Originally Posted by dba
What I don't understand is why they won't let you use an EXPIRED passport or driver's license as proof of identity. Just because the document has expired doesn't mean you have.
The first and most important reason is that the people doing the checking are complete idiots. I love flustering them with my INSPASS, which has no easily seen expiration date (it's embedded in some code on the back, but I claim not to know that). The ID checkers just don't know what to do. At EWR, one left her post and went walking around the airport with me looking for somebody to make the decision for her! Finally, a United supervisor told her, "Of course it's OK," and that was that.
Playing devil's advocate for a moment, you do have to wonder where they should draw the line on expired IDs. If people could present their first photo driver's license, from 30 years ago or whatever, I'm not sure they would be recognizable. But the most recent driver's license shouldn't be a problem.
Bruce