Identification required for UK flight

paulocon2

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone can advise what form of ID is required when flying from Ireland to the UK with Aer Lingus?

Heard that something like student ID or driving license is sufficient but have been told that recently, a passport has been required.

testicle

It's on their website, but a passport is not required.

munchkin_utd

The aer lingus conditions are on the aer lingus website, which lists a number of photo ids that suffice for irish and British born people including driving licence and student id

For all others a passport is needed.

paulocon2

Thanks folks. That's what I thought but had been told otherwise by an Aer Lingus employee.

munchkin_utd

it does seem to have changed from "irish and british citizens" to "irish and brish citizens born in Ireland or Britain", which does mean that some irish people (born abroad to irish parents or naturalised) would now need a passport for aer lingus - which maybe is what your friend was alluding to.

coylemj

munchkin_utd wrote: »

it does seem to have changed from "irish and british citizens" to "irish and brish citizens born in Ireland or Britain", which does mean that some irish people (born abroad to irish parents or naturalised) would now need a passport for aer lingus - which maybe is what your friend was alluding to.

You are correct in that the Aer Lingus website says that but the qualification is meaningless - the person on the check-in desk or at the gate can't tell if you were born in Ireland or not.

They also say the following ..

Citizens of countries other than Ireland and the UK must produce a valid passport and visa where applicable, for travel between Ireland and the United Kingdom.

But given that they will accept a bus pass with photo, it means that virtually anyone can board a flight to the UK and we all know that the chances of being pulled over at the other end is negligible.

Fred Swanson

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Snake

I'd phone the other end and ask as well, or bring your passport if you have one to be safe

coylemj

retrogamefan wrote: »

I'd phone the other end and ask as well, or bring your passport if you have one to be safe

How can you 'phone the other end'? The details are on the Aer Lingus website. No point phoning anyone because it's 99.999999% probable that the person you speak to will not be the person who asks to see your ID at the gate.

A driving licence is perfectly adequate, especially if flying from any of the major UK airports where you'll probably meet an Aer Lingus employee. Otherwise you may meet Tanya or Sharon (employee of a ground handing company) wearing a reflective jacket and if you hand her anything other than a passport, chances are she will ask a colleague if the document (driving licence/bus pass etc,) is acceptable which in all probability it will be.

paulocon2

munchkin_utd wrote: »

The aer lingus conditions are on the aer lingus website, which lists a number of photo ids that suffice for irish and British born people including driving licence and student id

For all others a passport is needed.

Actually, looking at that, it states an 'International Student ID'. Not sure what international means, assume that an ID issued by Irish Second Level Students Union won't suffice (www.issu.ie/). Can't find any customer queries phone numbers on Aer Lingus website to check either..

tennis12

Hi, flying at end of the month and sent my daughters passport off there, it should be back in time but if it is not, do flybe take drivers license as ID do you known? Flying to UK.

Fred Swanson

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coylemj

paulocon2 wrote: »

Actually, looking at that, it states an 'International Student ID'. Not sure what international means, assume that an ID issued by Irish Second Level Students Union won't suffice (www.issu.ie/). Can't find any customer queries phone numbers on Aer Lingus website to check either..

Aer Lingus simply want to make sure that the passenger who is travelling is the person named on the booking.

It's to do with making the ticket non-transferable, nothing to do with 'security' as claimed by Ryanair who insisted on photo ID long before 9/11 to stop people selling tickets that they couldn't use themselves.

robinph

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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Only gets rid of the need for using a passport when they are travelling within the Schengen area. Once they go outside that free travel area they need a passport just like anyone else.

Likewise UK and Irish citizens do not need a passport for travel between the two countries, go outside that area and you do.

I think that a lot of the other European countries require people to carry ID at all times as well which is where the national ID card comes in handy. But there is no requirement in the UK or Ireland to carry any ID on you at any time, well except for when driving in Ireland but you do not even need to have a driving license on you when driving in the UK.

Fred Swanson

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