India - ID required for pax to enter Delhi terminals?

I am flying to India soon and once there would like to fly a short domestic flight from DEL with a relative. Problem is that like many housewives in India, she does not have an official photo ID. Of course I'll have a printed itinerary for both of us and my own ID.

So a question for India/DEL experts: In practice, are they likely to wave us through, or will it become a problem? (The airline is likely to be Indigo, but we can switch if that would help.)

The flight is still about a month away. If we tried to obtain some ID in time, which one would be easiest/quickest?

you do require ID to access airports in India - each pax's ID is checked n i hv never seen anyone being waived through

i was at the IT ticket window @ BOM (i didnt have my itinerary & the security dude refused to accept the itinerary on my BB screen :p), anyway this pax comes to the IT window saying he didnt have an ID - the lady stamped and initialed his itinerary (no idea on what basis) and i guess that was sufficient

not sure if the stamping thing is official and works everywhere

quickest new ID - get a temporary / learner's driver's license (IIRC it has a photo) - your neighborhood driving school should be able to organise one for your within a week for a small cost

A pan card in two weeks?

Thanks manuc and A2A, greatly appreciated. I'll try to inspire people at the Indian end to figure some ID for her during the next one month. Otherwise I too will go to the window and give the "initial & stamp trick" a try. :)

Another question. From what I understand, this person is also in poor health. Where do you organize one of those golf carts to ferry people to the gate? I have never had to deal with such issues. Do I order from the airline, is it done in advance, or just look around at the airport when we get there?

I am flying to India soon and once there would like to fly a short domestic flight from DEL with a relative. Problem is that like many housewives in India, she does not have an official photo ID. Of course I'll have a printed itinerary for both of us and my own ID.

So a question for India/DEL experts: In practice, are they likely to wave us through, or will it become a problem? (The airline is likely to be Indigo, but we can switch if that would help.)

The flight is still about a month away. If we tried to obtain some ID in time, which one would be easiest/quickest?

I recommend a PAN card. your relative does not vote? if not, her local district magistrate/Collector/Deputy commissioner can issue a photo ID with letter.

Hey, as far as I have seen with families traveling - all that's needed is for one pax to have a photo ID which the security guy at the gate matches with a name on the ticket, then counts the # of people with you to match it with the # of people on the ticket.

Its only to ensure that people don't sneak in just to gawk around, see off their relatives, hang around in an aircon "mall" (at least for the newer airports) etc.

My experience differs from the previous poster. At every airport I've flown out of, and esp at DEL & BOM in recent years, they check IDs and tix. I wouldn't take a chance.

My experience differs from the previous poster. At every airport I've flown out of, and esp at DEL & BOM in recent years, they check IDs and tix. I wouldn't take a chance.

+1. There is a grade II red alert now and especially AP TN Kerala please don't take chances

Thanks manuc and A2A, greatly appreciated. I'll try to inspire people at the Indian end to figure some ID for her during the next one month. Otherwise I too will go to the window and give the "initial & stamp trick" a try. :)

Another question. From what I understand, this person is also in poor health. Where do you organize one of those golf carts to ferry people to the gate? I have never had to deal with such issues. Do I order from the airline, is it done in advance, or just look around at the airport when we get there?

Pax assistance can be requested online at time of booking As with all airlines such kicks on from checkin Golf carts OR wheelchair

Thanks manuc and A2A, greatly appreciated. I'll try to inspire people at the Indian end to figure some ID for her during the next one month. Otherwise I too will go to the window and give the "initial & stamp trick" a try. :)

Another question. From what I understand, this person is also in poor health. Where do you organize one of those golf carts to ferry people to the gate? I have never had to deal with such issues. Do I order from the airline, is it done in advance, or just look around at the airport when we get there?

Indigo specific since u r flying with them. Call them and request wheelchair assist for the pax in advance. Upto four pax per flight is their limit, tho not likely to run out. They will confirm and also send a email IIRC. At airport a liability waiver form needs to be signed and u r a go. Indigo handles this well, I personally had to get this done because my mom had to use a wheelchair earlier this yr.

My experience mirrors hserus's at MAA. Before you enter the terminal, the guard checks one id and counts passengers. No id was asked at the counter or security. I assume BOM and DEL are different.

your relative will definitely need an id to enter the airport....the quickest ways i can think of getting an id are:

driving license - if your relative knows how to drive then she can get a temporary learners license in about a week from the day she applies for her test....

pan card - this normally takes 15 working days so if she applies for it now then she will get it in time for your travel....

passport - she can get her passport made under the tatkal scheme & she would get it in about 7 working days....

bank account - a lot of banks are willing to put a picture of you on your credit/debit card....if she opens up an account with someone like citi, kotak or icici then she will have her debit card in hand in about 5-7 working days....

http://book.goindigo.in/skylights/cgi-bin/skylights.cgi?module=C3&page=FAQ

2. What is required to enter the airport terminal and check-in at the counter?
Travel within India: To enter the airport terminal and check-in at the IndiGo Counter, each Customer must provide a print-out of their itinerary along with a valid photo identity

Important Information: In addition to valid photo identification customers may be required to present the credit\debit card or a photo copy of card used to pay for their booking, at check-in.

The following are considered to be valid photo identification documents:

Valid Passport
Valid Driving License
Election Photo Identification Card
PAN card issued by the Income Tax department.
Photo identity card issued by the employer, being government and reputed private sector organizations.
Children traveling on IndiGo should carry their school identification cards or any other photo identification proof along with them.
Valid birth certificates of infants need to be produced at the time of check-in for age proof.

