Ryanair no passport

armstrongracer · 16-06-2015 02:00PM #1

I'm flying to UK in 6 weeks time, just realised that my UK passport expires at end of month. As I live in Dublin I have to use the Overseas Passport system which takes 6 weeks instead of the normal 3 weeks from the Uk. Previous posts have said that Ryanair only accepts passports for travel. But their website indicates that Photo-ID is accepted (see attached). I have a driving licence and Social Welfare card which are official photo-id documents. Does anyone know what the story is?
Ryanair.JPG

Stheno · 16-06-2015 02:02PM

Passport only I'm afraid

sillysocks · 16-06-2015 02:03PM

They've a live chat section on their website now which I found very helpful. Maybe ask there for accurate info.

Sheldons Brain · 16-06-2015 02:04PM

Only passports, this is not an internal UK flight.

16-06-2015 02:05PM

Could you get a passport in the north or are you restricted to the overseas process?
http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/her-majestys-passport-office-northern-ireland-regional-office

superb choice of username · 16-06-2015 02:09PM

if they are insistent on passport, then you have two options:
1) get emergency passport from UK embassy in Dublin (expensive)
2) if you know anyone in Northern Ireland, you can have the UK passport delivered there. Renew the normal way. If really urgent, you can make appointment to go to Belfast passport office and do the fasttrack option

athtrasna · 16-06-2015 02:10PM

sillysocks wrote: »

They've a live chat section on their website now which I found very helpful. Maybe ask there for accurate info.

This is a frequently asked question on here and the replies given are accurate. Ryanair only accepts valid passports or official national identity cards (issued by some countries) for non domestic travel.

OP consider rebooking with another airline or ferry company as they don't require a passport

munchkin_utd · 16-06-2015 02:10PM

other option, choose one of the other airlines (or ferry companies) which do not require a passport

Cool_CM · 16-06-2015 02:10PM

Rather than relying on Ryanair, I'd try ringing the Embassy in Dublin to see if there is any fast-track process in place. Seeing as you live in the Republic I'd imagine that you probably couldn't, but check to see if there any way that you could travel up to Belfast and renew it there: https://www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently

armstrongracer · 16-06-2015 02:14PM

Tried other options but I'm flying there and back in a day and only Ryanair's times suited. Have to do the express option. It's still way cheaper than getting an Irish passport (I qualify for both). In the past I've done the whole process at the Embassy in Dublin but the website only seems to give the postal option now.

anvilfour · 16-06-2015 02:15PM

superb choice of username wrote: »

if they are insistent on passport, then you have two options:
1) get emergency passport from UK embassy in Dublin (expensive)
2) if you know anyone in Northern Ireland, you can have the UK passport delivered there. Renew the normal way. If really urgent, you can make appointment to go to Belfast passport office and do the fasttrack option

Good idea!

You can also pay for a Premium service to receive your passport within 4 hours:

https://www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently

I think when the time comes I'll just pop up to Belfast and have it done there!

Gatica · 17-06-2015 09:02AM

athtrasna wrote: »

This is a frequently asked question on here and the replies given are accurate. Ryanair only accepts valid passports or official national identity cards (issued by some countries) for non domestic travel.

OP consider rebooking with another airline or ferry company as they don't require a passport

as above... Ireland and the UK do NOT have a national ID card. The licences and work-type IDs don't count. The IDs that Ryanair mention on their website are the EEA national IDs. They're equivalent to a passport/Social security card in one.

munchkin_utd · 17-06-2015 10:18AM

Gatica wrote: »

as above... Ireland and the UK do NOT have a national ID card. The licences and work-type IDs don't count. The IDs that Ryanair mention on their website are the EEA national IDs. They're equivalent to a passport/Social security card in one.

not yet, but Ireland will have a passport card avalable within weeks !

Gatica · 17-06-2015 10:19AM

just read that on the wiki! That's great....

billie1b · 17-06-2015 10:32AM

armstrongracer wrote: »

I'm flying to UK in 6 weeks time, just realised that my UK passport expires at end of month. As I live in Dublin I have to use the Overseas Passport system which takes 6 weeks instead of the normal 3 weeks from the Uk. Previous posts have said that Ryanair only accepts passports for travel. But their website indicates that Photo-ID is accepted (see attached). I have a driving licence and Social Welfare card which are official photo-id documents. Does anyone know what the story is?
Ryanair.JPG

A driving licence is not an official form of documentation for travelling abroad with, its only a document used to permit the holder to drive a vehicle of which category it states. A driving licence is not even to be used to buy cigarettes, alcohol or other items that you need to prove age identity but as usual in Ireland we have the 'sure fook it its grand attitude'.

