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Comment by iamphilrae | Hacker News Reader

I’ve just flown London to Aberdeen (UK) and back with no need for ID. You certainly can still do this internally. An exception may be if your terminal is mixed in with international flights, then you’ll be lumped in with them at security.

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Well yes, because UK is a weird country in that you guys have no official ID system. People either use their driving licence or a passport, and neither is mandatory to have. Most other EU countries just issue everyone with an ID card so 100% of population is covered.

Why is that weird - its weird that post ww2 that there wasn't more of a backlash against id cards in Europe.

Inside of Schengen you don't need ID to fly unless your airline requires it (many LCCs do to prevent ticket reselling). I've flown SAS without ever showing ID - just scanning my eTicket barcode at security and the gate.

(You are required to carry ID when visiting another Schengen country, but it is not checked by airports like for extra-Schengen flights)

And often not even then in my experience - T5 Heathrow is where (maybe) all BA's internal flights leave from and a huge amount of their international. Same security, same lounges, same terminal - only time ID is needed is before getting on the plane internationally (or at the Visa-Check desk if that applies to your destination). Mind you a I read something about them taking a photo of you at security for internal flights, and 'assuring' you it's deleted once the flight has left.

I didn’t know this was still possible. I used to fly Nottingham <-> Glasgow and it was just like getting on a train or coach. I had wondered why it needed to any different now but I see that it’s because the terminal in EMA is now both for internal and international.

And to Ireland, as well. I once flew to Dublin and only realised on the plane I'd forgotten my passport. Got through with my paper driving license, but I don't think I even needed that, strictly, although currently you need _some_ form of ID if flying into Ireland from the UK.

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