Do You Need ID or a Passport to Fly Private?

One of the best parts of flying private is skipping the airport security line. That does not mean you can skip ID. Here is what each passenger needs.

Domestic Flights

• Adults: government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. The crew or the private terminal checks it before boarding.
• Children: usually no photo ID within the US, but the operator needs their full names and dates of birth when you book.
• Names must match. Give us each passenger’s name exactly as it appears on their ID.

International Flights

• Everyone needs a valid passport. Some countries require at least six months of validity; check before you travel.
• We need passenger details in advance. The operator files the passenger list, with passport details, with US and foreign authorities before departure.
• Visas and travel authorizations depend on the destination. For example, US citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorisation to visit the UK.
• Customs happens at your first airport in each country, which must have customs service. Coming home, you land first at a US airport with customs.

Destinations with Simpler Rules for US Citizens

• Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are US territories, so US citizens do not need a passport. Carry proof of citizenship, and expect an agricultural check of baggage on the way back to the mainland. See Miami to San Juan.
• Hawaii and Alaska are domestic, although baggage leaving Hawaii has an agricultural check.
• Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas and the Caribbean all require a passport for air travel. See New York to Turks and Caicos or New York to Nassau.

Tips

• Send passenger details as soon as you book an international trip; missing details can delay departure.
• Check passport expiry dates for everyone, including children.
• Traveling with a pet internationally? It needs its own paperwork; see flying with pets.