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I have a valid state ID card, but my kid's passport expired and we are actually flying to a city where a consulate/embassy exists to collect his new passport.

Can my kid fly with an expired passport domestically within USA?

AllGetaways.com says

Children traveling domestically by air do not need to present a valid passport at the airport. The specific rules of travel vary slightly from airline to airline, and many require that if the child is traveling with an adult, the adult must provide documentation to prove his age. Before booking a domestic flight, check with the airline about its specific requirements for children so that you're prepared with the correct documents, if needed.

But I'm unsure if the information is trustworthy or relevant to US domestic travel.

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  • Do you hold that expired passport? It may not be an legal ID, it should be enough to prove their age. If you do not have it, do you have other paperwork that you can use to show the age?
    – Willeke ♦
    Apr 18 at 17:32
  • Why aren't you sure if it's relevant to US domestic travel if the first sentence says "domestically"?
    – Azor Ahai -him-
    Apr 19 at 1:32

1 Answer 1

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For TSA security checkpoint purposes, children under 18 do not need any type of ID. See the TSA identification page:

Children

TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling within the United States. Contact the airline for questions regarding specific ID requirements for travelers under 18.

Whether the airline might have additional requirements is up to the airline. I have never needed to present ID for my young children traveling domestically in the US.

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  • 35
    which begs the question: how does the TSA verify that someone is under 18 if they don't have any ID ?
    – Hilmar
    Apr 18 at 22:33
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    They ask the minor their age (which they verify against the boarding pass) and a few other questions until they're satisfied.
    – AAM111
    Apr 19 at 4:49
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    Indeed, my son used to get a few questions from TSA before he got his drivers license.
    – Jon Custer
    Apr 19 at 13:15
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    Anyone (possibly just US citizens?) can actually travel domestically without any ID. TSA will pull you aside and make you answer some questions over the phone to confirm your identity on your boarding pass. I wouldn't want to rely on this method regularly but it worked for me one time when I lost my wallet.
    – wearebob
    Apr 19 at 22:20
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    @John3136 Canada, which is not a constituent state of the USA, has much stricter rules on pre-boarding identification requirements than the US, uniformly imposed by Transport Canada. Only IDs issued by Canadian government (federal or provincial) are acceptable, other than prescribed foreign IDs accepted to enter Canada (passport, NEXUS cards, U.S. Green card etc.).
    – xngtng
    Apr 20 at 7:59

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