4 ms·

An ID is not required for any US domestic travel, never has been, never will be. Providing ID makes your travel through TSA check points go smoother, but it's

An ID is not required for any US domestic travel, never has been, never will be. Providing ID makes your travel through TSA check points go smoother, but it's absolutely, unquestionably not a requirement. I've traveled numerous times without ID and have never had any significant issues or delays and don't expect any in the future either. There are obviously those who insist it is a requirement or will soon be a requirement, but that's very silly. Imagine traveling from Oregon to Maine, loosing your wallet, having no ID and then being effectively stuck in Maine until you can prove to the local DMV you are who you say you are so they can issue you an ID. Absolutely ridiculous. Yes, the TSA obviously wants everyone to think they need ID because having thousands more people going through checkpoints everyday without proper ID will tax the system. However, the Real ID legislation requires all agencies who require Real ID to have other mechanisms in place to deal with individuals who don't have identification, for obvious reasons.

GavinMcG 11y ago
To be fair, the TSA website does say that "If your identity cannot be verified, you will not be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint." https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification
- patcheudor 11y ago
  And at the bottom of the page: "In the event you arrive at the airport without proper ID, because it is lost or at home, you may still be allowed to fly." Every time I've done it, they ask me a few questions and I get a pat-down which is no big deal anyway since I never go through their scanner anyway.
  - TallGuyShort 11y ago
    I almost had to do this because of a problem with my newly-renewed license. I was told (by the TSA) to arrive several hours early with as much documentation as I could expecting to fill out a lot of paperwork and be interviewed. In the end I got my license situation resolved in time, but it sounded like a huge deal and I'm curious about more details of your experience has been having actually done it..
  - tzs 11y ago
    Can you go end to end (buy ticket, get boarding pass, pass security, and get on the plane) without ever giving ID?
    - asheldon 11y ago
      Yes. I did this yesterday. It takes a little longer at the TSA checkpoint, that's about it (sample size=1).
    - simoncion 11y ago
      Yep. The airline will almost certainly want you to have the credit card used to purchase the ticket to verify that you're "authorized" to claim the ticket, and the TSA will give you the third degree at the checkpoint, but -because the airlines are common carriers- you cannot be required to present ID to fly.
eachro 11y ago
What do you show the TSA agent with your boarding pass?
- patcheudor 11y ago
  Nothing. I walk up, identify myself, explain I've misplaced my wallet and have no ID, credit-cards, etc. They then call for an enhanced screening and a nice TSA agent walks with me through the line to place my stuff on the conveyer. We then go past the scanner and I get a pat down and rubbed with their little white paper which goes into a device to sniff for explosives. Sometimes I'm asked questions about my travel, SSN, that sort of thing. Honestly, I've never had a problem. EDIT: Oh, I never have checked bags. I think that helps make it smoother.
  - buu700 11y ago
    +1. I once lost my ID and showed up at the airport with a photocopy of my passport; they just asked for whatever else I had on hand (credit card, company badge) and patted me down.
  - droithomme 11y ago
    "explain I've misplaced my wallet" So you commit perjury, correct?
    - ryanlol 11y ago
      That is not perjury.
    - patcheudor 11y ago
      Nope. If you don't have your wallet, you don't have your wallet. Further, you only commit perjury (in the US) if you are under oath. Also, no law has been broken which is being investigated. Not having ID is not a crime. Being vague about why you don't have ID is not a crime.
      - PhantomGremlin 11y ago
psychometry 11y ago
Do you not have a photo ID or do you just refuse to provide one?
- patcheudor 11y ago
  Yikes! That's likely a good way to get into some trouble. Having an ID but not providing it. ;-) I'm a security researcher so it's sort of in my DNA to cause trouble. If you are going to do this, you need to be fully committed and not have an ID. Also don't lie and go with "I misplaced my ID." To date no one has ever asked if I intentionally misplaced my ID.
joesmo 11y ago
It is however required for Amtrak trains. The situation you describe above happened in Hawaii and while the person involved was able to board a plane back to BWI with a police report stating her ID was stolen, Amtrak would not let her on from BWI to DC.
- patcheudor 11y ago
  Interesting. I'd love to read about how that happened. With eTickets I've never needed to produce ID, of course I do go out of my way to avoid conductor checks, although, on the route from BWI to DC I'm not sure what the conductor would or could do if you didn't have ID. It's not like they are going to stop the train and kick you off.

