Stranded in Minneapolis

[rhiandmoi]

I am in Minneapolis for the weekend for a friends wedding. Today when we were out for drinks and dinner, I lost my wallet. I think I dropped it when we were transitioning from the bar to the table, but either way it is gone. And gone with it is my Drivers License.

Ok. So complete panic mode here. What I do have is my passport which still has my maiden name, and a copy of my marriage license. Luckily I have until Monday to get this sorted, but has anyone had something like this happen? Please tell me you successfully got home again. The sort of good news is that, worst comes to worst, there are still tickets for the flight available, and I could actually purchase a ticket. I hope it doesn't come to that.

[pickle]

Oh my. That sounds awful. Sorry you are going through that. This link has some advice for what to do when losing id both for traveling abroad and in US when losing id.

http://www.fodors.com/news/story_928.html#

[simone]

I don't have any specific experience with this sort of thing, but I would suggest calling the airline and asking. It seems likely that you wouldn't have a problem getting your ticket and getting through security if you have a passport (photo ID) and the document attesting to your name change. You probably want to get to the airport pretty early, too. I've heard of people having nicknames on tickets/ID and getting through OK.

Good luck. I'm sorry that this happened, but it probably will be less effort to resolve than one might think.

[diddy]

Sorry to hear that, but as simone points out, it will be pretty straight forward to get things replaced (assuming the items in said wallet are not unique). You have your passport and that is considered valid ID so you are good there. Just take things as calmly as possible and things will be all right.

Just out of curiosity, did you leave contact information at the bar just in case someone found it and returned it later? You might get lucky, even with you in California. Above all, don’t let this affect you from having a good time at the wedding.

Have fun and best wishes to the happy couple.

[Ramblin' Dave]

A friend of mine once lost her passport in Europe, but still had no problem being let back into the country when they landed in...Minneapolis. Odds are it won't be as bad as you think!

[Brad from Georgia]

A pickpocket stole my wallet years ago when we were visiting Washington, D.C. (I won't name names because I am not really certain, but there was a Republican president at the time. It was crowded at the National Zoo. He COULD have been there.). We cancelled all our credit cards by phone and I called the Georgia Highway Patrol long-distance to ask about my license. "Just be real careful driving back and stay under the speed limit," they advised me. The day we got back I went to the License Bureau and got a replacement driver's license. It turned out to be no big deal, except the MasterCard people were miffed and I got called into the bank and scolded: "You should have treated that card exactly the same as cash!"

"I did," I said. "They got all my cash, too."

But later we heard they arrested a kid in D.C. trying to use the card--we had cancelled it in time--and we did get a replacement. It's scary, but if you act quickly there's no permanent harm done.

[rhiandmoi]

Well today's the day. I spoke to the airline, and they seem to think it won't be a problem. I have copies of all my travel documents, my police report, my old passport and my marriage license. Wish me luck!

[Lainie]

Good luck!

I once lost my DL while visiting my mom. It was pre-9/11, but photo ID was required to fly. I had trouble getting the airline to confirm what they would accept in the way of an ID, so I called my mom's congressman's office. They called the airline and got a firm answer.

[Jay Tea]

Why is the driving licence so important? I mean, surely a passport is just as authoritative a form of ID?

[Simply Madeline]

Originally Posted by Jay Tea

Why is the driving licence so important? I mean, surely a passport is just as authoritative a form of ID?

In Rhiandmoi's case, it's because her passport doesn't have her married name and her DL does.

[Christie]

Originally Posted by Brad from Georgia

A pickpocket stole my wallet years ago when we were visiting Washington, D.C. (I won't name names because I am not really certain, but there was a Republican president at the time. It was crowded at the National Zoo. He COULD have been there.).

Brad, have you ever considered taking up writing for a living ?

[rhiandmoi]

I made it home! Actually security was completely uneventful, the TSA guy was completely nonchalant. I just told him that I lost my wallet, and that my passport and ticket didn't match so here is my marriage certificate, and he just said, OK. And then let me through. Yay for Minneapolis!