You want to take a trip to Vegas or visit relatives overseas, but there’s a problem. You’ve got an arrest warrant hanging over your head. Can you fly with a misdemeanor warrant or will airport security flag you when you check in and hand you over to law enforcement?
It’s a worrying scenario, so let’s get some answers to help you decide if taking a flight is worth the risk of arrest.
Can You Fly With A Misdemeanor Warrant in 2025?
Can you fly with a warrant? Here’s the short answer. Technically, you can fly with a misdemeanor warrant. You won’t be committing a new offense (unless you’re out on bail with travel restrictions) but there are some risks to consider.
One of the biggest risks is getting flagged when the passenger list for your flight is screened for active warrants.
Are you taking an international flight? Well, your warrant will pop up.
Customs and Border Protection screen all passengers on international flights for outstanding felony and misdemeanor warrants. You might be able to fly out of the country without issue, but you could be detained upon your return.
On the other hand, passenger lists for domestic flights aren’t usually checked for warrants.
Bottom line: Flying within the United States with a misdemeanor warrant is less risky than taking an overseas flight.
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Other Ways Your Misdemeanor Warrant Could Be Discovered
If you’re taking a domestic flight, don’t relax just yet. Passenger list screening isn’t the only way your warrant could be discovered.
Come to the attention of airport security or the police officers stationed at the airport and you could find yourself in handcuffs.
You could be pulled out of line for random enhanced screening, face scrutiny because you got into an argument or altercation, or you could put a big red flag on yourself by acting suspiciously because you’re stressing about your warrant being discovered.
What About TSA Checks – Should You Be Worried?
The TSA is concerned with transportation security, they don’t routinely look for active warrants. Your ID will be checked against the No Fly List and your luggage will be scanned, but that’s all.
Having a misdemeanor warrant will not put you on the No Fly List. As long as you’re not carrying illegal items, you don’t need to worry about TSA checks at the airport.
Is Your Warrant In The NCIC System? Why Does This Matter?
The National Crime Information Center holds information about warrants, but it doesn’t hold information about all warrants.
When law enforcement has a reason to run a check on you, they draw information from local, state, and national databases.
If you’re flying out of an airport within the jurisdiction of the court that issued your warrant, officers can easily pull details about your arrest warrant from their local database.
But if you’re flying from an airport in a different state, your warrant will only show up if it’s been entered in the NCIC.
Unlike felony warrants, warrants for misdemeanors aren’t generally added to this database. So while it’s technically possible for your warrant to be discovered this way, it’s unlikely under normal circumstances, especially for minor misdemeanor offenses.
Out Of State Warrants And Extradition
The following information only applies if you’re outside the state that issued your misdemeanor arrest warrant.
If your warrant has been included in the NCIC, that doesn’t mean you’re automatically going to jail.
Warrant information entered into the NCIC includes extradition limitations. The warrant details will specify whether you should be held and transported back to the issuing state or released.
For misdemeanors, extradition limits are coded with the following letters:
- A – Full extradition
- B – Limited extradition (from specified states only)
- C – Extradition from bordering states only
- D – No extradition
Extradition on a misdemeanor warrant appears to be a rare occurrence. It’s costly and time-consuming to transport fugitives. States have limited funds to use for this purpose and prioritize the return of individuals wanted for felonies.
Should You Fly With A Misdemeanor Warrant?
Can you fly if you have a warrant? Yes, usually.
Should you fly with a warrant? That’s a decision only you can make.
Ultimately, the best course of action is to get the warrant cleared by dealing with the underlying offense. Speak to a criminal defense attorney to find out how to move forward.
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