Mustache, beard and TSA
Nov 19, 2009 | 5:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Orlando
Programs: Delta-Million miler
Posts: 1,312
Mustache, beard and TSA
Both my driver's license and passport pictures show me as a clean shaven man. I would like to grow a mustache and possibly even a beard. I travel frequently. Would this cause delays/problems at the security check?
Has anyone had problems because the picture ID didn't exactly match current appearance?
I am serious.
Has anyone had problems because the picture ID didn't exactly match current appearance?
I am serious.
Last edited by Gynob001; Nov 19, 2009 at 5:41 pm Reason: want to add a line
Nov 19, 2009 | 6:11 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,702
Both my driver's license and passport pictures show me as a clean shaven man. I would like to grow a mustache and possibly even a beard. I travel frequently. Would this cause delays/problems at the security check?
Has anyone had problems because the picture ID didn't exactly match current appearance?
I am serious.
Has anyone had problems because the picture ID didn't exactly match current appearance?
I am serious.
Nov 19, 2009 | 8:49 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: Delta Gold 1 MM
Posts: 2,712
Well, those who know me know that I have both a beard and a mustache.
I fly a fair amount.
I am always sent to secondary inspection. Many of you know why.
The i.d. checker is more interested in impressing you with his/her ability to
1.) read 2.) use the recently issued light and 3.) the need for near vision lenses.
You can fly without i.d.
I fly a fair amount.
I am always sent to secondary inspection. Many of you know why.
The i.d. checker is more interested in impressing you with his/her ability to
1.) read 2.) use the recently issued light and 3.) the need for near vision lenses.
You can fly without i.d.
Nov 19, 2009 | 8:56 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,702
Well, those who know me know that I have both a beard and a mustache.
I fly a fair amount.
I am always sent to secondary inspection. Many of you know why.
The i.d. checker is more interested in impressing you with his/her ability to
1.) read 2.) use the recently issued light and 3.) the need for near vision lenses.
You can fly without i.d.
I fly a fair amount.
I am always sent to secondary inspection. Many of you know why.
The i.d. checker is more interested in impressing you with his/her ability to
1.) read 2.) use the recently issued light and 3.) the need for near vision lenses.
You can fly without i.d.
And as your reasons:
1) "hooked on phonics worked for me"
2) I work for TSA, I impress myself when I can use any simple electronics
3) actually I do need to get glasses, but I don't have to hold the license any closer than the tip of my nose.
Nov 20, 2009 | 9:00 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: PHX & PPT
Programs: DL PM, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold, AmExPlat
Posts: 833
A friend of mine, a resident of French Polynesia (who is also a FA for ATN) was detained and questioned at LAX immigration upon arrival for several hours because her hair color on her passport photo did not match the hair color on her head (and it was only a slightly lighter shade of brunette.) So, besides worrying about your ID passing muster with TSA, you might also consider the ramifications of difference in appearance from your passport photo.
Nov 20, 2009 | 9:18 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Marriott or Hilton hot tub with a big drink <glub> Beverage: To-Go Bag DYKWIA:SSSS /rolleyes ☈ Date Night:Costco
Programs: Sea Shell Lounge Platinum, TSA Pre✓ Refusnik Diamond, PWP Gold, FT subset of the subset
Posts: 12,523
Well, there was a college student handcuffed and detained in PHL for 5 hours a couple of months ago. One of the reasons officials gave for this treatment?
Lt. Louis Liberati said, just as Davis did, that TSA personnel initially selected George because of something in his behavior.
But Liberati said that it was the stuff that the TSA found in George's backpack and wallet that really aroused their suspicion: the Arabic flash cards with troubling words, a card that had George's name and Arabic script, and the longer hair in George's driver's license and passport photos than his current clean-cut appearance.
That's "an indicator sometimes that somebody may have gone through a radicalization," Liberati explained.
Lt. Louis Liberati said, just as Davis did, that TSA personnel initially selected George because of something in his behavior.
But Liberati said that it was the stuff that the TSA found in George's backpack and wallet that really aroused their suspicion: the Arabic flash cards with troubling words, a card that had George's name and Arabic script, and the longer hair in George's driver's license and passport photos than his current clean-cut appearance.
That's "an indicator sometimes that somebody may have gone through a radicalization," Liberati explained.
