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Here's the setup. I had to travel to D.C. for a few days so I obviously wasn't carrying. The return flight was out of Baltimore and I needed to check a bag. I gave them my driver's license at baggage check but returned it to my wallet behind the CHL. When I went through the security line I pulled a the CHL out without looking closely at what I handed them. The security guy took longer than usual looking at the card which made me realize what I had done. I guess he had never seen one before (I'm sure they're not real common in Maryland!). Anyway, after the strange look, he let me go right through. So is a CHL legal ID for air travel or is this just another instance of TSA incompetence?

I'd have to say incompetence. I think the only things you can use for flight ID is a state driver's license or a passport. But he probably thought you were some special agent or something...

It seems any government-issued photo ID is sufficient:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... index.shtm

- Jim

When I worked for TSA we would not accept a CHL as a "government issued ID" because it really is not meant to be accespted as an ID.

That said, we rarely asked for ID anyway, the person checking ID as you approach security is usually a security agency employee, except in the unusual circumstance that TSA is filling in for them, and may very well have not recognized the CHL for being that.

At the ticket counter they are more specific for ID, Driver's License with picture, or passport, and that's just about all they take.

A bunch of years back when I still lived in IL, I was asked for two forms of photo ID in order to travel to the Carribean, so I handed over my DL, and my Illinois Firearms Owner ID (FOID). The ticket agent had no idea that underr IL law a FOID was not considered a "government issued ID" even though ID is in its name, and she accepted it. The funny part was when she noted the "Illinois State Police" across the top, and very politely asked me if I would be carrying my gun aboard the plane. IL has since changed the format of the FOID so it doesn't appear to be an ISP ID card.

jimlongley wrote:When I worked for TSA we would not accept a CHL as a "government issued ID" because it really is not meant to be accespted as an ID.

That said, we rarely asked for ID anyway, the person checking ID as you approach security is usually a security agency employee, except in the unusual circumstance that TSA is filling in for them, and may very well have not recognized the CHL for being that.

At the ticket counter they are more specific for ID, Driver's License with picture, or passport, and that's just about all they take.

A bunch of years back when I still lived in IL, I was asked for two forms of photo ID in order to travel to the Carribean, so I handed over my DL, and my Illinois Firearms Owner ID (FOID). The ticket agent had no idea that underr IL law a FOID was not considered a "government issued ID" even though ID is in its name, and she accepted it. The funny part was when she noted the "Illinois State Police" across the top, and very politely asked me if I would be carrying my gun aboard the plane. IL has since changed the format of the FOID so it doesn't appear to be an ISP ID card.

I travel a bit, and I've seen school ID's, Military IDs and the state issued ID's that look something like drivers licences accepted.

I had a co-worker show her employee ID to TSA once. Still don't know how that was accepted.

I used my TX CHL as ID for the Secret Service when I took a personal tour of the White House. The agent never batted an eye and let me pass. I still don't know if he clicked to what it was, or if all he cared about was the picture and name.

GlockenHammer wrote:I used my TX CHL as ID for the Secret Service when I took a personal tour of the White House. The agent never batted an eye and let me pass. I still don't know if he clicked to what it was, or if all he cared about was the picture and name.

I bet they did...

A camera, and an operator were on you every step you took in there!

Man, you were lucky just to get out of there!

I showed my CHL to the screener when he asked for additional ID. This was at Houston's Bush Airport, and the guy wasn't even familiar with the concept of a CHL! He gave it a weird look and asked me what exactly that was.
(I set off his alarms b/c my step-dad put my common nickname on my e-ticket instead of my birthname. And I have one of those "duh" nicknames, similar to people named Susan going by "Sue".)

Last week I flew from Dallas Love Field to Albuquerque, to Lubbock (which meant flying back to Love, switching planes and going to Lubbock), and then back to Love.

TSA lines were smooth and rather quick. At the beginning of each line a TSA person compared the name on my ticket to my ID, then scribbled something on the boarding pass.

Only going out of Lubbock did the person at the metal detectors/Xray machine again ask to see my boarding pass.

No one wrote down my name, checked any database, etc. (I realize they do that at the ticket counters when I obtained the boarding pass).

Other than weather, it was a smooth experience. My wife travels all of the time, but this was only my second time since 9/11, and the first time was a very quick day trip to South Texas, and I took no luggage, no laptop, etc.

My wife's tips helped. (shoes off, laptop out of bag, everything on my person metal in a bucket, jacket on the conveyor).

Having done three years at Love Field as a screener, and traveled through a lot of airports since then, I have to question whether the person who checked the ID and boarding pass was actually TSA. In my experience that person is a private security person, usually in the employ of the airport, TSA is required to check boarding passes at the screening point, any time you passed through a metal detector without showing: a boarding pass; a "parent pass"; or appropriate ID (like airport employees) the person running that metal detector has just violated the rules.

In my time I saw lots of passengers fly without ID, and could tell you that the only thing that would be required at any airport to travel without ID would be to submit to extra screening.

I have seen the airlines refuse to issue a boarding pass to someone who could not provide ID, but that's airline policy, not TSA.

So how do people get boarding passes without providing ID? I often print mine at home, and you can check in at the kiosks in most airports without ID, and if you have no bags to check the counter will never even see you, not to mention skycap check in.

jimlongley wrote:Having done three years at Love Field as a screener, and traveled through a lot of airports since then, I have to question whether the person who checked the ID and boarding pass was actually TSA. In my experience that person is a private security person, usually in the employ of the airport, TSA is required to check boarding passes at the screening point, any time you passed through a metal detector without showing: a boarding pass; a "parent pass"; or appropriate ID (like airport employees) the person running that metal detector has just violated the rules.

In my time I saw lots of passengers fly without ID, and could tell you that the only thing that would be required at any airport to travel without ID would be to submit to extra screening.

I have seen the airlines refuse to issue a boarding pass to someone who could not provide ID, but that's airline policy, not TSA.

So how do people get boarding passes without providing ID? I often print mine at home, and you can check in at the kiosks in most airports without ID, and if you have no bags to check the counter will never even see you, not to mention skycap check in.

I fly way more than I like. I wonder what the ID really accomplishes. the persons checking aren't near a computer terminal to do any sort of check. So a bad guy who obtains some sort of forged ID available here at many flea markets could fly pretty easily if he has a credit card and some sort of ID.

BTW: The Vegas airport has some of those new real time full body Xray machines that allow TSA screeners to see what is under our clothing.

I keep my Chl and Dl taped together, so if they need one, they get both. I have gotten some odd looks, and a few comments like:

"what is this....never seen one before"
"Does this count as State issued ID too?"
"Cool...."

and at the bar "You left it in the car didn't you"

from LEO's "Thank You, do you have it with you now? (Yes Sir..left hip) OK...Please keep your hands away from your firearm until we're finished"

The ONLY negative response I have gotten was at Bank of America. They refused to honor my CHL as a form of ID at the drive thru. Their policy is that you must have a valid "State Issued form of ID" for cash back transactions. So after a brief round-and round with the teller, it was off to the bank Managers office. Needless to say....my local branch has now been educated on the fact that a Texas CHL is actually a valid STATE ISSUED form of ID that is actually a better assurance of a persons identification that a DL.

It worked out well for me.....now they all know me by name!!

Humanphibian wrote:and at the bar "You left it in the car didn't you"

you mean, "You din't bring it widja, didja?"


[/JeffFoxworthy]

HAHAHA.....exactly!

you must have spent some time in the FW Stockyards