Lost ID & TSA experience

[big-papa]

+1 I have my passport in my phone. I also have a digital copy of my drivers license.

I also carry a paper copy of my passport when traveling abroad. I heard awhile ago if you show up at a US Embassy, the paper copy helps expedite the process, but not sure that holds true.

As somebody who had my passport stolen while traveling abroad, the main thing is to have access to your passport number and another form of ID available (like your driver's license). I didn't have a paper copy of my passport, but I had scanned the passport and put it in the "vault" provided by password manager. Printing from there was a snap once I needed it. There's a good chance that if I had a paper copy, it would also have been stolen. State department's website is pretty comprehensive regarding what to do if your passport is lost or stolen, especially when traveling.

Cheers.

 

[big-papa]

They clip the corner at the TX DMV when you renew and give you a receipt to keep with it as a temporary, but you are still supposed to destroy it when you receive you the new one in the mail.

True - I, on the other hand keep the old DL in my toolbag on my bicycle. Makes it easier for them to identify the body...

Cheers.

 

[Koolau]

Never had to research this, but I personally experienced it yesterday. So driving back to the airport (LAX) from Escondido (resort) we got a call just as we were arriving at the airport. I left my sunglasses and wallet 2.5 hrs away. As I sweat bullets & on hold for an estimated 45 minutes, I just went to the airport and pleaded my case to TSA.

Basically went to the normal checkpoint (not terribly busy probably helping my case) & I had absolutely no physical evidence for ID and they are not able to use anything digital. They then had me fill out a form, called the CIA (for drama) and I had to answer the questions accurately and tested backpack and stuff with the bomb swabs.

All in all, it was scarily easy and took an extra 15 minutes. Maybe I should put something in the backpack for ID now?

Curious what kinds of questions did they ask? Did they have your info in hand (from their sources) and did they then ask you to tell them stuff like address, phone #, SSN, etc.?

 

[Surewhitey]

Curious what kinds of questions did they ask? Did they have your info in hand (from their sources) and did they then ask you to tell them stuff like address, phone #, SSN, etc.?

Sorry for the late reply. Yeah, mostly data big brother already has. Phone number, address, etc. I actually gave them an old phone number as I was nervous. They just asked another question...

 

[Koolau]

Sorry for the late reply. Yeah, mostly data big brother already has. Phone number, address, etc. I actually gave them an old phone number as I was nervous. They just asked another question...

Thanks for the reply. I'd always wondered how they would handle this situation. Glad you made it through okay.

 

[athena53]

I lost my driver’s license 20 or so years ago (later found it buried in the depths of my purse) and was allowed to fly after a more thorough search than usual. I’m glad it’s still an option.

Two years ago I lost my passport in Malta and was surprised the embassy had no interest in my stored scan. They did it all with my driver’s license. Bless them, I had a new one less than 24 hours later.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

Lost my wallet once at my departing airport, luckily after passing security. But my research showed what you experienced - you can indeed get through TSA without an ID. Was fortunate I didn’t have to change terminals at SFO that trip so I didn’t have to test the theory. But arriving in Waikiki I almost had to sleep on the beach because the hotel demanded an ID. (This was a work trip, no kidding.) They begrudgingly accepted the photo of my drivers license that DW had texted me after she found my wallet at the airport back home, although they “weren’t supposed to.” And the hotel people there actually knew me from multiple trips before. Grrrr…

Anyway, I learned to travel with two forms of ID and at least two credit cards. One set on my person and the other in my backpack.