gail

While alternate/backup copies at hotel may seem like a good idea, in reality copies, as this poster discovered, will not usually cut it as ID. They are too easy to alter on the computer.

And since for most people flying within US, driver's license is what serves as ID, having a backup is probably not practical - unless you haul a passport with you for US travel, which I do not.

suze

gail- That's exactly what I was assuming. I travel with my passport as primary identification, but have my drivers license in a separate place as a back-up form of ID.

J62

I keep my expired passport in a pocket in my briefcase. One time when I misplaced my wallet (in the bottom of my suitcase, thankfully not permanently) I was able to use the old pp for ID at the airport. They (TSA) grumbled a bit, but after consulting with a supervisor let me pass.

AAFrequentFlyer

There is no law requiring ID, it's a TSA rule.

Extra security and you're flying home.

gail

suze - interesting option, but I never bring my passport unless I am leaving US - now you have me wondering how many travelers bring passport within US and how many do not.

emcash

i always bring my passport 9and DH's) when i'm flying, even if it's only domestically. Just gives me peace of mind if i or my DH lose my license.

On a recent trip to FLA, jetblue questioned my license b/c it was worn out (it had been in a wallet with a platic window and the plastic lightened the license). TSA was going to remove me from the line and take me to a back office (and do what i don't know!) but luckily i had my passport and avoided that.

ncounty

I love the idea of keeping an old expired passport somewhere in your regular luggage; never know when it might come in handy.

pat

My sister lost her credit card and ID in Hawaii. We went to the police station on Waikiki, and they were able to give her enough ID to get on the plane. (She later found her ID in her purse). She never did find her credit card so had to cancel that on the trip. She is quite scattered.

escargot

I always travel with my passport - in or out of country, if going by train, car or plane -

got into that habit years ago when had family out of the country and there was an emergency once and a relative could not get to another as fast as she would have liked because she had to return home first from a vacation to get her passport-

suze

I *always* travel with my passport.

Doesn't matter within the US or outside the country. I figure since I have one, why not? I have always been of the opinion that a passport "trumps" every other form of ID, should you find yourself in an unexpected situation.

gail

Thanks for the info - I may start travelling with mine as well. (I actually just noticed that mine is in my purse since I needed it for job ID info)

NeoPatrick

Forgive the diversion, but I don't always travel with my passport.

On the other hand "I never travel without my diary -- one should always have something sensational to read on the train."

Thank you, Oscar Wilde

AJPeabody

For the belt-and-suspendres crowd: Before a trip, scan your ID's and documents and email the scans to yourself (or to your travelling companion). The copies will then be in your sent mail and in boxes, ready to be accessed in case of disaster.

Anonymous

The scans will provide ID numbers etc. but won't be accepted in lieu of the originals. As pointed out above, you can fake anything on the computer nowadays.

gail

Police and TSA told us copies were useless as ID because of forgery potential. I imagine they might be of some use for having numbers to get replacement (and as an aside, about once/year I empty my wallet of various cards onto copier screen and copy front and back of everything)

Dana_M

I travel with both my passport and drivers license unless I'm within a few months of international travel. I use my passport for ID, because frankly I can afford to lose it but not my license.

If I'm within a few months of international travel I leave my passport at home. I then travel with my "back-up driver's license" for ID, and my current valid license. The "back-up" was obtained when I went to DMV and told them I lost the original. I don't use it to drive, just for ID.

An expired passport is not considered valid, so it doesn't usually work. However, as long as you get a back-up license while it is current, it does not show it has been replaced. I really only travel with this as a last resort, because I'm not quite sure how legal it.

Obviously this doesn't help the OP, but for someone who travels alot, I always like having that back-up.

Note that even TSA rules do not say you need specific forms of ID. The rules say if you do not have those specific forms of ID you will be subject to additional security measures.

AJPeabody

The government of the good ol' U S of A does indeedy consider an expired passport as a form of identification, as long as it is not too old. You are you, and don't cease being you when a piece of paper passes its sell by date. An expired passport is all you need to get a new passport, as long as you submit a new picture.

However, the new security fetish has empowered a legion of martinets who have graduated from pulling wings off flies and now are out there being paid to poke figurative sticks into the eyes of all lesser beings, especially those of us who thought they were going to have a nice trip.

LT

Hi All:

Well, we arrived @ MIA, and had no problem. They accepted the birth certificate copy & made us both go through enhanced screening.

Thanks again to all of you!

RedRock

This may also be of some help. You are are open for ID theft.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft//

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2002/02/idtheft.shtm

mrwunrfl

My wallet was stolen in Las Vegas on Sunday. It had a couple of ccs, my DL, and a bunch of cash. The casino took a report and told me to go to the LVPD substation at the airport to file a report so that I could get on the plane.

That evening when I checked in I had my bp for the flight I just missed, my FF card, Red Carpet Club card, and a Visa cc (which I left in my room in case my wallet was stolen while I was out).

The USAirways agent issued me a new bp for the later flight and put a green sticker on it and wrote "NO ID". She told me to go to Lane 9 at the security check.

At Lane 9, I filled out a form. The supervising TSA person then made a call and said that they would ask a few questions. What county was my address in? What is my PO box number? Birth date? That was about it.

They scribbled a bunch of stuff on my bp and said to go thru the lane 9 security check. Instead, since I had time, I had dinner and then got the police report figuring that I might need it for something.

Back it lane 9 I had to go through one of those puffer machines.

A TSA agent then took a white plastic disk shaped handy-wipe kind of thing and swabbed inside my bag (a backpack) and in the pockets. He put the swab into a machine and then searched the bag by hand.

If I had gone thru the security line after the interview then the whole process would have taken maybe 10 minutes extra.

The TSA agent said they did have an efficient process for lost IDs. I think they get it a lot there. When I was at the LVPD substation there was a woman who was reporting the theft of a bag from the pool (wallet, cell phone, camera, everything). And a Brit couple who had their passports stolen in addition to other stuff.