Can you fly within UK without a passport - if so who with?

loulou123

Want to book a flight within the UK for a surprise for my boyfriends birthday, but he hasnt got a passport (and never had one.)

Can you travel within the UK (am thinking Edinburgh) without a passport and if so, which companies (preferably low cost airlines such as easy jet etc) allow you to do so. Just been on the Ryan air site and they say that you have to have a passport even for local flights is this the policy for every one now??

Ian_W

FLYBE list of acceptable photo ID cards.

I believe EasyJet also lists the need for a photo ID, probably along similar lines to FB, rather than a passport.

Suggest you find out which airlines travel from your nearest airport to Edinburgh (or wherever) and try their websites or give them a call before you book.

Fordaz

Most Airlines will operate within the UK with Photographic identity (Drivers License, Armed Forces ID etc) BMI, British Airways, Easyjet, Flybe etc. all accept these documents. Ryanair only accept Passports and UKID cards (which are being scrapped anyway)... no idea why.

teapot2

If its the visit to Edinburgh rather than the flight and the ID is a problem you can't overcome have you thought of just getting the train? It only takes 4.5 hours or so from London and you're in the middle of Edinburgh. No travelling in and out to airports etc but can be more expensive unless you book early and find a deal.

Hope its not August you're planning to travel in? All types of transport will be heavily booked cos of the festival. Good luck

mitchaa

You do not need a passport to fly in the UK.

Driving license is fine.

dmg24

mitchaa wrote: »

You do not need a passport to fly in the UK.

Driving license is fine.

Ryanair do not accept a driving licence as ID for UK flights.

loulou123

Thank you for all your suggestions, so in a nutshell the majority of airlines will let you fly without a passport (within UK) apart from Ryan Air!!

Train idea is a good one, but only planning on going for the day - fly out early spend day there, fly back late so really not going to be time for the train (as we are only about 30mins away from gatwick on train.)

Thanks again.

Hannah_10

If you've got other ID (driving licence is good) then pretty much all of them should be possible.

magic_pants

There is NO legal requirement to have a passport on an internal UK flight. However, the airlines can make up their own rules so if it says "must have passport" then you must have a passport. YOu can try arguing the toss but remember that Ryanair's primary purpose in life is to make it as difficult as possible for you to get on a flight so do as they say if you're mad enough to use that particular airline.

alanrowell

Don't know everyone is going on about Ryanair - they don't fly to Edinburgh from anywhere in the UK - and the only mainland UK route is STN to PIK and there are 4 UK routes from Belfast

loulou123

alanrowell wrote: »

Don't know everyone is going on about Ryanair - they don't fly to Edinburgh from anywhere in the UK - and the only mainland UK route is STN to PIK and there are 4 UK routes from Belfast

Thats really weird, just checked that out and your right, although last year i flew from Bournemouth to Edinburgh with Ryan air, so they must have stopped the flight quite recently.

Think everyone just on about ryan air (myself included) as they seem to be the only airline who actually wont let you fly within the UK without a passport.