On Wednesday, the TSA began enforcing the Real ID rules at airports across the United States. It was a huge milestone for the security agency, as the deadline for the federal law, which mandates all fliers show an upgraded driver’s license or another form of federal ID, was continually delayed for decades.
With the new rules in effect, airport security checkpoints seemed to be operating normally on Wednesday morning, and TSA lines were relatively calm. I flew out of New York’s LaGuardia airport on Wednesday, and at 8:30 a.m., the estimated wait time to get through the (non-PreCheck) TSA checkpoint in Terminal C was 15 to 30 minutes, which is a standard wait, according to the MyTSA app.
Once I approached the TSA checkpoint, there were several extra airport personnel waiting in front of the security queuing area asking to see travelers’ Real IDs before they could get in line for security. The extra personnel were there to direct any travelers without a Real ID-compliant form of identification to a special line for extra processing.
Yes—passengers without a Real ID can still get through TSA and onto their planes on or after May 7. TSA is working with travelers who show up with a regular driver’s license to board a domestic flight. “Those who arrive at TSA airport checkpoints without an acceptable identification receive a warning that they presented a non-compliant ID and may be subject to additional screening,” a TSA spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday. “The good news is that 81% of passengers already use their REAL ID or other acceptable forms so we do not expect there to be any inconveniences or wait times at all.”
The security agency said that its priority is to smoothly integrate the new rules, especially so fliers who have proper identification aren’t delayed. “TSA will enforce REAL ID in a manner that minimizes the impact to overall operations and especially for those passengers who are prepared with their REAL ID, passport or other acceptable form of ID,” the spokesperson said. Passengers with no Real ID “may be directed to a separate area and may receive additional screening. TSA is planning accordingly to ensure no impact to wait times or TSA screening operations.”
As such, if you don’t have an upgraded driver’s license, passport, or another form of Real ID, you’ll want to give yourself some extra time at the airport before your next domestic flight. The extra steps of verifying your identity and enhanced security screening could take more time.
“They may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step, but people will be allowed to fly,” Secretary of Homeland Security Krisit Noem said in a Congressional hearing on Tuesday. “We will make sure that it is as seamless as possible and that travelers will get to stay on their intended itinerary.”
Fliers without a Real ID should bring some form of identification with them that shows their name and address, such as a regular driver’s license, the TSA said in an “Ask Me Anything” Q&A session about the new rules on Reddit.
For my domestic flight at LaGuardia, I did have a Real ID driver’s license, so I was waved on to the TSA PreCheck line, where I chose to use the Digital ID facial scan option. I was through the line and checkpoint in less than five minutes. And looking over to the regular TSA lanes, I noticed that all of the checkpoints throughout Terminal C appeared to be running just as smoothly and calmly as any normal Wednesday.
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