REAL ID Rollout Causes Minimal Delays at Airports \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ As the REAL ID law officially took effect Wednesday, U.S. airports operated with minimal disruptions. Most travelers either already had compliant IDs or were allowed to proceed with extra screening and a TSA notice. Government offices, however, saw long lines as people rushed to get updated licenses.
Quick Looks
- REAL ID requirement began Wednesday for domestic air travel in the U.S.
- Most travelers without a REAL ID were still allowed to fly with warnings.
- TSA handed out informational fliers with QR codes listing acceptable IDs.
- Passengers without REAL ID were told they may face extra screening.
- 81% of U.S. travelers already have REAL ID, per Homeland Security.
- Passports and tribal IDs remain valid alternatives at airport checkpoints.
- Travelers reported short airport lines, but long waits at DMV offices.
- Officials in states like California and Illinois offered extended DMV hours.
- REAL ID also required for entry to certain federal buildings and facilities.
- TSA assures travelers they won’t miss flights if they arrive early.
Deep Look
The long-anticipated REAL ID enforcement deadline quietly arrived Wednesday, bringing surprisingly little disruption to air travel across the United States. Despite months of buildup, most airports functioned smoothly, with passengers still permitted to board flights even if they lacked the newly required identification—so long as they submitted to extra security procedures or presented alternative valid documents.
The new identification mandate, originally prompted by post-9/11 security recommendations, requires passengers flying domestically to present a REAL ID-compliant license or federally accepted alternative such as a passport or tribal ID. Though the policy officially went into effect May 8, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) implemented it with a light touch.
Instead of turning travelers away, TSA agents handed out fliers to non-compliant passengers, informing them that REAL ID will be required going forward. The handout features a QR code linking to a list of acceptable documents, a helpful resource for those still uncertain about the requirements.
“The ID you presented is NOT REAL ID-compliant,” the flier reads. “You will need a REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification for your next flight or you may expect delays.”
Suzy Roberts, traveling through Oakland Airport, was one of those allowed to pass with her standard driver’s license. She received the flyer and was told she might need to undergo extra screening in the future if she does not obtain a REAL ID soon. “They’ll take my photo and do a bit more, but I’ll get through,” she said, noting she’d make a DMV appointment when she returned.
This soft enforcement was made easier by the fact that 81% of U.S. travelers already possess REAL ID, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Travelers like Nathan Carter, flying out of Philadelphia, said they felt well prepared: “I’ve had REAL ID for a while—it’s no big deal.”
No Chaos at Airports, But DMV Offices Swamped
Airport operations remained mostly calm. LaGuardia Airport in New York City reported no wait times at PreCheck lanes and minimal delays in standard lines. Phoenix Sky Harbor listed wait times of 5 to 16 minutes, while Nashville International Airport reported lines of under 20 minutes, advising travelers to bring REAL ID to keep operations smooth.
In contrast, state DMV offices across the country saw surging demand as procrastinators scrambled to get compliant IDs before the rule took hold. In Chicago, a special REAL ID Supercenter was set up to accommodate walk-in traffic, while California extended hours to meet public demand.
In King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, Michael Aceto waited over two hours for his REAL ID. “It’s a pain in the butt,” he said, criticizing the time off work required to comply with the law. “It’s a big waste of time as far as I’m concerned.”
TSA and DHS: Travelers Without REAL ID Can Still Fly—for Now
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem assured a congressional panel that travelers without a REAL ID won’t be barred from flying. Instead, they may be diverted for extra screening, similar to protocols already in place for people who lose or forget their IDs.
Thomas Carter, TSA’s Federal Security Director in New Jersey, said the goal is security, not disruption. “The whole idea here is to better validate those individuals that were encountering a checkpoint to ensure they are who exactly they say they are,” he said.
He emphasized that if travelers arrive early, even without a REAL ID, they should still be able to board their flights. “I do not have a belief that this will cause people to miss their flights if they take that additional time in.”
REAL ID Extends Beyond Airports
The new ID requirement also extends to accessing federal facilities such as military bases and nuclear plants. Though it has been nearly two decades since the REAL ID Act passed in 2005, the policy’s rollout has been repeatedly delayed—originally scheduled for 2008. Now, nearly 20 years later, its implementation has finally begun in earnest.
Officials in some states are advising residents without urgent travel plans to wait out the initial rush. “Wait until after the current rush,” said Erin Johnson, a spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. “There’s no need to crowd the system if you don’t have immediate travel needs.”
Final Takeaway
While REAL ID is now technically in effect, the federal government has chosen flexibility over rigidity in its first days of enforcement. Travelers who still haven’t updated their IDs are being accommodated with fliers and extra screening—not outright denial.
Still, with future travel and federal access increasingly tied to this updated form of ID, those without one should expect longer wait times at DMV offices in the coming months—and the possibility of longer security checks at airports if they continue to fly without it.
REAL ID Rollout REAL ID Rollout
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