No Need To Panic If You Lose Your ID Before A Flight, Here’s What You Should Do

There are many traveling nightmares people never want to experience, like losing your ID. But officials know these things happen and may still allow you to fly.

If you’ve lost your identification, travel experts suggest you arrive at the airport as early as possible because you will need additional time to be interviewed by TSA officers to confirm your identity.

Travel and Leisure say the first step is to explain your situation to an airline representative at the counter. And it’s best if you provide them with additional forms of identification, such as a credit card, photo business card, student ID, or even a piece of mail that has your name on it.

From there, the airline representative can issue a boarding pass with a note saying you don’t have an ID.

When you arrive at the security checkpoint, likely, you will again have to explain your situation to TSA agents and an agent will likely take you to a second room for additional security screening. “The TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process which includes collecting information such as your name, current address, and other personal information to confirm your identity,” the agency’s website reads.

If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to pass through.

When it comes to international travel and lost identification, it can be a bit trickery. Passengers are advised to contact the local U.S. embassy to get assistance with recovering their passports. It’s at that country’s discretion to allow you to fly or not.

If your identification is stolen, you should make a police report, which can help make traveling easier. It’s also a good idea to take a picture of your ID and passport and store it in a safe area on your phone.

But perhaps most important: Remain calm and courteous throughout the situation, T+L says. Airline, security, and immigration employees are all more likely to help you out if you’re cooperative.