Lost Your ID and You're Flying Today? Don't panic; here's a clear path to getting on the plane.
Protocols for a Lost ID Before a Flight.
How many of you were on your way to the airport and quickly opened your wallet to check if your ID was in place?
Few travel nightmares are more terrifying than planning an amazing trip and arriving at the airport without proper identification. You're franticly looking in your wallet, purse, or computer bag, and you can't find it. Stop and take a breath. By the way, this is an excellent reminder of why you also want to leave early for the airport, but that is another story for another time.
This might be a huge inconvenience but relax; there is a process in place for this exact scenario. You still might be able to fly. The lost ID protocol process will start with the traveler explaining the situation to an airline representative at the counter. Be prepared with additional forms of identification. Think about credit cards, also, anything with your picture, a work ID, a school ID, mail, and prescription bottles with your name and address. If the airline representative is satisfied with the information you have provided, they will issue a boarding pass with a special note that you don't have an ID.
Next, you are off to security to explain the situation again to the TSA agents. An agent will likely take you to a second room for additional security screening. According to the TSA Website, The TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification TSA form 415, which includes collecting information such as your name, current address, and other personal information to confirm your identity. This form and conversation interview with a TSA officer will help establish the traveler's identity. If successful, you will be on your way to the plane. Remember, most airlines will not refund tickets for people who missed their flights due to a lost ID.
Domestic travel is less complicated than international travel when it comes to deciding whether a traveler can fly without a passport and identification. Each Country will have its own rules and regulations and will determine if a traveler will board a plane. We advise international travelers who lose their passports to immediately report the theft or loss to the closest police station and obtain a police report. Next, contact and visit the nearest U.S. embassy for assistance in replacing their passports.
We stress best practices that include all travelers being proactive, prepared, and protected. Start with making a photocopy, a digital scan, and a picture of your identification, ID cards, and passport. Make sure they are easily accessible. Send a copy to your email or iCloud. Be sure to sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) before leaving for a trip. It will make it easier to get help from the embassy while abroad.
With all this information in mind, there is one more way that can get still you on your flight without an ID, and that is with biometrics. They are unique individual traits, like fingerprints, facial scans, and eye scans.
According to SITA, an industry expert, there is rising investment in biometrics at airports. Some of you that have been to the airport lately may have noticed a few CLEAR ambassadors standing by the TSA entrance where you can enroll in their biometric program. The ambassador will help you get set up at a CLEAR pod by adding your eyes or fingerprints to your secure profile so that you can be instantly verified, and you won't have to show an ID when going through TSA screening. CLEAR serves more than 48 airports and has more than 14 million members.
Unfortunately, if you don't have your ID and you don't have CLEAR, and your identity cannot be verified, you will not be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint. You will have to go to your backup plan and recalibrate your travel plans. Being kind and keeping your emotions in check will go a long way in reducing stress in a stressful situation. Don't panic. Remember, much of the adventure is how you get where you're going.
Happy travels!
Carrie Pasquarello, CEO, and Co-Founder of Global Secure Resources Inc., is a victim advocate who took her overseas experience with the State Department and turned it into a platform to help others navigate personal safety. She spent over a decade throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa, developing her business strategy, which was based on risk mitigation involved with her travel to over 35 countries. In the process, Carrie refined the security protocols in place used to keep Diplomats safe in their travel and integrated these techniques for clients to ensure their business continuity and, most importantly, the safety of their loved ones. Carrie was invited to the White House to discuss student safety abroad and continues to be a fierce advocate for protecting students. Author: Study Abroad Safety, A Parent's Guide to Sending Your Child Abroad. Her company is certified Women-Owned.
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