# Lost ID/airport check-in **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 28, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-id-airport-check-in/601132 "2011-10-28T23:40:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-id-airport-check-in/601132/1 "2011-10-28T23:40:52Z")
So, Mom’s in Kansas, and she may have lost her driver’s license, military ID, and credit card (card’s been canceled). There is one last place they might be - her sister’s car - but her sister is out for another several hours. On the off chance that all three have been completely lost, she’s a little freaked out about flying back home without standard identification. I checked [tsa.gov](http://tsa.gov), and found the following paragraph: > [@](#): > > We understand passengers occasionally arrive at the airport without an ID, due to lost items or inadvertently leaving them at home. Not having an ID, does not necessarily mean a passenger won’t be allowed to fly. If passengers are willing to provide additional information, we have other means of substantiating someone’s identity, like using publicly available databases. She still has on her, among other things: - her state-issued nursing license (no picture) - her library card - her debit card - numerous family photos - an older sister, fully documented, willing to vouch for her I’m actually not worried about her. Plan A is that the card and ID are found once her sister gets home. Plan B is to get her to the airport hella early with her sister and jump through multiple TSA hoops. It’s not like she’s on any terrorism lists. Plan C is my brother to drive up and rent her a car - which would suck, but is totally doable. However, she’ll feel much better if she has a well documented game plan, so if any of you have personal experience dealing with this, your account and advice is very welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Amasia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Amasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amasia)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-id-airport-check-in/601132/2 "2011-10-28T23:47:32Z")
I had this experience when I was living in Hawaii and friends who came to visit were unfortunately relieved of their IDs by a creative thief. Our experience was that the TSA will screen anyone the airline will issue a ticket to. So, the key is to get to the airline extra early (a couple of hours to be safe) and get them to issue you the ticket. Do not do an eticket/echeck-in (that is what the TSA told us at that time). Bring your ticket confirmation (printed) and have all of your flight info and be prepared to be patient. Also, bring a copy of the police report, if you filed one. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-id-airport-check-in/601132/3 "2011-10-29T01:33:58Z")
Several years ago I was flying to Las Vegas out of Chicago. When I go to Vegas I see no point in carrying all the crap that usually bulks up my wallet, and instead have a small billfold into which i transfer my ID, a credit card, and a few other items. Well, somehow when I was loading the billfold I neglected to put my ID in. This was not discovered until I arrived at the airport and tried to check my bag at the curb. The skycap checked my bag without any ID (the $5 tip probably helped) and told me that the TSA would still let me through security, but it would take a little longer. He was right; I was pulled out of the regular line and given a thorough checking (despite the jokes of the friend I was traveling with, there was no body cavity search) and left with my dignity only slightly bruised. When I got to Vegas I called a friend who had a key to my house and had my ID overnighted to my hotel so I’d be able to get home. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-id-airport-check-in/601132/4 "2011-10-29T04:18:28Z")
I traveled without an ID. I had a printout, though, of my DL info (no pic) and it worked just fine. I had been mugged a few weeks early and CO mails you your new ID. 😕 No on the spot IDs there. Security stamped me and waved me on. Didn’t even get the wand or the Sooper Dooper Naked X Ray Machine.