![\"AmericanTermBDSCF1241](\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/AmericanTermBDSCF1241-copy.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAlmost anyone that travels via commercial airlines has a story to tell about lost luggage, flight delays, or the latest TSA rules. It was such a hot topic among my buddies right before one of my trips that I did a little research and posted, \u201cWhat does the TSA really do?\u201d Read it here<\/span><\/strong>.<\/a><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n Just recently, Sheila and I got to experience first hand the TSA techniques for handling undocumented travelers. Yup. Undocumented. Sheila misplaced her official photo ID (her driver\u2019s license) and had to not only prove who she was, but go through a very thorough search to boot.<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s how it played out:<\/span><\/p>\n We took the hotel shuttle van to the local airport, ready to fly out on a commuter leg that would get us to a major hub. Something told me to take an early shuttle van, so we arrived three hours before the flight. We had checked into our flight while still at the hotel and already had our boarding passes, so we rolled our suitcases up to the baggage check-in area, expecting a quick handover of the lightly packed bags.<\/span><\/p>\n Sheila took out her wallet, but couldn\u2019t find her driver\u2019s license, so she waved me ahead. The airline agent checked mine and took my bag. I stepped away and looked over at my wife. She was frowning. The agent wasn\u2019t busy yet, so he stood there, watching. Sheila took every single piece of paper and credit card out of her wallet, but could not find the license. She had grocery cards, office supply cards, medical ID cards, but no license. Gulp.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIs it possible you put it somewhere else for some reason?\u201d he asked, so very kindly.<\/span><\/p>\n She took apart her briefcase and her tote bag, piece by paper by book. She turned everything upside down and shook it.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe last time I remember seeing it was when we checked into the hotel.\u201d She sounded a touch panicky.<\/span><\/p>\n The agent walked away to take care of other people and we called the hotel. We were put on hold for fifteen minutes while the hotel manager looked in the safe. No ID.<\/span><\/p>\n Sheila took everything apart again. I called the agent over and asked what would happen if she couldn\u2019t find her ID. Would Sheila be able to board the plane in this post 9\/11 world?<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDoes she have a passport with her?\u201d (We weren\u2019t that far from the Canadian border, so that was a reasonable question.)<\/span> He called a TSA supervisor, who explained that they would have to establish Sheila\u2019s identity through the Homeland Security Office and after that, conduct an extensive search, a process that could take up to six hours. We would probably miss the flight – the last one of the day.<\/span><\/p>\n Anyone that flies in the United States knows that photo ID is required in order to buy an airline ticket and to board the plane. It is usually a driver\u2019s license, but can also be a passport or an official non-driver\u2019s license photo ID. Mom, who no longer drove and whose license had expired years before, had to get one of those in order to fly.<\/span><\/p>\n Photo ID is also required when checking into a reputable hotel \u2013 not the fly-by-night or rent-by-the-hour type.<\/span><\/p>\n Sheila and I had just finished a great weekend at a Police Academy training site \u2013 yes, she had fun, too. She shot an AR-15 for the first time and even had a tight grouping on the target.<\/span><\/p>\n As the flight time loomed closer, Sheila decided to give up digging for her license and undergo the search and questioning. The officers made a call to the regional Homeland Security office and agreed to accept her business card photo (the card also had her name, website, and email address) that she did have in her wallet. Since several people with their legitimate driver\u2019s licenses had vouched for her, as long as she could pass the questioning phase and go along with the search, she might be able to board. I think it helped that there were cops in the group who vouched for her.<\/span><\/p>\n
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\n\u201cWe weren\u2019t planning on leaving the country, so, no.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n