REAL I.D. enforcement at the Columbus Airport
Mark Howell, TSA Regional Spokesperson says the lack of issues is due to many Georgia residents already having a compliant I.D. .
The Georgia Department of Drivers Services says licenses issued after 2012 are Real I.D. compliant.
'It's just a handful of folks that maybe are just moving to Georgia and haven't gotten their I.D's yet,' Howell says.
Due to the size of the Columbus Airport, if someone's I.D. is not Real I.D. complaint it is communicated to that individual.
This differs from bigger airports as those without a complaint identification will receive a red card with a QR code that shares all acceptable forms of I.D.
No matter the size of the airport, Howell says once someone has been identified as non-compliant, they are then separated and subject to additional screenings.
'We've been recommending those folks that don't have their real I.D. or one of the other accepted forms to get to the airport a bit earlier than our usual two hours ahead of their departure time,' Howell shares.
TSA says they expect to see an increase in delay time and those without a Real I.D. or other acceptable form of identification.
'The potential for that to happen grows when you have additional volume and a lot more additional infrequent travelers planned over the Memorial Day Weekend and those other holiday weekends in the Summer,' Howell explains.
He recommends getting the Real I.D. sooner than later.
'The whole purpose behind it is really to raise security and it goes right in line with everything else we're doing at security checkpoints,' Howell says. 'We want to make sure the person that's presenting that I.D. is who they're supposed to be and that they're getting screened at the most state of the art technology that we've got available at security checkpoints.'
Pro tips: Getting an Alabama STAR ID doesn't have to be a hassle | WRBL
Alabama's Star ID to go into effect in May, according to ALEA
Most airports are operating smoothly on the first day of the REAL ID requirement | WRBL
Don't have a REAL ID yet? That could cause you travel headaches after May 7 | WRBL
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
8 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
31 Products You'll Never Want To Travel Without
A *mini* Kindle because knowing that this lightweight guy holds thousands of books, has a battery life of up to six weeks, AND has a glare-free screen makes you wonder why you ever let books take up so much space in your carry-on. Now you can tackle your "to be read" list without sacrificing precious suitcase space! An airplane seat back organizer — if you've ever tried squeezing a full-size water bottle in the seat back pocket, you know the struggle. With these many pockets, you can keep snacks, water, and your phone all in a secure spot without having to annoy your seatmates when you get up for the fifth time to get something from the overhead bin. Plus, a drink holder for all you window seat lovers who want to utilize every inch of space possible when you're on a flight, no matter how long or short it is. Those too-tiny tray tables never have enough room, but this thing can hold your drinks and other things, like your phone or glasses! A universal travel adapter perfect for international travelers who always find a way to make it to multiple countries with different plug types. This is designed to work in 160 countries and it lets you plug up to five devices at once. A set of silicone "EarPlanes" for those who are tired of always having to deal with the annoying pressure in their ears felt during takeoff and landing. No more constant gum chewing, ear tugging, or yawning to get rid of that "popping" feeling. AND, they'll even work for road trips with high altitude changes. A 4-in-1 makeup brush set that saves so much room in your makeup bag because it's only the size of ONE brush. You get a foundation, eye shadow, concealer, AND powder brush! Any wannabe makeup artists on the go, this one's for you. An eight-compartment pill organizer so you don't have to take up room in your toiletry bag with all your important medications. This compact little guy is great for travel, and some have even used the empty compartments to store smaller items like jewelry! An AirFly Pro wireless transmitter, because that time you had to suffer through that long flight without using your fancy-schmancy earbuds was brutal, and you'd like to never do that again. This allows you to connect via Bluetooth and prevents you from having to settle for those uncomfortable plastic earbuds. A 2-in-1 straightener and curling iron — a must-have if you're all about a multifunctional tool that doesn't take up a lot of room in your carry-on. This is also dual voltage, which is so handy when traveling internationally. A simple luggage strap so your travel pillow, jacket, or personal item has a designated place, other than being flailed over your arm while you're trying to juggle your plane ticket and all those airport snacks you bought from the Hudson News kiosks. A trifold travel wallet that keeps all your important documents in one secure, RFID-blocking place. Now you'll never be the one rooting through your bag in front of the TSA agent or gate agent when it's finally time to show your passport and boarding pass. An electronics organizer with different compartments for your cords, charging blocks, and portable chargers. If