Every trip has two kinds of code. The trip code is one 6-character code for the whole trip. A personal traveler code is an 8-character code for one traveler on the roster. Both are typed on the same Join a trip screen.
Where the codes are
On the website, open the trip and go to Roster › Invite travelers. The trip code is at the top under Join code, with Copy code, Rotate code and a How-to-join handout you can print or paste into an email. The trip code also shows on the trip home, next to the trip name. Personal codes are listed further down under Personal traveler codes, one row per traveler.
On the phone, open the trip, then Roster and tap Invite travelers. The same sections are there.
Only the trip owner and co-organizers can rotate the trip code, see personal codes and approve people.
The two doors
When someone opens Join a trip (website: Join with a code on the trips page, or the join link with the code filled in; phone: the + New button on All trips, then Join a trip with a code), the first question is Who is joining?
- I'm the traveler is for students and adult travelers on the roster. They enter the trip code, their first and last name as the school has them, and their real date of birth.
- I'm a parent or guardian is for families. They enter the trip code with their child's name and date of birth. This links them as the child's parent, never as the traveler. The child still joins on their own account.
If a parent goes through the traveler door by mistake, the app usually spots it and offers the parent door instead.
When someone is linked straight away
- A traveler is linked at once when the roster already has their email address and they signed up with it. Otherwise their match waits for you.
- A parent is linked at once when their confirmed email is the parent email on the roster for that child and the date of birth matches. Otherwise they wait for you.
- A personal traveler code links at once when it is entered with the traveler's date of birth. No approval needed.
Approving people who are waiting
Matches that need you appear on Roster › Invite travelers under Waiting to join (travelers) and Parents waiting to link (parents). They also show in Requests, and a badge appears on Roster on the phone. Check the account name and email against what you know, then tap Approve or Deny (for parents, Decline). A declined parent is listed under Declined parents, where Undo decline reopens their request.
When to use a personal code
Use a personal code for a late add, twins, or anyone you would rather not wait on. Each code works once. New code issues a fresh one; on a record that is already claimed it also disconnects the current account.
Keeping codes safe
If the trip code has been shared too widely, use Rotate code. The old code stops working at once. Travelers who already joined, and requests waiting for approval, are not affected. A classmate who knows someone's birthday still cannot take their record, because unmatched-email joins wait for your approval.
See also How to join a trip and Invite a parent or guardian.