Philadelphia Airport travelers without Real IDs may face extra screening
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The Real ID deadline is today … sort of.
Why it matters: You now need a Real ID-compliant license — or another acceptable document — to board a commercial airplane in the U.S., or enter federal facilities, like courthouses.
Yes, but: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Tuesday those without identification that complies with the law "will be allowed to fly."
- Noem told a Congressional panel that those who still lack an identification that complies with the Real ID law "may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step," the Associated Press reports.
Zoom in: Passengers at Philadelphia International Airport who only have a state-issued identification that's not a Real ID may be directed to a separate area or receive additional screening, TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein tells Axios.
- "TSA is planning accordingly to ensure no impact to wait times or TSA screening operations," she said.
Worth noting: TSA accepts more than a dozen forms of alternative IDs.
By the numbers: Pennsylvanians aren't flocking to get a Real ID.
- Only 28% of residents have signed up for one, as of May 1, per WHYY.
The caveat: Real ID is optional, which helps explain the lower adoption rate.
How it works: People who received a state driver's license, learner's permit or state ID card after September 2003 can complete a pre-verification document check and fill out an online application to receive their Real ID.
- Expect to wait at least 15 business days to receive it in the mail.
- Pennsylvania doesn't offer Real ID appointments.
Alternatively, you can walk in and get a Real ID on the spot after your documents are verified at one of more than a dozen locations across the Commonwealth, including in Southwest Philly.