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Travel Weekly
07-05-2025
- Travel Weekly
Most airports are operating smoothly on first day of Real ID requirement
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Most airports around the U.S. operated smoothly Wednesday as the Real ID requirement took effect because travelers without the updated document were still allowed to move through security easily. Those without the IDs were given flyers informing them that going forward they would need to present a Real ID or other federally accepted ID for air travel within the U.S. It includes a QR code travelers can use to see a list of acceptable identifications. "The ID you presented is NOT Real ID-compliant," the flyer reads. "You will need a Real ID or other acceptable form of identification for your next flight or you may expect delays." At Philadelphia International Airport, a TSA agent was pre-checking travelers' IDs as they entered the security check line. Agents had flyers ready for those who didn't have compliant IDs, according to Philadelphia Department of Aviation spokesperson Heather Redfern. Many airports reported wait times of a few minutes at security checkpoints on their websites on Wednesday morning, although some had longer waits. LaGuardia Airport reported no wait at one TSA PreCheck checkpoint and wait times ranging from 2 to 11 minutes in the general lines. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport's website showed wait times at its security checkpoints ranging from 5 to 16 minutes. Nashville International Airport reported a wait time of less than 20 minutes on Wednesday morning. "The Department of Homeland Security's Real ID policy is now in effect, and we are pleased to share that the TSA lines are moving efficiently," the airport said in a social media post. "You can help ensure that continues by bringing your Real ID if you have it when you are coming to the airport." The day ahead of the deadline, people lined up at government offices across the country to secure their compliant IDs. In Chicago, officials established a Real ID Supercenter for walk-in appointments, while officials in California and elsewhere planned to continue offering extended hours for the crush of appointments. "I'm here today so I won't be right on the deadline, which is tomorrow," said Marion Henderson, who applied for her Real ID on Tuesday in Jackson, Mississippi. Travelers without Real ID are able to fly Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday assured people who don't yet have a Real ID but need to take a domestic flight Wednesday that they will be able to fly after clearing additional identity checks. Some complained about the need to secure the ID after waiting in line for hours. Michael Aceto waited in line at a DMV in King of Prussia, in the Philadelphia suburbs, for about two and a half hours Tuesday before getting his Real ID. "It's a pain in the butt. It's really a lot of time. Everybody's got to take off from work to be here," he said. "It's a big waste of time as far as I'm concerned." The Transportation Security Administration warned people who don't have identification that complies with Real ID requirements to arrive early at the airport and be prepared for advanced screening to avoid causing delays. TSA posted on X that people may get additional screening but it wasn't clear how many passengers, if any, were pulled aside for extra screening. New requirement prompts questions and advice The new requirement has been the subject of many Reddit threads and Facebook group discussions in recent weeks, with numerous people expressing confusion about whether they can travel without a Real ID, sharing details about wait times and seeking advice on how to meet the requirements. Noem told a congressional panel that 81% of travelers already have Real IDs. She said security checkpoints will also be accepting passports and tribal identification, like they have already been doing. Those who still lack an identification that complies with the Real ID law "may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step," Noem said. "But people will be allowed to fly," she said. "We will make sure it's as seamless as possible." Real ID is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that Homeland Security says is a more secure form of identification. It was a recommendation by the 9/11 Commission and signed into law in 2005. It was supposed to be rolled out in 2008 but the implementation had been repeatedly delayed. "The whole idea here is to better validate those individuals that were encountering a checkpoint to ensure they are who exactly they say they are," said Thomas Carter, TSA's federal security director in New Jersey. Carter said those without a Real ID should give themselves extra time to clear security. "If they do that, I do not have a belief that this will cause people to miss their flights if they take that additional time," he said. State government offices that issue driver's licenses and state IDs have seen a significant increase in demand for Real ID and some have extended their office hours to meet the demand. Some officials have recommended people wait for a while to get Real ID-compliant licenses and cards if they don't have flights planned in the next few months. "We are encouraging people who have passports or other Real ID-compliant documents and people who don't have travel plans in the next few months to wait until after the current rush to apply for a Real ID," said Erin Johnson, a spokesperson with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Johnson said that the department has seen a significant increase in demand for Real ID in recent weeks. In February, there were more than 48,000 applications for a Real ID; that has nearly doubled to over 99,000 in April, she said.
