Electronic tickets (e-tickets) make traveling convenient as it eliminates the worry of loss or theft of your paper tickets. You will be required to carry government issued photo identification (such as driver’s license or passport) for check-in, to the airport.

Some airlines may allow check-in online and print your boarding pass up to 24 hours in advance. Passengers must have a printed boarding pass in order to proceed through security and those who do not have a boarding pass should go to the airline ticket counter prior to going through the security checkpoint.

It is advisable that you reconfirm your flights at least 72 hrs prior to departure directly with the airline.

For domestic travel in the U.S., passengers under the age of 18 are not required to have identification. However, the adults who are responsible for the child at the departure airport and arrival airport are required to have identification. While the airlines typically do not specify the identification required for the adult who drops off or picks up the child, the same kinds of photo identification that an adult uses for airline travel should be sufficient and/or a valid Birth Certificate.

If a child is traveling unaccompanied on an international flight, there may be additional requirements such as Passports/Visas. Depending on the circumstances, you may need to have additional documentation to allow a child to leave the departure country or to enter the destination country. Contact the appropriate authorities for each involved country to ensure that all requirements are being met.

Most airlines allow unaccompanied children at or above a certain age to fly, though usually with several restrictions. Programs vary widely from airline to airline, and no two airlines will have the same polices, which is why we suggest you to call us on our international number 1800-890-9456 for assistance or make direct reservations with the airline for unaccompanied minors.

In the U.S., there are no clear regulatory guidelines with respect to unaccompanied children, so it is important that you take the time to understand the specific policies of the airline and then make the reservation.

When packing, please remember that new Federal carry-on rules allow for only one standard-size carry-on bag and one personal item such as purse, laptop computer, small book-type backpack or briefcase.

The Transportation Security Administration requests travelers not to lock their checked luggage. If your bag is locked and there is a need to inspect the bag, the locks will be removed by security. New Federal security rules require customers who have checked baggage to fly on the same flight as their checked bags. If you are checking your bags, be sure your name and contact information is on the outside and inside of each bag.

If you’re checking bags for a domestic flight, you should arrive at the airport 90 minutes prior to departure. If you only have carry-on luggage, plan to arrive 60 minutes prior to departure. For international flights, it’s recommended that you arrive at least two hours prior to departure. For international flights all passengers will need their passports.

Have your government-issued photo ID available at all times, as well as a printed itinerary if you’re traveling with an electronic ticket. As per FAA rules, if you are traveling on a domestic flight with a child or children under the age of 18, they do not need a photo ID as long as the accompanying adult certifies their identity.
It is advisable that you reconfirm your flights at least 72 hrs prior to departure directly with the airline to ensure that no last minute schedule changes have occurred .
If you wish to reconfirm your flights with the airlines or if you have any questions about a particular airline’s rules, please contact the airlines directly. For a list of airline phone numbers, please visit the Airline Contact page.

Most U.S. citizens must use a U.S. passport to travel overseas and reenter the United States. A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies your identity and citizenship. Only the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassies and Consulates have the authority to issue or verify U.S. passports.

Most foreign countries require a valid passport to enter and leave. Some countries may allow you to enter with only a birth certificate, or with a birth certificate and a driver’s license, but all persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air, must present a valid passport to reenter the United States.

If you are traveling by land or sea, you must provide evidence of both your U.S. citizenship and your identity (regular driver’s license and birth certificate) when you reenter the United States. For many land or sea trips this means you can travel using the new U.S. passport card instead of the normal passport book. Read more about U.S. passport requirements.

Recommendations made by the Department of Homeland Security’s caused passport rules to change in 2007, when travelers began needing passports if returning to the US by air from Canada and Mexico. DHS has also been requiring passports from US citizens crossing Mexican and Canadian borders by land or sea as of June 1, 2009.

Some Caribbean islands are US territories — you do not need a passport to travel to Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands by sea, air or spaceship any more than you need a passport to drive from Manhattan to Montana. Guam, US Samoa, Palau and other Micronesian islands are also US territories.

In order to travel to and from US territories in the Caribbean (Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands — St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John) from the mainland US by air, you will need:

• Official government issued picture identification like a current driver’s license or a photo ID card, which can be issued to non-drivers by your state’s motor vehicles department, or a passport (of course) or two forms of non-photo identification (one needs to be state-issued)

• Proof of US citizenship — like a birth certificate — may make leaving the USVI for the mainland USA easier (learn more) because the USVI is considered a “port of entry”

A passport is definitely needed to leave and then return to the US Virgin Islands (like hopping to the British Virgin Islands).

What about your children? Some countries have instituted requirements to help prevent child abductions and may require travelers to present proof of relationship to the children and evidence of consent from any non-accompanying parent(s). Visit our child abduction country information pages for information about your destination.

When does your passport expire? Some countries require that a traveler’s passport be valid for at least six months beyond the dates of the trip. Contact the embassy of your foreign destination for more information.