What To Do if You Forget Your ID Before a Flight

On a travel day, there are few things worse than getting to the airport and realizing you don’t have your ID. Whether you accidentally left it on your kitchen counter or in the rental car, this stressful situation used to mean you couldn’t board the plane. But these days, even without your government-issued ID, there’s still a chance you’ll be allowed to board your flight. TSA and airline staff can help you verify your identity and get you on that plane, but the process could take awhile. Here’s what you should do if you lose your ID before a flight.

Arrive Early

The first and most important step is to give yourself plenty of time at the airport — it’s a good rule of thumb in general. That way, you’ll have time to sort out the situation if you realize you’ve misplaced your ID. If you can’t find your ID before leaving home, plan to arrive at the airport at least three hours prior to your scheduled departure time. The TSA recommends this extra time to allow for the identity verification process, which can take a bit longer than your typical check-in. The last thing you want is to feel rushed in an already stress-inducing situation. 

Notify an Airline Rep

When you arrive at the airport, head straight to your airline’s check-in counter and let an airline representative know that you’ve lost your ID. Airline staff will work with you to verify your identity, so be prepared to prove it through other means. Remember that airlines must follow strict procedures when confirming your identity — staying calm and being courteous throughout the process will increase the chances that the staff will go the extra mile to help you make your flight. 

Other Acceptable Forms of ID

Since you won’t have your driver’s license or passport, you’ll need to back up your identity with whatever other forms of ID you have on hand. Credit cards, a student or work employee identification card, a piece of mail with your name and address on it, and even a prescription medication bottle can all aid your efforts. Credit cards can be particularly useful, as the airline may be able to match the card number to the one used to book your ticket. If check-in staff deems any of the above acceptable, they’ll issue you a boarding pass and indicate that you aren’t traveling with an ID. 

TSA Verification

Once you have your boarding pass, head over to the TSA checkpoint. Inform the TSA agent that you’re traveling without an ID but have been issued a boarding pass based on other forms of identification.

The TSA agent will require you to provide information such as your name, current address, and possibly other personal details as part of the identity verification process. Once verified, you’ll be cleared to proceed to the security screening area where TSA may perform extra checks, such as a more thorough bag search or additional pat-downs. If the TSA isn’t able to confirm your information, however, you won’t be allowed to board.

Don’t forget your return flight, either: If you forget your ID on the outbound leg of your trip, keep in mind that you’ll need to go through this same process again when returning home. If flying domestically, TSA procedures for identity verification will be the same for your return flight, so allow for extra time at the airport on the way back, too.

International Flights

For domestic flights, there’s a good chance that the TSA will allow you to board the plane without your government-issued ID, as long as you have other ways to prove your identity. However, if you forget your passport before an international trip, your chances of boarding the flight are much slimmer.

In most cases, you won’t be able to board a flight to another country without a valid passport, as international airlines and border authorities typically require proof of citizenship and identity. Without this, it’s unlikely airline staff will allow you to board the plane. 

Your best bet is to contact your local embassy as soon as you realize your passport is missing. They may be able to issue an emergency passport, but you’ll still likely need to rebook your flight for a later date. To avoid that scenario, always check your travel documents are valid and accounted for well in advance of your trip dates.