Uh... you *must* travel with valid i.d. If your DL is expired, it is *not* valid. A few years ago my husband tried to travel with an expired DL and they would NOT even check him in!

You don't need any ID to check-in. Basically all US airlines have online check-in for domestic flights, which requires nothing.

As for going through security, again, there is no law requiring one to have a valid driver's license or ID. If you don't have one though, and is stopped, then you need to go through the airline, then secondary screening, etc.

But it can be done. Many people who lose their documents when traveling have been able to board flights without a picture ID. You just have to go to the airport early and expect lots of hassle, if you get stopped by the person guarding the security line (who, again, is not TSA).

rkkwan, that is where I've been stopped, at security.

The airports I've been stopped at:

CLT
ORD
LGA
EWR
IAD
BOS
PHL
MYR
CHS

To say they would let me through with an expired DL is not true. If I had not have had a peice of paper stating my license was valid, I would not have been able to board.

My Father is elderly and his DL is expired. They still take his DL expired- with photo at banks, public facilities etc. and nearly everywhere else. He is too handicapped to go get another Picture ID at DMV. Do you mean that he would not be able to fly? I don't think so. I think they would accept other picture ID's and/or proofs or they would be liable for non-compliance with handicap or other exemption laws. Lots of people do not drive and can not get State facility DMV ID for various reasons.

If this is the case in practice, it certainly is not universally followed.

Expired DL and passports are still valid forms of identification. (That's why they send your expired passport back to you) However the TSA does not appear to know this when checking people at airports.

But you don't need identification to fly domestically; you'll just flagged for a super-thorough security check, so allow extra time.

GoTravel - I didn't say you won't be stopped, though I'm surprised those ID-checkers at your airports are so good.

But the point, as verified by others, is that it's still possible to fly without an non-expired picture ID. Just not as easy, and one needs to go through a lot more hassle.