you're guilty of leaving charging cords tangled at the bottom of your bag, this is going to be a lifesaver for your travel game. A bendy travel pillow for window seat lovers who need a soft place for their head, because the side of the plane is just not cutting it. This twists in different ways, so you can get comfortable and not wake up from your nap with a twist in your neck. Or a Trtl travel pillow because you somehow always get stuck in the middle seat, and you want something that will actually support your head during the flight. The internal support system keeps you upright, while the super soft fleece helps you get in those well-deserved Zs. A collapsible silicone water bottle to save you from purchasing an "I can't believe this is $7" plastic water bottle at the airport or the only one-off store after your long hike in the mountains. This is refillable and rolls up to be super compact when you're done sipping. A luggage-mounted cup caddy because the thought of a spilled macchiato on the airport floor right before you're trying to make it to your gate is not how you want to start the vacation of your dreams. Keep your drink (and snacks) hands-free and make your travel day just a teeny bit more hassle-free. An on-the-go Gillette razor that proves that all the best things in life come in small packages. This five-blade razor saves space and saves you from using those cheap disposable razors that just don't step up to the plate. A hands-free (rotating!) phone mount because I simply cannot get over that some airlines don't have screens!!! Just because you're taking a Hopper flight doesn't mean that you shouldn't enjoy those 40 minutes of Jane the Virgin. Clip this onto the tray table or even your luggage to heal your inner iPad kid. A packing list pad to help remind you of all the things you'll need for your trip, because we've all somehow ended up forgetting even the most basic of items like toothpaste and extra underwear. A Beis backpack that will put all your other past bags you used for your personal item to shame. It looks like a regular old backpack but has all-around zipping so you can open it up like a mini suitcase. This has sooo many pockets, padded straps, and a space for your water bottle, too. An adjustable universal travel harness seat to make traveling with a little one just a tad bit easier, since it magically converts pretty much any regular chair into a secure high chair. You'll find that this thing is so handy that you'll be wondering why you didn't get this sooner. A 3-in-1 foldable wireless charging pad that charges your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at the same time. You can stay organized by getting rid of tangled cords *and* the high-quality magnets in the pad make sure your items don't slip away. And when folded up, it easily fits into your pocket. A pack of LeakLocks Toiletry Skins — yeah, they might look like a funny-looking sock over your shampoo and face wash, but what you won't find funny is a big ol' liquid mess in your suitcase. These fit full-size and travel-size toiletries and prevent those cute white jeans from being stained with your purple shampoo. A digital luggage scale, a beacon of hope for the over-packer, the shopaholic, and the just-in-case suitcase stuffer. Don't make it hard on yourself, and play the guessing game of how much your bag weighs. Reviewers say the scale is easy to use and pretty darn close to the scales at the airport. A travel-friendly blanket-slash-pillow for those who wish they could personally ask the pilot to turn down the freaking AC on the plane. This is a BIG step above the thin fabric that the airlines call a blanket since it's made from super soft microfleece, AND it even has a trolley pass-through pocket so you can slide it over your carry-on. A combination 3D eye mask/travel pillow that straps onto the headrest so you can get some rest without doing the whole bobblehead act and jerking yourself out of a deep sleep. You'll be feeling like a certified genius for adding this to your travel arsenal. Or a cooling, memory foam contoured sleep mask for when all you wanna do is catch some Zs on your flight, but your neighbor with a reading light or open window has other ideas. 🙄 This puts no pressure on your eyes and completely blocks out light while still allowing you to freely blink so that you can get some beauty sleep before you land! A Pashmina scarf that's basically a 4-in-1 since it can be used as a comfy blanket or pillow, a scarf or wrap while you're out and about, and even as a shield to protect yourself from the sun since it's got UPF 50+ protection! A travel jewelry case because you're tired of untangling that giant knot that your necklaces, bracelets, and rings got themselves into. No more throwing your jewelry into a sandwich bag or in your toiletry bag when this keeps them neatly organized. And the Ring Thing — a waterproof holder that keeps your rings in a secure place whenever you don't feel like wearing them. This tightly clips onto your bag or reusable water bottle, and just like that, your most precious jewelry is safe and sound. A Tushbaby carrier since your little one is always wanting "uppies" and you might not always have a stroller on every adventure during your trip. This wraps around your waist and supports your kid to ease the weight on your back and arms. It even has extra pockets for diapers, bottles, and your phone!
