Feda O'Donnell Glasgow to Donegal

Miss-Tralee

Hi All,

A very dear friend of mine who is living Scotland lost her passport a little while ago, due to mix ups she is unable to get a replacement before Christmas and unfortunately has no other valid photo ID that is acceptable for travelling by plane or ferry. I was just wondering if she can get the Feda Bus from Glasgow without photo ID? Anyone know anything about this? Or a way around the no photo ID issue? If we can't find a way for her to come home she is going to be stuck there alone for Christmas.

Many thanks,
Claire

Lapin

I don't think I've ever been asked for ID of any kind when travelling between Ireland and Britain by ferry.

Miss-Tralee

Hmmmm.... Interesting.... Thanks for getting back to me, will pass it on!

Terrontress

There is no requirement to show ID between the UK and Ireland although many companies have a requirement.

If I were your friend I would try Sail-Rail Glasgow-Derry.

Lapin

Just to add to what I said above. I have often been asked my nationality on arrival in Ireland. I simply declare that I'm Irish and get waved on.

Giving smart answers as a Corkman behind me did once is likely to lead to avoidable questioning by Gardaí.

I reckon your friend will be fine. Ferry companies are a lot more easy going than airlines. I also recommend the Rail/Sail option as suggested by Terrontress. Quicker and more comfortable than the bus.

Miss-Tralee

Thanks a million for the advice, passing it all on and hopefully we'll get her back!!

Cul a cnoic

Ring them, 074 9548114, and then you will know for certain.

n97 mini

SailRail tickets from Scotland can involve a bus trip of at least an hour on the Scotland side and afaik will only take you to Belfast on this side.

dowlingm

http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/faqs/passports-and-visas/im-a-british-irish-citizen-do-i-need-a-passport-to-travel/

British or Irish citizens travelling on our Irish Sea routes do not need a passport to travel to Britain or Ireland but are advised to take a form of identity. A driving licence, citizenship card or utility bill will usually suffice. A birth certificate will provide adequate proof of identity for your child to travel on our sailings.

BenShermin

Can't believe nobody has mentioned this already, but both Scotland and Northern Ireland are in the UK, so ferry journeys between the two are treated as domestic travel ie. there is no formal border check whatsoever. Stena Line staff have never asked me for ID when checking in at a Northern Irish or Scotish Port.

Despite very bad info on the Stena Line website SailRail IS available to purchase from Glasgow to Londonderry* at a cost of £34gbp single or £68gbp return. The journey does involve a coach transfer from Ayr Station to Cairnryan Port and unfortunately the ticket doesn't include transport from Belfast Port to Belfast Central train station.

*In fact sailrail tickets from any station in Scotland to any station in Northern or Republic of Ireland can be purchased.

number10a

Can you imagine what a Unionist would say if they were asked to show a passport getting off the ferry in Belfast after coming from Scotland?

Richard

BenShermin wrote: »

Can't believe nobody has mentioned this already, but both Scotland and Northern Ireland are in the UK, so ferry journeys between the two are treated as domestic travel ie. there is no formal border check whatsoever. Stena Line staff have never asked me for ID when checking in at a Northern Irish or Scotish Port.

Despite very bad info on the Stena Line website SailRail IS available to purchase from Glasgow to Londonderry* at a cost of £34gbp single or £68gbp return. The journey does involve a coach transfer from Ayr Station to Cairnryan Port and unfortunately the ticket doesn't include transport from Belfast Port to Belfast Central train station.

*In fact sailrail tickets from any station in Scotland to any station in Northern or Republic of Ireland can be purchased.

I think it's a valid question because valid ID is required for internal UK flights and flights in the Common Travel. In fact Ryan insist on passports.

But as far as I know, no ID is required for sea travel within the UK. Check with the bus company if you want to be certain.

You can also purchase a "sailrail ticket". I had a look on the Scotrail website and it came up with this:
Journey summary
Outward Journey (05 Dec 2011)
Depart Arrive Travel by Train company Duration
07:30 Glasgow Central
08:26 Ayr Station Train SCOTRAIL 00h 56
08:45 Ayr Station
09:55 Bus SCOTRAIL 01h 10
11:30
13:45 Belfast N.I. Ferry SCOTRAIL 02h 15
13:45 Belfast N.I.
16:10 Xbelfast Ni Transfer n/a 02h 25
16:10 Xbelfast Ni
18:22 Londonderry Train NIR 02h 12

It is a long journey, but it's only £34 single, including the ferry and bus transfer.

