A guide to safe flying
 

So I'm going to need a little help on this since I don't know much about it but it seems to be a common question that pops up often. I'd like anyone who has flown inside the US to give as much information as possible so we can reassure people about travel and possibly allow people to live a little more like normal people and not like wanted fugitives all the time.

I'll add all the posts into one record in this post so that we have a small database of airports and airlines that are safe for us to use. Of course use this at your own risk but maybe it will help someone from having a heart attack at the sight of a cop at an airport. I guess the more nervous you appear the more likely people will pay attention to you.

So what I'd like is for people to post (ideally) the dates, airports, airlines, what kind of ID you had and how it went. If you had problems most definitely let us know.

Some general advice:

-Make sure you're not carrying anything prohibited on board. People often forget about shampoo bottles they may have thrown into the carry-on bag or a water bottle they had purchased at the terminal. Those are prohibited and you'll only be doing yourself a favor by just not having them with you.

-Check that your bags are of proper weight and size. You probably don't want to be getting into an argument over what you can take with you on board so just try not freaking out if they say baggage can't be taken on board.

-Have everything ready. Don't make them wait for your boarding pass.

-Be nice - undocumented or not - a simple "please" or "thank you" can go a long way.

-Relax. Thousands of people fly every day on thousands of flights. Not everyone is out to get you.

LIST OF PROHIBITED ITEMS
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...ted-items.shtm

IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT YOU USE AN E-TICKET

SAFE AIRPORTS


California
San Francisco International - 1 report on foreign passport

Florida
Miami International - 1 report on foreign passport

Illinois
O'Hare - 2 reports on foreign passport

New Jersey
Newark Liberty International - 1 report on SSN+school ID (2004)

New York
LaGuardia - 1 report on foreign passport

North Carolina
Charlotte-Douglas International - 1 report on foreign passport - 1 warning attached

Washington DC
Reagan International - 1 report on foreign passport +school ID



SAFE AIRLINES

-Delta - 1 report on foreign passport
-American Airlines - 1 report on foreign passport
-US Airways - 1 report on a foreign passport

IDs WITH NO PROBLEMS
State issued Driver's License, Learner's Permit, Non-DL ID. - 1 report
Unexpired foreign passport - 3 reports
Unexpired foreign passport + school ID - 1 report

IDs THAT MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS
School IDs - one report of this being adequate when combined with a SSN

IDs THAT DEFINITELY DON'T WORK
coming soon

Oh wow, great idea J6!

Well ive flown numerous time around 15 maybe? from texas to kentucky,south dakota,new york,florida to name a few and i have NEVER had any problems but i do have a texas id

you mean a Texas driver's license or permit, right? Just making sure.

Has anyone had any problems with a government issued ID?

i have just a normal id card no license just texas id

nop never had any problems in fact before i had my ID i used to fly with my school id

Foreign passports should be good. I've used it to fly from La Guardia in NYC ( LGA) to Miami International ( MIA). The airlines I've used are Delta and American Airlines.

*checks quickly*

us airways was all good from o'hare airport, chicago
for unexpired foreign national passport...
actually they didnt even bother checking properly

I flew from SFO to Charlotte-Douglas Intl. and used an unexpired foreign passport. Both airports were okay.

I fly either with a DL or Texas ID and i've never had any problems either.

will they check for a visa, because i have a valid passport but without a visa...