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Orlando International Launches Dedicated TSA Family Lanes to Ease Travel With Kids
If you take a look around, you will find strollers, little luggage and stuffed animals. Orlando International Airport is full of families. 'Kids want to go on trips, kids want to see Disney World,' said visitor Tatiana Terry. That is how the story usually goes for many: fun at the parks, frustration at the airport. 'We come every year, and so we're excited to go through the family lane this year, because we've never had an easy travel out of MCO before,' Terry said. But today was different for her group. They went through TSA's new dedicated family lanes. 'It's really an option for those traveling with children, 12 and under,' said Michael Silata, Assistant Federal Security Director for MCO. Silata says the new lanes benefit everyone. 'For the other travelers, it actually helps out the other lanes, because it helps to decongest those lanes. So, for example, like the larger items of the strollers and so on in those lanes,' he explained. Over the busy summer months, Orlando International's average wait time has been hovering around 10 minutes. With these new lanes, the hope is that it moves even faster, family or not. 'I feel like, not saying that they do, I'm slowing them down, because I'm like ok come on gotta get your backpacks off and put them in the bucket,' said visitor Connie Fulton. You will find the family lanes at all security checkpoints across Orlando International. Launching the lanes here was a natural choice given the number of families. Airport staff believe MCO processes more car seats and baby strollers than any other airport in the world. 'With two kids it is hard, it is very hard,' Fulton added. Right now, the lanes are also available at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii. Under this new program, families will also be eligible for discounted TSA PreCheck. This new program is part of TSA's push to modernize travel. You can now keep your shoes on as you go through security and the agency has said it is exploring the possibility of changing the limit for carry-on liquids. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Solve the daily Crossword
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Buzz Feed
33 Products To Make People Think You're A Pro Traveler
A super handy luggage scale — once you have it, you'll never travel without it. Especially if you're going on a longer trip, and you know your luggage will be much heavier on the way back! This lets you know how much it weighs so that you don't have to worry about awkwardly stopping in the middle of a busy airport to re-distribute weight. Plus, reviewers rave about how accurate it is! A pack of three compact pill organizers that make packing your daily vitamins and just-in-case medicines convenient *without* having to deal with bulky bottles. They each have eight moisture-proof compartments, a double lock so that every pill stays in its place, and they come with handy labels. Or a set of TSA-compliant leakproof travel capsules if you're looking for an easy way of traveling with your face creams, vitamins, and dainty jewelry that'll compliment those fall outfits beautifully. These leakproof lil' containers will hold them all securely. They're also magnetic — they'll stick together so you don't have to be digging around your bag for the one specific capsule. A luggage drink caddy for anyone who considers their iced bev an airport essential on a hot, stressful day. This sticks right on top of your wheeled luggage and has two pockets so that you can place your phone, snacks, and most importantly your iced green tea to power you through until you're *finally* seated on the plane! A universal travel adapter with a universal input that lets you skip out on having to pack a whole bunch of different adaptors, which is *especially* useful if you're traveling between multiple countries! This is designed to work in 160 countries and it lets you plug up to five devices at once. Plus, an Anker charging port if you're tired of calling dibs on who gets the charger when you get back to the hotel. It has six USB ports so that everyone's phone is on full charge by the time you wake up from your power nap to go to dinner. A drink holder for all you window seat lovers — hey, you're already forfeiting easy access to the aisle, so you might as well utilize every inch of space possible. Those too-tiny tray tables never have enough room, but this thing can hold your drinks and other things, like your phone or glasses. This means you can have your drink and other knickknacks within easy reach *without* having to keep your tray table down! A 4-in-1 makeup brush set — this magic wand of a brush is a foundation, eye shadow, concealer, AND powder tool all rolled up in one! That makeup bag of yours just got a wholeee lot more spacious. A pack of homeopathic jet lag prevention chewable tablets to help balance your circadian rhythm and combat drowsiness and sleeplessness so you don't have to waste one minute of your much-deserved vacation. One reviewer describes that these "do not make you feel 'speedy' — just normal, alert, and not so beat-up physically from a long trip." Kahi Wrinkle Bounce Hydrating Multi-Balm, aka one of the new beauty products TikTok is particularly obsessing over — and for good reason. This multi-talented magic stick is perfect if you tend to get suuuuper dry on long flights. It uses collagen and salmon complex to help minimize fine lines, enhance your natural glow, and give a major hydration boost to quench your thirsty skin. Use it on your face, eyes, lips, *and* neck! A practical tray table cover so that all the necessary knickknacks for your flight are within easy reach. Perfect to store your book, snacks, lip balm, and water bottle (because the only thing that dehydrates you more than travel is *summer* travel). Now you can just place your bag overhead and kick your feet out while having everything right in front of you. A Stow-N-Go travel organizer, which is basically an on-the-go closet. Thanks to this genius creation, there's no need to claim a drawer when you get to the hotel. You can arrange everything while you pack, hang it up, and that's it! You'll be able to pick out your 'fit for each day in a snap. A portable SlumberPod so that no matter where you go or what time of day it is, your little bundle of joy has a dark, private place to nap (even if your