Legally you are correct, but I've tried this, and been unable to manage it. Despite asking politely in a couple different ways, the TSA agent would say no words to me except "You need ID".
I'm told by people who know that it possibly would have worked to lie and say I didn't have ID on me, but I didn't have the guts to try lying to federal agents.
My aunt lost her drivers license but was able to fly (roundtrip AZ to VA) by being polite, patient and by having a wallet full of other cards with her name on it.
Surprisingly, the key card that let her board was her Costco card as it had her photo on it and that was an acceptable form of ID.
I had my wallet stolen once, and the TSA agent asked if I had a text message on my phone that included my name. Apparently, that was enough ID for him...
I had a similar experience. I was taking a flight home from Arizona, and the TSA agent stopped me because my drivers license was expired. He let me board because my Sam's Club card (which I don't believe has an expiration date) had my photo on it (a TINY Black and white picture).
Not sure how I would have renewed my license from out of state, if they didn't let me on the plane. I'm pretty sure I couldn't rent a car and drive home!
That's interesting but not very surprising. I would say that's traveling with alternate ID (or unofficial ID), not flying with no ID. It sounds like she would not have been allowed to fly without ID.
I'm told by people who know that it possibly would have worked to lie and say I didn't have ID on me, but I didn't have the guts to try lying to federal agents.