New U.S. Passport regulation question
 

Under the new passport regulations on Jan. 23/07, a Canadian flying from Canada to the US, will now need a passport. However, we can still drive over the border with only photo ID until 2008.

We are planning on driving over the border and flying from one American city to another. I have just been told (by a travel agent!) that a Canadian flying from one American airport to another, will need a passport. Does anyone know if this is true?

Since no two officials can agree with what is allowed or is not allowed in your hand luggage, I'd avoid all problems and go ahead and carry a passport.
Like any other similar question, the answer isn't really what the law says, but what some official is going to tell you.

I am tempted to say a Canadian driver's license should be sufficient, however in today's world it's always best to CYA. Bring a passport.

(CYA stands for Cover Your Agenda) ;-)

The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:

Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.

As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.
The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

I suppose the easy answer is what the previous post said: Just go ahead and carry the passport, to be safe.

I would imagine the only place you'd have a problem is boarding (not landing) since you have to show a "valid government-issued ID" to get through security, and I'm not sure that a Canadian DL would suffice.

marleneawe, that's good info, except the OP is a Canadian who is flying within the US. I don't see where that issue is addressed in your text.

In any case, I think the OP should play it safe and bring a passport.

Thanks everyone for the responses. Unfortunately the problem is not me. It is my friends. There are 5 of us girls who want to go to Vegas. I found out that three of them do not have passports. I thought crossing the border by car and flying from a US city would solve the problem, but now it seems it may not. Anyone know who I could call to get an official answer?

The only person who checks ID at a US airport for a domestic flight is a low level rent-a-guard manning the head of the security line, and all they do is verify that the boarding pass matches a gov't issued photo id. Those staff don't check names against any database, and they barely look up or do more than grunt as you pass.

No airline employee and no TSA employee will check ID. TSA agents staff the actual security check. I use online checkin or airport kiosk, so 9 times out of 10 the first contact I have with an airline employee is as I board the actual plane.

If the 'system', whatever that is, flags your name or randomly assigns you for further check then your boarding pass will have some code on it, but that can happen even if you

I can't see how a CA DL wouldn't suffice, but I don't know official policy.

Have you asked the airline if a Canadian DL will suffice?

We have not booked yet, so I don't know yet, which airline it will be. I found out about this when I went into a travel agency to check out prices.

I browsed through the TSA website out of curiosity and all it says is 'government issued photo-id', with no mention that only US issued DL are valid and others must use passport.

www.tsa.gov/311/311-holiday.shtm

"You must have a boarding pass and valid government photo ID to enter the security checkpoint."

Chrissee, why not skip the travel agent and go straight to the source. Call a couple of airlines you might use and ask. Travel agents have been known to give out incorrect information. I know this first hand, as I've got bad info from TA's more than once. :-(

Chrissee, in addition to asking the airline, go to www.tsa.com and ask if a Canadian DL is acceptable for boarding a domestic flight witin the US. If they say yes, then print out that answer and take it on your trip.

Just for the heck of it, I sent in that question and I'll report back when they reply. But I still think you should do the same.

PM, I liked your second answer better than the first. I don't consider asking the airline the same as "going to the source" since they aren't the ones to allow you through security, passport control, or customs. A lot of people have gotten themselves into "trouble" by asking the airline what is or is not allowed in your carry on luggage -- they have no control over that and often are wrong.

You're right Patrick, after giving it further thought I realized the TSA would be a better source for info.

Don't you hate it that you can't delete or change a post? LOL

Yes I do, that feature would come in handy sometimes. But most of all, I wish I could delete other people's posts. :-))

P_M - I clicked on your link and found myself at a site for HP computer equipment. What does TSA stand for?

Ha! LOL - I wish I could take that last post back! I googled it and found it right away - it's actually .gov at the end of the link, not .com. Anyway, thanks for the site - I will check with them.

Well this is a different scenario. I betcha our govt didn't really think about this one yet.
Chrissee, the place you need to call is the U.S. Embassy in Canada. If they tell you you'll be able to fly with just your Canadian ID, great. However, I would really urge you to have them direct you to a U.S. Govt website where it clearly states you can do that and PRINT that info and travel with it. If that info doesn't exist anywmere, I would have them write your friends a letter stating that the ID is okay. There will likely be a fee involved.
At the end of the day, someone verbally telling you something won't mean squat if the airline employee checking you in decides you don't have the proper documentation. You don't want to go through that.
Good luck.