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It's about to be one of - if not the - busiest travel weeks of the year, so it must also be time for a news station to ring the alarm on holes in security at our local airports. This time Fox 32 found they were able to fly out several employees to destinations around the country without any of them having to show a government-issued photo ID. Instead, they were able to get through by showing the name on their boarding pass matched that of the name on a credit card. Of course, there's nothing technically illegal about such a maneuver. As Fox itself explains:
By checking credit cards rather than a photo ID, TSA simply was following its own rules, which vaguely state that passengers without an acceptable ID will have to provide "information" to verify their identity, according to Fox Chicago News. The guidelines also state that these passengers "may be subjected to additional screening."
That's not to say it's not a serious issue. Said U.S. Rep Jan Schakowsky, "I have to say, and TSA would agree, this is unacceptable. That many people 100 percent of time getting through security without a photo ID is clearly a problem. We need TSA to come to Chicago and do the appropriate training and make sure procedures are followed." After informing TSA of their investigation, Fox received a statement from TSA that said, in part, "ID verification is an important process and represents one of the many security layers, which also includes threat detection technology, behavior detection officers, and the physical screening that occurs at airports."
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I just had a friend who got a State ID with a Chicago address (his fathers) even though he lives in the 'burbs by showing a credit card. He's now qualified to work for the city. WTF?
Just to be clear, but they didn't fly to "destinations around the world," but only to US destinations. As of about a year ago, flying to international destinations requires a US passport or passport card, and the airline would face serious fines if they allowed you to board a plane to a foreign destination without the proper documentation.
You must show a passport at security if you're flying out of O'Hare's international terminal (terminal 5). If you're flying out of any other terminal at O'Hare, I think you cannot use online check-in, and must show your passport before the airline will issue a boarding pass.
you're correct. it was around the country.
I have never been comfortable with showing my ID at the airport. If the TSA does their job correctly and screens me to confirm that I don't have anything in my possession that can cause any harm, then it should absolutely not matter who I am.
http://www.papersplease.org/wp/
I recently was traveling for work and misplaced my Driver's License. I discovered this while in the security line at O'Hare. I waived over a TSA employee and asked what my otions were. They said I could go through additional screening (wanding and searching my carry-on) and show them whatever documents I had (credit card, work ID, Social Security Card). They were courteous and it worked out fine. I also returned on this trip, from Boston, using the same procedure.