Can i lie about my kid's age for an unaccompanied minor flight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't you need her birthday to book the ticket?

If so, you'd have to fudge it when you book the ticket with the airline, or I'd think the airline would flag the age at purchase.

If you fudge it at purchase, then her ID and her ticket will not match. This is not an ideal situation for your kid if she is stopped at TSA.

Since when is my birthday printed on my airline ticket? The OP could list any birthday

THat is true for adult tickets, but I believe unaccompanied minor tickets have the birth date on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would do it in a second. My kids fly unaccompanied all the time, I walk them to the gate, the Child never provides ID, I am not sure why PP is mentioning a passport. If its a domestic flight that is not needed.

What age are your kids?
How do you (as an adult) get through security?

I get a gate pass to accompany them to the gate. They are 10-14 now ~ I'm a single parent with all of my family 2000 miles away so the kids have been doing this for a few years. Some airlines (SW) dont charge over 12. Some charge per kid, some, like I think united, charges $300 but does not charge it three times, if they are all flying together unaccompanied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean, do you think the airlines haven't figured out how to catch people who try to lie about their kids' age to save money?


I am sure each airline has its own method of verification. There could be legal ramifications if they let a 13 yo on the flight without checking and the kid ends up without supervision.

I would hate for your grieving daughter to be put in a situation where the check-in agent has to question her and possibly not let her fly because of this. What a disaster that would be.

I have had kids fly UM 14 times, and not UM (southwest and 12/13/14 years old). I have literally never been asked for a birth certificate or any sort of verifying ID for any of them, ever, across 4 different airlines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean, do you think the airlines haven't figured out how to catch people who try to lie about their kids' age to save money?


I am sure each airline has its own method of verification. There could be legal ramifications if they let a 13 yo on the flight without checking and the kid ends up without supervision.

I would hate for your grieving daughter to be put in a situation where the check-in agent has to question her and possibly not let her fly because of this. What a disaster that would be.

I have had kids fly UM 14 times, and not UM (southwest and 12/13/14 years old). I have literally never been asked for a birth certificate or any sort of verifying ID for any of them, ever, across 4 different airlines.

Presumably you have paid the fee, then, so no reason to check?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The chances are ZIP. Passports have birthdates on them. She’ll need ID to check in, ID to go through security etc. Why can’t she fly a week later?

Security will check her ID against her boarding pass but they won't check to see if the age on her ID is >15, right?

And do they ID check at the gate? Not for an adult---they just scan bleep the boarding pass. I wonder if they do for teenagers. Anyone know?

Teenagers do not have to show ANY ID at TSA until they are 18. I have a 16 and now 18 year old and they have NEVER been asked for ID outside of international flights.

My kids have flow unaccompanied and now as young travelers more times than I can count. OP you can totally get away with this. I'll leave it as that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean, do you think the airlines haven't figured out how to catch people who try to lie about their kids' age to save money?


I am sure each airline has its own method of verification. There could be legal ramifications if they let a 13 yo on the flight without checking and the kid ends up without supervision.

I would hate for your grieving daughter to be put in a situation where the check-in agent has to question her and possibly not let her fly because of this. What a disaster that would be.

I have had kids fly UM 14 times, and not UM (southwest and 12/13/14 years old). I have literally never been asked for a birth certificate or any sort of verifying ID for any of them, ever, across 4 different airlines.

Presumably you have paid the fee, then, so no reason to check?

You actually think airport security rules are tied to checking if the fee was paid somehow or not? That is not how it works. The fact of the matter is that they do not check teens birthdates, nor do they require birth certificates or passports or any of the other nonsense people here have proposed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's American, you have to provide the birth certificate at the gate:

At check-in, parents / guardians will also need to provide:

A birth certificate or passport as proof of the child’s age
The adult’s government-issued photo ID with their current address
Your phone number so we can contact you
The name, address and phone number of the adult meeting your child at their destination

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/unaccompanied-minors.jsp

That's if the child is an unaccompanied minor.

If a (truly) 15 year old is flying, none of that is needed.

If you read the whole page, that's required for any person flying under the age of 18 without an adult. The chart says:

15-17 • Unaccompanied minor service optional • Gate escort and guardian contact required

Because of the bolded, you will have to show the child's birth certificate/passport.

No you don't.

My kids fly young traveler (15+ and alone) a lot and have never had to show ID either at check in or TSA. My 16 year old now goes to the gate herself without anyone accompanying her. She doesn't even stop at check in. Mobile boarding pass. TSA asks her name, age and she passes. I know for a fact that they do not ask for ID because she does not have a driver's license or passport in her possession. She may show a school ID but it doesn't have an age on it.

The only caveat is this is always American. Southwest has always been a stickler for ages so you i can't speak to their counter check in practices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's American, you have to provide the birth certificate at the gate:

At check-in, parents / guardians will also need to provide:

A birth certificate or passport as proof of the child’s age
The adult’s government-issued photo ID with their current address
Your phone number so we can contact you
The name, address and phone number of the adult meeting your child at their destination

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/unaccompanied-minors.jsp

That's if the child is an unaccompanied minor.

If a (truly) 15 year old is flying, none of that is needed.

If you read the whole page, that's required for any person flying under the age of 18 without an adult. The chart says:

15-17 • Unaccompanied minor service optional • Gate escort and guardian contact required

Because of the bolded, you will have to show the child's birth certificate/passport.

No you don't.

