Those not-quite-security dudes, whom you encounter half way through the security line, before you hit the WTMD sub-lines... the ones who check that your BP matches your ID and that your ID matches your face (and also check for the SSSS mark)... how easy/hard is it going to be to convince them to let you through without any ID, just a BP? Should one pencil in SSSS on one's own BP preemptively?

Has anyone on FT actually (not anecdotally) done this (show up at airport with no ID, just a home-printed BP, get to security screeners, receive the SSSS treatment, and still fly) successfully [non internationally, of course]? I smell a future FT group project.

Hold on a second, why should we help you? How do we KNOW you are who you say you are? Got any ID to prove you did not hack "ehdguq"'s FT account? How do we know you are not a sleeper cell testing airport security?





Just kidding, sorry about your loss, bummer, hope you get home OK, let us know what MCO does to you.

I've travelled domestically several times without showing any ID to anyone. I told them I lost my ID, and they gave me the SSSS and a dump-search. That was quite a few years ago, so I don't know what the current procedure is.

One of my SO's kids lost her wallet while she was at his house. She was able to fly home with just an SSSS

Well, certain kinds of ID. Right after 9/11, I started my own little research project, and can tell you that it's more like most government issue photo IDs: I've found that the good people at SFO will absolutely wig out when presented with an out-of-state Conceled Carry of Firearms permit, and nobody seems to like the Library of Congress Reader Identification Card .

Both are government issued photo ID, mind you.

If the OP has his FF # memorized, I think that can be manually entered via touchscreen at Mr. Chicken.

I've done pretty well with mine. Anytime someone questions it, I just tell them to flip it over, point to "Library of Congress" and say, "issued by the federal government."

My advice? Make a fake ID at a local store.

tell them the truth. I'm sure they faced similar situations in the past and with some extra scrutiny i'm sure you'll be able to fly home. Good luck and get to the airport early with a nice and even temper (just in case)!

Very nice, I've got to try that one

Please let us know what happens and how you managed to work this out. Thanks

If you have enough time, call up your home-state registry of motor vehicles and see if you can pay to have them fedex a new ID to your hotel. While you do not have to have an ID to fly in the US, it would certainly simplify your airport ordeal if you had an ID. Alternatively, you could ask someone back home to FedEx you your passport. Since many people don't travel domestically with them, you could have left yours at home.

So when booking last minute, or if "online check-in is unavailable," one might as well leave IDs at home? Nice way of sticking it to the man!

Well, I have firsthand recent knowledge, and the good news is, at least at LAX and PDX on UAL, you can travel pretty easily w/o an id. I forgot my purse over MLK weekend for my weekend trip to PDX (darn those early morning flights...I have such a hard time getting myself together). This meant no wallet, no form of ID whatsoever.

I had checked in online, and had my BP. Security at LAX told me to go to the "oversized baggage" line and have them reprint me a boarding pass with the SSSS on it. Did so, got a *very* light patdown and swabbing, and off I went. The whole process added about 3 minutes.

Coming back, I checked in at the kiosk, then went to the ticket desk and had them do the reprint with SSSS. Had a much more thorough pat down and full inspection of bag, but no bag dump. PDX tends to be a full shoe carnival airport anyway, so the whole thing only added about 10 minutes.

All in all, it was much better than I had anticipated, and I was still able to enjoy the weekend.

My sister lost or had her purse stolen while traveling (post 9/11) a few years back while traveling. She went to a local Sam's Club in the area, who of course had her photo and info on file. She had them print another card, and apparently that sufficed. Don't know if she got the SSSS, but even if she did, that's not terrible.

I always check for my wallet w/ my DL when traveling before I leave the house. I also have my passport in my regular carryon just in case.