Understanding TSA rules is very important for every traveler.
The TSA screens around two million travelers daily, and most flyers are able to get on the plane without incident. Knowing the rules is key to avoiding being held up at security checkpoints and potentially missing your plane or facing other problems.
💵💰Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter 💰💵
There are some rules just about everyone is familiar with, including limits on liquids, as well as a requirement to take laptops out of your bag. However, there are other regulations people may not be aware of, but should be.
In particular, parents have to know about all of the rules affecting how their kids travel.
To make sure parents do not miss an important requirement, the TSA recently issued an urgent warning about it on Facebook. It is crucial for every parent to read, because it’s an obscure rule that not everyone will have heard about – and it could affect when and how kids can fly.
Image source: Getty Images
TSA wants to make sure parents know this travel rule affecting their children
TSA issued the warning to parents about this little-known travel rule on July 31, 2025, in a Facebook post. The government agency began by reassuring parents that children under the age of 18 typically do not have to provide their identification when going through security screening.
However, there is a very important exception to this general rule. Here’s what the TSA said about it.
Related: TSA is stopping passengers for an incredibly embarrassing reason
“Unaccompanied minors who are eligible for TSA PreCheck will need to show an acceptable form of ID to receive expedited screening,” the TSA Facebook post said, introducing this surprising regulation as a caveat to the general rule that kids do not need ID.
Unaccompanied minors are children who are traveling on a plane without a parent or other adult going with them.
Around seven million children fly as unaccompanied minors each year, according to the Department of Transportation. So, this is not a small group – and far too many parents of these millions of children may be unaware that their kids are not going to be able to take advantage of PreCheck benefits without an ID of their own.
TSA requires proper identification for unaccompanied minors
Children as young as five are allowed to travel solo, according to the Department of Transportation’s rules, but airlines have their own requirements, and many require kids to be a little older.
Related: Why your TSA experience at the airport is about to get worse
Still, there are plenty of options for very young kids to travel. When kids do go by themselves on a plane, you want as few hiccups as possible because it can be stressful for children to fly without an adult accompanying them.
Getting to the airport and finding out that your child can’t go through the simplified security process using PreCheck could cause additional anxiety. It can also put your child at risk of missed flights if they have to leave the PreCheck line and go back through the standard security screening, where wait times may be much longer.
More on travel:
- U.S. government issues serious warning for cruise passengers
- Delta Air Lines makes a baggage change that travelers will like
- United Airlines passenger incident triggers quick response
It’s important for every parent to heed the TSA’s warning so this does not happen to them. If a child with PreCheck is going to be flying independently, parents should ensure they have the proper ID long before heading to the airport.
The TSA is also available to answer any other questions parents may have about kids flying solo, so it is a good idea to reach out if needed.
