Travelling to UK without passport

mickdw

I need to get to uk and realised my passport is out. Can I go with driving licence on some of the airlines? I know ryanair is out anyway.

Michael D Not Higgins

Aer Lingus allow driver's licence for travel to the UK from Ireland.
http://www.aerlingus.com/travelinformation/knowbeforeyoufly/visaspassports/#d.en.4568

folbotcar

You' get into Britain alright but the question is whether or not you get back into Ireland without a passport.

The Common Travel Area only seems to work getting into Britain. My suggestion is to claim refugee status if you're stopped on the way back.:P

The_Wanderer

folbotcar wrote: »

You' get into Britain alright but the question is whether or not you get back into Ireland without a passport.

The Common Travel Area only seems to work getting into Britain. My suggestion is to claim refugee status if you're stopped on the way back.:P

I've used my driving license several times to leave the UK to Ireland. Not an issue.

man98

Use the ferry.

L1011

folbotcar wrote: »

You' get into Britain alright but the question is whether or not you get back into Ireland without a passport.

The Common Travel Area only seems to work getting into Britain. My suggestion is to claim refugee status if you're stopped on the way back.:P

You will.

Aer Lingus, BA, Flybe and Cityjet will all take you on a driving licence (or less - BE to SOU took a colleague's Dublin Bus monthly ticket ID card in an emergency once!).

It is specifically Ryanair who insist on a passport or EEA ID card if you come from a country that issues them.

munchkin_utd

man98 wrote: »

Use the ferry.

or the bus to Newry.
Probably the handiest way of getting to the UK.

lord lucan

Better suited to travel op but I think you've got your answer already

coylemj

folbotcar wrote: »

You' get into Britain alright but the question is whether or not you get back into Ireland without a passport.

The Common Travel Area only seems to work getting into Britain. My suggestion is to claim refugee status if you're stopped on the way back.:P

Keep the boarding card when you're coming back, that shows that you've just come off a flight from the UK. That and your Irish driving licence will see you through the passport desk in Dublin on arrival.

PukkaStukka

Ryanair insist on passports between here and the Uk. I almost got caught with that recently and witnessed a lady being refused boarding for having the no passport. Quite why they are allowed do this when it isn't a legal necessity between here and the UK is bizarre.

coylemj

PukkaStukka wrote: »

Ryanair insist on passports between here and the Uk. I almost got caught with that recently and witnessed a lady being refused boarding for having the no passport. Quite why they are allowed do this when it isn't a legal necessity between here and the UK is bizarre.

It's not a case of them being 'allowed' to do it, it's part of their terms and conditions.

Long before Aer Lingus started asking to see ID at the boarding gate, Ryanair insisted on passports to stop people from selling tickets they found they couldn't use. They still claim it's to do with 'security' which is BS since Aer Lingus will more or less accept anything with your photo on it.

munchkin_utd

coylemj wrote: »

It's not a case of them being 'allowed' to do it, it's part of their terms and conditions.

Long before Aer Lingus started asking to see ID at the boarding gate, Ryanair insisted on passports to stop people from selling tickets they found they couldn't use. They still claim it's to do with 'security' which is BS since Aer Lingus will more or less accept anything with your photo on it.

its probably also more efficient if you just standardise your boarding procedure, rather than having one bunch of rules for uk/irish citizens traveling inside the UK/Ireland, then non uk irish citizens betweek uk/ireland and then between shengen and uk/ireland or inner schengen, or between eu/EEA and non eu/ EEA.

so many combinations that youre as well just say its a passport or nothing, seeing as that covers everything.
and whats the downside for the airline? Sure they have your cash so its irrelevant if you can fly or not.

coylemj

munchkin_utd wrote: »

so many combinations that youre as well just say its a passport or nothing, seeing as that covers everything.
and whats the downside for the airline? Sure they have your cash so its irrelevant if you can fly or not.

That's great in theory except it's not a 'passport or nothing' - they accept national ID cards from countries like Poland. They could easily accept a driving licence or the new public services card from Irish people but they choose not to.

munchkin_utd

coylemj wrote: »

That's great in theory except it's not a 'passport or nothing' - they accept national ID cards from countries like Poland. They could easily accept a driving licence or the new public services card from Irish people but they choose not to.

european national id cards have the same status as passports in europe so its essentially the same thing. (to explain this constantly on boards is tedious, as many in Ireland just dont get it, and then when it sinks in we get the "sure if its that good why havent we one ourselves")

If you want drivers licences allowed as "id", then its doable between ireland and uk but thats it.
But then on an inner-schengen journey, a drivers licence is no good as you'd be arrested on arrival for not having an ID in the country of arrival. (so not an immigration offence in itsself but just a general misdemeanour)

coylemj

munchkin_utd wrote: »

....european national id cards have the same status as passports in europe so its essentially the same thing. (to explain this constantly on boards is tedious, as many in Ireland just dont get it ...

Indeed, wasting your sweetness on the desert air.