Showing ID to get on a plane (domestic flight) - not asked for

[Howardh]

Arrived ar St Helier for my flight to Manchester, although my ticket was scanned prior to security and at the gate, I was not asked to show any ID. Quite surprised by that, also wonder if they are as lax on Belfast - Great Britain routes where anyone who is allowed into the Republic (ie EU citizen) can travel to Belfast (UK) with no obstacles, and then fly into GB...basically "open borders".

Has anyone travelled from Belfast and NOT been asked for ID (driving licence, passport etc)?

 

[Huntergreed]

Has anyone travelled from Belfast and NOT been asked for ID (driving licence, passport etc)?

Yes, earlier this year.

Did the enterprise from Dublin to Belfast with some Forum members, then caught an Easyjet airbus back to Glasgow from Belfast. Was pleasantly surprised to not need any form of ID whatsoever! I think it’s less common now with online check-in, as it used to be asked for at the check-in desk before you got your printed boarding pass.

 

[Howardh]

Yes, earlier this year.

Did the enterprise from Dublin to Belfast with some Forum members, then caught an Easyjet airbus back to Glasgow from Belfast. Was pleasantly surprised to not need any form of ID whatsoever! I think it’s less common now with online check-in, as it used to be asked for at the check-in desk before you got your printed boarding pass.

Mmm, food for thought. A printed pass could be carried by someone else; so it all kinda goes against making the UK a fortress with harsh borders when, in effect, anyone with freedom of movement can enter Ireland and then cross over into the UK with no checks at all. Makes you wonder why we spend hours in passport queues at Heathrow and Manchester?

 

[Elwyn]

The UK, The Islands (Channel Islands & the Isle of Man) and the Republic of Ireland operate a Common Travel Area. So there is no immigration requirement to carry a passport on journeys within the CTA if you are a UK or Irish citizen. (The law is different for other nationals entering Ireland).

However various airlines require id for their own commercial reasons. Ryanair created a bit of a fuss when they flew the Cork – Dublin route because they would only accept passports. No driving licenses or some of the other documents acceptable to other carriers. So Irish citizens were having to show passports for domestic journeys. Hence the fuss. But that was a commercial decision by that carrier. I have read it was fraud related but I can’t say how such fraud might work. I fly regularly between Belfast & Edinburgh, Easyjet ask for photo id if you have checked in luggage, but not if you have hand baggage only.

So it's important to draw a distinction between document checks related to border control and those for carrier’s’ own commercial reasons.

 

[Howardh]

So it's important to draw a distinction between document checks related to border control and those for carrier’s’ own commercial reasons.

There's clearly no requirement for an ID check between NI and GB. As there is no physical border between RoI and NI, anyone who is in RoI can travel to GB unchecked. making a mockery of "protecting our borders" when any EU citizen who can't get in via the usual routes (eg GB ports) such as a criminal can circumnavigate all that by legally entering the Irish Republic (under freedom of movement) and hey-ho, a rail trip and flight and you're into GB.

 

[route101]

There's clearly no requirement for an ID check between NI and GB. As there is no physical border between RoI and NI, anyone who is in RoI can travel to GB unchecked. making a mockery of "protecting our borders" when any EU citizen who can't get in via the usual routes (eg GB ports) such as a criminal can circumnavigate all that by legally entering the Irish Republic (under freedom of movement) and hey-ho, a rail trip and flight and you're into GB.

I had a check by UK border force at Belfast port once. Must of been a rare occurance.

 

[deltic]

There are certainly security checks on the Belfast - Liverpool ferry crossing in both directions. The last time I flew from London to Dublin had to go through passport control in Ireland

 

[Elwyn]

The last time I flew from London to Dublin had to go through passport control in Ireland

That’s correct, but if you are a UK or EU citizen you don’t legally need a passport to enter the Republic of Ireland from the UK or the islands.

Provided you satisfy the Irish Immigration Officer as to your nationality, UK & EU citizens can enter without a passport (or a national id card). It’s all a bit stupid because obviously the easiest way of establishing your nationality is to produce a passport. So it's common sense just to show it. But if you were genuinely a UK or EU cit and didn’t have a passport you would not be refused entry to Ireland for that reason.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That’s correct, but if you are a UK or EU citizen you don’t legally need a passport to enter the Republic of Ireland from the UK or the islands.

Provided you satisfy the Irish Immigration Officer as to your nationality, UK & EU citizens can enter without a passport (or a national id card). It’s all a bit stupid because obviously the easiest way of establishing your nationality is to produce a passport. So it's common sense just to show it. But if you were genuinely a UK or EU cit and didn’t have a passport you would not be refused entry to Ireland for that reason.

It isn't the right way to do things, but being white and speaking with an obvious English/Welsh/Scottish accent does work.

 

[Howardh]

It isn't the right way to do things, but being white and speaking with an obvious English/Welsh/Scottish accent does work.

If it's a true Common Travel Area, then no-one need show any ID regardless of their nationality, in the same way as you don't (yet!!!) crossing from England to Scotland. The key is getting into the CTA (a bit like getting into Schengen, once in you are free to roam) which, once you are in the Irish Republic from outside the CTA you are clear to go.

