Not Another

[CPT Tripss]

Just when I think maybe things are improving.

Disabled woman denied flight out of LAX due to expired license

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?id=9492805

Why is the burden always on the traveler? Particularly the infrequent flyer with a disability.

 

[Lewisc]

Just when I think maybe things are improving.


http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?id=9492805

Why is the burden always on the traveler? Particularly the infrequent flyer with a disability.

ITA but the situation isn't as clear as your post suggests. The requirement is for a valid U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID An expired license isn't valid ID. I'm not sure what the procedure is for handling a "No-ID" passenger who can't speak. I would have hoped a supervisor could have come up with a solution. It's not clear if the passenger allowed enough time.

 

[DebbieB]

I thought if you did not have ID they would just do a more thorough screening.

 

[Starshine]

I thought if you did not have ID they would just do a more thorough screening.

My driver's license expired while were in Florida one trip (no I have no idea how I managed to let that happen ). In any case, Debbie is right, they did let me fly home but I got the "extra special" screening. That was MCO, maybe different airports have different rules?

 

[Lewisc]

The passenger had suffered a stroke, was wheelchair bound and unable to speak. Part of screening for a no ID passenger is a brief interview.

It's not clear when the passenger got to the TSA checkpoint relative to the departure time.

 

[bumbershoot]

A different article said that they showed a bad photocopy of the license, not the license itself. That you couldn't discern her features from the photocopy.

If that's what a person has AND they can't successfully get through the extra screening (the other article said that they declined getting the extra help available for the disabled) how can they expect to have a person fly?

 

[CPT Tripss]

A different article said that they showed a bad photocopy of the license, not the license itself. That you couldn't discern her features from the photocopy.

If that's what a person has AND they can't successfully get through the extra screening (the other article said that they declined getting the extra help available for the disabled) how can they expect to have a person fly?

Got a link?

 

[Gracie09]

Got a link?

I'm on my phone so can't link but if you google disabled passenger denied lax several articles will appear and they all say she had a photocopy of the license that expired. A couple say it expired in 2012 and that the family did not call for additional assistance before hand.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I'm on my phone so can't link but if you google disabled passenger denied lax several articles will appear and they all say she had a photocopy of the license that expired. A couple say it expired in 2012 and that the family did not call for additional assistance before hand.

I'm not suggesting that the expired ID should have been accepted. Not that i see any need for ID to fly if pax are properly screened for weapons, explosives and incendiaries. And TSA has a procedure to clear pax with no ID (http://blog.tsa.gov/2013/04/tsa-travel-tips-tuesday-can-you-fly.html)?

Do you think that TSA should provide additional assistance to a pax with a disability whenever such a pax presents? And should that include a clear explanation of the no ID process?

 

[Gracie09]

No the screening should not be public knowledge as I am sure if it was people would take care to circumvent it. The TSa has procedures in place to assist disabled passengers.
IMO the fault here lies with the family of this woman. No adult should expect to fly these days without valid id. The woman's id expired over a year ago. Even if a drivers license was no longer a possibility for her a non drivers state is could be easily obtained. That would have prevented this whole situation. But instead they go to the media and spins whole the TSa hates the disabled story.

And before you ask, yes I have travelled with disabled people and the TSa agents have always been courteous and professional when doing their job. But then again I always made sure that everything was in order for my party and that we were there early so we could take our time through security.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

This is what happened according to the woman's sister. Who knows what really happened? Another example of sloppy reporting. I never believe these stories because they reported only for sensational value, not for the truth. And how terrible, they had to take the bus instead of flying!

 

[CPT Tripss]

This is what happened according to the woman's sister. Who knows what really happened? Another example of sloppy reporting. I never believe these stories because they reported only for sensational value, not for the truth. And how terrible, they had to take the bus instead of flying!

Well, in this case the TSA spokesperson didn't deny it happened.

"I think it could have been handled differently by the TSA and it probably could have been handled differently by the family, and hopefully moving forward the family won't have this problem again, because they know about the programs that we have in place," said Nico Melendez with the TSA.

