Los Angeles forumites - advise a tourist

GomezAddams said:
Fucking TSA. I called the airline figuring there must be a procedure to handle people who have lost or stolen ID. They told me to call the TSA, which I did.

I explained that I had lost my wallet, and had nothing in the way of ID. The conversation went something like this:

"Do you have a state issued ID card?"

"No, but if I did, it would have been in my wallet."

"Do you have a credit card with your name on it?"

"It was in my wallet. I have nothing."

"Do you have a voter registration card?"

"It was in my wallet. I have nothing."

"Do you have a social security card?"

"It was in my wallet. I have nothing."

This went on for about 20 other things that if I had, would have been in my wallet.

She then told me to print out a pay stub, a bill, and anything else I could with my name and address.

So I print a pay stub, a mortgage statement, an Internet bill, and my fishing license. I even print the front page of my passport (of which I have a digital scan).

I get to the TSA check in feeling pretty good. The TSA agent informs me that none of those things will work. He starts asking for the same list as the lady on the phone. NO, IT WAS ALL IN MY WALLET.

Then he asks if I have prescription drugs with me. Normally, I wouldn't, but fortuitously, I was just finishing a run of antibiotics, and had the bottle in my carry-on. That was acceptable ID. Ironically, it appears that drugs are the ticket to get through TSA.

Life pro tip: If you ever lose your sole form of ID when away from home, file a police report saying it was stolen. I've since found out that a police report will get you through TSA as well.
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What a nightmare huh? Hey, if you need to borrow any cash, or need anything, let me know.
 
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GomezAddams said:
Fucking TSA. I called the airline figuring there must be a procedure to handle people who have lost or stolen ID. They told me to call the TSA, which I did.

I explained that I had lost my wallet, and had nothing in the way of ID. The conversation went something like this:

"Do you have a state issued ID card?"

"No, but if I did, it would have been in my wallet."

"Do you have a credit card with your name on it?"

"It was in my wallet. I have nothing."

"Do you have a voter registration card?"

"It was in my wallet. I have nothing."

"Do you have a social security card?"

"It was in my wallet. I have nothing."

This went on for about 20 other things that if I had, would have been in my wallet.

She then told me to print out a pay stub, a bill, and anything else I could with my name and address.

So I print a pay stub, a mortgage statement, an Internet bill, and my fishing license. I even print the front page of my passport (of which I have a digital scan).

I get to the TSA check in feeling pretty good. The TSA agent informs me that none of those things will work. He starts asking for the same list as the lady on the phone. NO, IT WAS ALL IN MY WALLET.

Then he asks if I have prescription drugs with me. Normally, I wouldn't, but fortuitously, I was just finishing a run of antibiotics, and had the bottle in my carry-on. That was acceptable ID. Ironically, it appears that drugs are the ticket to get through TSA.

Life pro tip: If you ever lose your sole form of ID when away from home, file a police report saying it was stolen. I've since found out that a police report will get you through TSA as well.
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unreal.
 
You're clearly a terrorist. :)

Seriously though, glad you got through and are on your way home. Sounds like you had a good trip. :thu:
 
Modern Saint said:
Have a safe flight back @GomezAddams

Hope that you'll be able to square away your wallet quickly.
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It wasn't a huge ordeal. The wife has the same cards as me, so I had the phone numbers I needed to call to get them shut down. Indiana lets you go online and order a replacement driver's license and print a temp out.

Sorry I didn't get over to see your show, but we spent most of Saturday looking at cars for the daughter. She had a somewhat unexpected change in living arrangements that necessitated getting a car quickly.
 
shoeless said:
You're clearly a terrorist. :)

Seriously though, glad you got through and are on your way home. Sounds like you had a good trip. :thu:
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I got shunted over to a special area for "special screening" (I was dreading finding out what that might entail), I had a nice chat with a guy from the UK who was a bit darker than white. He was telling how he gets randomly selected for "special screening" 100% of the times he comes into the US.

Turns out special screening is just swabbing your shoes and carry-on. I don't know whether to be relieved or disappointed.

There was lots of grumbling at the checkpoint that morning. The TSA was making everyone go through the full routine - even TSA pre-check folks. I don't know if that is SOP at LAX, or if something was up.
 
GomezAddams said:
I got shunted over to a special area for "special screening" (I was dreading finding out what that might entail), I had a nice chat with a guy from the UK who was a bit darker than white. He was telling how he gets randomly selected for "special screening" 100% of the times he comes into the US.

Turns out special screening is just swabbing your shoes and carry-on. I don't know whether to be relieved or disappointed.

There was lots of grumbling at the checkpoint that morning. The TSA was making everyone go through the full routine - even TSA pre-check folks. I don't know if that is SOP at LAX, or if something was up.
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I hope you were spared the full cavity search. Like you would tell us if you weren't
 
GomezAddams said:
It wasn't a huge ordeal. The wife has the same cards as me, so I had the phone numbers I needed to call to get them shut down. Indiana lets you go online and order a replacement driver's license and print a temp out.

Sorry I didn't get over to see your show, but we spent most of Saturday looking at cars for the daughter. She had a somewhat unexpected change in living arrangements that necessitated getting a car quickly.
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Life happens!!!

FWIW, we ended up getting a gig this coming Sunday at the same place. So this will be #4 for the month of November - Fun times.

Anyway outside of the lost wallet, hope that your time in SoCal was grand.
 
I lost my wallet in Las Vegas once when I lived there. At the time I was a frequent flier and got to be in the fancy lines, and figured "eh, I'll use an old expired driver's license and hope they don't notice."

Then I noticed the gal at the DMV had punched a big ole hole through it.

Still, went to the 1st class line at McCarran, gave my boarding pass and a license with a hole through it, and the guy looks at me through the hole in the license and goes "have a great flight, Dan" and winks. No, I didn't know him.
 
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