"Shawn Hirn" wrote in message
...
In article ,
(Carole Allen) wrote:

I will be traveling next summer with my grandson, who will by then be
14 yo. We are going from OR to DC, NYC, Phil., not leaving the
country. Have checked state dept and several airline sites for info
needed ID, travel permission docs, medical permission docs, etc.
Obviously, once we have airline tix I will check directly with the
airline, but am trying to determine if I need to carry written
permission from his parents to travel with him. I also believe I
should have an authorization to provide medical consent. I have
looked for info and forms online, but everything I see relates to
international requirements.

Years ago when my son was this age I remember haing some preprinted
forms which I provided to his grandparents. Any ideas?

Why not carry written permission from the boy's parents? How much effort
is it to have the kid's parents write a letter and sign it, and notarize
it?

That's what I did when I took my 16-year-old nephew to Croatia and Bosnia.
The State Dept. website does say to do it. It wasn't ever asked for, but it
made me feel more comfortable in a post-9/11, baby-snatching world.
International travel is the big deal, because as you know, relatives do
snatch kids in custody battles. As I was reminded, a teenager (taller than
me) is old enough to raise a fuss if he or she is being abducted. It helps
to have the same last name.