TSA Contact Center Frequently Asked Questions
TSA's Commitment to Serving You
If you would like to pass on any positive feedback or concerns to TSA regarding your experience, feel free to contact a TSA supervisor while you're at the airport.
You may also contact the TSA Contact Center by e-mailing TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov or filling out the Contact Us card here.
TSA takes all input very seriously and will respond promptly and appropriately to all complaints or comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Identification (ID)
Q. Can I fly without ID?
A. Adult passengers, 18 and over, are required to show a valid U.S. Federal or State-issued photo ID that contains a name, date of birth, gender, expiration date and a tamper-resistant feature. A passenger that refuses to provide any ID and will not cooperate in the identity verification process will not be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint. If you lose your primary ID or it has expired, TSA may accept other forms of ID to help verify your identity.
Q. If I lose my ID during travel, what secondary forms of ID will be accepted?
A. Passengers who do not have a valid photo ID, such as State-issued driver’s license, should bring any ID or documents they have available to assist in verification of identity. Passengers need at least two alternate forms of identification, such as a social security card, birth certificate, marriage license, or credit card. The documents must bear the name of the passenger. Also, one of these documents must bear identification information containing one of the following: date of birth, gender, address, or photo. If TSA can confirm the passenger’s identity, they may enter the secured area, but they could be subject to additional screening. For more information, please review the ID Requirements for Airport Checkpoints.
Q. What ID is needed for minors traveling domestically?
A. Minor children (younger than 18) are not required to provide an ID at the airport security checkpoint. They will just need their boarding pass.
Q. What ID is needed for minors traveling internationally?
A. All passengers, including children, on international flights are required to have a passport in their possession. Passengers traveling domestically (within the United States) who are younger than 18 are not required to have an ID.
Q. Do I need authorization to travel with another child besides my own, domestically or internationally?
A. There is no involvement by TSA in determining custody authorization of adults traveling with children. However, airlines have specific requirements for minors flying unescorted. For more information, we suggest contacting your airline.
Q. Can I use my birth certificate and social security card to fly, if necessary?
A. Adult passengers are required to show a valid U.S. Federal or State-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license. Review the ID Requirements for Airport Checkpoints for a list of acceptable IDs. If you do not have this type of ID, TSA can accept other forms of ID to help verify your identity, including your birth certificate and social security card.
Q. Do I need to carry any documentation for traveling with a pet?
A. No special documentation is required for traveling with a pet.
Q. Can I use an ID that has a hole punched in it?
A. IDs with a hole punched through the expiration date are considered expired. Adult passengers are required to show a valid U.S. Federal or State-issued photo ID. If you do not have this type of ID, TSA can accept other forms of ID to help verify your identity. See question #2 above.
Screening
Q. Will I be delayed during screening if I am carrying large amounts of cash?
A. TSA does not restrict passengers from carrying cash through our security checkpoints. However, when TSA discovers a passenger carrying a sum of cash that appears to be in excess of $10,000 and the passenger is traveling to a location outside of the United States, TSA may notify U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to ensure compliance with international currency-reporting requirements. Also, TSA may notify law enforcement officers if cash is discovered during the security screening process that appears to be related to criminal activity based on factors such as the quantity, packaging, circumstances of discovery, or the method by which it is carried.
Q. Can I leave the secured area of the airport during my layover?
A. Yes, but all travelers re-entering the secured area must be rescreened at the security checkpoint. This security measure addresses the possibility that prohibited items could be accessed in non-secured areas and placed in luggage carried by the traveler.
Q. Can I carry tranquilizer darts for hunting?
A. Tranquilizer darts are prohibited in carry-on baggage. They are allowed in checked baggage.
Q. Will going through the advanced imaging technology have a harmful effect on my unborn child?
A. Advanced imaging technology screening is safe for all passengers, including children, pregnant women, and individuals with medical implants. If passengers wish, they may always request an alternative screening procedure to include a thorough pat-down.
Q. What should I do if I am not offered the option to have a pat-down instead of going through advanced imaging technology (AIT) equipment?
A. Screenings using AIT are voluntary. Individuals who do not wish to be screened by this technology should inform the TSO of their desire to opt out of AIT. Passengers opting out of AIT will be required to undergo alternative screening, to include a thorough pat-down. If passengers are told they are not allowed the option of a pat-down or other screening, they should ask to speak with a Supervisory Transportation Security Officer.
Q. Is AIT safe?
A. Advanced imaging technology is safe and meets national health and safety standards. Backscatter technology was evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). All results confirmed that the radiation doses for the individuals being screened, operators, and bystanders were well below the dose limits specified by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). For comparison, the energy projected by millimeter wave technology is thousands of times less than a cell phone transmission. A single scan using backscatter technology produces exposure equivalent to two minutes of flying on an airplane.
Q. Are car parts allowed in my carry-on baggage?
A. Transportation Security Officers have discretion to prohibit a passenger from carrying an item through the security checkpoint and onboard an aircraft if they believe the item poses a security threat. TSA security screening personnel make the final decision on whether to permit items like car parts into the secured areas of airports. If you believe your car part may contain hazardous materials or residues, such as gasoline, TSA strongly recommends that you ship the car part to your destination via a parcel service.
