If you're over 18 and intend to fly, you must present a valid government-issued form of photo identification when you check in to your domestic or international flight.

In 2026, it is virtually impossible to check a bag on a commercial flight without a valid, government-issued photo ID. Under international and TSA security regulations, the name on your checked bag must match the name on your boarding pass, and the person checking the bag must be positively identified to prevent "anonymous" luggage from entering the aircraft's hold. If you have lost your ID, you must go through an extensive identity verification process at the airport, which involves answering security questions (often via the TSA Form 415) and undergoing a more intensive physical screening. Even if you are cleared to fly after this process, some airlines may still refuse to check your luggage if they cannot definitively link your identity to the bag's tag. The only real exception is for minors under the age of 18 traveling domestically, who are typically not required to show ID if their accompanying adult has valid documentation. For everyone else, "no ID" usually means "no checked bag," and potentially, "no flight."