Will TSA let me fly if I lost my ID?
Will TSA let me fly if I lost my ID? In the event you arrive at the airport without proper ID, because it is lost or at home, you may still be allowed to fly. By providing additional information, TSA has other ways to confirm your identity, like using publicly available databases, so you can reach your flight.
Do airports check ID?
Adult passengers 18 and older must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint in order to travel. Beginning May 7, 2025, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the U.S., make sure it is REAL ID compliant.
Does TSA look at your passport?
The TSA officer will ask for your boarding pass and an acceptable form of ID prior to entering the security checkpoint. Our officers will review your travel document(s) and ID to ensure that the information presented matches.
How can I travel without my ID?
In the event you arrive at the airport without proper ID, because it is lost or at home, you may still be allowed to fly. By providing additional information, TSA has other ways to confirm your identity, like using publicly available databases, so you can reach your flight.
What documents do I need to fly on an airplane?
In the United States, you need a valid U.S. government-issued photo ID or a passport from your country of origin to travel through security. You must show that the name on your boarding pass matches the legal name on your unexpired government-issued ID.
What can I use to fly on a plane if I lost my ID?
- U.S. passport.
- U.S. passport card.
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents.
- Permanent resident card.
- Border crossing card.
How do I get through TSA security?
Wear clothing and shoes without metal, and be ready to remove your belt if it has a metal buckle. Tuck large metal jewelry pieces into your carry-on bag before you go through the security checkpoint. Put change and keys into your carry-on or empty your pockets into a plastic bin when you arrive at the checkpoint.
How does TSA check your ID?
The officer will insert each photo ID into the CAT unit where the ID is scanned and analyzed. CAT is linked electronically to the Secure Flight database, which confirms travelers' flight details, ensuring they are ticketed for travel that day.
Can you get on a plane without a passport?
As of March 2023, there are no states that require passports from U.S. citizens to fly domestically. Your airline or the TSA should never ask you to present a valid passport. Of course, you could carry it with you for additional photo identification in case you lose your other forms of ID.
Can TSA see your immigration status?
The TSA checks passengers' identity and whether a passenger has a boarding pass; generally, they are not screening for immigration status.
How can I prove my identity at airport without ID?
In the event you arrive at the airport without proper ID, because it is lost or at home, you may still be allowed to fly. By providing additional information, TSA has other ways to confirm your identity, like using publicly available databases, so you can reach your flight.
Why do airlines check ID?
One of the most important security measures at an airport is confirming the identity of travelers. This is done by checking a photo ID, such as a driver's license. If you are traveling internationally, you need to present your passport. Simply taking a look at a photo ID isn't enough, however.
Can I fly with an expired passport?
If you only have an expired passport, you can still bring it along for domestic travel within the United States, but you must convince TSA officers that you are who you say you are. However, if you're traveling internationally, you must have a valid passport.
What to do if you lose your boarding pass?
Print out a second copy at the check-in counter or check-in machine at the airport, in case the loss is already noticed in the check-in area. Report to the flight staff at the gate if your boarding pass is missing, and you are already in the security area.
Can I still fly in the US without a REAL ID?
Beginning May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, state-issued enhanced driver's license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.