Traveling the USA with minor children

[John the Electrician]

I’m preparing for a Minnesota to Alaska flight and back with my 14 year old son.

My wife and I were discussing the air travel portion. We realized we had never traveled without each other while flying with him.

Is there anything special we need to do, permission slip/ paperwork wise for me to fly alone with the kiddo?

We fly this Friday, July 5. Thanks in advance.

John

 

[sureshot375]

Nothing that I’m aware of for a domestic flight. Check with your airline if you want to be certain.

 

[Wade J VanGinkel]

I just flew to Alaska from Denver with my 15 year old grandson for a fishing trip.
Literally nobody questioned anything anywhere other than if he was with me.
No ID required or anything else other than his ticket booked with mine.

 

[dchum]

No to be rude but I’m confused on the question or concern?

You are worried about flying with your son to a US state?

 

[John the Electrician]

No to be rude but I’m confused on the question or concern?

You are worried about flying with your son to a US state?

Well, I’m just making sure it won’t be an issue.

Case in point, my wife is a special education teacher and a fair number of the students she teaches are from homes where both parents are not present.

You would be amazed at the number of students who recently “moved” here and the other parent is “unreachable”.

So, I don’t want a problem taking my kid 3,000 miles from home, because I didn’t have a note from mom or whatever.

John

 

[Sourdough]

I’m preparing for a Minnesota to Alaska flight and back with my 14 year old son.

My wife and I were discussing the air travel portion. We realized we had never traveled without each other while flying with him.

Is there anything special we need to do, permission slip/ paperwork wise for me to fly alone with the kiddo?

We fly this Friday, July 5. Thanks in advance.

John

You'll be just fine. Go have fun. An excellent time of year to be in Alaska.

 

[wesheltonj]

None, unless you have a stopover in Canada or you and your wife have filed for divorce and have a travel order.

 

[CZDiesel]

I’m preparing for a Minnesota to Alaska flight and back with my 14 year old son.

My wife and I were discussing the air travel portion. We realized we had never traveled without each other while flying with him.

Is there anything special we need to do, permission slip/ paperwork wise for me to fly alone with the kiddo?

We fly this Friday, July 5. Thanks in advance.

John

Good question John! We live in crazy times!!! I’d consult your airline and travel agency to just be safe!

 

[Brod]

No, not for domestic flights.

 

[John the Electrician]

We made it back from our fishing trip in Alaska last weekend. It was great, a real top notch outfit!

Regarding the air travel with my minor son, that was very smooth, no issues at all. He was asked his first and last name at three of the four airport stops. I believe one agent asked if I was his dad.

I did have a form letter with a generic plan of our travel destination with me, signed by my wife. Also our drivers licenses were photocopied onto the form.

Probably overkill, but if our situation was questioned, we would have some documentation to present.

 

[CZDiesel]

It’s a crazy world we live in, you did good John!!! I hope the trip was epic for both you and your son!
I hope that 30years from now you both will sit around a fire at Thanksgiving and reminisce this trip!!!
You are a good Dad John! Good on you for doing such a great thing that your son will remember and cherish his whole life!

 

[Ridge Runner]

No to be rude but I’m confused on the question or concern?

You are worried about flying with your son to a US state?

Must remember the times we are living in:

Child abduction by: parent or other family member, kidnapers, extortionist, pedophiles, bad break ups/ divorces, etc., etc.. What might seem innocent to some, may actually be a criminal activity in progress.

I'm sure there are several members on here that can give a more indepth description as to how much more difficult a situation becomes once international border(s) are involved.

 

[fourfive8]

Must remember the times we are living in:

Child abduction by: parent or other family member, kidnapers, extortionist, pedophiles, bad break ups/ divorces, etc., etc.. What might seem innocent to some, may actually be a criminal activity in progress.

I'm sure there are several members on here that can give a more indepth description as to how much more difficult a situation becomes once international border(s) are involved.

True. I could tell a horror story about trying to transit through the Vancouver airport with my wife and two minor kids on the way to US on a flight originating in Manila. Since there is a US port of entry in the Vancouver airport, I still have no idea what Canadian Customs was thinking- doesn’t matter since they have power at that moment and place and you don’t.

I spend quite a bit of time with my daughter as she doesn’t drive. On two occasions in past year we have been confronted by well meaning but busy body citizens making sure my daughter was not being “trafficked”… once at a local McDonald’s and once at a mall’s food court near her school. She is a junior in college, 21 years old but looks 12.

Even though not required by US law to my knowledge, minors accompanied by parents/guardians don’t need ID to fly/travel domestically. But we do live in a different world, so the OP’s question is legitimate. No matter circumstances, if traveling, even domestically, with kids, good idea to have at least copy of their IDs. Plus, most school age kids will have school IDs.

 

[John the Electrician]

I forgot to mention, as we were approaching the security area of the airport, there was a sign on the column. It read that “50 people a month are trafficked through this airport.” Basically a if you see something, say something message.