However, when the UK version of the ETIAS is up and running - the electronic visa waiver - so we can (a) filter out unwanted EU's and (b) make them pay for it they will be checked at, say, Dover and refuesed admission - yet they have every legal right to travel to the Republic instead, they will be totally allowed in without question/form/fee under freedom of movement as long as they have a passport or ID card and from there they make their way to GB unchecked.

So, basically, what's the point of the UK insisting on a visa waiver when any EU citizen can get in via the back door?

 

[blue87]

I flew Birmingham - Glasgow a couple of months ago and wasn't asked for id on either the outbound or return flight just had my boarding pass scanned prior to security and at the gate before boarding and that's it

 

[AlterEgo]

There's clearly no requirement for an ID check between NI and GB. As there is no physical border between RoI and NI, anyone who is in RoI can travel to GB unchecked. making a mockery of "protecting our borders" when any EU citizen who can't get in via the usual routes (eg GB ports) such as a criminal can circumnavigate all that by legally entering the Irish Republic (under freedom of movement) and hey-ho, a rail trip and flight and you're into GB.

Yes it is a bit mad, but don’t forget Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom. No point clutching pearls about them entering “Great Britain”, the border between Ireland and the United Kingdom is almost entirely unenforced and you can walk freely between the two states.

 

[Hadders]

I flew from Glasgow to London City back in May. No ID check at all.

Just like old times

 

[102 fan]

I flew from Belfast to Manchester and back in June, and was surprised not to be asked for ID.

 

[najaB]

Has anyone travelled from Belfast and NOT been asked for ID (driving licence, passport etc)?

I have seen people using bank cards before - just for the name match I guess.

Mmm, food for thought. A printed pass could be carried by someone else; so it all kinda goes against making the UK a fortress with harsh borders when, in effect, anyone with freedom of movement can enter Ireland and then cross over into the UK with no checks at all.

Freedom of movement between the EU and Ireland: Yes.
Ability to enter Ireland with no checks of ID: No.

Ireland is not a member of the Schengen zone.

 

[nw1]

If it's a true Common Travel Area, then no-one need show any ID regardless of their nationality, in the same way as you don't (yet!!!) crossing from England to Scotland. The key is getting into the CTA (a bit like getting into Schengen, once in you are free to roam) which, once you are in the Irish Republic from outside the CTA you are clear to go.

However, when the UK version of the ETIAS is up and running - the electronic visa waiver - so we can (a) filter out unwanted EU's and (b) make them pay for it they will be checked at, say, Dover and refuesed admission - yet they have every legal right to travel to the Republic instead, they will be totally allowed in without question/form/fee under freedom of movement as long as they have a passport or ID card and from there they make their way to GB unchecked.

As an aside I do dislike these new electronic visa waiver things, as they seem to be motivated by increased distrust of foreigners and are a sign of the anti-progressive trend in western politics since around 2010. A George W. Bush administration idea, if I remember right, but since then the rest of the western world seems to be taking them up. Whether ideologically similar to the US Republican Party or not.

 

[Elwyn]

As an aside I do dislike these new electronic visa waiver things, as they seem to be motivated by increased distrust of foreigners and are a sign of the anti-progressive trend in western politics since around 2010. A George W. Bush administration idea, if I remember right, but since then the rest of the western world seems to be taking them up. Whether ideologically similar to the US Republican Party or not.

The broad thinking behind the electronic approval is to identify in advance, folk who are not going to be admitted (on grounds of criminal record, previous adverse immigration history, security grounds etc) and prevent them from travelling. Keeping them out in the first place is cheaper and more efficient than if they turn up in a country, and have to be refused admission, whereupon they may claim asylum or use other devices to try and delay or stop their removal. The airlines are generally supportive because they bear most of the costs of detention and removal of persons refused admission. Anything that saves them money usually gets their co-operation.

 

[nlogax]

I never require ID for Heathrow or City flights to Scotland. Only Gatwick seems to ask for it.

 

[najaB]

As an aside I do dislike these new electronic visa waiver things, as they seem to be motivated by increased distrust of foreigners and are a sign of the anti-progressive trend in western politics since around 2010.

While the change in attitude you mention definitely does exist, by their very nature any visa waiver program is designed to make it easier to travel, rather than harder.

 

[12C]

I flew BA from Manchester To Heathrow last month, checked in online beforehand and no ID check at all at either airport, it was only the boarding pass checked at security and at the gate. Found it rather surprising in this day and age!

 

[dastocks]

I never require ID for Heathrow or City flights to Scotland. Only Gatwick seems to ask for it.

Gatwick has a system for domestic departures to prove that a passenger presenting at the boarding gate has passed through security: it relies on matching an image that is taken of the passenger when they scan their boarding pass at security. When you have passed the boarding gate check (which is done by a member of airport staff) the airline will ask to see your passport before allowing you to board, and they may also ask to see your passport at check-in if you do that at the airport. I assume an alternative form of ID could be shown for a domestic flight if you didn't have a passport, but I don't know what form this would take.

