's still on the list.
I have a cousin who was adopted. She is a different ethnicity. She is 4 years older than my daughter, but they have been very close since my daughter was old enough, maybe 2 years older than or so. Back when my daughter was 5, we took her on a driving trip to Disney. We originally did not even think of taking the cousin, but almost last second opted to take her.
Two years later we did a surprise return trip, but this time we flew. We traveled with insurance and motorized letters from her parents. We did this trip a third time when my daughter was in 8th grade, cousin a graduating senior in high school. Same paperwork. No problems either flight.
Two years later we did a surprise return trip, but this time we flew. We traveled with insurance and motorized letters from her parents. We did this trip a third time when my daughter was in 8th grade, cousin a graduating senior in high school. Same paperwork. No problems either flight.
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