Two Forms of ID Required
 

Here I sit on US192 this evening, questioning the experience I had in MCO. It would seem that MCO TSA implemented a new policy requiring all individuals to produce not one, but two forms of ID and a boarding pass. I was in the Expert Traveler lane which shares an ID checker with the Employee line. This new policy was being targeted against not only us fliers, but all employees and other staff as well. I watched them catch a FAM, Pilot, and a few flight attendants quite by surprise. The FAM seemed particularly ticked.

I had a second form of ID available, and needed to catch my flight so on I went, but I did question a supervisor at the security desk and was informed it was just something that they randomly implement for additional security. When I asked if the common traveler now needed two forms of ID and not just one to speed their way through the airport, I was informed if they had time sensitive deadlines, it would be highly recommended, as someone without a second form of ID would be subject to additional scrutiny.

I also asked him if they would be updating any documentation on the TSA website about this new policy and was informed that as it was a policy that was not always in effect, it would not be updated.

So, what happened here? Did I miss the newest installment of the security theater? Did we have some new near miss to drive up security? Just seemed quite odd all in all.

-- Mia

I hate to admit to messing up my own post, but in retrospect, this would seem to belong in Safety/Security and not in US Airways, even though I am sure my fellow DM members would get quite a kick out of it. If no objections, please move.

-- Mia

That's another example of these TSA morons making up rules as they go. They need to drop the id thing to start with. If they do their jobs I don't care who is on the plane with me.

Yeah, you know 'S.S.I.'...
Once it moves, I'm sure the TSA crew will neither confirm nor deny SSI on this mystery policy :eek:

BTW, Thank you for the heads up, I fly out of MCO next weekend and was not planing on bringing more then 1 form of ID. Of course with the random-ness of policies I may need 3 forms :rolleyes:

Yeah, 3 forms of ID, all Federal or State issue, blood, urine, and hair samples, voice verification, and at least one priest to verify you are not possessed.

Oh, and don't forget your boarding pass. :)

-- Mia

I fly through MCO every week and this is a new one to me. Did they say they both have to be photo id? If so, there are going to be major issues--most people have only 1 photo id (driver's license).

Thanks for the heads up!

They did not, they just kept telling each person up there they needed two IDs. One poor flight attendant had to dig through her carry-on to find her passport.

Of the few other IDs that I saw people pull they were all photo, as was mine. I am pretty sure this is just more BS, and I am sure you can get through on just one, just be prepared for delays.

-- Mia

That's simply unacceptable. If there are new TSA rules which may impede the orderly flow of pax security traffic on any given day, they should be publicized and on the website. For all of us FFs, please file a complaint with TSA regarding their arbitrary MCO procedures, and escalate to your local Congressman/Senator if necessary.

I've heard from some co-workers that this has been an issue in MCO for a while. They're only getting 1 from me, if they want to deny me access to the secure side then I'll just call scheduling and tell them I can't take the trip since I can't get through.

I am not trying to defend the TSA, mind you, but it has long been their practice to alter/add additional security without announcing/publicizing it. This can be bothersome, true, but one doesn't want bad guys to be too sure what will be expected of them as they try to pass through Security. As the OP notes, you can still get through Security without having a second ID, you'll simply come under additional scrutiny. Again, let me reiterate, I am not advocating such measures nor suggesting they are effective; I'm merely pointing out that they are nothing new.

Yep, this almost as effective as not putting the names of real bad guys on the no-fly-list so they don't know we're on to them. :rolleyes: x 6.02E23

Couple of months back, TSA at MCO airside 1/3 would not accept my INS Green Card for ID, crayoned "SSSS" on my BP, searched me down in the pre-WTMD line to ensure I went to the plastic penalty box, and then engaged in highly effective additional screening. Great time was had by all. Best line was from a 3 striper, who, when I demanded to know exactly what was wrong with my DHS issued ID since I had used it but a week earlier to re-enter the country stated, "well, probably nothing, but the call is up to the guy doing the document check."
Seems to me a several year intensive instruction program couldn't raise some of these buffoons' performance to merely unsat levels. :mad:

That's a shame... I've been going through MCO weekly now since March and will say they normally manage the Expert Traveler lane very well with all of the families, strollers, and craziness running around that place sometimes. Then again, sounds like another stunt dreamed up by this government-sponsored employment agency hiding behind the label of "your safety". Ya never know...that 2nd form of ID just may bring Al Qaeda's next big plan to it's knees as they nab Osama trying to board the PHX flight in a Donald Duck t-shirt. No surprise at all...but still the best example of what happens when the government takes something over.

