Exec_Plat

I did deal with it. A supervisor overruled the agent. Done.

and dude, whats with the preoccupation with getting into a bar? you brought that up and seem to be clinging to it as if it is some benchmark...

BSBD

Nope. My current DL is a renewal. My state decided to reuse my license picture from 2006. It doesn't really look like me anymore. Not my problem. My current passport photo is from 2011, when I was 20 lbs lighter, and had fewer grey hairs. It doesn't really look like me anymore. Not my problem. My GE card photo is blurry and cuts off the top of my head. Not my problem.

If TSA has a problem with any of them, it's not my problem. TSA wants a valid ID. All my IDs are valid.

WillCAD

When I fly, my DL is in my wallet, which gets locked in my carry-on prior to the TDC, and I use my passport card to enter the c/p. I got the passport card specifically for domestic air travel. I like that it's acceptable, it's a 2nd form of government-issued photo ID (for those occasions when I need such), and it doesn't have my home address on it.

I don't even have a valid passport book any more. I got one in 2002 for a trip which never happened, and kept it the entire 10-year validity period without using it once, so when it expired, I didn't bother to renew.

The card, since I got it several years after the book, has a different expiration date, so it's good for a few more years yet. I can renew just the card and not the book if I so choose when the expiration date approaches.

Sure, you bring up a valid point - the photo on any ID must look enough like the person to see that they match - but that is not the case here. OP's photo wasn't rejected because it didn't look like him, it was rejected because it cut off part of his chin. A frivolous and stupid reason by anyone's standards.

Exec_Plat

I drive rental cars often... in the US and EU.

gobluetwo

Indeed. When it's literally the 1 out of 300+ doc checkers that has a problem with the picture in the ID, that's not my problem.

Also, I carry around my GE card and DL. Also a personal cc and corporate cc when traveling on business. That's generally it, unless international travel is involved, in which case I add PP and ATM card and another no FTF cc.

RadioGirl

One of my personal travel rules is that if I look in the mirror and find that I look like my passport photo, I need to take a long vacation.

I went to a professional photographer who did passport-compliant photos and had a decent picture taken. When I went to the (Australian) post office to submit my (Australian) passport renewal, the [self-censored] clerk rejected the photo because there was a tiny glint of reflection on my eye glasses. It didn't in any sense obscure my features. But he insisted on taking another photo there in the post office, without my glasses. He also insisted that I couldn't smile, and I'm fairly blind without my glasses, so the result is an annoyed, unfocused stare. It's not my usual look.

In five years, no one has refused to accept it. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing.

Randyk47

Ten plus years ago we went to a professional photographer who advertised he did passport pictures and supposedly knew what he was doing. Turned out it took a submission, a new set of pictures which the photographer took, and resubmission to get our passports. When we did our renewal last year we looked at the requirements and decided to try taking our own. Nice thing about digital photography is that we were able to shoot a number of pictures until we got a good set. Mrs K had to work a little Photoshop magic on the background, was a little too beige, and a few shadows. Printed them at home on a good inkjet on photopaper and submitted the renewals. Three weeks later new passports arrived and we have probably the best pictures we've ever had for an official ID.

WillCAD

Once of my best friends is a wedding and portrait photographer, so I got him to take my passport photos. Turned out great, cost me nothing, and I had them in a few minutes. He even printed them for me.

RandomNobody

I deliberately take off my spectacles on passport/ID photos, and momentarily take off the spectacles when presenting ID to whoever in authority needs to see it. Most times I get a "thank you" as it is easier to remove spectacles than find some if I ever decide to wear contacts (and I have before).

The picture usually looks like I've got a "what the heck is going on?" expression.

exerda

Depends on where I am traveling, but I typically have DL (which I don't get out at the checkpoint), NEXUS card (presented when traveling domestically), passport (when traveling internationally), and often a HSPD-12-compliant agency ID similar to a CAC card. These are distributed over 3 physical places on my person and/or carry-on.

Kate2015

I personally have two that I always need - drivers license for driving (and renting cars especially) and health insurance card, which has a photo. I don't use either of those at checkpoints since IMO, ID's out of my wallet are too easily lost. That's why I use my GE card at the airport - I don't actually need it and if I lose it, it's not an immediate issue. So that's three right there - sometimes I have my passport as well, depending on the time since last international trip.

I know others who strip their wallet though.

GUWonder

I almost always have a passport and driving license when flying domestically or internationally. The vast majority of my international travel is booked within 2-36 hours of the flights and I'm not always near enough wherever it is that I would otherwise keep a passport.

My passport card just happens to be sort of stored with the driving license so those are with me too.

chollie

Stripping my wallet is only a secondary issue. I'm stripping non-government non-photo IDs, so their only value might be to bolster my claim that I am who I say I am.

I don't have multiple photo IDs, government-issue or not. If they don't trust the photo on the one I am carrying (DL or passport), I am in trouble.

Pup7

My obviously Brit husband got told by TSA once that his military dependent ID card was invalid because he's not American. After we gave the guy a few long looks - we didn't say much - we were too stunned and more than a bit confused - he called over a supervisor and was quickly corrected.

Nothing I hear about this stuff surprises me anymore. Nothing.

This was interesting (and more than a bit scary): TSA once let my DH on the plane and through security with a boarding pass that wasn't his - and no, it wasn't on purpose on his part. He was flying through MIA en route to RDU, having just come from Barbados. DH took the pass (obviously without really looking at it) from the ticket agent, walked away and presented it with ID at security; the guy looked at the ID and BP (or he thought he did!), and let Mr. Pup7 through without a word.

He got on the plane and his boarding pass did not say Mr. Pup7. Not even close. It was more like Mr. Feline92...

JoJo12

My birthday is later this week so I renewed my DL last week. Here in Oregon, they give you a temp paper license along with your old license with a hole punched in it. The old license was still in effect since it was not yet my birthday. Presenting both worked fine at pre-check in Portland. Returning from San Jose, CA yesterday, the pre-chekc agent would not accept my DL as ID. He took my Costco card as 2nd ID, then I was escorted through the regular security line and then taken for the full screening of a complete pat down, emptying all the luggage and every thing was gone through and swabbed. It took about 30 minutes total. All because I renewed my DL. I will now always have my Global Entry card with me also. At least I did not miss my flight, but did miss out using my new Priority Pass for the lounge.