What forms of non-photo id are valid at the airport?

[chrispo86]

My girlfriend (19) is stubborn and refuses to learn to drive, and therefore doesn't have a driver's liscense or permit or anything of the sort (don't get me started... ). There's not enough time to go get a non-drivers id either.

Anyway, my question is, since she doesn't have government-issued photo id to present at the airport for check-in, I've seen that two forms of non-photo id would be acceptable. However, I haven't seen what accepted forms of non-photo id count as? Would a social security card and birth certificate work? Or something combined with a college photo id perhaps?

Thanks for the help!

PS: We're flying out of either JFK or La Guardia in NY on either Delta or JetBlue (still figuring out what the cheapest/most convenient option is). Don't know if that makes any difference.

 

[ancestry]

I'm not an expert in this area because I have both a driver's license and a passport so maybe I am wrong...but I thought you couldn't fly without a government issued photo id. I always thought that the requirement was a "government" issued photo id.

Here is a list of acceptable ids on the TSA's website: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/acceptable_documents.shtm

Effective June 21, 2008, adult passengers (18 and over) are required to show a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID that contains the following: name, date of birth, gender, expiration date and a tamper-resistant feature in order to be allowed to go through the checkpoint and onto their flight.

Passengers who do not or cannot present an acceptable ID will have to provide information to the Transportation Security Officer performing Travel Document Checking duties in order to verify their identity. Passengers who are cleared through this process may be subject to additional screening. Passengers whose identity cannot be verified by TSA may not be allowed to go through the checkpoint or onto an airplane.
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)
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) that meets REAL ID benchmarks (All states are currently in compliance)
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)

 

[chrispo86]

Yeah, I've seen that, however both Delta's and JetBlue's website say that if you can't present photo id, you can present two forms of non-photo id for verification, one of which must be government issued (i.e. social security card), you may just be subject to more strict screening through security. It just doesn't list what counts as non-photo id.



Edit:
This is off of Delta's website:

Check-in Requirements: What You'll Need
The documentation you'll need will vary depending on your destination.


Within the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico
Select from the following:

• One unexpired form of local or federal government-issued photo id, such as:
  • Passport
  • Driver's License
  • Military ID
• Or two unexpired forms of non-photo id—one must be issued by a state or federal agency.

For more information about the types of ID accepted at U.S. security checkpoints, see the Transportation Security Administration.

 

[tjmw2727]

Bring anything and everything she has, ss card, birth certificate, work ID, college ID etc. Arrive very early and be patient, she will lmost likely be allowed to fly but even afer she gets past the airline check in she will definately be subject to extra screening at the TSA checkpoint.

Fwiw, in many states you can walk into the registry and get your non driving that day. I got them for my dd's in DE as well as in MA and it took just under an hour until we walked out with them. MA requires a drivers license to be mailed but will issue you the non drivers immediately.

Now that the search is working try searching for lost ID threads. I remember some folks posting actual experiences they had when flying without picture ID that you may find helpful.

TJ

 

[NotUrsula]

You are confusing what the airlines want with what the Government wants. What the airline wants doesn't matter a rat's patootie, really. Those ID requirements are there for checking in to get a boarding pass, and if you do that with a kiosk no one from the airline will be seeing any ID unless you are travelling internationally, and if that was the case she would need a passport.

THIS is the site that counts in terms of getting through the security checkpoint (same as pp Ancestry quoted above): http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/acceptable_documents.shtm

The simplest thing for your GF to do if she doesn't have a passport, is to get herself down to your state's equivalent of the DMV and get a non-driver state ID. They all issue them, and you don't have to drive to get one; you just have to present all of the same identification things normally required to get a license in your state. It's valid as ID, it just doesn't authorize a person to operate a motor vehicle.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

There's not enough time to go get a non-drivers id either.

How much time do you have? (You don't even have airline tickets yet.)

I realize it varies by state, but drivers license offices in Illinois issue state photo IDs in a process that typically takes a half hour or so -- as long as the applicant has acceptable identification.

If the applicant does not have identification that's acceptable to the drivers license office, chances are it won't be acceptable to the TSA either.

With a current state ID, the airport security process is identical to having a current drivers license.

Without one of the forms of ID that the TSA wants, expect extra grief and allow plenty of extra time. And if the TSA does not consider the alternate ID acceptable, your GF could find yourself sent home to come up with better identification.