The TSA is correct and wise to start mixing things up instead of having a 100% set way of doing things, Not great for the travelers but much better for security. I really like the face to face random interviews being done past security. A static, everytime and place the same is dangerious policy.

Oh boy, this thread is going to need to be put in TS/S very fast.

Your last sentence is true. However, many feel that the usual inconsistency is nothing more than a crutch and an excuse for complete lack of any standards applied anywhere.

And then this issue comes up: In what way is security affected by matching any form of ID, let alone two, to a name on a boarding pass before entering the checkpoint?

It's about as effective as the fake ID I had 20 years ago I used to buy booze with. Had the watermarks, holograms, and all... They can save their (MY) money on the jewelers glasses and cute flashlights, the technology passed them before they ever caught on.

Moved to Travel Safety/Security

The TSA ARE the bad guys for harassing the traveling public. No one should ever have to show even 1 ID, let alone another.

OP: File a complaint at 1-866-289-9673. Also write your elected representatives. If the MCO FSD mandated this, then he/she is a real scumbag who should be caned and terminated.

No one should ever have to answer questions to travel without additional harassment. The TSA employee who attempts to force people to answer questions in such a manner can go to hell. :mad:

I have a "static answer" for such "random interviews" too. ;) (Refer to Tommy DeVito's comments to Officer Bing in Goodfellas)

I have both a NEXUS and a DL. But at BNA on Sunday, the TDC would not take my NEXUS and the supervisor came over and said the NEXUS was no longer accepted according to an email he saw. He asked for DL and I cleared TDC with the DL. Before I could get through the rest of screening, the supervisor found me and apologized for not accepting the NEXUS. He took the opportunity to look up current info and looked me up to tell me that the NEXUS is indeed okay and that he was sorry that he made the mistake. Despite the initial error, we need more good guys like this.

However, at the initial contact, I only had one good ID even though I carry two. If some checkers will not take the NEXUS, then I still need three.

Good for you! ;)^


The ID checks are nothing but revenue protection for the airlines. How do they increase security?

Nobody needs to speak to a TSO.

Guys, it's really not sporting to rip new ones of people who didn't intend to venture into TS&S in the first place. Even if they do so deserve one.

Here, only the strong survive :D .

That feels like being in Australia where you have to bring a passport, a credit or debit card with your name, a bank statement with your address to make people give you a stupid driver's licence...

But I've never been asked for 2nd ID at immigration, that's really weird.

And - I can't stand the puzzling questions in the US...I had been there twice withing 2 months because I had a project and got into trouble because they wouldn't believe that the project was STILL running...morons...

The TSA's document checkers aren't immigration. They are part of, err... of, umm... of ...
someone help me out here :confused: .

Workfare.

Not a lot of difference between that and the NEXUS card.

I can tap a sensor at the U.S./Canada border and be on my way, spend a week or so in Canada, drive back to the border and tap my card again on the sensor and continue on back home.

But if I want to get on a commercial airliner, I now may have to show two IDs to some TSO sitting at a rickety podium with a Little Orphan Annie Secret Decoder Flashlight.

Amazing.

Absolutely amazing.

Off topic somewhat:
To obtain a 'Real ID Act' approved Fla Drivers license you need the following;
A.) One original or certified copy of the following documents:
# Certified United States birth certificate, including territories and District of Columbia
# Valid United States Passport or Passport Card
# Consular Report of Birth Abroad
# Certificate of Naturalization, Form N-550 or Form N-570
# Certificate of Citizenship, Form N-560 or Form N-561
B.) One original Proof of Social Security Number:
# Social Security card
must be an original in your current full name
# W-2 form
# Pay check/stub
C.) 2 Proofs of Residential Address:
Basically any type of bill or gov't mail sent to you @ the address on your license.
in lieu of that they will take proof of residential address from applicant's parent, step-parent, legal guardian or other person with whom the applicant resides, along with A statement from a parent, step-parent, legal guardian or other person with whom the applicant resides, combined with two proofs of their residential address (see above)

** Now if you have had a name change OR address change for any reason be prepared to document EACH AND EVERY ONE.
>> Please note, they WILL NOT accept your old(pre-real ID) ID or DL as any type of identification <<

The firestorm behind the Real ID Act is much worse then any TSA act.
As it should be, after all the DHS created it :P

well obviously the terrorists don't want to go to Canada...:rolleyes:

Ehmmm excuse me but the US does NOT considered anything other than a passport legal ID from a visitor... HUH - DL sorry but mine is NOT considered legal ID over there so I am not providing it. Go talk to Hillary and her dept because that is exactly what they tell guests

Two IDs for a foreigner is an interesting test of force. I wonder what they would do if you handed in some kind of document they could not identify. I own a pool card in Russian (with a picture!) which would be kind of interesting to try on these guys. Not even my name is understandable if you don´t read the Russian alphabet. I bet an Arabic-language card would gather even more interest...

