I was checking-in at LHR T5 last week with my 2 young children. I checked in my luggage and was asked for my passport. I said that I didn't have it with me and, as it is a domestic flight, I didn't need one. I told her that I was prepared to show her my driving license as ID, but she said that the children wouldn't be able to fly without ID.

She asked her colleague next to her for confirmation that "Belfast is like Dublin, isn't it". Her colleague said to call the helpline for confirmation.

It was at this point that I got a bit annoyed - I said that if I was travelling to Edinburgh I wouldn't need it, so why should Belfast, as part of the same country, need it. She said it was for my security .

I knew for a fact that I didn't need a passport, and had my driving license with me. Time was running a bit short and I was agitated that two employees at the home terminal both didn't know the standard requirements for travelling domestically. Of course the phone line (sentinel or something like that?) confirmed it wasn't needed, but there wasn't much of an apology for wasting my time, more a justification that it was for my own good that these things are being checked....

Maybe they should read the website

Identification on UK internal flights
If you are flying solely within the UK, including Northern Ireland, you do not need a passport but we advise that you carry photographic identification with you when travelling, such as your passport or driving licence. This may be requested at certain points in your journey. Children under the age of 16 years old do not require identification to travel within the UK.

I appreciate that different countries have different passport and visa requirements, but is this not part of the "check-in staff 101" course?!