 

[CPT Tripss]

No the screening should not be public knowledge as I am sure if it was people would take care to circumvent it. The TSa has procedures in place to assist disabled passengers.
IMO the fault here lies with the family of this woman. No adult should expect to fly these days without valid id. The woman's id expired over a year ago. Even if a drivers license was no longer a possibility for her a non drivers state is could be easily obtained. That would have prevented this whole situation. But instead they go to the media and spins whole the TSa hates the disabled story.

And before you ask, yes I have travelled with disabled people and the TSa agents have always been courteous and professional when doing their job. But then again I always made sure that everything was in order for my party and that we were there early so we could take our time through security.

Seriously? Look at the TSA website link I provided. It says you do not need ID to fly. And how the heck can anyone expect to comply with screening if the requirements are "not public knowledge" as you seem to think?

 

[Gracie09]

Seriously? Look at the TSA website link I provided. It says you do not need ID to fly. And how the heck can anyone expect to comply with screening if the requirements are "not public knowledge" as you seem to think?

You asked if the screening process should be public knowledge. I said no. What is confusing. That you can fly with no id is a separate issue. One that can easily avoid by the vast majority of adults, with limited exceptions for those who lose their id or get robbed etc.

 

[bumbershoot]

IMO the fault here lies with the family of this woman. No adult should expect to fly these days without valid id. The woman's id expired over a year ago. Even if a drivers license was no longer a possibility for her a non drivers state is could be easily obtained. That would have prevented this whole situation. But instead they go to the media and spins whole the TSa hates the disabled story.

I completely agree.


My own father travels without ID. He has some beef with the DMV in his town, has decided to be all Hatfield and McCoy about it, and can't get his DL renewed. Because he's philosophical about things, he won't get a state ID, either. So he flies without a license. I met him and my brother at the airport a few weeks ago and even though they had no bags with them (they had a layover and the checked bags were inside the airport being moved from one plane to another) they had to head to security well in advance, because he had to go through the rigamarole.

I think they should allow flying with no ID for maybe 2 roundtrips, and then it should be flagged. My dad expects it now, and it's allowing him to be ridiculous. If he wasn't able to fly (and his flights are mainly to visit a relative in Alaska who is very ill, so he actually does WANT to take these flights) because of not having an ID, maybe he would GET an ID.

Do you think that TSA should provide additional assistance to a pax with a disability whenever such a pax presents? And should that include a clear explanation of the no ID process?

I do.

I also doubt that this family would have listened to it. Listen to the sister's reaction. They wanted her to say her name, and the sister's reaction is "they are expecting a miracle"? (or whatever I've paraphrased there) Does this sound like someone who was a reasonable, listening adult at the time? Not to me. It also doesn't sound like someone who actually read the TSA info on getting through security, which does mention to give yourself extra time...if they knew it would take more time they could probably have gotten the help and it probably could have been resolved better. I just doubt a whole lot in the family's side of the story.

Not saying the TSA didn't do things wrong; I've seen silliness from them, too.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Well, in this case the TSA spokesperson didn't deny it happened.

Sure, something happened, but that one sided, sensational story certainly didn't clarify what really happened. Don't believe everything you read in the press.

 

[CPT Tripss]

You asked if the screening process should be public knowledge. I said no. What is confusing. That you can fly with no id is a separate issue. One that can easily avoid by the vast majority of adults, with limited exceptions for those who lose their id or get robbed etc.

No, I asked if there should be a clear explanation of the no ID process.
TSA has this posted on their website, so it isn't secret. But not everyone who travels, particularly infrequently, knows of that site.

 

[Greysword]

He has some beef with the DMV in his town, has decided to be all Hatfield and McCoy about it, and can't get his DL renewed.

This is awesome!

My own father travels without ID. Because he's philosophical about things, he won't get a state ID, either. So he flies without a license.

A Passport would work as ID. Maybe you can convince him to get one of these. Tell him you want to go on a cruise or something? Anyway if he lives in the Seattle area and has a passport, he could signup for Nexus and get a small ID card that works great with the TSA (and may qualify him for PreCheck).