# Passport vs. ~ **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 17, 2004, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259 "2004-11-17T14:24:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/21 "2004-11-19T08:26:56Z")
Get a passport. It is a lovely souvenir of your travels and it takes so long to get one you should have it now on the chance you might need it in the next decade. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/22 "2004-11-19T08:43:42Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > It is a lovely souvenir of your travels Not for us Yurpeans it’s not - I’ve only ever managed to get three stamps in mine. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/23 "2004-11-19T08:45:25Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Having crossed over into Canada a few times, I can tell you a certified birth certificate and driver’s license just don’t satisfy some immigration officials. There’s nothing like a passport to answer all the questions in one fell swoop. > > On the other hand, people in the U.S. just aren’t conditioned to looking at passports. If I want to cash an out of state check, I can wave my passport around all I want, but they’re still going to ask for a driver’s license and credit card. Are you kidding me? I own some lakeside property in Canada and have crossed the border literally hundreds of times and I’ve had my vehicle searched many times (it’s obvious I’ve been doing some outdoor activities when I come back over so the U.S. checks for illegal game and such) but I’ve never once had them question me for any id beyond my driver’s license. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/24 "2004-11-19T15:28:18Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > That’s only the immigration requirements - it’s the airline’s requirements that are important. For example, Ryanair require a passport or driving licence. The immigration requirements aren’t important? :dubious: Aer Lingus don’t require _any_ ID between the two countries, or at least they didn’t last time I flew them (earlier this year). ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/25 "2004-11-19T17:44:01Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > The immigration requirements aren’t important? :dubious: What I mean is that you can argue with them at Stansted until you’re blue in the face, but Ryanair won’t let you onto that plane with just a bus pass. > [@](#): > > Aer Lingus don’t require _any_ ID between the two countries, or at least they didn’t last time I flew them (earlier this year). Their website _claims_ you need it - but we all know how good airports are at doing things propertly… ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/26 "2004-11-19T18:59:35Z")
If you are worried about the cost of a passport, get a military ID card. Not only are they free, they pay you to have one. I have travelled many times between countries with a military ID and a set of orders or leave papers. ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/27 "2004-11-19T19:06:04Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > What I mean is that you can argue with them at Stansted until you’re blue in the face, but Ryanair won’t let you onto that plane with just a bus pass. OMG, I’m flying out of Stansted to Oslo Torp on RyanAir next week. Do you have any feedback about their services? How are they? I’m like completely terrified, but I hear they are the English equiv of Southwest Airlines in the US? Anyway, $90 for a passport? You got gipped. I got mine at the local post office for like $45 + $60 for expediated shipping (damn gov’t sales catches). I’m going to relish filling it up with stamps from every country I can. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/28 "2004-11-19T19:21:35Z")
> [@even sven](#): > > Get a passport. > > If you do end up doing any International travel (and I do hope you do- it’s great fun!) you’ll be glad that you have one already instead of having to rush around to get it taken care of (and possibly paying the really expensive expidite fees) before you go. I know plenty of people who wern’t able to go on some great once-in-a-lifetime dream vacations because they wouldn’t have time to get their passport. Don’t forget that when you travel around with a 9 year old passport that your photo shows you _9 years younger!_ That’s bound to make you feel better. Don’t settle for a lousy passport photo. In 9 years you won’t remember spending the extra money it took to get a good photo, but you’ll be happy you did. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/29 "2004-11-19T19:56:25Z")
> [@Zagadka](#): > > OMG, I’m flying out of Stansted to Oslo Torp on RyanAir next week. Do you have any feedback about their services? How are they? I’m like completely terrified, but I hear they are the English equiv of Southwest Airlines in the US? That and more - they take the no-frills philosophy to the limit. (Some of their new planes don’t even have reclining seats, because they would have cost extra!). If you miss check-in (minimum of 40 minutes at Stansted), or lose your ticket, or anything else, don’t expect any sympathy from them. At all. On the other hand, they’ve got records for punctuality and baggage-handling that are the envy of most big European airlines. And it’s possible to get across Europe for the same cost as a train to the airport. ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/30 "2004-11-19T20:36:33Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > That and more - they take the no-frills philosophy to the limit. (Some of their new planes don’t even have reclining seats, because they would have cost extra!). If you miss check-in (minimum of 40 minutes at Stansted), or lose your ticket, or anything else, don’t expect any sympathy from them. At all. On the other hand, they’ve got records for punctuality and baggage-handling that are the envy of most big European airlines. And it’s possible to get across Europe for the same cost as a train to the airport. Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. I like being incredibly early for things and have no use for reclining seats anyway. 😉 _runs out the door to be early at the airport_ ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/31 "2004-11-21T09:55:36Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Their website _claims_ you need it - but we all know how good airports are at doing things propertly… Well, I’ve flown Aer Lingus several times a year for nearly five years and I have never once been asked to show my passport, at any airport, for trips across the Irish Sea. OTOH I am always asked to show it when flying further afield. I think it’s fairly safe to assume therefore that Aer Lingus staff are instructed not to require ID for flights between Britain and Ireland. There’s no reason why they should require it, really, if they aren’t _legally_ required to, which they aren’t. Once the ticket’s paid for what do they care who uses it? I’ve always suspected RyanAir’s strictness on this was just another scheme by them to extort more money from passengers, by making it impossible for them to sell on a ticket they can’t use. But I am admittedly rather cynical about RyanAir. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/32 "2004-11-21T10:11:20Z")
You’ve not been asked for any ID at all? I thought they were legally required to ensure that the person travelling has ID that matches the name on the ticket…hmm… ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/33 "2004-11-21T10:37:42Z")
…and it appears they are, if there’s baggage being checked in: > [@](#): > > The Government requires that airline companies ensure that the person checking in hold baggage for a flight is the same person who boards it. Airlines may achieve this objective in a number of ways, including by requiring passengers to present photographic ID. The specific measures used by some airlines are over and above what the Government requires of them. They have been introduced under their own conditions of carriage. > **[Department for Transport](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport)** > > We work with our agencies and partners to support the transport network that helps the UK’s businesses and gets people and goods travelling around the country. We plan and invest in transport infrastructure to keep the UK on the move. DfT is a... ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/34 "2004-11-21T11:36:11Z")
I’ve never checked in baggage on one of these flights, since I’m usually flying over for only a day (read: Celtic game :)) or a weekend at most. So I can’t say if they do in fact check ID for passengers with baggage to check. RyanAir, note, checks everyone’s ID - baggage or no baggage. I think they charge you to check baggage in now :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/35 "2004-11-21T12:22:08Z")
They’ve mooted charging for baggage, but haven’t tried to introduce it yet. And there’s perhaps a good reason for airlines wanting to be fairly strict on ID (Ryanair only take passports or EEA-country ID cards for any international flight apart from UK-Ireland) - if they let somebody fly who’s then turned away at immigration, the airline gets a hefty fine. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/36 "2004-11-21T12:48:36Z")
Ireland’s carrier liability law (passed last year) specifically excludes any vehicle travelling directly from Britain, the Six Counties or the Channel Islands. I’m not familiar with Britain’s law, but I’d be surprised if it didn’t also have such an exclusion for travel from Ireland. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/37 "2004-11-21T14:42:09Z")
Yes, it turns out it’s a reciprocal arrangement: > [@](#): > > The UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland collectively form the Common Travel Area. In Immigration terms, this means that a person accepted for entry at any point in the Area does not normally require leave to enter any other part. [http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1034348124299](http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1034348124299) ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/38 "2004-11-21T17:09:07Z")
Well, yes, that’s what I was saying several posts back (you know, when you scolded me for confusing immigration policy with airline policy ;)). The existence of the Common Travel Area doesn’t, in and of itself, absolve the airlines, ferries, etc of responsibility to enforce the carrier liability law. I presume there’s something in the text of the British law which does, as there is in the Irish law, but the text doesn’t appear to be on that website and I’m not really arsed to go looking for it. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259/39 "2004-11-21T17:15:21Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > RyanAir, note, checks everyone’s ID - baggage or no baggage. I think they charge you to check baggage in now :rolleyes: RyanAir charges for excess baggage, as I found out. I had to pay 18 euros (almost more than the fare price!) for my baggage being overweight. It sucked - I wasn’t about to throw all the souveniers I bought out, those are what put me over the limit. So be warned. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-vs/275259.md?page=1)