What happens if no ID?
 

My fiancee and I are set to fly SEA-ORD-MDT and back BWI-ORD-SEA beginning Thursday on UA. Yesterday she misplaced her drivers license and has not yet found it. I remember a thread on here about the ID requirement at checkin being an airline rule and not FAA rules so that tickets cannot be transferred. Is this the case, and if so, is it still the case since 9/11?

Does she need to get to the DMV tomorrow? (She doesn't have a passport or other official form of ID except for a work ID).

What would UA do if a passenger forgot their ID?

Thanks in advance.

[This message has been edited by whlinder (edited 09-25-2001).]

I've seen people turned away at the ticket counter many times because they don't have a drivers license or passport with them, and with the current state of affairs I can't believe that the airlines would be any less stringent. I wouldn't fool with it -- get a replacement drivers license before you go to the airport.

UA will sometimes bend the rules if you forget the credit card used to purchase the e-ticket, but I have *never* seen them bend the rules on checking in without a "government issued" id.

Given the number of times my ID was checked on my trip to LAS last week, I'd suggest that your girlfriend get down to the DMV pronto.

Sean




[This message has been edited by skofarrell (edited 09-25-2001).]

No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service... Same rule kind of applies here I think.

Personally, I look at it like this:

For Guys... No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service
For Girls.. No Shirt, Hey, Drinks are on me for the rest of the night. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I'm pretty sure you will have problems without an picture ID. Passport?

Sometimes in the past the airlines will bend the rules if you have a copy of a police report indicating a theft of ID. But I don't know if they would give you one for lost or misplaced ID.

If you do have a police report, you had better get everything pre-arranged and noted in their record before getting to the airport, that they will be presenting a police report in place of photo ID.

If it's simply misplaced, I think you're going to have to get another one ASAP from the DMV.

I hope the Washington DMV is fast. The New York DMV takes a couple of weeks to mail a replacement driver's license.

I posted a similar topic in Travel Buzz recently. I have trips every 2 weeks and I have to send my passport away for a Burmese visa. My wallet was stolen and I just replaced my drivers license a week ago. In CA they mail it to you and it takes 4 weeks.

I have called AA about 5 times. Three times I was told I could use a credit card photo as identification. So I am planning to bring my photo credit card, birth certificate, and my paper receipt from the DMV.

AA said if I have two forms of govt issued paper identification (birth certificate, SS card, voters registration card) that would work as well.

Each airline is different so I would suggest calling UA and finding out the exact rules. I would also suggest making several different calls.

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The world is a book, and for those who do not travel, read only a page.
-Saint Augustine

Here in Washington, you have to have a photo retaken for a replacement license. Go to the DMV way out in Snoqualmie and you'll be in and out of there in 30 mins.

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Airlines are only required by the FAA to check ID if the passenger is checking bags, but in light of recent security measures I would make advance arrangements, and would probably go to the hassle of getting a replacement license. It is instant in Washington, well after waiting at the DMV that is...

My wife was flying SEA-SFO with me and our son on AS last year. She forgot her driver's license. We threw ourselves on the mercy of the AS counter agent. They let her pass -- probably because she could produce enough credit cards, etc. to demonstrate she really was my wife. But her BP got a special red sticker on it, and when we got her bag back at SFO the lock had been cut and the contents heavily examined.

I can't imagine AS allowing her the same kind of pass given recent events, however.

I've wondered how this would work here. In Texas it takes about 6 weeks to get your photo ID. In the meantime you just have a paper copy.

I don't know if they offer a rush job for your license there, but you can get a passport in 24 hours for like $90 if you live in a passport-issuing city (Houston is one). I don't know if you'll have a more difficult time getting that without a photo ID.

I saw a woman turned away who was travelling with her husband and son the other day because she didn't have her photo ID. She had credit cards, copies of the itinerary, etc., but UA said no.

Go to the DMV. It is the easiest process in Seattle. Located downtown. I've been in and out of there in an hour. Save yourself any type of grief.

Luckily, we saved ourselves a day of headaches and stress by finding the license. (woo-hoo!) She thought it was gone... The joys of having more purses than one knows what to do with http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Gosh, I can't imagine getting to the ticket counter to discover your license is missing...

I don't think you are describing any legitimate airline security procedure; it certainly seems as if that bag was burglarized.

Just so long as she doesn't try to carry them on!

Nothing was missing from her bag. We believe her bag was searched, and kept off the aircraft until it was confirmed that she had boarded.

Two years ago I picked up my wife at the airport (LGA) and had to show my license to get through security. I put my license into my shirt pocket (a very bad habit I have with credit cards and licenses), and the next day when we were flying off for easter I didn't have the ID.

The airline (Delta) had a specific policy on what to do if a government issued picture ID wasn't produced. It was even ont he signs in front of the counter. In that case I would need two non picture kinds of ID, one which had to be issued by a government body. The absolute only thing I was able to come up with was the state insurance card for the car, which meant a trip to the car and back (the registration for the car was in my wife's name, the insurance was for all of our cars, so both names were on it). It really wasn't a state issued certificate, but had the state seal on it because it was for a Connecticut car.

