No ID check at TXL?
Aug 13, 2011, 7:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
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No ID check at TXL?
I just flown txl-zrh on lh and I was surprised nobody bothered to ask for my id, not at the security checkpoint nor at the gate.
I don't think this is normal... Is is a security problem?
I don't think this is normal... Is is a security problem?
Aug 13, 2011, 7:20 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2011
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Aug 13, 2011, 7:48 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Aug 14, 2011, 12:31 am
#5
Original Poster
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I understand I was in schengen but I thought that I'd check was required in order to confirm passengers names are not on no-fly lists.
In Italy, for domestic flights, ID is checked at the gate for example
In Italy, for domestic flights, ID is checked at the gate for example
Aug 14, 2011, 12:46 am
#6
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Aug 14, 2011, 12:50 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2000
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What exactly does the no fly list accomplish if the person has cleared security?
Aug 14, 2011, 1:06 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
Passengers don't get asked for ID at security checkpoints in Germany (this appears to be the norm in most if not all European countries).
However, there should have been an ID check at the gate, to verify that the person travelling is the person whose name is on the ticket. There are some countries that dispense with this for internal flights - Norway is one of them; I didn't think Germany was but may be wrong (I haven't been on an internal flight in Germany for quite some years)
(PS Just noticed the OP was flying to ZRH - within Schengen but internationally - so the bit about internal flights doesn't apply here. I've never NOT had to produce photo ID for an intra-Schengen flight)
However, there should have been an ID check at the gate, to verify that the person travelling is the person whose name is on the ticket. There are some countries that dispense with this for internal flights - Norway is one of them; I didn't think Germany was but may be wrong (I haven't been on an internal flight in Germany for quite some years)
(PS Just noticed the OP was flying to ZRH - within Schengen but internationally - so the bit about internal flights doesn't apply here. I've never NOT had to produce photo ID for an intra-Schengen flight)
Last edited by Aviatrix; Aug 14, 2011 at 1:08 am Reason: Added PS
Aug 14, 2011, 4:16 pm
#9
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Aug 15, 2011, 2:10 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2011
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Within shengen, you will not be asked for an ID by the authorities. That's actually the whole point about shengen: travel freely without needing to ID.
It may happen that there is a control somewhere (for example recently for flights from italy to northen Europe, to check for illegal immigrants).
The only moment you'll be asked for an ID, is at the gate to check that it's the correct person flying with the ticket (this is purely airline related, no legal requirement)
It may happen that there is a control somewhere (for example recently for flights from italy to northen Europe, to check for illegal immigrants).
The only moment you'll be asked for an ID, is at the gate to check that it's the correct person flying with the ticket (this is purely airline related, no legal requirement)
Last edited by yno; Aug 15, 2011 at 2:11 am Reason: adding some info
Aug 15, 2011, 2:16 am
#11
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GVA
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On the vast majority of flights within the Schengen area you won't be asked for ID at any point in the process. There's no need for it. Some airlines may ask for a check at the gate, or at the checkin counter, but that's the airline's business and has nothing to do with security.
Aug 15, 2011, 5:22 pm
#12
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Airlines are allowed to check id if they want to, but that's just for them to make sure that people aren't re-selling tickets (same as preventing scalping at concerts). Most don't, or do it only randomly.
Aug 16, 2011, 7:56 am
#13
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 739
You can board a car without having to show ID. You can board a bus without having to show ID. You can board a train without having to show ID. You can board a ship without having to show ID. Why wouldn't you be able to board a plane without having to show ID?
After all, this is Europe, not the US...
After all, this is Europe, not the US...
Aug 16, 2011, 9:13 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,967
Funny isn't it how something which is positive is seen as 'poor security' by some?
I read this argument over and over after the attempted underwear bombings ie that airport security in Europe is 'lax' compared to the US because there is no shoe removal and no TDC.
I read this argument over and over after the attempted underwear bombings ie that airport security in Europe is 'lax' compared to the US because there is no shoe removal and no TDC.