 

[nlogax]

I assume an alternative form of ID could be shown for a domestic flight if you didn't have a passport, but I don't know what form this would take.

Often used my driving license at Gatwick without complaint. I never carry a passport for domestic flights.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

A few years ago now, but the last time I flew from London Gatwick to/from Dublin, I only needed to show my works photo ID badge, which seemed to be sufficient.

 

[Taunton]

Did the enterprise from Dublin to Belfast with some Forum members, then caught an Easyjet airbus back to Glasgow from Belfast. Was pleasantly surprised to not need any form of ID whatsoever! I think it’s less common now with online check-in, as it used to be asked for at the check-in desk before you got your printed boarding pass.

Yes. I guess the people writing here are not familiar with domestic air travel. I regularly fly to/from Belfast without anything. Asking for passports when travelling to/from the UK mainland would cause a great upset in parts of Northern Ireland. Asking for them when travelling from Belfast to Dublin would cause a great upset in the other parts. Hence the Common Travel Area for the last 100 years.

Coming through Dublin, then overland to Belfast, then to the UK is not a workaround because all passports are checked on arrival from Europe and elsewhere in Ireland, which is of course not in Schengen.

 

[dosxuk]

So, basically, what's the point of the UK insisting on a visa waiver when any EU citizen can get in via the back door?

This question was asked during the referendum campaign.

"Project Fear" was the answer provided.

 

[Cloud Strife]

So, basically, what's the point of the UK insisting on a visa waiver when any EU citizen can get in via the back door?

Recently, I flew from Poland to Dublin, then Dublin to Stansted without my UK passport. It was easier and more straightforward to use my Polish ID card, as they are free, and it fits nicely in my wallet. As far as anyone was concerned, I was a non-UK, non CTA citizen.

 

[najaB]

As far as anyone was concerned, I was a non-UK, non CTA citizen.

I assume your ID card was inspected on arrival into Dublin?

 

[nw1]

While the change in attitude you mention definitely does exist, by their very nature any visa waiver program is designed to make it easier to travel, rather than harder.

Though in many cases no visa-related bureaucracy existed at all formerly, so it's definitely a creep towards more restrictions. Even for the US, whose borders have never presented a friendly face to foreigners, the visa waiver has gone from a simple card you fill in on the plane, to an e-visa thing you have to do in advance (and pay for, which IMO is unreasonable - it should be US citizens paying for it via taxes if they want it so much) - so a backwards step there too.

The acid test would be: what travel bureaucracy existed between the UK and nearby continental countries such as France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands (both ways, for both UK and continental citizens), before the EU was a thing and before freedom of movement? I never made any trips on my own in those days, but from what I gather (from family holidays in the 80s) it was simply "show your passport". And what about before we joined the EEC in 1973? (I'd guess this was no different to the 1973-92 period, as, AFAIK, freedom of movement didn't exist from 1973-92).

If the restrictions in the coming years are to be more onerous than before the EU existed, or before we joined the EEC in 1973, it definitely shows we are going backwards.

 

[najaB]

Even for the US, whose borders have never presented a friendly face to foreigners, the visa waiver has gone from a simple card you fill in on the plane, to an e-visa thing you have to do in advance (and pay for, which IMO is unreasonable - it should be US citizens paying for it via taxes if they want it so much) - so a backwards step there too.

If you can afford to travel to the USA then 21USD every two years is barely an impediment. Also, pre-ESTA it was up to the airline to determine your eligibility to travel as you would be their responsibility if you were denied entry to the USA, there were more than a few cases of people being denied boarding by airline errors.

 

[Cloud Strife]

I assume your ID card was inspected on arrival into Dublin?

"Inspected" would be a better term. I held it up and was waved through.

The acid test would be: what travel bureaucracy existed between the UK and nearby continental countries such as France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands (both ways, for both UK and continental citizens), before the EU was a thing and before freedom of movement? I never made any trips on my own in those days, but from what I gather (from family holidays in the 80s) it was simply "show your passport". And what about before we joined the EEC in 1973? (I'd guess this was no different to the 1973-92 period, as, AFAIK, freedom of movement didn't exist from 1973-92).

If the restrictions in the coming years are to be more onerous than before the EU existed, or before we joined the EEC in 1973, it definitely shows we are going backwards.

Okay, this is how I understand it:

Freedom of movement existed from 1973 onwards, just that there wasn't a single market for customs and VAT purposes. So, let's say Brian from Sunderland fancied a new life in Germany in 1976. He could go, all he needed was his passport. This was actually one of the principles of the Treaty of Rome in 1957, although it took until 1968 for it to be fully implemented. From that moment, citizens of a EEC member state could work freely in another member state.

The thing was that customs regulations were really quite ridiculous at times, and it wasn't until 1987 with the Single European Act that customs barriers were removed, effective 1st March 1993. A good example is with currency exchange: UK citizens were subject to foreign currency limits up until 1979.

Even before Schengen was implemented, borders were porous before 1993/1995.