My kids fly young traveler (15+ and alone) a lot and have never had to show ID either at check in or TSA. My 16 year old now goes to the gate herself without anyone accompanying her. She doesn't even stop at check in. Mobile boarding pass. TSA asks her name, age and she passes. I know for a fact that they do not ask for ID because she does not have a driver's license or passport in her possession. She may show a school ID but it doesn't have an age on it.

The only caveat is this is always American. Southwest has always been a stickler for ages so you i can't speak to their counter check in practices.

I mean No you don't to showing a passport/birth certificate.

[Anonymous]

So you fudge the birthdate by one month when purchasing the ticket. Give an April birthday instead of a May.
Send the kid through TSA and no ID is checked per TSA policy because the kid looks under age 18.
Then at the gate the agent just bleeps the boarding pass. They can't ask for ID at the gate because kids don't have ID
(aside from a passport and most kids don't have this so the agent can't demand this).
If the gate agent asks for a birthdate the kid just gives the modified date.

Any reason this won't work?

[Anonymous]

You need ID to board a flight without parents on most (all?) airlines. You can hope that they don't make the connection or check the age, but I'm willing to bet that they have BTDT - what airline leaves money on the table, not to mention liability issues.

Out of curiosity, what are you going to do if on the way home they do check her ID and don't let her board without the fee?

I'd just pay the fee and have the peace of mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need ID to board a flight without parents on most (all?) airlines. You can hope that they don't make the connection or check the age, but I'm willing to bet that they have BTDT - what airline leaves money on the table, not to mention liability issues.

Out of curiosity, what are you going to do if on the way home they do check her ID and don't let her board without the fee?

I'd just pay the fee and have the peace of mind.

Do people come in here and just literally make things up? People who actually DO this are telling you how it works, and you are in here giving "guessing" advice. It is bizarre.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean, do you think the airlines haven't figured out how to catch people who try to lie about their kids' age to save money?


I am sure each airline has its own method of verification. There could be legal ramifications if they let a 13 yo on the flight without checking and the kid ends up without supervision.

I would hate for your grieving daughter to be put in a situation where the check-in agent has to question her and possibly not let her fly because of this. What a disaster that would be.

I have had kids fly UM 14 times, and not UM (southwest and 12/13/14 years old). I have literally never been asked for a birth certificate or any sort of verifying ID for any of them, ever, across 4 different airlines.

Presumably you have paid the fee, then, so no reason to check?

You actually think airport security rules are tied to checking if the fee was paid somehow or not? That is not how it works. The fact of the matter is that they do not check teens birthdates, nor do they require birth certificates or passports or any of the other nonsense people here have proposed.

Not talking about TSA - talking about check-in at the airline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you fudge the birthdate by one month when purchasing the ticket. Give an April birthday instead of a May.
Send the kid through TSA and no ID is checked per TSA policy because the kid looks under age 18.
Then at the gate the agent just bleeps the boarding pass. They can't ask for ID at the gate because kids don't have ID
(aside from a passport and most kids don't have this so the agent can't demand this).
If the gate agent asks for a birthdate the kid just gives the modified date.

Any reason this won't work?

Nope. That's absolutely how it will work.
TSA will ask the kid their name and age but that's it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean, do you think the airlines haven't figured out how to catch people who try to lie about their kids' age to save money?


I am sure each airline has its own method of verification. There could be legal ramifications if they let a 13 yo on the flight without checking and the kid ends up without supervision.

I would hate for your grieving daughter to be put in a situation where the check-in agent has to question her and possibly not let her fly because of this. What a disaster that would be.

I have had kids fly UM 14 times, and not UM (southwest and 12/13/14 years old). I have literally never been asked for a birth certificate or any sort of verifying ID for any of them, ever, across 4 different airlines.

Presumably you have paid the fee, then, so no reason to check?

You actually think airport security rules are tied to checking if the fee was paid somehow or not? That is not how it works. The fact of the matter is that they do not check teens birthdates, nor do they require birth certificates or passports or any of the other nonsense people here have proposed.

Not talking about TSA - talking about check-in at the airline.

No need to check in unless you want to go to the gate with them. Mobile boarding pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean, do you think the airlines haven't figured out how to catch people who try to lie about their kids' age to save money?


I am sure each airline has its own method of verification. There could be legal ramifications if they let a 13 yo on the flight without checking and the kid ends up without supervision.

I would hate for your grieving daughter to be put in a situation where the check-in agent has to question her and possibly not let her fly because of this. What a disaster that would be.

I have had kids fly UM 14 times, and not UM (southwest and 12/13/14 years old). I have literally never been asked for a birth certificate or any sort of verifying ID for any of them, ever, across 4 different airlines.

Presumably you have paid the fee, then, so no reason to check?

You actually think airport security rules are tied to checking if the fee was paid somehow or not? That is not how it works. The fact of the matter is that they do not check teens birthdates, nor do they require birth certificates or passports or any of the other nonsense people here have proposed.

Not talking about TSA - talking about check-in at the airline.

No need to check in unless you want to go to the gate with them. Mobile boarding pass.

Ok, but most of the websites say you can't do this and have to check-in in person. I mean would I trust a random on DCUM or the posted policy of the airline??

Children traveling alone can’t check in online or at the kiosk.

You’ll need to fill out an unaccompanied minor form and any necessary Customs and Immigration documents for the day of departure. This form must remain with your child during their journey.


Children traveling alone can’t check in online or at the kiosk.

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/unaccompanied-minors.jsp#:~:text=Children%20traveling%20alone%20can't,your%20child%20during%20their%20journey.

I find it hard to believe that AA would just bypass this.