Can Children Travel Through TSA With An Adult? | Family Checkpoint Guide

TSA Basics For Kids Traveling With An Adult

Flying with a child isn’t complicated at the checkpoint. TSA doesn’t ask kids under 18 for ID on domestic trips when they’re with an adult. Agents still screen every traveler and every bag. For families, that screening uses kid-friendly steps.

Think in two parts: documents and screening. The adult shows ID and boarding passes for the group. The child follows modified screening rules if 12 or under, or standard screening at 13 and up. Either way, you stay together and you can talk to the officer at each step.

TSA PreCheck changes the flow a bit. Children 12 and under can use the enrolled adult’s lane automatically. Teens 13–17 can use it too when they’re on the same reservation and the teen’s boarding pass shows the PreCheck indicator. If a teen’s pass doesn’t show it, use the standard lane or ask the airline to reissue the pass.

What about names and tickets? Your child’s boarding pass must match the reservation. You don’t need a middle name match. Suffixes aren’t required on the boarding pass. Airlines can still ask for proof of age for lap infants, so carry a birth certificate photo or digital copy if your child rides in your lap.

Age, ID, And Screening At A Glance

Taking Children Through TSA With An Adult: PreCheck, IDs, And Boarding

PreCheck can save time. The adult needs a Known Traveler Number in the reservation. Once the airline passes it to TSA, the PreCheck symbol prints on boarding passes. Children 12 and under follow the adult by default; 13–17 need that symbol on their own pass.

If your boarding passes are split across reservations, ask the airline to link them. Most carriers can add the Known Traveler Number and reissue the child’s pass at the counter or app. If the teen still lacks the symbol, plan on the standard lane. You can stay together; you’ll just use the regular queue.

No REAL ID for kids on domestic flights. Adults 18 and over must show an acceptable ID. A passport, REAL ID-compliant license, or other listed document works. If an adult arrives without ID, TSA can run an identity check, but it slows the line and may block travel.

Boarding with lap infants has airline rules, not TSA rules. Some carriers require you to add the infant to the reservation in advance. Gate agents might ask for proof of age. Bring a copy or a photo of the birth certificate just in case.

Packing For The Checkpoint With A Child

Think in easy bins. One bin for electronics, one for food and kid liquids, and one for shoes and jackets if needed. Use clear bottles for formula or milk so officers can see the contents. If you’d prefer not to X-ray a medically necessary liquid, tell the officer. They’ll use alternate screening and may swab your hands and the container.

Snacks are fine in solid form. Sandwiches, crackers, fruit, and puffs can ride in a zip bag. Spreadables like peanut butter count as gels; keep them to travel sizes unless you’re carrying them as part of baby food for a young child and you declare them.

Strollers and car seats roll to the belt empty. Fold them fully. If they’re too large, officers will inspect them by hand. Slings and soft carriers can pass through the metal detector while you hold your infant. If an alarm triggers, expect a short pat-down of the carrier and your hands.

Medication for kids travels in reasonable quantities. Keep labeled bottles handy. Liquid meds can exceed 3.4 ounces when declared. A simple, calm explanation at the start helps the lane run quicker.

International Trips With Kids

Airport security is only one piece when you leave the country. Every child, even a baby, needs a passport to fly abroad. Many destinations also expect proof that the traveling adult has the right to take the child out of the country. A notarized consent letter from the non-traveling parent or proof of custody can help at foreign passport control. Some countries require it.

For the flight home, U.S. officers review documents too. At re-entry, a child’s passport is always checked. Trusted Traveler cards or passport cards work at land and sea crossings, but not for international flights.

REAL ID still applies only to adults at the TSA checkpoint. It’s fine if your child’s school ID or library card is the only card they carry domestically. Your ID and the boarding pass are what matter at security.

Step-By-Step: Moving Through The Lane Together

1) Before The Belt

Tell the officer you’re traveling with a child and list any formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, purées, or liquid meds.

2) At The Belt

Put toys, blankets, and diaper bag in bins. Pull larger electronics out unless you’re using a PreCheck lane.

3) Gear Check

Fold the stroller and place it on the belt. If it doesn’t fit, hand it to the officer for inspection. Place car seats on the belt if they fit.

4) The Walk-Through

Carry infants through the metal detector. Younger kids can walk through. Teens follow adult instructions.

5) If There’s An Alarm

Officers may ask for another pass through the metal detector or use a handheld wand. Pat-downs for kids are rare and short.

6) Repack And Go

Count toys and bottles before leaving the area. Slip the boarding passes back into a single pocket so you can present them at the gate.

Kid Travel Items: What Goes Where

Special Situations For Kids

Sensory needs or medical devices: Ask for help from a Passenger Support Specialist. You can call ahead through TSA Cares. At the lane, explain the device or need in simple terms. Officers can dim lights, slow the pace, or offer a private room.

Cast, brace, or wheelchair: Children may keep mobility aids during screening. Officers will swab the equipment and the child’s hands. You can carry your child through the metal detector if walking is tough.

Only one parent traveling: For international journeys, carry a consent letter from the other parent or proof of sole custody when required by the destination.

Time-Saving Tips That Keep Lines Moving

Check reservation links before you leave home. The Known Traveler Number should show on the adult’s record and, if possible, on a teen’s.

Pack liquids and baby food where you can reach them fast. A clear quart bag for snacks and travel-size gels avoids second looks.

Use simple shoes for adults who aren’t in PreCheck. Kids 12 and under keep shoes on, but adults in standard lanes still remove them at many airports.

Adult ID Reminders At TSA

Adults 18+ show ID at security on every flight. A state license with the star mark, a passport, or another accepted card works at the podium. Digital IDs are accepted at some airports and lanes, but carry a physical backup just in case. Lost your wallet? Officers can verify identity with questions and databases, yet the process takes time and isn’t guaranteed.

Flying with a newborn? Only the adult shows ID on domestic trips. For international journeys, both adult and child present passports at check-in and at border control. Add time for those document checks so you aren’t rushing the lane with bottles and gear.

When A Child Has A Medical Condition

Bring what your child needs. Nebulizers, insulin pumps, hearing aids, and similar devices can stay on the child. Tell the officer and expect a hand swab of the device and hands. Liquid meds may exceed 3.4 ounces; pack them where you can reach them and declare them early. Ice packs or gel packs used to keep meds cool are fine in carry-on. If your child is sensitive to noise or crowds, you can request a quiet screening area or a private room so the process feels calmer.

Before you leave home, confirm the teen’s boarding pass shows the PreCheck mark if you expect to use that lane together on the day of travel.

For official rules on kids and screening, see TSA’s Traveling with Children page. For medically necessary liquids, read TSA guidance on formula, breast milk, and toddler drinks.