Need Help with airport ID!!!!

[lbklyn]

Hi! We are leaving on Delta for Orando from Kennedy airport in NYC on Nov 12th. My Mom is 84 and I was going to take her for a non drivers license photo ID in the next few days. I was getting all her ID together and noticed she has a NYS ID Benefits card from Medicaid (She never uses it as she has medicare, but they pay her deductibles). Anywho's, I called the TSA and he said it was "probably good" for ID along with other info and she would have to sign some papers saying she is who she is. My question is should I not take a chance and get the non drivers photo id anyway? We went through SO much in 2008 at the airport with them patting her down and all and I do not want her to go through so much again. I forget what ID we used for her then also. I know this is long and drawn out but anyone use ID that I described without going through the ringer?

 

[CPT Tripss]

TSA says that "Adult passengers (18 and over) are required to show a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID in order to be allowed to go through the checkpoint and onto their flight".

Her's meets that requirement, but it isn't on this list.

Acceptable IDs include:

U.S. passport
U.S. passport card
DHS "Trusted Traveler" cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
U.S. Military ID (active duty or retired military and their dependents, and DOD civilians)
Permanent Resident Card
Border Crossing Card
DHS-designated enhanced driver's license
Drivers Licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
A Native American Tribal Photo ID
An airline or airport-issued ID (if issued under a TSA-approved security plan)
A foreign government-issued passport
Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) card
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)

both quotes from - http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/acceptable_documents.shtm

So the best answer is the one you got from TSA - that great answer, "maybe."

Just be aware that TSA can choose to subject anyone, at any checkpoint, at any time to the intrusive, feel all over the body, search at the whim of the Airport Security Screener. Even those with IDs on the acceptable list. It's areal crapshoot.

 

[DebbieB]

I would get the photo ID. You don't want to have to go through a full search or be worried about what is going to happen.

 

[backyardponder]

Get the ID. If you don't, you'll just be worried about it until you travel.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I would get the photo ID. You don't want to have to go through a full search or be worried about what is going to happen.

Having an ID on the list is no guarentee that an individual will not get the full on whole body search . . . there could be an alarm on the metal detector or the body xray that results in a body search. Or, a "random" body search might be performed because, just because.

 

[goofy4tink]

Having an ID on the list is no guarentee that an individual will not get the full on whole body search . . . there could be an alarm on the metal detector or the body xray that results in a body search. Or, a "random" body search might be performed because, just because.

However.....having the best ID you can obtain will most certainly lower the chances of having to go through a pat down. And that would be the point.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I agree - get the photo id. You don't have to have a photo id, but if you don't, the screening will be more intensive.

 

[lbklyn]

Thank you all so much for your replys. Going to bring her for the ID today!!! Just letting anyone know from NYC that Jet Blue has some really good deals for the week In Nov I stated we are going. We booked a few weeks ago with Delta because JB fares were sky high and we could not take the chance of waiting. Going to miss watching that little plane on the monitor showing us exactly where we are! But at least we are getting there!!!