ID for 12 year old traveling unaccompanied on SW?

[Anonymous]

DS is flying to my mon's this summer. At 12, Southwest doesn't consider him an unaccompanied minor. It's a direct flight and he's flown alone before so I'm not worried about that, but I'm wondering about what ID he will require and I can't seem to get a good answer from SW.

I will check him in at the airport, get a gate pass, and get him onto the plane, and my mom will meet him on the other end. But does he need his own ID? he doesn't have a passport so I'm wondering if I should/could get him some kind of state ID, like a non-driver's driver's license.

[Anonymous]

How about a passport card?
Why won't southwest say ?
Seems like a straightforward question!
You could call any airline, or the airport to verify.

[Anonymous]

Second the suggestion for a passport card.

[Anonymous]

Isn't ID a TSA thing? Check on the website but they don't seem to require ID under 18. Maybe do a letter for him with emergency contact info on both ends.

[Anonymous]

We are also doing the same thing this summer for our 12 year old. We will use his passport.

My questions is - how to I get a gate pass so that I can go through security and wait until he boards? Flying out of BWI.

[Anonymous]

Go to the airline check in desk - they will provide a gate pass so you can accompany child to gate and get through security.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to the airline check in desk - they will provide a gate pass so you can accompany child to gate and get through security.

Is there a fee for this?

[Anonymous]

Can someone explain this whole process to me? Can my 11yo who's never flown solo do this? Do the flight attendants still help kids out? Are some airlines better than others?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are also doing the same thing this summer for our 12 year old. We will use his passport.

My questions is - how to I get a gate pass so that I can go through security and wait until he boards? Flying out of BWI.

L
Just ask when you check in. He won't need ID but maybe send his school photo I'd if you have one or his birth certificate
.

[Anonymous]

Sorry this is really random ~ always thought it was funny that young school kids came home w/teacher notes pinned on them.

Two issues here: What the airline requires. And what you might want. Are you thinking you'd like him to carry some identification? Maybe a lanyard with contact information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go to the airline check in desk - they will provide a gate pass so you can accompany child to gate and get through security.

Is there a fee for this?

No