keziak ~ Although not recent, one of my son's good friends did his first solo flight at the age of 15. He didn't have a driver's license or permit either - just a HS ID. This was about 13-14 years ago.

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Unfortunate use of the word "solo" here; the question was about being a passenger (flying) on a commercial aircraft, I believe.

 

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from the TSA -

 

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/acceptable_documents.shtm

 

ID Requirements for Airport Checkpoints

Airtravel

Identity Matters

 

Adult passengers (18 and over) are required to show a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID in order to be allowed to go through the checkpoint and onto their flight.

 

We understand passengers occasionally arrive at the airport without an ID, due to lost items or inadvertently leaving them at home. Not having an ID, does not necessarily mean a passenger won’t be allowed to fly. If passengers are willing to provide additional information, we have other means of substantiating someone’s identity, like using publicly available databases.

 

Passengers who are cleared through this process may be subject to additional screening. Passengers whose identity cannot be verified by TSA may not be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint or onto an airplane.

 

Acceptable IDs include:

 

U.S. passport

U.S. passport card

DHS "Trusted Traveler" cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)

U.S. Military ID (active duty or retired military and their dependents, and DOD civilians)

Permanent Resident Card

Border Crossing Card

DHS-designated enhanced driver's license

Drivers Licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)

A Native American Tribal Photo ID

An airline or airport-issued ID (if issued under a TSA-approved security plan)

A foreign government-issued passport

Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) card

Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)

Non-US/Canadian citizens are not required to carry their passports if they have documents issued by the U.S. government such as Permanent Resident Cards. Those who do not should be carrying their passports while visiting the U.S.

 

This standardization of the list of accepted documents better aligns TSA with other DHS components, including Customs and Border Protection, and REAL ID benchmarks.

 

If you have a few days - Take son with with you and walk in to the nearest DMV and inquire about an official photo ID card."

 

I signed up my son at DMV today but found out that the cards are mailed, darn it. Procrastination did not work in my favor this time. I did place calls and visit websites about the ID requirement which said he'll be OK under 18, but one person I talked to was adamant he'd need official photo ID so I have been worried.

 

I also got mixed signals about whether we can escort him to the gate. One person said "no way" until I informed her that David is autistic and she changed her tune at once.

keziak - Glad you got the process started with photo ID for the future.

 

Meanwhile - When you take David to the airport make xerox copies of his birth cerrtificate, copies of a doctor's statement of David's condition, and - if needed - copies of the prescription(s) for any medications he may be traveling with. Also make a hard copy of his emergency contacts and phone numbers and put that piece of paper in his wallet or secure pocket. Even though he may have all that information on a phone - phones get lost or stolen way too often and it is sometimes difficult to remember all those phone numbers.

 

that is some great advice that I hadn't thought of. Thank you. I especially like the idea of taking a list of phone numbers. He will have a cell phone but he's basically never used one before and I could just see him losing track of it at a key moment.

 

Fortunately he doesn't share any worries and is excited about his upcoming adventure!

I agree that you should let the airline know that your son is an unaccompanied minor. In any kind of emergency, even a minor one like a delay in boarding, it is very helpful to have a flight attendant aware so they can look out for him a little including making sure he gets something to eat if there is a longer delay. Will he be OK if he gets selected for a pat down? (Would they do a pat down on an unaccompanied minor?) In your son's new cell phone under contacts enter ICE (In Case of Emergency) and your phone number. Enter ICE2 and an alternate phone number where you can be reached. Does your son know how to turn the phone off during takeoff and landing and will he know to turn it back on again? You didn't ask about this but here goes anyway: emphasize the importance of using the bathroom before boarding and if he needs to use the facilities on the plane he shouldn't wait for the last minute. There are very few lavatories on the plane for a lot of people and there is often a line. Years back my daughter didn't have a non drivers photo ID so we were able to use a school ID card. We had a letter written on the school's letterhead stationary confirming the school ID but that may not be enough these days. The best is to ask at the airline and make sure you get the name of the person who gives you the information if it is different from what it says on the airline's website.

My son who is a 20 year old with Asperger's just made his first solo flight this spring.  His uncle got him to the airport late for his return flight and he missed it by that much. So uncle just went to a ticket agent and explained the situation.  They issued him a pass to go in and wait with son (and be chewed out for making him miss the flight.)  He was also able to call ahead and get a pass for my father-in-law to meet up with him for his layover for the connecting flight.  There was absolutely no hassle or argument over any of it from the airlines or TSA.  That, and the ability to call us on his cell whenever he needed a little stress relief made it all go very smoothly.

 

Hope he has a great trip - it's a big milestone for all of you!

keziak ~ I wish your son a great plane ride! And a wonderful time on his whole trip.

For explosive sneezes? I'm glad he got through OK.

True. He could have subdued the crew by banging them over the head with his Nintendo DS.