Travelers without a valid ID can still board flights, according to the head of Homeland Security, but they will undergo further screening. Therefore, everyone should expect even greater waits and security lines at airports.
Starting today, be ready for much longer airport waits.
And don’t assume that you’ll be able to check in for your flight more quickly if you have a real ID.
To board a domestic aircraft on May 7, all airline passengers will need to present identification that satisfies new federal criteria, such as a passport, Global Entry card, or driver’s license that complies with Real ID.
The new federal identification process, which is intended to increase security, may result in long lineups for all travelers in the days and weeks ahead, according to travel experts.
In order to be safe, experts are now recommending that passengers arrive at the airport two and a half to three hours before the scheduled departure time for a domestic trip, rather than the two hours that was previously advised.
Why, then, would passengers with legitimate identification still have to wait in line? The answer is straightforward: Because travelers without the necessary papers will need extra security attention, bottlenecks are likely to emerge.
Additionally, some TSA agents are not aware that a state-issued enhanced driver’s license or enhanced nondriver ID card that permits vehicle travel across the U.S. border with neighboring countries complies with Real ID regulations, according to Reddit discussion forums where travelers have already voiced their concerns. Thus, there will be a lot of conversation at the security gate.
“There’s going to be a little bit of conversation, and it will hold up the line,” senior security adviser Rich Davis of the travel risk mitigation firm International SOS stated.
In essence, the Real ID document is an improved form of a typical state-issued driver’s license or nondriver ID. You must apply through the state organization that provides driver’s licenses, which is commonly referred to as the department of motor vehicles, or DMV, in order to obtain one.
For a domestic flight, experts advise arriving two and a half to three hours before the scheduled departure time.
According to the Transportation Security Administration, you should also be able to travel domestically if you have a passport or another Real ID-compliant form of identification. A typical state-issued driver’s license or nondriver ID, which was once totally accepted for domestic travel, will no longer be sufficient.
Many airline customers could not be able to comply with the new rule in the upcoming weeks, or they might not have the necessary identification when they arrive at the airport. Nearly two out of ten travelers may fit into this category, according to one TSA account.
Additionally, it can take longer for people without a valid form of identification to speak with airport security personnel.
According to a TSA representative who talked to MarketWatch, travelers who do not have the required identification “may be directed to a separate area and may receive additional screening.” Though the procedure will be far more complicated than the typical rubber-stamp one, they might still be able to board their flights.
Speaking on the matter on Tuesday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that travelers should still be permitted to board flights for the time being if they do not have the new federally mandated forms of identification.
“May be diverted to a different line, have an extra step,” Noem added of such travelers. Again, be prepared for delays.
Sheldon H. Jacobson, a professor of computer science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a member of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences, stated that screening passengers without a Real ID-compliant document “could take an extra hour or more, depending on how many people are in front of you in the same situation.”
Nearly two out of ten travelers could not be able to provide the new ID requirements, according to one TSA account.
And even if you have a legitimate ID, what if these delays cause you to miss your flight?
Experts caution that you cannot rely on the airline to be kind and waive any rebooking fees.
“No promises at this point,” stated aviation writer Sean Cudahy of the travel website Points Guy.
However, airlines might be accommodating if a sufficient number of passengers are impacted at any given period, according to Cudahy.
BourseWatch contacted a number of carriers to inquire about their plans for dealing with the issue beginning on May 7. A representative for Delta Air Lines (DAL) stated, “As we do today, Delta people will work on a case-by-case basis to rebook customers who miss flights due to extenuating circumstances once at the airport.” However, the majority did not mention any fee-waiver policy.
A representative at Southwest Airlines (LUV) suggested that travelers make plans in advance. “We recommend customers arrive at the airport up to three hours early to allow extra time for screening at security,” stated a representative.
Experts predicted that when passengers learn more about the types of documents required for domestic travel, the delays brought on by the new regulations should eventually subside. A Real ID can be applied for at any time.
Christie Hudson, a specialist with the vacation booking website Expedia (EXPE), stated, “I hope that by the time we get to Memorial Day weekend, things will have settled down.”
