What forms of ID are acceptable to fly Southwest?

Adult passengers 18 and older must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint in order to travel.
  • Driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) ...
  • U.S. passport.
  • U.S. passport card.
  • DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)




People Also Ask

In the United States, you need a valid U.S. government-issued photo ID or a passport from your country of origin to travel through security. You must show that the name on your boarding pass matches the legal name on your unexpired government-issued ID.

MORE DETAILS

If you don't have any acceptable alternate form of ID, a TSA employee will ask you to complete an identity verification process by filling out a TSA Form 415, also known as a Certification of Identity form. It asks for your full name, current address, signature and date.

MORE DETAILS

But no, unless you can provide acceptable forms of secondary identification, you cannot fly without ID in the United States. The TSA website also explains, “Additional screening will include a pat-down and bag search.

MORE DETAILS

If you only have an expired passport, you can still bring it along for domestic travel within the United States, but you must convince TSA officers that you are who you say you are. However, if you're traveling internationally, you must have a valid passport.

MORE DETAILS

Beginning May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, state-issued enhanced driver's license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.

MORE DETAILS

Travel Documents and Information
  1. Valid photo identification. ...
  2. Travel tickets (plane, train, bus; can be paper or electronic copies)
  3. Boarding passes.
  4. Reservation confirmations (rental car, hotel, pre-paid tickets for events; can be paper or electronic copies)
  5. Credit and debit cards. ...
  6. Cash.
  7. Emergency contact list.


MORE DETAILS

Wear clothing and shoes without metal, and be ready to remove your belt if it has a metal buckle. Tuck large metal jewelry pieces into your carry-on bag before you go through the security checkpoint. Put change and keys into your carry-on or empty your pockets into a plastic bin when you arrive at the checkpoint.

MORE DETAILS

If you are traveling domestically, you will only need 1 valid form of identification — either your REAL ID or your passport, not both.

MORE DETAILS

Print out a second copy at the check-in counter or check-in machine at the airport, in case the loss is already noticed in the check-in area. Report to the flight staff at the gate if your boarding pass is missing, and you are already in the security area.

MORE DETAILS

Yes! I lost my wallet and didn't have a single form of id on me. Just get to the airport with extra time. Delta agents were able to easily still pull up my info, but for TSA, when you go through security, they ask you a lot of questions to verify your identity, and you have to wait for them to verify your SSN etc.

MORE DETAILS

Expired ID If your driver's license or state-issued ID expired on or after March 1, 2020, and you are unable to renew at your state driver's license agency, you may still use it as acceptable identification at the checkpoint. TSA will accept expired driver's licenses or state-issued ID a year after expiration.

MORE DETAILS

A passport that has expired is not accepted for overseas travel. If your passport has expired or will expire within the next six months, you must renew it.

MORE DETAILS

In the event you arrive at the airport without proper ID, because it is lost or at home, you may still be allowed to fly. By providing additional information, TSA has other ways to confirm your identity, like using publicly available databases, so you can reach your flight.

MORE DETAILS

The officer will insert each photo ID into the CAT unit where the ID is scanned and analyzed. CAT is linked electronically to the Secure Flight database, which confirms travelers' flight details, ensuring they are ticketed for travel that day.

MORE DETAILS