 

[Tara]

Bring anything and everything she has, ss card, birth certificate, work ID, college ID etc. Arrive very early and be patient, she will lmost likely be allowed to fly but even afer she gets past the airline check in she will definately be subject to extra screening at the TSA checkpoint.

Fwiw, in many states you can walk into the registry and get your non driving that day. I got them for my dd's in DE as well as in MA and it took just under an hour until we walked out with them. MA requires a drivers license to be mailed but will issue you the non drivers immediately.

Now that the search is working try searching for lost ID threads. I remember some folks posting actual experiences they had when flying without picture ID that you may find helpful.

TJ

Yes, bring college photo ID, birth certificate, social security card - anything you think that might help AND arrive early - the reply above is exactly right.

You can definitely fly without photo ID as I've done it before and I've seen others do it. It just takes time and extra screening. I had a situation where I lost my license without knowing it (it fell out of my open wallet when my purse fell over and was stuck in between my front passenger seat and that door - happened on the way to the airport in fact, but I didn't realize the license fell out - of all things that could fall out, it had to be that!). I was fortunate that I am part of the Clear Registered Traveler program, but even they wouldn't let me use the machine to ID myself (biometrics - not like you can fake those) because I didn't have photo ID. (They've since put photos on the Clear cards, so I don't have to show my license.) They had to get a TSA supervisor to come over and he wanted to see anything I could provide and it wasn't until I remembered my personal contact cards (like business cards, but with my picture, made by Moo.com) - those have my name and picture and that was enough for him! They put me right through after that.

But man, it was tense - since I have Clear and never have to wait in line at security (best money I ever expensed ) I often cut it a little closer than I ought to, so the delay was a wee bit stressful!

 

[chrispo86]

We're hoping to leave May 17th. The reason I said we don't have time is because I know that New York State mails out the driver permits/licenses and that takes 4-6 weeks to receive. I'm not really sure if they'll just hand you a non-drivers id there, I just assumed it was the same as a drivers id (I looked for that info too and I couldn't find it anywhere). I know it'll be a royal pain without photo id but it might be something we have to deal with...

Also, why would the airline accept something that the TSA wouldn't? That doesn't make much sense. In otherwords, you could get your ticket, but once you pass the ticket counter you're screwed? What good does that do??


One last thing, the TSA website does say that if you can't provide photo id you will have to provide other information, it just doesn't say what that other information is...

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

We're hoping to leave May 17th.

According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles website ( http://www.nysdmv.com/license.htm ) it takes approximately three weeks to receive a photo driver license by mail. A state ID should be about the same.

I would recommend that your girlfriend take immediate action to get a state ID. It will make her life (and yours) a lot easier at your home airport and at Orlando International.

 

[NotUrsula]

Also, why would the airline accept something that the TSA wouldn't? That doesn't make much sense. In otherwords, you could get your ticket, but once you pass the ticket counter you're screwed? What good does that do??

To sell you a ticket that you cannot give or sell to anyone else, of course. And if it's non-refundable, just so much the better, because then they get to keep your money AND sell the seat again to someone else when you don't show up at the gate.

The airlines don't want to identify you for safety reasons, they identify you to make sure that you are the ticket's original purchaser and that you are not travelling on someone else's ticket.

PS: If you really need it fast, you can get a passport in 48 business hours, though it normally takes about a month right now. If you pay the normal expedite fee plus overnight shipping fees, you get it back in about two weeks.

 

[Manda]

How did she register for college, get a job, get a bank account, sign up for anything, or do anything with some sort of state ID or driver's license?? I've had to have a government ID since I was 15 years old. I'm perplexed. I know that's completely unhelpful, but it seems like she really needs some sort of form of identification even if she never drives or flies.

 

[angelat]

We're hoping to leave May 17th. The reason I said we don't have time is because I know that New York State mails out the driver permits/licenses and that takes 4-6 weeks to receive. I'm not really sure if they'll just hand you a non-drivers id there, I just assumed it was the same as a drivers id (I looked for that info too and I couldn't find it anywhere). I know it'll be a royal pain without photo id but it might be something we have to deal with...

Also, why would the airline accept something that the TSA wouldn't? That doesn't make much sense. In otherwords, you could get your ticket, but once you pass the ticket counter you're screwed? What good does that do??


One last thing, the TSA website does say that if you can't provide photo id you will have to provide other information, it just doesn't say what that other information is...

