Any ID problems from US airports

[dreamerAl]

For all the people that fly out of the US airports. Has anyone had any problems. We don't have passports and I really have no intentions to get them...but if American security is getting difficult then maybe I should. We flew from Rochester 6 months after Sept 11. We had NO problems at all....actually we were complimented on how "pretty" our driver's licenses were.

 

[highland3]

I flew from Syracuse to Washington, D.C. in November and had no problems at all. All they wanted to see was my government issued photo ID (driver's license. They had no concerns. Security was tight thought. They are very thorough at the screening area (be prepared to take off your shoes!) and my luggage was searched after I checked it. They leave a nice note in your bags explaining that it has been searched and why. I have no problem with this as I am all for security and safety. We're flying out of Syracuse on our way to WDW next month. It's a first trip for all of us and I'm soooo excited.

 

[cdnmickeylover]

We had no problems but we used passports. I will echo that security is tight though. In Orlando we saw a man cause a scene because they had taken his lighters from him. Lots of people had to take off their shoes and I was questioned about a bag of American coins that I had in my carry on. We also had to take off our sweaters before going through security. No other problems though.

 

[pooksma]

We didn't have any problems either but we also all had passports. Boston security was tight too, some guy had a pocket knife(dhuh) and they made him mail it back to himself.
This time we are driving to Bangor to fly from there. Be interesting to see how they treat us.

 

[G00fyDad]

My freind will not fly because he has a bench warrant for him in Louisville, KY and he is afraid that if he flies out of Louisville that he will get arrested.

 

[dreamerAl]

I guess i was wondering more about people without passports if they were having issues

 

[my3princesses]

I was flying out of Austin, Texas last summer on a business trip and my passport had just expired. I brought my birthcertificate along plus had my drivers license. When I checked in at the airport the man would not accept my passport or birthcertificate. I explained to him that as a Canadian the birth certificate was all that was really needed and but he did not believe me. When I left Toronto for the trip I was reassured that even my passport would be OK as long as I had backup since it was just expiring.

Anyway, the man in Texas had to make several phone calls and then spoke to his manager who looked at everything and said it was OK! I think it was just the case of a new employee or someone who had never dealt with a canadian before. Needless to say I have a new passport and will bring birth certificates for back up for all of us next week when in Florida.

 

[totalia]

I fly to Louisiana and back about once a year because my fiance lives there.

I have never had a problem with my ID through the border guard or through airports. Just make sur eyou have two forms of ID (like your birth certificate and drivers license), one of which has your picture on it.

 

[sandraB]

When I flew through NYC at Christmas, I was given a VERY hard time about not having passports for myself and children. The attendant said he could not print out boading passes without a passport number. Needless to say, we almost missed our flights....

He was very rude, and finally a manager straightned things out...I was in tears with my two kids getting upset also!

They made a huge deal out of nothing!

In BOston, I asked the attendent and she said they only need gov't issued ID.

What a nightmare!

 

[Hockeychic]

We flew out of Buffalo in Sept 2004. No problems at all. DH and myself showed DL as ID. They did not as for our birth certs or any ID for the kids and they are tall 15 and 12 year olds so I thought they would have asked the 15 year old but nope.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

I explained to him that as a Canadian the birth certificate was all that was really needed and but he did not believe me. When I left Toronto for the trip I was reassured that even my passport would be OK as long as I had backup since it was just expiring.

Not exactly true. While a Canadian birth certificate and accompanying valid government photo ID is sufficient for entry into the United States, it might not be sufficient ID for airlines, and TSA folks. Canadians do not have any special rights or privileges in regards to identification in the United States. Whatever they want, I make sure I can give them.

Glad to hear you'll have your new passport with you -- not sure why you're taking your birth certificate along with it though.

 

[dsneygirl]

I have only ever used a drivers license and BC when flying from Buffalo to Florida or anywhere else. You only need proof of ID not citizenship because you're flying domestically (within the US) so it doesn't matter what your citizneship is.

I doubt you will see many Americans carrying their passports on a flight from Syracuse to Orlando.