Trips worth a call
Booking for a family or group? Say it once.
Every extra traveler adds a name, a birthdate, a seat and a bag to get right. On a call you give the details once and can ask to hear them back, instead of typing them into a form person by person.
Independent travel assistance, not affiliated with any airline. Calls go to independent partner travel agencies.
Names that match every ID
Book each traveler under the name on the ID they’ll fly with. A nickname or a missing middle name on the ticket is the kind of mismatch that slows things down at check-in.
TSA requires travelers 18 and older to show acceptable ID at the checkpoint. Since May 7, 2025, state driver’s licenses and ID cards that aren’t REAL ID compliant are no longer accepted, so anyone without one needs a passport or another ID on TSA’s list.
TSA doesn’t require children under 18 to show ID on flights within the US. Airlines can set their own rules for younger travelers, so ask about them when you book.
Sitting together
Whether you can choose seats at booking depends on the fare. Some basic fares only assign seats at check-in, which can split a family across the cabin. Ask which fares include seat selection and what adding it costs before you choose.
If a child or a traveler who needs help has to sit next to someone, mention it early in the call.
Flying with young children
- Children under two can usually ride on an adult’s lap within the US. On international routes a lap infant often pays taxes or part of a fare, so ask.
- Buying a seat for a child under two lets you bring an approved car seat on board.
- Many airlines check strollers and car seats without a fee. Confirm it for your fare.
- Children flying on their own fall under a separate service with its own rules and charges, set by each airline.
When a party is big enough for a group fare
Airlines often treat larger parties, commonly 10 or more travelers, as a group booking with its own pricing and its own rules on deposits, deadlines and name changes. Ask whether the agency can quote a group fare for your party and how those rules differ from ordinary tickets.
For a smaller party, one reservation keeps everyone on the same flights, but it can also price everyone at the highest fare still open for that many seats. Ask whether splitting the booking would change the total.
Bags for everyone
Each traveler’s bag allowance comes from their fare, so a party on mixed fares can end up with different allowances. Ask for the bag total across everyone, since bag fees are part of what the trip really costs.
Have these ready for a family or group call
- Every traveler’s full name, exactly as it appears on their ID or passport
- Birthdates, especially for children and infants
- Who needs to sit together
- Bags per person, plus any strollers or car seats
- Anyone who needs wheelchair help or other assistance
- One person’s phone and email for the confirmation
Also worth a call: international flights and multi-city trips. Before you pay, read what goes into a phone quote.
Family and group travel questions
Do kids need ID to fly?
Not for TSA on flights within the US if they’re under 18, though airlines may ask for proof of age for a lap infant. International trips need a passport for every traveler, children included.
Can we share one booking but pay with different cards?
Ask the agency. Some can split a payment across cards and some can’t, and separate bookings may price differently.
What if a name is spelled wrong after booking?
Contact whoever sold the ticket straight away. Small spelling fixes are often allowed, but switching the ticket to a different person usually isn’t.
Sources
Guidance from TSA, checked on . Rules and their enforcement change, so read the current text before relying on it.