Why You May Need A Passport For Domestic Flights

The level of confusion over the transition to the real ID system has been chaotic. 

Legislation passed in 2005 instituted a deadline of enhanced security, "Real ID's" to be used for air travel effective in 2015. Starting in 2010, Florida made the move to the Real ID system for all new state issued ID's in advance of the deadline. If you've had a Florida ID issued since then, you'll likely see the orange star on the top right of your ID. That means you're all set. 

But back to the deadlines. 

The feds realized that most states and people weren't ready for the original deadline so it's been pushed back a couple of times in a couple of ways. Here's what's going on now... 

26 states still hadn't complied with the Real ID Act and have been granted until October 10th of this year to comply with federal law. But that's about state compliance deadlines. What about you? It's potentially a bit confusing. Here's the hard and fast answer... 

Every person must have a Real ID compliant ID by October of 2020 regardless of where they live in order to fly in the United States. But there's another deadline that's about to hit that could impact millions starting this month. 

While most of the focus has been on states becoming compliant there's the very real issue of you flying with the federally mandated ID. According to the Department of Homeland Security all passengers looking to fly must have compliant ID as of January 22nd - this year. 

That means a state issued ID that's Real ID complaint or a passport. If you're from a state that's not compliant - that means that you'd need your passport to fly domestically until your state makes the move.  

With just over half of the states not compliant that's a big deal. What's more is that many large states and states where snowbirds often flock from - are among them. States not compliant include: 

  • California 

  • New York 

  • Pennsylvania 

  • New Jersey 

  • Massachusetts  

If you're not sure of your status you should check with officials ahead of booking a flight passed the 22nd. Something tells me this is a slow-moving problem in the making... 


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