Oh no -- lost id!
 

I'm on vacation back east, and lost my wallet with all my id. I've been able to get faxed copies of my birth certificate and recent tax returns with signature, but no photo id. I called NW to ask about security, and they said that if there is no picture id available, I can probably get on a plane, subject to "additional security clearances." I have visions of being strip-searched!

Anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks.

happenned to my SO in San Francisco. It just means that they walk you over to security and they do the search they do on passengers that have been marked for special screening - you have to take off your shoes, they wand you, they open your bag and take a quick look through. Took all of an extra five minutes at SFO last November. When you check in, tell them what ahppenned, and show your photocopies. You will be fine.

I would recommend getting to the airport extra early... and go along with whatever treatment they decide to offer... :)

Best of luck.

William

According to Southwest, faxed ID is okay although I was just checking when my son wanting to leave a camp he hated early. He stayed so I don't know how it works in practice.

Just a tip for the future. I always travel with backup ID. In CA we can get an ID card from the DMV. I keep it in a holder that I wear around my neck and the license stays in my bag in a tiny daytimer that is also my wallet. Overseas when I have to show my passport, I keep the ID card tucked away as a backup, along with copy of the passport.

Thanks for the help and suggestions. I've actually done something like this once before (yes, it's true, I'm slightly airheaded), but had some cheesy id that had a picture on it, and that was good enough. We'll see what happens!

Glad to know I'm not the only traveling airhead. :p I've lost my DL twice while flying. It just takes a bit longer to get through security without a picture ID, but no strip search is adminstered. :D At least for AA at DFW, they have TSA walk ID-less person to the gate and present him/her to airline agents. I was told by the GA that this happens every day. Unbelievable! We should start a support group. ID Anonymous. ;)

A bigger challenge is trying to rent a car without an ID. Has anyone had an instance where they were able to rent a car without showing a DL?

This hasn't happened to me, but last year I had to cut a trip short as the rental agent pointed out that my license was expiring that week. Fortunately, I was able to make adjustments to my schedule in order to get back to ATL and renew my license in time to head out for the next trip.

I always carry a photo copy of my DL and Passport in each and every travel bag (folded up in a small ziplock-then taped to the inside bag with duct tape) I can imagine ever using. It takes no more than half an hour one time and I'lll be fairly certain I'll always have at least one bag/photocopy with me.

Don't worry. It's still legal to travel in the US "without your papers" if you are a US Citizen. That may change if the recent Supreme Court ruling isn't challenged enough. That being said, you will be able to check-in, check bags, and go through security. They will simply "default" you to the most intense security the country is able to provide. Wanding. And pawing. And magnet-o-meters.

In my opinion, it's rediculous, because ID's are checked by the airlines to make sure that the person on the plane matches the name on the ticket, so no one can get around non-transferability rules. Craziness.

Your free one way ticket to Gitmo!
 

Just show up at the airport and you'll be sent to Gitmo for a life sentence!

Seriously, remember when the e-tickets first came out? The airlines said you'll never lose your ticket. However, losing your ID is worse! Your driver's license is even more valuable than a passport now-a-days. Makes me consider whether or not to use the passport as ID and keep my driver's license in my pocket.

I had to renew my drivers license two years ago, and I went ahead and had a second ID made. Here in Illinois it cost $4. I put it in my lanyard that Southwest sent to me, and I put it around my neck for traveling. Allows me to leave the license in my wallet, and if I lose one, I'm still okay.

I met an Ohio resident who said his state wouldn't issue a state ID if one had a drivers license already, so your results may vary by state. But for me, this solution functions well.

In the UK the rental firm can call the DVLC to verify the licence.

Uk licences only i'm afraid :)

Sound advice from many prominent FTers... I always carry my passport and (H)DL with me in my travel portfolio, but making copies and keeping them in my carry ons are also good ideas that I will def. follow up on.

aloha

Unfortunately, Ohio is one of the few states that requires going in person to request a new ID. But you can still get a duplicate copy of your drivers license, if you go in person to request one. People lose them all the time. So while it may be "illegal" to have two concurrent IDs from the same state on your person, they do very little to prevent it.

Checking in with GF at LAX a few months ago: I take out my driver's licence. She takes out (by mistake - she's not into practical jokes and travels enough not to play games with airport security) her YMCA membership card. Agent looks at both, nods head, gives us our boarding passes.

I actually forgot my ID one time in my checked bag. When I got to security I explained to the TSA agent my foible. He looked down and saw that I was still wearing my Microsoft security badge from work, which has my photo on it. He grabbed it and said this will work. He stated that he used to work for corporate security at MS and knew that these are harder to get than a Drivers Licence. He looked at my ticket and passed me through.

The other time I lost my License on a trip (left it in the seatback pocket on the plane; yup, it was dumb), I was supposed to rent a car at the end of a convention in Cincinati, take a leisurely drive through Kentucky, and fly out of Louisville. No dice to get the car without a license. Luckily, NW was incredibly helpful, and let me fly out of Cinci. I even got the elite upgrades!