<p>D2 and a friend came for a visit this weekend and her friend managed to forget her wallet in the console of her car at their originating airport. She realized it when they were on their way from economy parking to the terminal and didn’t have enough time to go back and get it. The TSA allowed her through security with her college ID.</p>
<p>Tomorrow I am taking them back to the airport for their return flight back to school, and am getting a bit nervous that Midway will not be so lenient. Any tips from people who have not had ‘proper’ ID as required by the TSA, yet who managed to get through security? </p>
<p>Will need to leave for the airport around 9AM tomorrow.</p>
<p>About two years ago I left my wallet on the plane. I had to go back through security (I’d gotten to the parking lot) with ZERO id to retrieve it. The search was very thorough, but they still let me through. Good luck.</p>
<p>It happened to me once, I left my drivers license at home and no passport. I had to get the airline to give me a special permission to go through the security. I was flying Continental at Newark.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>yes nysmile, that’s the link I looked at earlier, but it’s kind of vague. Doesn’t say you can’t get through without one of their ‘accepted’ IDs, but then it offers this option. I wish we could count on the fact that she got through the airport in another city, and that would guarantee her for Midway, but I know it doesn’t work like that.</p>
<p>I’m just trying to figure out if I should park the car and go in with them until I’m sure she’s gotten through security, instead of just dropping them off at departures.</p>
<p>If the friend looks very young & is flying with someone else, sometimes they can convince folks that they’re under 18. My D & companions have done this–one of the companions is 34 but mistaken for 14! Not very comfortable to rely on this–be the friend gets to the airport way before the flight so she has lots of time to deal with possible TSA issues. Good luck!</p>
<p>I think you should plan on parking the car and going in with them to check- in and to the security screening. Having an adult to vouch for her might really help. If you just drive away, there is a good chance you’d have to turn around to pick them up if she didn’t get through. Good luck.</p>
<p>My D has been allowed through with just a school ID because she did not have a driver’s license. I was with her at the time, so I think it helped. The security guard wasn’t happy, but she let us through. D was 17 at the time, I think. It’s worth a try. You’re more or less at the mercy of the guard. Just give yourselves plenty of time in case a supervisor is brought in. Also, does your D’s friend have anything from the college on her–a letter, security card, etc? The more she can show (even a school t-shirt), the more convincing she’ll be.</p>
<p>My son forgot his passport on one of our college visits, (he didn’t even have a learner’s permit at that point). I had to lie that he was under 18, which I found out because they hinted to me that I needed to say that! At that point he got a little scribble on the boarding pass which alerted the TSA to give him special attention. They pulled him aside and gave him a good frisking with the wand. On the way home he didn’t even have that. I don’t know however what happens with an unaccompanied adult.</p>
<p>There was never any FAKING involved, it was just that they assumed looking at these women that they were much younger than they were. They had their names & the ticket names matched their real names. D didn’t have her ID as she accidentally left her purse behind (we rushed back & got it back to her before the plane left). The other times, the employees ASSUMED my companion was a young student (possibly my D) who was travelling with me. We didn’t say ANYTHING to cause them to draw that conclusion, they came to it on their own, to the indignation of my companion!</p>
<p>I would also recommend parking the car & going in to be sure they get thru TSA or you may have to go back & pick them up. Sometimes having an adult with ID vouch for young people can be very helpful, depending on the agents involved.</p>
<p>That’s what I was kind of wondering. She is 21 years old (D2 is 20); I can at least vouch that she stayed with us during the trip, and D can vouch that they go to school together (D has her student ID with her, too). Keeping my fingers crossed. We are giving ample time for any extra precautions security may wish to take.</p>
<p>At Midway you will have to pass through a TSA agent BEFORE you get down to the security checkpoint with the machines. I would not only go in but leave yourselves alot of time before the flight.</p>
<p>My MIL lost her wallet including drivers license while visiting us about 2 1/2 years ago. She was able to board the return flight with only a verbal explanation. I lost my drivers license (my only photo I.D.) while in Canada 2 years ago, just a couple of hours before boarding the return train. I was able to re-enter the U.S., though the immigration folks questioned me at length (including asking whether I was an investigative reporter doing a story.) I would advise arriving early and bringing along any identifying info that can be faxed to you (e.g., old photo ID faxed from home). Good luck.</p>
<p>sagiter - yes, I realize this, but it’s the TSA agents who check to make sure your boarding pass matches some sort of ID. They will most likely will make the first call. When I get to the security machines, no one has ever asked me for my ID stuff at that point. They tell me to hold onto my boarding pass (don’t let it go through the x-ray machine), but they’ve never asked at that point. I think if she makes it through the first line, she’ll be fine.</p>
<p>The policy on flying without an ID has recently been changed by TSA (the legality of which is debatable) almost exactly a year ago, in June of 08. Prior to that, flying without an ID was pretty easy - you just had to go through secondary screening. </p>
<p>Now, however, asserting your right to not show ID will get you refused at the security checkpoint. If, however, you declare that you lost or forgot your ID, you will be asked to fill out a form with all your info, which will then be run through NCIC and DMV to verify… and you’ll have to go through a more thorough secondary screening.</p>