Customers who cannot provide sufficient identification will be denied boarding.

For all sectors originating or terminating outside India, except to and from Nepal, the passport will be the only form of identification allowed. All Customers, including children and Infants, must present a valid passport and visa (if applicable) at check-in. It is passengers responsibility to ensure appropriate travel documents are arranged and produced whenever required.

Since GoI doesn't require compulsory ID you can get a away with some form of ID with a picture. Worst case you have to get a stamp from the airline that its OK to travel without ID. I'm pretty sure she has a election ID? Its been 17 years since they started to issue those...

From my experience, IDs are required for atleast one passenger in the group. Now Govt of India is issuing Aadhar card (National ID). This replaces voter ID and other types of ID.

Thanks to everyone for all the info. I have heard from a person about his family's recent experience in DEL itself: the entire family was permitted based on just one person's ID. So that's promising. If nothing else I'll try that.

In the meantime, although she doesn't drive, I'll try to motivate her family to get one of these other cards, or the "stamp" mentioned below:



pan card - this normally takes 15 working days so if she applies for it now then she will get it in time for your travel....

passport - she can get her passport made under the tatkal scheme & she would get it in about 7 working days....

bank account - a lot of banks are willing to put a picture of you on your credit/debit card....if she opens up an account with someone like citi, kotak or icici then she will have her debit card in hand in about 5-7 working days....

Since GoI doesn't require compulsory ID you can get a away with some form of ID with a picture. Worst case you have to get a stamp from the airline that its OK to travel without ID...

...duplicate posted in error...

Its actually very simple.

Get a notarized affidavit for identity. This should not cost you more than ~200 bucks.

Its actually very simple.

Get a notarized affidavit for identity. This should not cost you more than ~200 bucks.

not quite sure if this would work....if its not on the id list then they probably won't allow it....

not quite sure if this would work....if its not on the id list then they probably won't allow it....

I have used this frequently for my maid on Jetairways..

I have used this frequently for my maid on Jetairways..

cool....good to know there is another easy option....

Get a notarized affidavit for identity. This should not cost you more than ~200 bucks.

Thank you. The affidavit you have used for your maid, what does it say and who notarized it? I'll have to send very precise instructions if I want this done.

Thank you. The affidavit you have used for your maid, what does it say and who notarized it? I'll have to send very precise instructions if I want this done.

I took the the inspiration for format / wording from here:

http://www.catiim.in/pdf/CI_affidavit.pdf

Make relevant edits / changes and get it notarized from a public Notary. The Notary would tell you the value of stamp paper to be used. They know what to be done.

Please note this can only be done for adults (i.e. 18+)

I don't know which airlines you are flying, it would also be better to call them and let them know that you are carrying such affidavit.

This should work as well as anything else .. doesn't need to be on stamp paper

The guards don't f'ing care what sort of photo there is and what id, as long as there's a name and a ticket to go with it, they're mostly focused on keeping non passengers out of the airport checkin area.

http://www.cleartrip.com/forums/39/topics/3876

Sanjay – As per the airline’s policy, all the passengers traveling, has to carry a valid photo-id along with the e-ticket copy at the time of check in.

However, as an exception, we had a word with the airline explaining them the situation, and have received the informed that the passengers, who do not have their photo ids can stick their photo on the e ticket copy and get it attested from any advocate or government authorized person.

For more information, you can contact Go Air on 09223222111 / 1800 222 111.

This should work as well as anything else .. doesn't need to be on stamp paper

The guards don't f'ing care what sort of photo there is and what id, as long as there's a name and a ticket to go with it, they're mostly focused on keeping non passengers out of the airport checkin area.

http://www.cleartrip.com/forums/39/topics/3876

Sanjay – As per the airline’s policy, all the passengers traveling, has to carry a valid photo-id along with the e-ticket copy at the time of check in.

However, as an exception, we had a word with the airline explaining them the situation, and have received the informed that the passengers, who do not have their photo ids can stick their photo on the e ticket copy and get it attested from any advocate or government authorized person.

For more information, you can contact Go Air on 09223222111 / 1800 222 111.

Based on my experience at DEL last month I would be very careful about having the right documentation to enter the airport. Admittedly we were going international but we got held up at the door to the terminal by several tough looking soldiers with machine guns because we didn't have all the paperwork they thought we needed. Finally straightened out, but it was no fun.

Problem was you need a printed itinerary with your name on it according to the Captain in charge and we hadn't printed one out. We, of course, had our passports.

Eventually, using a computer and printer the soldiers had right inside the gate they printed out a passenger manifest and our names were located on it. Really pretty efficient, but I would have rather had everything in order before getting to DEL. Those guys with guns make me nervous!

PS also found out that in India you can't get into the terminal more than four hours before flight time, in our case 3 AM. So much for our plan to hang out in the biz lounge for several hours before the flight after an all day trip to the Taj.

OP here. Thought i would thank everyone for their advice and also update on my experience. My relative and I were able to enter the DEL airport and fly a domestic flight with my ID alone. Based on casual chat with security people at the door as well as airline staff (it wasn't busy then), here is my understanding:

In principle, everyone is required to have an ID.

In practice, they allow a group or family in with just one person's ID.

They are more likely to do this for people on the same ticket, and also for a family rather than a random group of acquaintances.

Still, it is not a right, only a courtesy, even though a very common one. Not only it can be but often is suspended for various reasons including special security alerts.

So, again, you can chance it and the odds will be in your favor, but for real peace of mind everyone should carry an ID.

Thanks for the update, OP. Glad things worked out well for you and your family.