Can a student fly without a passport?? (Europe)

Lemoncurd

We are dropping some German 16 year olds at the airport and have just been told that one of them travelled here without a passport, just an ID card. They are flying UK-> Luxembourg and flew out the same route.
They say that it was challenged but they were allowed to travel. Is this even possible? I'm a bit worried about them being allowed to fly back. Have googled and everything seems to suggest that the passport is essential. If we'd known sooner we would have suggested their parents mailed their passport over at the start of their stay.
Think they were flying BA.

unforeseen

They should have a passport. Flying with just an ID card is only valid within the Schengen area which does not include the UK or ROI.

jpsartre

The above is incorrect. A national ID card is as good as a passport for EU citizens travelling within the EU.

Nick_C

unforeseen wrote: »

They should have a passport. Flying with just an ID card is only valid within the Schengen area which does not include the UK or ROI.

There is no legal requirement for a passport or national identity card when traveling between countries in the Schengen area. If you are flying, its essentially a domestic flight. The airline may require photo ID, but that is purely for security and a driving license could be sufficient.

EU citizens can enter and leave the UK using a national ID card. No passport necessary.

unforeseen

Yes I stand corrected. National I'd card is sufficient

eDicky

Student or not, anyone holding a national ID card of an EU country can use it to travel between EU countries. The British don't have such a thing so they have no alternative to a passport.