Real ID Day 1: Here's how it went for passengers at Sky Harbor Airport
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport was operating smoothly with no major issues on the first day of Real ID enforcement.
After years of delays, the Real ID Act of 2005, enacted after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, went into effect nationwide on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Travelers now need to show a security-enhanced driver's license or other Real ID-compliant document to pass airport security or enter federal buildings.
In Phoenix on Wednesday, the Transportation Security Administration had extra screeners on hand at checkpoints. Sky Harbor Airport had extra Navigator volunteers in purple shirts throughout the terminals to guide passengers.
As of 9 a.m., Sky Harbor's five security checkpoints — one in Terminal 3 and four in Terminal 4 — had waits below 10 minutes. The longest wait observed was around 15 minutes.
'It's not like you can't travel' without a Real ID
Stephanie Randolph was flying back to Nashville from Phoenix. She got her Real ID-compliant Tennessee driver's license in 2019, a year before Real ID was supposed to take effect, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed its enforcement.
"We wanted to go ahead and get it done instead of waiting until the last minute," she said. Randolph liked how well prepared the Phoenix airport was for the first day of Real ID.
"It seems like the airport is equipped with extra people and asking (passengers) if they have it before they get in line," she said. "And it's not like you can't travel. You have to prove a little more."
On May 6, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, "people would be allowed to fly" without a Real ID. Passengers without a Real ID will be subject to more intense scrutiny to prove their identity and should allow extra time to get through security.
'A good response from passengers'
TSA screenings at Sky Harbor ran smoothly with no issues on Wednesday, May 7, said TSA spokeswoman Patricia Mancha, who was there for the first day of Real ID enforcement.
"We pretty much have a good response from passengers," she said.
Most people with noncompliant driver's licenses presented passports instead. The purpose of Real ID is to verify travelers' identities and "is not punitive," Mancha said.
Some travelers at Sky Harbor did not have a Real ID and required additional screening, but Mancha said a firm number would not be available until Thursday, May 8.
Dawn Nemeth was flying home to Silver City, New Mexico; her flight from Philadelphia included a layover in Phoenix. Nemeth, who said she got her Real ID in 2023 and also had her passport with her, said she didn't encounter any problems.
"I know what to expect and I know if I didn't have (Real ID), it would be an issue," Nemeth said.
Dana Edgell flew to Phoenix from Rochester, New York, for a conference and a Grand Canyon trip. He said it took him no more than 20 minutes to get through security in Rochester.
Sky Harbor continues to work with TSA and airport partners to educate travelers about Real ID enforcement, airport spokesperson Greg Roybal said.
Airport staff were stationed pre-security in Terminals 3 and 4 to help them find the right TSA queues and encourage them to make sure they have Real ID-compliant identification, he said.
Travelers who aren't sure whether their ID is compliant should review the TSA's list of acceptable forms of identification. Those who don't have Real ID should expect additional verification and allow extra time, Roybal said.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Here's how Real ID Day 1 went at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport
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