ID - what you'll need to travel

Long gone are the days when airlines would let you fly without travel identification. In these times of increasingly tightened airport security, it is vital that all travellers have the correct documentation to enable them to fly.

The key document for British airline passengers is a valid passport. Information on how to obtain one, renew an existing passport or how to report it missing can be found here.

Some destination countries also have specific rules about your entry to their country regarding how much time is left before your passport expires. This should be carefully considered before planning any trips. America for example, requires the passenger to have at least six months remaining on their existing passport.

Some UK-based airlines will accept British nationals showing a valid photo’, driving license as proof of identity on domestic flights, but again, this varies so check with the carrier before travelling.

Finally, it is the responsibility of the passenger to obtain any visas required for entry to their destination country. Travel agents should be able to provide information but failing that, travellers should contact the embassy of the country they intend to visit and ask about any necessary documentation. The following link is to the British Foreign Office website.

Given having the correct travel documentation is vital in order to complete your journey, the information can be surprisingly difficult to find on many airline websites. Below is a list of links to a few popular carriers in the UK, outlining what identification passengers will require.

Airlines by alphabetical order

Astraeus - identification information

BMI - identification information

British Airways - identification information

Brussels Airlines - identification information

Eastern Airways - identification information

Easyjet - identification information - see section 8 for adults and section 13 for children

First Choice - identification information

Flybe - identification information - scroll down to General Information and Policies

Germanwings - identification information

Jet2.com - identification information - See article 12.2

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - identification information

Monarch Airlines - identification information - go to the section headed “ID”.

My Travel - identification information

Ryanair - identification information

SAS Scandinavian Airlines - identification information

Thomas Cook - identification information

Thomsonfly.com - identification information

Virgin Atlantic - identification information - This link also contains a useful tool giving advice about recommended travel vaccinations.

XL - identification information

© 2008 Skyscanner. All rights reserved. Any views and opinions expressed in Nick's Travel Bytes articles are those of the author and not Skyscanner.