loud family is all sharing a room). It's got built-in ventilation flaps to make it plenty breathable and even has pockets for a fan and baby monitor. A 3-in-1 foldable wireless charging pad that you can literally fold up and fit in your pocket. This'll take care of charging up your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once so you can avoid having to shove multiple cables into your personal item on the plane. No more having to make a checklist of allll the chargers you'll be needing and having multiple cables spread across your hotel nightstand – just take this baby and you're all set! A portable baby shusher (with over 15,000 5-star ratings!!!) — yup, you read that right. This handy little guy uses a real human voice to lull your baby to sleep with a calming shush and will help you avoid the stress of walking your screaming baby up and down the aisles of the plane or having a restless night right before a jam-packed day full of touristy activities. Many parents are deeming it a "lifesaver" on flights, long car rides, or if your little one just has a hard time staying asleep. It's also small enough to easily stow in a diaper bag and basically pays for itself with the amount of peace (and rest!) you'll get back. An electronics organizer because it's got a place for just about every one of *your* and every member of your family's devices' corresponding cables so you don't have to shuffle around and get everything tangled up while you try to locate your iPad charger (and all while you're stuck in the middle seat, to top it off 🫠). The 4-in-1 Alleyoop Pen Pal, aka your handy lil' beauty companion that combines everything you need (lip liner, brow pencil, eyeliner, and highlighter) into one compact tool so you can save space and still look gorgeous. And a Subtl Beauty Stack — if you never thought you could carry up to nine makeup products in one hand, think again. This customizable set lets you carry all of your essential vanity products in one tiny compact. Now, you can take off knowing you have a concealer, highlighter, bronzer, lip and cheek balm, *and* shine control powder all tucked away in your bag and ready for touch-ups. A sleek, vegan leather five-compartment sunglasses organizer (featured on Oprah's Favorite Things!) so you're never again limited to having to choose only one or two sunnies to bring on your next trip, especially if it's a longer one. This'll keep your glasses safe, organized, and scratch-free in the most compact way possible. You can even hang it anywhere in your hotel room so you can easily switch out which sunnies you want based on your OOTD. A pack of hydration tablets because long hours of travel just dry. you. out. These plant-based lifesavers are *packed* with essential electrolytes to replenish your body and keep you from feeling sluggish. Plus, countless reviewers rave about their fresh citrusy taste. A reviewer-beloved Béis suitcase, which you'll soon consider the luggage piece of your dreams — it has a unique weight limit indicator that'll let you know if your baggage is too heavy! This spacious 29-inch suitcase features lots of pockets and can be expanded to give you that extra space you'll need for all those gifts and souvenirs. Or a three-piece connectable suitcase set that makes it easy to maneuver multiple pieces of luggage with ONE👏HAND👏. Thanks to the easy-to-use fastener panels and pull strap, there are now more hands available for carrying your baby or holding your kid's hand. A versatile travel harness seat if your excited to try that restaurant you've seen a lot of hype about on TripAdvisor but want to be prepared in case they don't have a high chair for your little one. This adjustable harness converts almost any chair into a kid-friendly option for on-the-go feedings. Plus, it rolls up tiny enough to stash in your bag easily! A combination access portable lock box so you can catch a few waves with the fam at the beach without having to worry about leaving your valuables unattended. This'll deter anyone from trying to snag your stuff. Swiper, no swiping! A pack of mini disposable pre-pasted travel toothbrushes because hours on a plane can make your breath a lil' *stanky* (especially after that coffee you had in the airport). These fit easily into your bag without taking up any room and will keep your breath minty fresh. Plus, they're sugar-free and don't require any water or rinsing! And now, you won't have to deal with a yucky taste in your mouth after that in-flight food service. A multifunctional 2-in-1 straightener and curling iron to cut the amount of space your heat styling tools take up in your carry-on in *half*. This is also dual voltage, which is so handy when traveling internationally. A collapsible silicone water bottle here to replace those $7 plastic water bottles that you've been limited to buying after your long hike in the mountains because it's refillable, takes up a cute lil' four inches in your carry-on, and rolls up to be super compact when you're done sipping. And a compact, carry-on-friendly portable espresso maker that makes it quick and easy for you to have your morning coffee no matter how far you are from the nearest cafe. It lets you use Nespresso pods and is totally hand-operated, with no battery or electricity needed. A portable door lock to use at your hotel or Airbnb (or simply for when you're staying in an unfamiliar place). This is perfect for giving you some extra security and peace of mind! A mini wallet emergency kit that is packed with little, easy-to-forget trip necessities — bandages for new-shoe blisters, a mini makeup wipe, hand sanitizer, etc. Plus, you can have it printed with the city skyline of your choice! A combination 3D eye mask/travel pillow — while no one's a total genius for taking an eye mask on a flight, you'll definitely be one for having *this* specific one. It straps onto the headrest so you can get some rest without doing the whole bobblehead act and jerking yourself out of your deep beauty sleep. A Tushbaby carrier that wraps around your waist and supports your kid to ease the weight on your back and arms, especially if your little one is in their "uppies" phase! It even has extra pockets for diapers, bottles, and your phone. No stroller, no problem. A Hairbrella small enough to fold up and keep in your bag so that you can protect your hair from unexpectedly rainy or muggy days. It's also satin-lined, so it won't dry out your hair or cause frizz once you take it off!
