Without a real ID card, you can face delays or be banned from flying after May 7
The real ID deadline is May 7, and since then it will be difficult to travel if you don't have the correct documentation at the airport.
Real ID is a new standard for state-issued ID documents that include stricter requirements to verify a person's identity and right to residency. Federal identification documents (such as passports) are also compliant.
However, even on domestic flights, if you show up at the airport without a real ID driver's license, passport or another acceptable document, you can appear at the Transport Safety Administration checkpoint and you may face delays or even prohibit travel.
According to TSA, if you show up at an airport without a real ID, you can use another compliance mechanism.
“TSA officials may ask you to complete the identity verification process, which includes collecting information about your name and current address to confirm your identity,” the agency's website said. “If you are confirmed, you will be allowed to enter a filter checkpoint, where you may perform additional filtering.”
However, TSA warns that even if you have a TSA Precheck, an alternative compliance process does not guarantee your ability to travel.
“Passengers who have not yet possessed an actual ID or other acceptable form of ID can expect to face delays, additional screening, and the possibility of not being allowed to enter a security checkpoint,” the website said. “If you choose not to provide acceptable proof of identity, you refuse to cooperate with the authentication process, or you cannot confirm your identity, you are not allowed to enter a security checkpoint.”
According to a TSA spokesperson, this alternative compliance mechanism will be acquired indefinitely and reflects the agency's existing procedures for screening passengers arriving at the airport without proper identification.
Zach Wichter is a travel journalist and wrote the Cruise Altitude column for USA Today. He is based in New York and you can contact him at zwichter@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared in USA Today: Can I fly without a real ID card? This is what to know