Toronto Star
07-05-2025
- Toronto Star
Most airports are operating smoothly on the first day of the REAL ID requirement
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Most airports around the United States operated smoothly Wednesday as new REAL ID requirements took effect because travelers without the updated document were still allowed to move through security easily. Those without the IDs were given flyers informing them that going forward they would need to present REAL ID or other federally accepted ID for air travel within the U.S. 'The ID you presented is NOT REAL ID-compliant,' the flyer reads. 'You will need a REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification for your next flight or you may expect delays.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW It includes a QR code travelers can use to see a list of acceptable identifications. At Philadelphia International Airport, a TSA agent was pre-checking travelers' IDs as they entered the security check line. Agents had flyers ready for those who didn't have compliant IDs, according to Philadelphia Department of Aviation spokesperson Heather Redfern. Many airports reported wait times of a few minutes at security checkpoints on their websites on Wednesday morning, although some had longer waits. LaGuardia Airport reported no wait at one TSA PreCheck checkpoint and wait times ranging from 2 to 11 minutes in the general lines. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport's website showed wait times at its security checkpoints ranging from 5 to 16 minutes. Nashville International Airport reported a wait time of less than 20 minutes on Wednesday morning. 'The Department of Homeland Security's REAL ID policy is now in effect, and we are pleased to share that the TSA lines are moving efficiently,' the airport said in a social media post. 'You can help ensure that continues by bringing your REAL ID if you have it when you are coming to the airport.' The day ahead of the deadline, people lined up at government offices across the country to secure their compliant IDs. In Chicago, officials established a Real ID Supercenter for walk-in appointments, while officials in California and elsewhere planned to continue offering extended hours for the crush of appointments. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'I'm here today so I won't be right on the deadline, which is tomorrow,' said Marion Henderson, who applied for her REAL ID on Tuesday in Jackson, Mississippi. Travelers without REAL ID still will be able to fly Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday assured people who don't yet have a REAL ID but need to take a domestic flight Wednesday that they will be able to fly after clearing additional identity checks. Some complained about the need to secure the ID after waiting in line for hours. Michael Aceto waited in line at a DMV in King of Prussia, in the Philadelphia suburbs, for about two and a half hours Tuesday before getting his REAL ID. 'It's a pain in the butt. It's really a lot of time. Everybody's got to take off from work to be here,' he said. 'It's a big waste of time as far as I'm concerned.' The Transportation Security Administration warned people who don't have identification that complies with REAL ID requirements to arrive early at the airport and be prepared for advanced screening to avoid causing delays. TSA posted on X that people may get additional screening but it wasn't clear how many passengers, if any, were pulled aside for extra screening. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW New requirements prompt questions and advice The new requirements have been the subject of many Reddit threads and Facebook group discussions in recent weeks, with numerous people expressing confusion about whether they can travel without a REAL ID, sharing details about wait times and seeking advice on how to meet the requirements. Noem told a congressional panel that 81% of travelers already have REAL IDs. She said security checkpoints will also be accepting passports and tribal identification, like they have already been doing. Those who still lack an identification that complies with the REAL ID law 'may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step,' Noem said. 'But people will be allowed to fly,' she said. 'We will make sure it's as seamless as possible.' REAL ID is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that Homeland Security says is a more secure form of identification. It was a recommendation by the 9/11 Commission and signed into law in 2005. It was supposed to be rolled out in 2008 but the implementation had been repeatedly delayed. ¨The whole idea here is to better validate those individuals that were encountering a checkpoint to ensure they are who exactly they say they are,' said Thomas Carter, TSA's Federal Security Director in New Jersey. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Carter said those without a REAL ID should give themselves extra time to clear security. 'If they do that, I do not have a belief that this will cause people to miss their flights if they take that additional time in,' he said. REAL ID also will be needed for certain federal facilities Besides serving as a valid form of identification to fly domestically, people will also need a REAL ID to access certain federal buildings and facilities. State government offices that issue driver's licenses and state IDs have seen a significant increase in demand for REAL ID and some have extended their office hours to meet the demand. Some officials have recommended people wait for a while to get REAL ID compliant licenses and cards if they don't have flights planned in the next few months. 'We are encouraging people who have passports or other REAL ID-compliant documents and people who don't have travel plans in the next few months to wait until after the current rush to apply for a REAL ID,' said Erin Johnson, a spokesperson with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Johnson said that the department has seen a significant increase in demand for REAL ID in recent weeks. In February, there were more than 48,000 applications for a REAL ID; that has nearly doubled to over 99,000 in April, she said. ___ Associated Press writers Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C., Janie Har in San Francisco and Joseph Frederick in Newark, New Jersey, and Tassanee Vejpongsa in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, contributed to this story.
CBS News
05-03-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Crews and residents around Philadelphia region prepare for heavy rain, strong winds in forecast for Wednesday
Officials and residents in the Philadelphia area are bracing for Wednesday to be a day of weather-related issues, including flight delays and power outages. Wednesday is a NEXT Weather Alert day because of heavy rain and severe storms across the Philadelphia region. The strongest storms are expected between 2 and 8 p.m. Wednesday. Philadelphia International Airport already has one flight canceled Wednesday with potentially more to come. "Thunderstorms are always the worst because when there is a lightning strike within a 5-10 mile radius field, all activity stops," said Heather Redfern, public affairs manager for Philadelphia International Airport. One of the biggest threats in our area is expected to be the high winds, and experts are warning everyone to take precautions now. "Fallen trees and branches are probably the most destructive to our electric equipment," said PECO spokesperson Thomas Brubaker. PECO said field crews are on standby, and if required, crews will open their emergency operations center. Customers are also asked to do their part — calling in any outages and having a plan before the storm. "We ask that they have flashlights ready, they have their cell phones charged and they have water ready to go in the event they do have an outage," Brubaker said. PSEG — New Jersey's largest utility provider — is also urging preparation. "Go outside and secure the loose lawn chairs or take down that awning that may get damaged or become a projectile," says Rebecca Mazzarella, a spokesperson for PSEG. In addition to trimming trees and upgrading infrastructure, PSEG also has crews mobilized. "Our crews are also doing logistic checks so that our vehicles are gassed up, our bucket trucks are ready and we have all the transformers and equipment needed to respond right away," Mazzarella said. Mary Zieglar from Delaware worries about falling trees on her property. "Sometimes I'm sitting there having my coffee and I'm watching huge tall trees just sway back and forth and thinking, what happens if this comes the other way?" Zieglar said. She, like many, is taking steps now and hoping for the best. "Our neighbor just went onto our front porch and cleared off all of our pillows and anything we had sitting on our tables just in preparation for it," Zieglar said, "and I think our whole neighborhood kind of does the same thing."