Gatica · 17-06-2015 10:37AM

It's not that odd that people assume it can be used as ID, since Irish citizens can travel to the UK on almost any ID and be allowed into the country. Most countries also accept driver's licence as proof of age for alcohol and cigarettes. It's only in Ireland that they can insist on the garda age card (which if you're foreign, how would you even have one?!)

LXFlyer · 17-06-2015 03:57PM

munchkin_utd wrote: »

not yet, but Ireland will have a passport card avalable within weeks !

Not until the end of September unfortunately.

https://www.dfa.ie/passports-citizenship/top-passport-questions/new-passport-card/

Passport Card

A new Irish Passport Card, which will be accepted for travel within the European Union and the European Economic Area and will be available from the end of September.
In January the Minister launched the Passport Card and gave the target date of availability as July 2015. However to improve the durability of the card it was necessary to alter the polycarbonate structure of the card. This will mean that the card issued to the public meets the highest international standards of polycarbonate cards. It has led to a slight lengthening in the time it is taking to manufacture the card and the new target date of issue now mid to end September.

The passport card will be available to all Irish citizens who are over 18 years and hold a valid Irish Passport. The card will have a maximum validity of 5 years (or the remaining validity of an individual’s passport book) and will cost €35.

The security features of the card have incorporated the advice of security experts including An Garda Síochána. One innovative feature of note is the embedded hologram photo on a strip on the reverse of the card. This is the first occasion on which this security feature will be used on travel documents.

About the Passport Card
You must be over 18 to apply for a Passport Card

You must be in possession of your valid Passport book in order to apply for a Passport Card

Your Passport must have a minimum of 30 days validity remaining

When completing your online Passport Card application details must appear exactly as they appear on your Passport book

The Passport Card has a maximum validity of 5 years or the remaining validity of your current Passport book

Application fee €35 plus credit card transition

You can only apply online or through the free app on your phone or tablet

Payment by credit/debit card only

Gatica · 17-06-2015 04:07PM

How long is the Passport Card valid for?
The Passport Card has a maximum validity of 5 years or the remaining validity of your current Passport book i.e. the card cannot exceed the validity of your Passport book.

That is just stupid. I thought the two were independent of each other. It means every time you get your passport you gotta fork out extra to get the card too at the same time. The EU IDs are valid for 10 years and independent of your passport.

LXFlyer · 17-06-2015 05:20PM

Gatica wrote: »

That is just stupid. I thought the two were independent of each other. It means every time you get your passport you gotta fork out extra to get the card too at the same time. The EU IDs are valid for 10 years and independent of your passport.

From the very outset it was made clear that you would have to have a passport already to avail of the passport card.

Not sure how you got the impression that it would be otherwise.

Gatica · 17-06-2015 06:31PM

I didn't know Ireland was introducing these ID cards. I had no expectation of them other than when they'd be introduced, that they would be similar to the way the other EU countries issue ID cards. I think that's pretty normal expectation considering over a dozen countries do it differently... and vast majority for 10 years, and none from the wiki link seem to rely on passport validity other than Ireland. Other than its size, it seem to kinda beat the purpose of the ID card. In the countries that I'm aware of, you'd have the ID independent of and often instead of a passport, as there's no requirement to own a passport and you can travel with it between most continental EU countries.

I don't know if that has to do with getting at least some revenue from people obtaining passports to obtain an ID card.

etoughguy · 17-06-2015 06:41PM

sillysocks wrote: »

They've a live chat section on their website now which I found very helpful. Maybe ask there for accurate info.

They do indeed and I used it for a passport related question recently, good advice

schemingbohemia · 18-06-2015 10:06AM

Gatica wrote: »

I didn't know Ireland was introducing these ID cards. I had no expectation of them other than when they'd be introduced, that they would be similar to the way the other EU countries issue ID cards. I think that's pretty normal expectation considering over a dozen countries do it differently... and vast majority for 10 years, and none from the wiki link seem to rely on passport validity other than Ireland. Other than its size, it seem to kinda beat the purpose of the ID card. In the countries that I'm aware of, you'd have the ID independent of and often instead of a passport, as there's no requirement to own a passport and you can travel with it between most continental EU countries.

I don't know if that has to do with getting at least some revenue from people obtaining passports to obtain an ID card.

They're not ID cards, they're passport cards. Very different use here to other EU countries.
The reason i'm presuming they've been brought in is because the Passport Office is sick of students losing them while out getting drunk as they've been using them for ID instead of the Garda Age Card. They can now use this card which is easier to carry and should be harder to lose, it also means that if it's lost there will still be a passport presumably in the person's possession.