GavinMcG 11y ago

To be fair, the TSA website does say that "If your identity cannot be verified, you will not be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint." https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification

patcheudor 11y ago
And at the bottom of the page: "In the event you arrive at the airport without proper ID, because it is lost or at home, you may still be allowed to fly." Every time I've done it, they ask me a few questions and I get a pat-down which is no big deal anyway since I never go through their scanner anyway.
- TallGuyShort 11y ago
  I almost had to do this because of a problem with my newly-renewed license. I was told (by the TSA) to arrive several hours early with as much documentation as I could expecting to fill out a lot of paperwork and be interviewed. In the end I got my license situation resolved in time, but it sounded like a huge deal and I'm curious about more details of your experience has been having actually done it..
- tzs 11y ago
  Can you go end to end (buy ticket, get boarding pass, pass security, and get on the plane) without ever giving ID?
  - asheldon 11y ago
    Yes. I did this yesterday. It takes a little longer at the TSA checkpoint, that's about it (sample size=1).
  - simoncion 11y ago
    Yep. The airline will almost certainly want you to have the credit card used to purchase the ticket to verify that you're "authorized" to claim the ticket, and the TSA will give you the third degree at the checkpoint, but -because the airlines are common carriers- you cannot be required to present ID to fly.

eachro 11y ago

What do you show the TSA agent with your boarding pass?

patcheudor 11y ago
Nothing. I walk up, identify myself, explain I've misplaced my wallet and have no ID, credit-cards, etc. They then call for an enhanced screening and a nice TSA agent walks with me through the line to place my stuff on the conveyer. We then go past the scanner and I get a pat down and rubbed with their little white paper which goes into a device to sniff for explosives. Sometimes I'm asked questions about my travel, SSN, that sort of thing. Honestly, I've never had a problem. EDIT: Oh, I never have checked bags. I think that helps make it smoother.
- buu700 11y ago
  +1. I once lost my ID and showed up at the airport with a photocopy of my passport; they just asked for whatever else I had on hand (credit card, company badge) and patted me down.
- droithomme 11y ago
  "explain I've misplaced my wallet" So you commit perjury, correct?
  - ryanlol 11y ago
    That is not perjury.
  - patcheudor 11y ago
    Nope. If you don't have your wallet, you don't have your wallet. Further, you only commit perjury (in the US) if you are under oath. Also, no law has been broken which is being investigated. Not having ID is not a crime. Being vague about why you don't have ID is not a crime.
    - PhantomGremlin 11y ago

psychometry 11y ago

Do you not have a photo ID or do you just refuse to provide one?

patcheudor 11y ago
Yikes! That's likely a good way to get into some trouble. Having an ID but not providing it. ;-) I'm a security researcher so it's sort of in my DNA to cause trouble. If you are going to do this, you need to be fully committed and not have an ID. Also don't lie and go with "I misplaced my ID." To date no one has ever asked if I intentionally misplaced my ID.

joesmo 11y ago

It is however required for Amtrak trains. The situation you describe above happened in Hawaii and while the person involved was able to board a plane back to BWI with a police report stating her ID was stolen, Amtrak would not let her on from BWI to DC.

patcheudor 11y ago
Interesting. I'd love to read about how that happened. With eTickets I've never needed to produce ID, of course I do go out of my way to avoid conductor checks, although, on the route from BWI to DC I'm not sure what the conductor would or could do if you didn't have ID. It's not like they are going to stop the train and kick you off.