Security

Worried about REAL ID? Deadline now: May 2025

Security

Citing the lingering effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the public’s ability (and reluctance) to obtain a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card, federal officials have once extended the deadline for when fliers must have a federally compliant REAL ID.

On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the deadline for enforcement of REAL ID has been extended from May 3, 2023 to May 7, 2025.

That means states and travelers now have two more years to meet the deadline of making sure travelers have compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards.

During the pandemic, many states closed license centers or severely limited the hours of operations. Many states also extended the expiration dates on driver’s licenses and moved all operations online. That made it difficult for states to make real progress on issuing REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards.

“We welcome the DHS announcement postponing the implementation of REAL ID requirements for individuals boarding commercial aircraft,” said Kevin M. Burke, president and CEO of Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) in a statement. “Despite previous extensions to REAL ID implementation, the saturation of REAL ID compliant licenses and identification cards remains low.”

How low?

According to the U.S. Travel Association, an estimated 83 million Americans (34%) currently do not have any form of ID that meets the REAL ID requirements.

What is REAL ID ANYWAY?

Passed by Congress in 2005 following a 9/11 Commission recommendation, the REAL ID Act establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards.

Under the regulations and the new deadline, beginning May 7, 2025, every traveler 18 years of age or older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another TSA-acceptable form of identification (i.e a passport) to pass through security checkpoints for domestic air travel. 

IDs – driver’s licenses and passports – are one of the top items left behind at airport checkpoints. And TSA destroys IDs that remain unclaimed after 30 days.

Replacing a driver’s license is a hassle. Replacing a passport is an even bigger hassle. So we don’t advise using your passport for domestic travel instead of getting a REAL ID compliant license or ID card,

TSA finds a gun hidden in a chicken at a Florida Airport

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Let’s give credit to the TSA officers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) who cracked the case of the passenger whose carry-on luggage contained a raw chicken with a gun hidden inside.

TSA takes offenses like this seriously. But the agency isn’t above cackling and crowing about finds like this on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

“There’s a personal fowl here…” TSA noted in its Instagram post, adding that “The plot chickens as we barrel our way closer to Thanksgiving.”

The chicken puns didn’t stop there.

Far from it.

Courtesy OSU Special Collection & Archives, via FlickrCommons

TSA said it was thankful its officers “are always working around the cluck to keep you safe” when noting the “hen you believe it?” find at the Fort Lauderdale airport.

“We hate to beak it to you here, but stuffing a firearm in your holiday bird for travel is just a baste of time. This idea wasn’t even half-baked; it was raw, greasy, and obviously unsupervised. The only roast happening there is this poor packing choice.

Feather you like it or not, there are rules for traveling with guns and ammunition. So, don’t wing it; roost over the proper packaging info through the link in our bio.“

Guns in chickens are the least of it

While the gun-in-a-chicken scheme is unusual, TSA officers have a lot of experience spotting guns at Florida airports

Earlier this month the TSA noted that so far this year a record 700 guns had been found at Florida airport checkpoints and nearly every one of these guns was loaded. “Most had ammunition chambered,” TSA said.

Here’s some of the breakdown, as of November 3:

Orlando International Airport (MCO): 129 guns;

Ft. Lauderdale -Hollywood International Airport (FLL): 120 guns:

Tampa International Airport (TPA): 102 guns;

Miami International Airport (MIA): 83 guns;

Jacksonville International Airport (JAX): 58 guns;

Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW): 37 guns;

TSA says in Florida, and in many other states, most passengers found with firearms at the checkpoint are arrested or issued notices to appear in court.

“Passengers face a civil penalty from the TSA that can reach as much as $13,910 and that is imposed regardless of whether the individual is arrested by our law enforcement partners,” TSA reminds travelers. And “If the traveler is in the TSA PreCheck program, those privileges will be lost for a period of time, possibly permanently.”

Nationwide, TSA officers detected 5,972 firearms on passengers or their carry-on bags at checkpoints last year. As of mid-September 2022, more than 4,600 guns had been found. And given the uptick in firearm ‘finds’ the TSA has been reporting around the country, it’s a good bet that the tally will break a record again this year.

Some airports ease travel. Others make it harder

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Now you can reserve a checkpoint slot at Miami Int’l Airport

One of the newest, and most welcome airport amenities are free programs that allow passengers to schedule the time they go through TSA checkpoint screening.

Examples include the Spot Saver program at Seattle-Tacoma Internation Airport (SEA), the LAX Fast Lane at Los Angeles International Aiport, the EWR Virtual Line at Newark Liberty International Airport, MCO Reserve at Orlando International Airport, PHX Reserve at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), and JFK T4 Reserve at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

There are also a few other checkpoint reservation programs operating at airports around the country.