May 17th is 5 weeks away. Which should give you time for the process. Here is what I found on http://www.nysdmv.com/broch/c-33.htm

About Your License or ID Card

"You will receive a temporary non-photo driver license, learner permit, or ID card when you apply. You should receive your photo license, permit, or ID card through the mail within five weeks. When you receive your photo license, permit, or ID card, examine it to make sure the information and photo are correct. If correction is needed, or if you have not received your photo license or ID card within three weeks, or if it has been lost or stolen, contact a DMV Call Center. Your photo license or ID card is durable, but not indestructible. Keep it from getting wet. Protect it with a plastic sleeve in your purse or wallet, but do not laminate it. Laminating could destroy special built-in security safeguards and make it invalid. The replacement fee is $15 for a "duplicate" photo license. The photo-ID replacement fee is $8.00 for cards valid up to 8 years, and $6.50 for 10-year discounted cards."

 

[chrispo86]

How did she register for college, get a job, get a bank account, sign up for anything, or do anything with some sort of state ID or driver's license?? I've had to have a government ID since I was 15 years old. I'm perplexed. I know that's completely unhelpful, but it seems like she really needs some sort of form of identification even if she never drives or flies.

Yeah, state school, tiny bank, it's been annoying, but everybody seems to just take Social Security and Birth Certificate combo.

I guess I gotta take a trip to the DMV this weekend...
woo...

 

[Tara]

We're hoping to leave May 17th. The reason I said we don't have time is because I know that New York State mails out the driver permits/licenses and that takes 4-6 weeks to receive. I'm not really sure if they'll just hand you a non-drivers id there, I just assumed it was the same as a drivers id (I looked for that info too and I couldn't find it anywhere). I know it'll be a royal pain without photo id but it might be something we have to deal with...

I live in NYS and my husband had to get a new DL recently - it took 1 week to arrive.

 

[kitkatsmom]

We're hoping to leave May 17th. The reason I said we don't have time is because I know that New York State mails out the driver permits/licenses and that takes 4-6 weeks to receive. I'm not really sure if they'll just hand you a non-drivers id there, I just assumed it was the same as a drivers id (I looked for that info too and I couldn't find it anywhere). I know it'll be a royal pain without photo id but it might be something we have to deal with...

Also, why would the airline accept something that the TSA wouldn't? That doesn't make much sense. In otherwords, you could get your ticket, but once you pass the ticket counter you're screwed? What good does that do??


One last thing, the TSA website does say that if you can't provide photo id you will have to provide other information, it just doesn't say what that other information is...

I took my son over a few days ago to get a non drivers license since he'll be over 18 and need photo ID to get on the plane. He is also a non driver.
We had a temporary non driver id card issued right there on the spot that was good for 15 days or until the official one was mailed to us.

So your girlfriend can take her birth cert, soc sec card and go to your local DMV and get the non driver's license right there on the spot in the good old state of NY lol

good luck

 

[chrispo86]

I took my son over a few days ago to get a non drivers license since he'll be over 18 and need photo ID to get on the plane. He is also a non driver.
We had a temporary non driver id card issued right there on the spot that was good for 15 days or until the official one was mailed to us.

So your girlfriend can take her birth cert, soc sec card and go to your local DMV and get the non driver's license right there on the spot in the good old state of NY lol

good luck

Was that a photo id? Because that would give me some relief...

 

[kitkatsmom]

Was that a photo id? Because that would give me some relief...

Yes sir. Looks similar to a driver license. Photo and all, and official which is what is important. He has other forms of non photo id, and school Id, but I just didn't want to take the chance or have the hassle of getting someone who was very strict at the airport.

 

[chrispo86]

Yes sir. Looks similar to a driver license. Photo and all, and official which is what is important. He has other forms of non photo id, and school Id, but I just didn't want to take the chance or have the hassle of getting someone who was very strict at the airport.

Well that's good to hear...
I was beginning to think my vacation plans might fall through.
And then I wouldn't be able to go until next year! (pain in the neck conflicting school schedules lol)


Well... hi ho hi ho, off to the DMV we go!
That's where the real magic is...

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Tell your GF welcome to the real world.

Well... hi ho hi ho, off to the DMV we go!
That's where the real magic is...

 

[chrispo86]

Tell your GF welcome to the real world.

Let's not even go there...