If you aren’t Real ID compliant by the May 7 deadline, you’ll still be able to pass airport security checkpoints, according to Kristi Noem, the head of Homeland Security. But if you’re going to travel without the new ID, you should probably show up to the airport earlier than ever before, because there will be new security steps you need to take.
It isn’t currently clear what new security measures travelers without a Real ID will be subjected to. Noem suggested that these fliers «may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step» in the process, but did not offer concrete details on what that could look like in practice. You best plan to stay comfortable while you wait in the airport.
«But people will be allowed to fly,» Noem said. «We will make sure it’s as seamless as possible.»
A representative from the Transportation Security Agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what these new steps might look like and how travelers might prepare.
Noem said that 81% of US travelers already have identification that complies with the new Real ID requirements. Anyone who doesn’t have a Real ID can use a passport or tribal identification to pass airport security checks when flying domestically.
After the May 7 deadline, Real IDs will be used for more than just airline travel — entrance to certain federal buildings (and nuclear power plants) will be contingent upon your possession of Real ID-compliant identification.
If you’re not sure whether you have a Real ID, check the top corner of your ID card or driver’s license. Real ID-compliant identification cards have a special symbol for each state — usually a star — that differentiates them from their non-Real ID counterparts.
