Well, I was born and live in the Schengen zone, and in the past 34 years I have never been required to show an ID on 100s of domestic flights in Germany and, since Schengen exists, many intra-Schengen flights. A actually didn't even OWN a national ID card until I turned 28, and I certainly didn't carry my passport on domestic trips. But I can't speak for ALL European countries, a fact that I indicated in my post.

Maybe it was because you look like you are carrying a bomb...

Remember the woman in the "wheelchair", right?

No ID check for civilian or government/military flights in India.
No ID check for intra-Sweden flights.

I originally thought this thread was one of those "male forum" threads and a commentary about some attractive Australian female working security.

Was that Airplane or Airplane II? Anyway, I was about to write the same thing.

I don't know every countries rules either, but I live in France and take dozens of domestic flights in France and dozens more within Schengen each year. If any of those flights didn't require an ID I don't remember it. I do clearly remember people around me showing their national ID and I always have to show mine. I fly in and out of Spain often and I know they require ID's for Schengen flights. I haven't been able to get the KLM check-in machines to work for me so I'm not sure about NL.

Also, I know you have to show ID's for LH flights to FRA from France.

Poor French, then, especially if ID checking is not a SkyTeam thing but a mandatory government rule. Who knows more?

Obviously, ID checks make sense for AIRLINES in order for them to make sure that the person who bought a restricted/cheap/nonrefundable ticket (now very popular in Europe) is travelling on it, and not somebody else (like a friend or family member). But these checks, if they occur, have nothing to do with security. Btw, even in the USA, you don't need an ID for domestic flights. However, w/o ID, you'll have to undergo additional screening. So my guess would be, if you declined to show your ID in France, you would still be able to fly. Well, try that next time (by pretending to have fogotten your ID) on a domestic flight and tell us about the reaction.

If you read my wording, I did not say that the Security Officer was sensitive, I said it was a "sensitive area". You only have to look at some of the posts in the Travel Safety/Security forum to realise that the whole aspect of TSA and security personnel at airports is a sensitvie topic.

I think they do have a lot to do with security. If you read this forum you know there is a lot going on about "no-fly" lists. And it's not just America. So if I'm on a "no-fly" list and I want to fly, I can just obtain a ticket in someone elses name and fly without an ID. Except I cannot do that in countries that require an ID even for domestic flights.

BTW I just flew domestic in NZ and they don't ask for any sort of ID either. But then again, no one dislikes the Kiwis.

Not so fast, stimpy! Our president, George W. Bush, has told us many times that terrorists hate freedom -- or, alternatively, hate us for our freedom. New Zealanders are, without any doubt, free. Therefore, the terrorists must hate New Zealanders. Ipso facto! Terrorists must really hate the Swedes! They must be shaking in their boots.

Bruce

Bambi, I will be making a connection in JFK next month, if you can arrange a transfer out of PHL feel free to fondle all you want!

These infamous lists are relevant only to flights to the USA. The USA demands the use of these lists, and the airlines have to comply, if they don't want to lose their landing and overflight rights.

Also, that's why in Germany every pax to the US is subject to a SECOND security screening that follows another standard dictated by the US and has to fill out a form with his personal data and his first address in the US (also mandated by the US). Of course, it doesn't stop here, as (given he's not American) he'll have to to fill out 2 more forms (4 pages) on the plane and will finally be questioned, photographed and fingerprinted upon his arrival in the USA.

An American flying FROM the US to Germany will not have to fill out any paperwork and will not be fingerprinted or photographed. Yet the German people still feel safe. I know, they must be kinda stupid. Or cute.

Flying as a non-American on an American carrier to the US seems like a pain:

1. Submit your first address in the US to the airline; and all the details must be stored and transmitted by the airline to the US government so that we Americans have a bigger haystack for which to look for a needle or two.
2. The secondary security screening nonsense when the flight is operated by an American carrier heading to the US. But if you fly a non-US-based carrier the secondary screening and all those stupid questions from "contract" security -- which couldn't tell a monkey from a gorilla -- doesn't occur.

And now even US citizens may get some additional harassment from immigration and customs upon arrival in the US if even one letter in the passenger manifest is different from the passport details. Talk about ridiculous.

Some could probably live more free from government interference in Afghanistan than in the US.

Identity is not security -- nor are these various "lists" going to provide absolute security. Terrorists -- especially suicidal terrorists -- will use real authentic ID just as readily as fake ID. Many even show real authentic ID on the days where they decide to show their worst side to the world.

In MUC and FRA, all US bound pax have to undergo secondary screening, no matter what airline (LH or US flag carriers) they are flying. Sometimes, they even play the "shoe carnival", but in the end, lines are small (at least in MUC) and you don't really lose much time. They also have priority lines in MUC for secondary screening, but nobody seems to care about enforcing them.

Amazingly, the TSA screening in LAX is very nice and relaxed leaving from the TBIT, as the guys working at the International Terminal are consistently one of the best.

Like I said, fondleing men's rear muscles would make me happy. Doing a pat down on a woman is just work.