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flying to edinburgh, passport and seating question

Im planning a trip from London gatwick to edinburgh.

I have 2 questions my friend im going with has no passport (but a photocard driving licence.) We are looking to fly with either easyjet or BA - both of their websites say you can fly with them on a domestic uk flight without a passport, but people keep telling me they know people who have been refused to fly, within the uk without a passport. Can anyone confirm they have flown to scotland with no passport?

Question 2 - my friend is a VERY nervous 1st time flyer, unless we book direct with the airline (which when including the hotel would cost substantially more then booking with lastminute.com) we cannot select our seats - is it likely if we dont pre book the seats we will be seated apart? As my friend is terrified of ending up sitting away from me.

Thank you.
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Comments

  • pogofish
    pogofish Posts: 10,853 Forumite
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    BA don't require a pasport, nor do Easyjet for internal flights. You will need some other form of photo-ID though - acceptable forms are listed on their websites.

    You might find that the people you know who were refused were flying Ryanair - They are known to insist on passports for internal flights in and out of Scotland - despite it being quite illegal! :mad:

    Don't know the answer to your seating problem, other than check-in nice and early, even the night before if they allow. That way you should still get a good choice of seats.
  • Voyager2002
    Voyager2002 Posts: 15,882 Forumite
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    pogofish wrote: »
    You might find that the people you know who were refused were flying Ryanair - They are known to insist on passports for internal flights in and out of Scotland - despite it being quite illegal! :mad:

    Ryanair owns its own 'planes and so is free to insist on whatever documentation that it chooses. If it were to accept other forms of ID then it would need to spend more on training its staff to recognise them: the choice not to spend this money and so reduce passenger convenience is a legitimate business decision. Hardly illegal.
  • Voyager2002
    Voyager2002 Posts: 15,882 Forumite
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    loulou123 wrote: »
    Im planning a trip from London gatwick to edinburgh.

    Question 2 - my friend is a VERY nervous 1st time flyer, unless we book direct with the airline (which when including the hotel would cost substantially more then booking with lastminute.com) we cannot select our seats - is it likely if we dont pre book the seats we will be seated apart? As my friend is terrified of ending up sitting away from me.

    Try looking at costs if you book flights and hotel separately.

    You may well find that the price difference between BA and Lastminute for the flights is minimal, and there are good reasons for buying flights directly from the airline rather than through an agent.

    There are plenty of ways of getting good-quality accommodation in Edinburgh that do not involve Lastminute. For example, the university runs a number of guesthouses, all of which offer good value at different price points. You might like to explore their website and perhaps make a booking directly.
  • Nick_C
    Nick_C Posts: 7,567 Forumite
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    With BA, it shouldn't matter who you book the tickets with. You should get a booking reference (record locator) which allows you to check in on line, 24 hours before the flight. Seat allocation is free at check in. You can reserve seats earlier, but you have to pay for it (unless you have seniority in their executive club).
  • pogofish
    pogofish Posts: 10,853 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Ryanair owns its own 'planes and so is free to insist on whatever documentation that it chooses. If it were to accept other forms of ID then it would need to spend more on training its staff to recognise them: the choice not to spend this money and so reduce passenger convenience is a legitimate business decision. Hardly illegal.

    Absolute tosh!

    Article IV of the Act of Union prevents this - And it still has primacy over subsequent legislation like the Identity Act (which only considers passports as one of a range of suitable ID) and mere commercial self-interest.
  • susancs
    susancs Posts: 3,888 Forumite
    With Easyjet you do get free seat allocation when you check in or from £3 you can book seats when you do your online booking. It does say that you can travel with a photographic driving licence on Uk domestic flights with Easyjet. I think like other posters have said it is probably Ryanair that asked for a passport as they do not accept driving licences.
    http://corporate.easyjet.com/media/latest-news/news-year-2004/02-01-04-en.aspx?sc_lang=en

    Ryanair travel documentation:
    http://www.ryanair.com/en/terms-and-conditions#regulations-traveldocumentation

    I would also recommend booking your hotel separate from your flight as you will get a better choice and rate usually. You can research hotels or apartments using Tripadvisor. I prefer hotels but my sister last year rented an apartment in Edinburgh on holidaylettings which she said was really central and had great facilities.
  • googler
    googler Posts: 16,103 Forumite
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    I've flown from Scotland to Rep of Ireland via Aer Lingus with only a photo driving licence for ID.
  • Voyager2002
    Voyager2002 Posts: 15,882 Forumite
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    pogofish wrote: »
    Absolute tosh!

    Article IV of the Act of Union prevents this - And it still has primacy over subsequent legislation like the Identity Act (which only considers passports as one of a range of suitable ID) and mere commercial self-interest.

    You are confusing two separate issues...

    Obviously there is no need to show a passport when travelling between Scotland and England, so no-one requires an airline to inspect passports for this journey.

    However, Ryanair's aircraft are private property and they are at absolute liberty to decide who they will allow or not allow on board, and on what terms (so long as they do not contravene legislation such as the discrimination act). Equally, you are free to insist that visitors to your home show a passport before coming through your front door: you are not legally required to do so, and indeed this might be considered eccentric behaviour, but you have every right to make such a requirement.
  • I flew Edinburgh to Gatwick and back a couple of weeks ago with easyJet. Photo card driving license is fine.
  • Have you thought about getting the train? It solves the problems of ID and nervour fliers and you get designated seats!

    Depending on how long it would take you to get to Gatwick there may not be that much in it timewise and if you book when the rail tickets are released the train can actually be cheaper.
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