Q. What time will TSA staff be at the airport if my flight is early in the morning?
A. TSA works with airport authorities to determine industry schedules and service so TSA can provide the proper staffing so that people on the early morning flights have enough time go to through the security process.
Q. Do I need authorization to carry medication that will be delivered to another person?
A. A passenger can take another’s person’s prescription medication and over-the-counter medications through the TSA checkpoint. No authorization is required. However, if the medication is a liquid, gel, or aerosol in containers larger than 3.4 ounces, it must be declared to the Transportation Security Officer at the checkpoint.
Q. Do I need special documentation to carry surgical tools?
A. No documentation is needed for surgical tools. Surgical tools are permitted in carry-on baggage if the tools are not sharp and are less than 7 inches in length. However, TSA security screening personnel make the final decision on whether to permit items like surgical tools into the secured areas of airports. TSA strongly recommends surgical tools be placed in checked baggage.
Q. Can I carry pills in a small plastic bag or a daily dose container?
A. Yes. TSA recommends (but does not require) that your medications be labeled to assist with the screening process.
Q. Can I take food that is frozen?
A. In a frozen state, food is considered a solid and not subject to restrictions of liquids, gels, and aerosols. Frozen food will be examined for tampering and additional screening may be necessary. However, liquid-based foods that are frozen (such as gravy) but are partially melted are subject to TSA’s restrictions for liquids, gels, and aerosols. For more information, please read our Liquids Rules: 3-1-1 for Carry-Ons. Please be aware that a Transportation Security Officer has discretion to prohibit a passenger from carrying an item through the screening checkpoint or onboard an aircraft if the item poses a security threat.
Q. Is there a limit to the amount of cigarettes I can carry onboard?
A. No. Cigarettes are regulated by the State into which they are being carried or shipped. In addition, if cigarettes are being transported for other than personal use, some Federal laws may apply. For more information, visit the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau Web site at www.ttb.gov.
Firearms
Q. Is there a limit to the number of firearms I can take in my checked bag?
A. TSA does not limit the number of firearms in checked baggage. All firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-sided locked case, and declared to the airline during the ticket counter check-in process. For more information about traveling with firearms, please read our Firearms and Ammunition Section.
Q. What is the proper lock that I should use to secure my hard-sided firearms case?
A. Travelers can use a single key or combination lock to which only the traveler has the key or combination, or a TSA-recognized lock. For more information about traveling with firearms, please read our Firearms and Ammunition Web page.
Q. Are TSA-recognized locks permitted for securing firearms in a hard-sided case?
A. Yes. For more information, please visit Traveling with Special Items.
Security
Q. Is it okay to take pictures or videos inside the airport and at a checkpoint?
A. TSA does not prohibit photographs at screening locations; however, local laws, state statutes, or local ordinances may. We recommend contacting your local airport authority in advance to ensure you are familiar with their local procedures. While TSA does not prohibit the public, passengers or press from photographing, videotaping, or filming at screening locations, TSA may ask a photographer to stop if they are interfering with the screening process or taking photos of X-ray monitor screens in a checkpoint. The same guidelines apply to media. Members of the press should contact TSA's Office of Public Affairs, at 571-227-2829, prior to filming or taking photographs at a security checkpoint.
While there is a difference between taking a casual photo and someone conducting surveillance, travelers should not be surprised if TSA or local law enforcement inquires about their actions. This is important to ensure the safety of the traveling public and something our officers may do as part of their security mission.
Q. Do I need to have another background check to get a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) if I already have had one done for a Hazardous Materials Endorsement on my driver’s license?
A. You can use a current, comparable background check to receive a TWIC, which will reduce the fee by $27.25. TWIC applicants must still pay $102.25 for enrollment and card issuance fees. If applicants are eligible to pay the lower price, their TWIC will expire five years from the date of when the comparable credential was issued. For more information, visit the TWIC section of the TSA website at www.tsa.gov/twic.
Q. Do the same aircraft security restrictions used on commercial airlines apply to private airlines?
A. If the aircraft is not departing from a sterile area (the area located behind a security checkpoint), or arriving to a sterile area, there are no security requirements to screen the individual. If at any time a passenger will be in a sterile area, they must be screened to TSA standards. Additionally, if the aircraft is flying to or leaving from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), or one of the high-risk areas determined by the United States Secret Service or another agency; then there are specific security requirements that must be met.
Other
Q. Is it possible for a business to advertise using the TSA logo?
A. Like most government agencies, TSA protects its official logo and does not permit commercial or outside use without approval. It is rare that we permit a commercial entity to use our logo in connection with its own products or services, except in carrying out a TSA contract. Much like any commercial brand or protected trademark, the TSA logo is usually limited to official (i.e., Government) use.
Q. Who can I talk with about a school project on TSA?
A. While the best source for information is available on the official TSA website, other resources include airport Customer Service Managers (CSMs) and the TSA Contact Center. To contact the CSM at a specific airport, e-mail the TSA-Contact Center at TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov
Q. Can I link the TSA website to my website?
A. Yes, you can link to the TSA website on your website. You are allowed to use TSA’s official logo on your website provided that the hyperlink connected with the TSA logo is directly connected to the TSA website and not information disseminated by your organization.