Some are limited to certain airlines, specific checkpoints, or concourses, and may be offered during limited hours. Be sure to read the rules and directions on your airport’s website.

Miami International Airport (MIA) just joined the list

MIA Reserve is a six-month pilot program for passengers flying from MIA airport on American Airlines.

During the trial, passengers may reserve a checkpoint screening time, for free at MIA TSA Checkpoint 4 from 5 am to 7 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Reservations are limited and can be scheduled up to 72 hours before a flight.

Amsterdam Schiphol reduces passenger capacity. Again.

Citing a shortage of security workers in the coming months, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS) will once again reduce the number of passengers allowed in the airport.

This time the airport is reducing the number of daily passengers by 18%, through at least October 31. In a statement released last week, Schiphol officials said they expect to continue applying limits on the number of daily passengers until at least the end of the year.

That’s bad news for passengers and for airlines.

AMS had set a limit of 67,500 departing passengers per day during September and 69,500 during October.

The new maximum will be 54,500 per day for the rest of September and 57,000 per day in October.

London’s Heathrow Airport and several others also have passenger capacity limits in place at least through the end of October.

Checkpoint reservations go global

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Long – sometimes very long – checkpoint security lines are back at airports in the United States and around the world.

That’s why the StuckatTheAirport.com convenience reporter is a big fan of any program that gets travelers through the lines faster. With the least amount of hassle. And for free.

Paid programs such as TSA Precheck or CLEAR get you on shorter, expedited lines. And we’re big fans of those programs.

But at an increasing number of airports, there are free programs in place that allow travelers to make a reservation for the security checkpoint line.

Airports where you can make a checkpoint reservation

The list includes the Spot Saver program at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA); the PHX Reserve program at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX); the DFW Security Fast Pass program at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) ; the LAX Fast Lane at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX); and the EWR Virtual Line at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

Other programs include t; the MCO Reserve line at Orlando International Airport (MCO); and the JFK Reserve line for Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

In Canada, the YYC Express program expedites the security checkpoint experience at Calgary International Airport (YYC).

CLEAR operates many of these free programs with its virtual queuing technology. And now the option to reserve a time to go through the airport checkpoint has spread to Europe.

BER Runway, at Germany’s Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), now allows travelers to plan ahead and reserve a dedicated security time slot.

Here’s how the program works:

On an airport’s app or website, enter your flight information, the number of travelers in your group, and the time slot during which you’d like to go through security. At BER and most participating airports, slots can be reserved as far ahead as 72 hours before a flight. In some airports, it is also possible to reserve a slot when you arrive at the airport.

Then, show up at the dedicated checkpoint lane at the time you’ve reserved. Show the QR you received with your completed reservation. Then go through security without waiting in a very long line.

In BER and other airport, the programs may operate during limited times, in specific terminals. If you’ve got TSA PreCheck or the paid CLEAR service, you don’t need this service.

Airport security lines are long. Reserve your spot.

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Summer travel is back in full force and that means long lines to go through airport security checkpoints.

Having a paid TSA Precheck or CLEAR membership will get you on shorter, expedited lines. But at an increasing number of airports, there are free programs in place that will also help you shorten the wait times, the unknowns, and the hassles of going through airport security.

CLEAR free Reserve Program

CLEAR offers a paid, identity program that allows many travelers to skip to the front of a checkpoint line. But the company also partners with some airports to offer a free program that allows any travel to reserve a time slot for going through airport security on a dedicated security lane. This can give passengers a more predictable and stress-free travel experience.

Here’s how the program works:

On an airport’s app or website, enter your flight information, the number of travelers in your group, and the time slot during which you’d like to go through security. At most participating airports, slots can be reserved as far ahead as 72 hours before a flight. In some airports, it is also possible to reserve a slot when you arrive at the airport.

Then, show up at the dedicated checkpoint lane at the time you’ve reserved; show the QR you received with your completed reservation; and go through security without waiting in a very long line.

The programs may operate during limited times, in specific terminals, be branded a bit differently at each airport, and is generally not available (or needed) for travelers who already have TSA PreCheck or the paid CLEAR service. So be sure to read the instructions carefully.

Here are the airports where the CLEAR program is currently operating:

*John F. Kennedy International Airport – JFK T4

*Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) – SEA Spot Saver

*Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – LAX Fast Lane (Terminals 7 and 8)

*Orlando International Airport (MCO) – MCO Reserve (East and West checkpoints)

*Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) – Newark Virtual Line (Terminal A)

*Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) – PHX Reserve ( Terminals 3 and 4)

*Calgary International Airport (YYC) – YYC Express – Checkpoint E

Keep an eye out for other airports that may adding this great amenity this summer and be sure to take advantage of reserved airport checkpoint times when you can.