Nov 20, 2009 | 9:38 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: GNV which is not where we would like to be :)
Programs: ABP, Mr. Mom without the kids, Signor Mucci, DL PM, HH & Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 4,526
Well, there was a college student handcuffed and detained in PHL for 5 hours a couple of months ago. One of the reasons officials gave for this treatment?
Lt. Louis Liberati said, just as Davis did, that TSA personnel initially selected George because of something in his behavior.
But Liberati said that it was the stuff that the TSA found in George's backpack and wallet that really aroused their suspicion: the Arabic flash cards with troubling words, a card that had George's name and Arabic script, and the longer hair in George's driver's license and passport photos than his current clean-cut appearance.
That's "an indicator sometimes that somebody may have gone through a radicalization," Liberati explained.
Lt. Louis Liberati said, just as Davis did, that TSA personnel initially selected George because of something in his behavior.
But Liberati said that it was the stuff that the TSA found in George's backpack and wallet that really aroused their suspicion: the Arabic flash cards with troubling words, a card that had George's name and Arabic script, and the longer hair in George's driver's license and passport photos than his current clean-cut appearance.
That's "an indicator sometimes that somebody may have gone through a radicalization," Liberati explained.
Nov 20, 2009 | 10:18 am
#10
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 29,078
Well, there was a college student handcuffed and detained in PHL for 5 hours a couple of months ago. One of the reasons officials gave for this treatment?
Lt. Louis Liberati said, just as Davis did, that TSA personnel initially selected George because of something in his behavior.
But Liberati said that it was the stuff that the TSA found in George's backpack and wallet that really aroused their suspicion: the Arabic flash cards with troubling words, a card that had George's name and Arabic script, and the longer hair in George's driver's license and passport photos than his current clean-cut appearance.
That's "an indicator sometimes that somebody may have gone through a radicalization," Liberati explained.
Lt. Louis Liberati said, just as Davis did, that TSA personnel initially selected George because of something in his behavior.
But Liberati said that it was the stuff that the TSA found in George's backpack and wallet that really aroused their suspicion: the Arabic flash cards with troubling words, a card that had George's name and Arabic script, and the longer hair in George's driver's license and passport photos than his current clean-cut appearance.
That's "an indicator sometimes that somebody may have gone through a radicalization," Liberati explained.
<brought to by the law firm of feh, blech, ralph, belch and hurl>
Nov 20, 2009 | 11:14 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,684
Mike
Nov 20, 2009 | 2:39 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 39
To answer the original question, my clean-shaven, short-haired (according to passport photo) hubby decided to grow the mother of all beards and his hair is now halfway down his back. We've flown to several countries and yes, they do look closely at his photo and then him to make sure it's the same person, but it's never caused us a problem.
I think he might have an advantage, though, because he's always traveling with me and I can always make a light-hearted wife joke. My hair is much longer than my passport photo, too (but same colour and no beard!), so it probably seems like less of a deal when the two of us go through.
I think he might have an advantage, though, because he's always traveling with me and I can always make a light-hearted wife joke. My hair is much longer than my passport photo, too (but same colour and no beard!), so it probably seems like less of a deal when the two of us go through.
Nov 20, 2009 | 5:40 pm
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,725
Well, there was a college student handcuffed and detained in PHL for 5 hours a couple of months ago. One of the reasons officials gave for this treatment?
Lt. Louis Liberati said, just as Davis did, that TSA personnel initially selected George because of something in his behavior.
But Liberati said that it was the stuff that the TSA found in George's backpack and wallet that really aroused their suspicion: the Arabic flash cards with troubling words, a card that had George's name and Arabic script, and the longer hair in George's driver's license and passport photos than his current clean-cut appearance.
That's "an indicator sometimes that somebody may have gone through a radicalization," Liberati explained.
Lt. Louis Liberati said, just as Davis did, that TSA personnel initially selected George because of something in his behavior.
But Liberati said that it was the stuff that the TSA found in George's backpack and wallet that really aroused their suspicion: the Arabic flash cards with troubling words, a card that had George's name and Arabic script, and the longer hair in George's driver's license and passport photos than his current clean-cut appearance.
That's "an indicator sometimes that somebody may have gone through a radicalization," Liberati explained.