Canned, yes. Caned, I dunno. :D

Caned sounds right ! :D

What is really discouraging is that it appears that not one of the thousands who passed through MCO had the ***** to balk at this :td: .

I know people have places to go and just want to get out of there, but I'd like to think someone would at least raise some kind of objection, mild or otherwise. I would have, but I acknowledge that I'm in a better position than most to do so - my time is my own and I will not be bullied, intimidated or mistreated by screeners.

Did this get asked on PV ? I never go there, but I'd be interested in how BB squirms out of answering.

He will just say he put a call into MCO and will report back when he hears anything.

But I wouldn't hold your breath.

We are all still waiting to hear about the mandatory WBI screening at ELP.

Simple solution.. do not produce a second ID at MCO. If everybody did this, it will screw them up. With around 40,000 departing passengers a day, it will bring the security screening to a complete halt. Of course, make sure you allow plenty of time...

BB doesn't seem to have the cojones to address news stories that reflect negatively on TSA.

Forced WBI screening reported at ESP has not been addressed yet plus other recent reports of TSA civil rights abuses.

I suggest when TSA goes silent on reports of abuse then "guilty as charged" is the appropriate response.

The reality, as demonstrated by this incident, is that there is absolutely no chance of everybody doing anything to challenge the TSA. The huge majority will do whatever the TSA wants, no doubt chanting the "if it makes us safer" mantra all the while.

BOHICA

Foreigners make up a big chunk of flying public in the USA, and I bet they are not willing (quite understandably) to engage in this type of protest. I, for one, would not be ready to experiment with security requirements in a foreign country that I am not overly familiar with - no matter how ridiculous they are. So, far the most ridiculous ones I have ever encountered were in my own country - the USA :)

I find this story a little confusing. What were people using as a second ID?

I don't think most people have two forms of ID; most folks just have a driver's license (or state ID). Some people might have a passport or passport card, but lots of folks don't have one or don't carry it unless they are traveling internationally. Military personnel would have military ID, but that's a pretty small minority.

International visitors to the US would be carrying a passport, of course, but any other ID they'd be carrying would presumably be from their home country. In most cases that wouldn't be in English and might not even include any text that could even be compared to the name on an English language boarding pass (a Japanese or Russian ID, for example).

Costco is losing its clout
 

Since TSA seems to accept American Costco cards as ID, why not a Japanese Sams Club type card? :D

My local supervisor of elections must be following the TSA ID goings on. In the sample ballot for the upcoming primary it says "Buyers Club cards. . . are no longer valid forms of identification for voting."

This actually happened to me at LGA this year.

I showed Brainiac my Illinois DL. Now this license is almost eight years old (sticker renewal) and is very worn. I have had absolutely no problems at any other airports using it (save a few comments on how old or worn it looks).
Brainiac uses his super-secret blue light on it and then asks me for additional ID. I refuse. He can't believe that I don't have any other ID. So he writes something on my BP and lets me go.

Now at LGA, you are required to show your boarding pass to enter the gate from hell (as has been reported here many times). No other airport requires that, but I guess to be super safe, they want to make sure that nothing fishy happend in the 50 feet from the first ID checker and the mag.

Thankfully, I prinited out another BP from the kiosk and flashed that to the gatekeeper. He let me go though.

Now the person in front of me at the initial check was also asked the same thing/ He actually showed the droid another ID. He also had something written on his boarding pass. As I was gathering up my belongings, I saw that he was pulled over and made to go through a secondary.

Glad I had the second boarding pass. And so glad that the second droid really looked carefully at the BP. Couldn't even take the time to see that it wasn't initialed bythe first one.

Damn, I feel safer just typing this out.

i'm also in the camp of of having two bp's.....my bp from olci and my "hard copy" bp from one of the chickens and i don't shred my olci bp into little pieces until i'm thru security. any yes, i've had the uber-secret scribble on my olci bp as well and like my esteemed colleague, i feel so much safer after after presenting "my other bp"