I never left the house again for the airport without checking for the ID, and wouldn't even consider it now.

Do what yo ucan to get either a license or one of the "of age" cards for people who don't drive, whatever is available in your state quickly.

Lucky for us, a replacement license takes only a few minutes here.

Now, photo ID is required not only to check-in and receive a boarding pass, but also to get through security for domestic or international flights. At some places, photo ID is also required prior to being let down the walkway to the aircraft.

Glad to hear that you found the license.

The following info is from an NWA email I received today and *may* help anyone who actually has lost their driver' license or passport:

"Please make note of the following information regarding new airport procedures:

-All passengers over age 18 should carry government-issued photo identification at all times. Examples of proper identification
include a driver's license or passport. If you do not have a government-issued photo ID, two forms of ID will be required, one
of which must be government-issued (i.e. a social security card and a WorldPerks card)."

UA requires the credit card that purchased the eticket at the time of travel? How bizarre.

How do you purchase tickets for someone else, then?

They only require it if you have purchased via the web or phone. If you bought it at a CTO or at the airport for someone else they don't need it. They need to match the signature to the credit card.

As an alternative, they don't check the CC on an e-ticket bought through a travel agent. You can always use a paper ticket...

Sean

You either have to go with them to the airport and show the card, or you have to go to a ticket office before the flight and show the card. It's made real clear from them what has to be done, but there are always people who forgot. They only need to see it on the first leg, and they do verify the number, because if you give them the wrong card they say nope and let you try again.

Only for tickets purchased online do you have to do this.

In Texas you can get a non-driver photo ID as well as a driver's license. The logic of this is that there are times and places where you don't want to risk loosing your driver's license. I also have my teacher's 'dog tag' that is a photo ID I'm required to wear at all times when on school property.

However on recent AA flights DFW-TPA and return 2 forms of photo ID were required at check-in. Yes 2! I was about to search for my Sam's card when I thought about my 'dog tag'.

My elderly mother has no form of photo ID, so I realized that I need to get her something. Likely the state issued non-driver photo ID.

Incidently many teachers carry nothing of value into school, locking purses and wallets in their cars. This isn't the best thing to do as your car could be broken in to, but apparently it is safer than having your items with you.

And you wonder why people don't want to teach!

The first time through this thread, I forgot the story of a coworker who lost his ID.

He lived in Conecticut, but he was on an extended assignment in Wisconsin. He lost his CT license and applied for a replacement by mail/phone.

He realized that he was supposed to fly someplace that weekend and tried to get a WI ID Card so that he wouldn't have trouble.

He was caught immediately and almost arrested. He was detained for some time while they went through his story, but apparently they immediately had access to the fact that he had applied for, but not been issued, his CT ID a few days earlier.

So, I have no idea what you should do if you lose your ID while travelling, but here's an example of what not to do. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I've gotten replacements rather quickly here in WA as well, but I heard that the process recently changed and now they mail you the photo card, and just give you a receipt. Has anyone gone through the process in the last couple of months?

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Have a great day!!
~~Missy~~

When I was finally able to fly back to the US from Canada on Sept. 15 I was asked for 2 forms of ID. I don't know if this is standard for Canada-US travel, but I didn't need two pieces on the way there (before Sept. 11). And I don't recall needing two pieces on my European trips. (And on previous car trips to Canada and back, my DL was enough.) Fortunately, I now always travel with my Passport and DL.

So, depending on the airport/airline it's possible that you will have to have not just one, but two pieces.

If you don't already have one, I recommend getting a Passport. It seems to be universally accepted. State licenses can vary; most look pretty official now, but in the past I remember seeing some that looked pretty amateurish. Visiting bars with fellow students produced a variety of licenses and occasionally a bartender/waiter seemed rather dubious of some.

If you move as frequently as I do, you don't have to worry about having inaccurate/conflicting address information. And if you keep your passport with travel accessories, you are less likely to lose it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I once left my license on a photocopier in my home office just before leaving for a cross-country trip. It was perfectly safe, I knew where it was, but I didn't have it.

My departure point was Worcester, Mass. (ORH). I got into a discussion with the counter agent, she had my credit card (to confirm the e-ticket) and AA PLT (at the time) card, and never asked for a photo ID.

Returning from SFO with a colleague, we checked in at the Admirals Club. They saw my membership card and PLT card when I came in. We had a long discussion about availability of "sticker" upgrades for the two of us. (There was one seat available, so we decided to stay together in economy.) They also never got around to asking for a photo ID.

Pure luck, of course. I doubt that would happen at either end today, let alone both.

Even then, I wouldn't have recommended it as a standard travel procedure.

Two forms of ID? For a domestic flight? WHY???

What do IDs have to do with security, anyway? Didn't the hijackers have picture IDs? Didn't they have to show them to board their flights on September 11? What good did it do? What good does it do today?

Bruce

Bruce,

As the hijackers showed ID, we now know who they are.

DO they not also ask for ID to make cerrain the ticket is not stolen?