Gatica · 18-06-2015 10:16AM

oh, that's a shame then.
Considering losing a passport is such a big deal, it would mean losing a passport card is also gonna be a big deal. ...plus, the Garda age cards cost considerably less at 10 or so Euro.

munchkin_utd · 18-06-2015 01:06PM

Gatica wrote: »

oh, that's a shame then.
Considering losing a passport is such a big deal, it would mean losing a passport card is also gonna be a big deal. ...plus, the Garda age cards cost considerably less at 10 or so Euro.

garda age cards are no use to anyone abroad, or anyone trying to get abroad.

by rights there should be a normal id card (so rebranding Garda Card as "ID card") for everyone.

But a passport card is not the worst idea and it could be Ireland leading the way once again. For many non EU destinations you no longer get a stamp on entry and the chip is the important feature, so this could be the way forward in general.
Personally I'd be happy to take a passport card over papery yoke any day, i.e. have the card as the principal document and have the paper passport as a premium optional extra for travel to strange exotic countries that only backbackers or missionarys see anyhow (a sweeping generalisation, but not far off the truth)

enda1 · 18-06-2015 01:41PM

billie1b wrote: »

A driving licence is not an official form of documentation for travelling abroad with, its only a document used to permit the holder to drive a vehicle of which category it states. A driving licence is not even to be used to buy cigarettes, alcohol or other items that you need to prove age identity but as usual in Ireland we have the 'sure fook it its grand attitude'.

Yeah it is! When travelling within the common travel area, borders permit travellers resident in one of the member countries to travel with just a driver's license (or one of many other documents other than passports/national identity cards).

It's only Ryanair being a pain because they don't want to have to train staff to be able to read multiple ID types so they introduce their own blanket rule.

Gatica · 18-06-2015 02:03PM

munchkin_utd wrote: »

But a passport card is not the worst idea and it could be Ireland leading the way once again.

I'm sorry I don't understand?

It may be an ID under another name, but it's still ID. Other countries have had it for many years, Ireland is only just starting to roll it out (postponed so far) this year. The EU ID can be used to travel between most EU countries instead of a passport, so I don't see how this passport card is revolutionising anything.

enda1 · 18-06-2015 02:05PM

Gatica wrote: »

I'm sorry I don't understand?

It may be an ID under another name, but it's still ID. Other countries have had it for many years, Ireland is only just starting to roll it out (postponed so far) this year. The EU ID can be used to travel between most EU countries instead of a passport, so I don't see how this passport card is revolutionising anything.

It's not a national identity card, just a passport facsimile without the visa pages.

Gatica · 18-06-2015 02:13PM

I understand what the card is, I don't understand how Ireland is leading the way, and how it's doing so "again". It may be the first to create a card version of the passport, but I don't see the upside of that over what the other EU countries have.
Sorry for going off topic, OP. I'm gonna leave it there.

keithclancy · 18-06-2015 03:23PM

Gatica wrote: »

I understand what the card is, I don't understand how Ireland is leading the way, and how it's doing so "again". It may be the first to create a card version of the passport, but I don't see the upside of that over what the other EU countries have.
Sorry for going off topic, OP. I'm gonna leave it there.

Because the UK tried to implement an ID Card some years back and made a complete balls of it, many people going from the UK to the Netherlands were stuffed, with the Dutch Authorities not even knowing what it was.

With the Passport card they don't have to change any arrangements and is accepted in the EU/EEA Area.

Personally I think it's fantastic, I'm living abroad some years now and in many countries it's legally required to carry identification with you (i.e. you need to be able to identify yourself if challenged)

I never carry my Passport around except when driving to work (as I cross a border)

This way I can keep a mini copy of my passport in my wallet and also have something to use when waiting for my new passport if I somehow lose it.

Losing a passport for me now would be a complete balls, I don't live in Ireland and if I was somewhere like Spain (i.e. not feasible to get back to the Netherlands by land) it could turn out to be very expensive.

munchkin_utd · 18-06-2015 03:27PM

Gatica wrote: »

I understand what the card is, I don't understand how Ireland is leading the way, and how it's doing so "again". It may be the first to create a card version of the passport, but I don't see the upside of that over what the other EU countries have.
Sorry for going off topic, OP. I'm gonna leave it there.

ok, with "again" I mean that a little country like Ireland is leading the way like it did with the smoking ban, environmental charge on plastic bags and even the recent gay marraige referendum which has made Germany sit up and put that issue at the top of the agenda.

Ireland is now going to be the first country in the world to introduce a credit card format of a passport.

If Ireland introduces the passport card successfully then its a successful proof of concept that is likely to be copied by other countries.

enda1 · 18-06-2015 05:11PM

keithclancy wrote: »

snip

This way I can keep a mini copy of my passport in my wallet and also have something to use when waiting for my new passport if I somehow lose it.

snip

Just an FYI on this. The new passport card would probably become cancelled electronically when your book passport gets blocked.
Of course if won't suddenly self-combust so should work as visual ID when checked by a cop or whatever. But try to get it scanned through a border - problems perhaps.

Ryanair no passport

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