It's not coming up with anything nearer Christmas, but it might do nearer the time. You can get phone numbers here:

http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/SailRail/Buy/
http://www.irishrail.ie/your_ticket/UK_and_european_rail.asp#sailrail

number10a

Richard wrote: »

I think it's a valid question because valid ID is required for internal UK flights and flights in the Common Travel. In fact Ryan insist on passports.

This is an airline requirement, not a government one. Hence the reason that every airline has a different list of documents that they will accept. Ryanair will accept passports and national IDs only, while Aer Lingus will even take work IDs, student cards and library cards - anything really as long as it has your photo and name on it.

My aunt showed up at Heathrow for a flight to Cork with Aer Lingus about two years ago, forgot her passport and had basically had nothing else with her. The staff at check-in told her go downstairs to the Tube station and get a travel card with her photo on it and that would do the job.

seanmacc

number10a wrote: »

This is an airline requirement, not a government one. Hence the reason that every airline has a different list of documents that they will accept. Ryanair will accept passports and national IDs only, while Aer Lingus will even take work IDs, student cards and library cards - anything really as long as it has your photo and name on it.

My aunt showed up at Heathrow for a flight to Cork with Aer Lingus about two years ago, forgot her passport and had basically had nothing else with her. The staff at check-in told her go downstairs to the Tube station and get a travel card with her photo on it and that would do the job.

The reason the airlines insist on it is because if you show up in Ireland or the UK without a valid passport or visa where you require one the carrier is obliged by law to send the person or persons back on the next available flight. If they have no seats for them they have to find another carrier to take them and if thats not possible they have to pay for their detention until they can get them back to where they came from.

I work with the ferries myself and we don't check ids or passports. Immigration in Dublin send back about 3 or 4 people a week. Its never much of an issue with the ferry companies as passenger capacity is fairly loose and its just a case of putting them back on the next ferry.

Miss-Tralee

Thank you all so much for the information! I really appreciate it! All sorted now! She will be home for Christmas!!

coylemj

seanmacc wrote: »

The reason the airlines insist on it is because if you show up in Ireland or the UK without a valid passport or visa where you require one the carrier is obliged by law to send the person or persons back on the next available flight. If they have no seats for them they have to find another carrier to take them and if thats not possible they have to pay for their detention until they can get them back to where they came from.

That's true if you're flying between Ireland and a country that requires a passport for entry - effectively any country other than the UK. Before Dublin airport became congested they used to be able to segregate incoming UK traffic so you could walk off a flight from Heathrow and straight into the baggage hall with no passport check.

Ryanair want to see a passport at check-in because they don't want people who bought tickets from selling them to their friends when they decide not to travel for whatever reason. They have had strict ID rules long before 9/11, it has nothing whatsoever to do with security.

Aer Lingus accept almost anything with your photo on it as ID for travel to the UK, I usually bring my passport only because the folk over there aren't so well up on the fact that legally you can travel between the Republic and the UK with no passport so to avoid any hassle from the flourescent jackets in Heathrow on the way home, I bring the passport.

I have never been asked to show ID when getting on or off a ferry, even arriving in France from Rosslare.

seanmacc

coylemj wrote: »

I have never been asked to show ID when getting on or off a ferry, even arriving in France from Rosslare.

Certain carriers require ID on the ferrys like P&O and the now defunct Norfolkline/DFDS because their ports of entry had no immigration officers. They check id at check in. Dublin, Roslare, Holyhead, Pembroke and Fishgaurd have an immigration presence where the officers just ask you your nationality. They only ask for production of ID if they are suspicious with your answer.
The ferrys to France now require id at check in. The French got a bit uppity a couple of years ago due to the large number of Romas going back and forth. Going from France to Ireland there's no requirerment but the carriers may ask for it anyway.

n97 mini

coylemj wrote: »

I have never been asked to show ID when getting on or off a ferry, even arriving in France from Rosslare.

I've been asked in Dublin when boarding, both as a foot passenger and with a car, France when arriving, and the UK when boarding for Dublin.

I always show my passport as there's no arguing with it.

dowlingm

seanmacc wrote: »

Going from France to Ireland there's no requirerment but the carriers may ask for it anyway.

How could there be "no requirement"? Ireland is not part of the Schengen area.

seanmacc

dowlingm wrote: »

How could there be "no requirement"? Ireland is not part of the Schengen area.

The French aren't too bothered when you leave by ferry and the GNIB aren't too pushed about checking every car on arrival. If it wasn't for a huge Irish Customs presence in Roslare when the ships come in from the contented it would be a free for all

Dub13

dowlingm wrote: »

How could there be "no requirement"? Ireland is not part of the Schengen area.

The French don't care about people leaving the country,thats part of the reason you have a huge UK customs presence in calais.