Real ID deadline looms for Chicago travelers
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After years of delays, the Real ID deadline is tomorrow — and it could cause chaos at airports this week even after months of warning.
What to know before you go: If you are flying domestically and have a valid passport, you'll be fine.
- If you didn't get your Real ID, bring any ID, but you can expect delays and more screening, TSA's Jim Spriggs said at press conference last week.
- If you signed up for your Real ID but the card hasn't arrived yet, bring the paper receipt and you will be permitted to fly.
- Arrive to the terminal two hours prior to your flight.
Reality check: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is reminding people that the Real ID will still be available after May 7, and unless you're traveling tomorrow, do not rush to the DMV to get one, as lines have been hours long.
What they're saying: "We don't want to discourage people from getting a Real ID, but the fact is, the vast majority of people do not need a Real ID before Wednesday," Giannoulias said yesterday.
- "Your regular driver's license, you can still use it to drive a vehicle, and your state ID can still be used as a valid form of identification. You do not need a Real ID after Wednesday to drive a vehicle or identify yourself."
Zoom out: Nearly 47% of Americans lack a valid passport as of fiscal 2024, per estimates from the Center for American Progress, a think tank.
- About 56% of Illinois residents have a valid passport, but an estimated 5 million people in the state do not have one.
- That's a decent measure of potential demand for Real IDs — though there are alternatives. See a full list of options here.
What's next: Spriggs said he doesn't expect passengers without a Real ID to be denied access to their flights until 2027.