01-05-2025
What to know about airline travel with Real ID
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — After 20 years, a 2005 federal law will finally take effect in one week, impacting entrance into high-level places like federal buildings, nuclear plants and airports.
'Congress passed the Real ID Act back in 2005… and basically said every state has to issue this card with the same set of required documents across all states,' said Scott Hardin with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.
According to Hardin, the identification is simply a form of stating that you are who you say you are, which is important to TSA security with air travel.
'It's to ensure that every traveler is actually a verified person, as the name that they have on their ID, the name that they have on their ticket,' said TSA's Patricia Mancha. 'So, this is security for all of us.'
As of the May 7 deadline, anyone looking to board a flight, international or domestic, is required to have their Real ID as proof of identification.
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If you are trying to decide whether to get it, Macha said there are other forms of identification accepted by TSA to board:
A passport
A green card
Department of Defense ID
Identification for those in a federally recognized tribe
TWIC card
'If you don't have any of those, then make sure that you get to the airport early,' said Mancha. 'We say two hours before your domestic flight, three hours before your international flight. But if you don't have a Real ID, add 2 hours to that, because it's not a fast process.'
Without the Real ID, Macha said, TSA cannot guarantee the ability to travel, but it is willing to work with you.
'As much as we can prepare and want everybody to have their Real ID in hand, of course, there are going to be some delays with that,' said XNA's Olivia Tyler.
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Macha also said that those under the age of 18 are not required to have the Real ID, but their parent or guardian will need one.
According to TSA, nationwide, there are still millions of people who have not gotten their Real ID even at eighty-one percent compliance. However, in the Natural State, Hardin said Arkansans are doing their part to secure their Real IDs as the deadline approaches.
'The last ten days we've issued more than 50,000 over a ten-day period, so its revenue officers are doing 5000 plus a day right now,' said Hardin.
Even with the deadline in one week, Hardin said that you can still get your Real ID after and that obtaining the identification is still a choice.
To learn more about Real ID, visit the Department of Homeland Security's website.
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