never heard of that before but then I’ve never been asked for a ticket of any description in the 8 years I’ve been there. 3 times last year and twice this year!
An IMEI number, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a 15-digit number that is unique to each mobile phone or device. It's similar to a phone's fingerprint and can be used for a variety of purposes, including:
Tracking stolen phones
Phone carriers and law enforcement can use IMEI numbers to track stolen phones (read - any phone) and help locate them. If your phone is stolen, you can call your service provider to get your IMEI number so you can block access to your personal information and prevent being billed for the device.
Checking compatibility
You can use your IMEI number to check if your device is compatible with a network.
Checking information
You can use your IMEI number to check information about your phone, such as its country of origin, manufacturer, and model number.
You can find your IMEI number in a few different ways:
Check your device settings
For example, on an Android device, you can go to Settings, then About Phone, and then scroll down to find your IMEI number.
*Dial #06#
On most smartphones, you can dial *#06# to display your IMEI number on the screen. Dual-SIM phones may show two IMEI numbers, one for each SIM slot.
Check the device itself
You can look for your IMEI number on a sticker on the back of your device, under the battery, or on the box it came in.
iPhones bought in USA have eSIM only. Those bought outside USA have one physical SIM slot. I bought mine in Portugal. Not much difference in price but have a slot as I needed one for an old SIM.