No REAL ID? Here’s what will happen if you show up for a flight after the deadline
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — After years of delays, the deadline for the REAL ID is quickly approaching. Beginning May 7th, you’ll need it to fly within the country.
On Your Side asked TSA what would happen if someone showed up for a flight after that date without the proper credentials.
“A couple of things,” said TSA spokesperson Patricia Mancha. “There may be a grace period where people will have additional checks required, but it’s not a fast process, so if people get here and they don’t have enough time, they will miss their flight. Some people will be denied entry to the checkpoint if they don’t comply, so therefore they will not be allowed to fly.”
Mancha said it is critical to prepare now for future travel to avoid potential issues at TSA checkpoints beginning on May 7th. “We’re not going to speculate. We’re hoping that people will take the time to do what they need to do to have their documentation ready,” she said.
To get a REAL ID, you need several documents to prove your identity, including a birth certificate, social security number, and two pieces of mail with your full proper name and address, like a bank statement or utility bill. To get through TSA security, travelers can also use a passport, passport card, military ID or other global entry identification card.
According to ADOT, there are 5.07 million current Arizona standard IDs, while 2.51 million Arizonans have upgraded to the REAL ID. The agency says in November 2024, about 46% of people getting an ID in Arizona chose a REAL ID, compared to a 65% ‘take rate’ now.
The number of people with a standard ID may seem inflated compared to the state’s population because standard Arizona driver’s license cards expire at age 65, and non-driver license ID cards do not.
“As people leave the state and do not update their credential with the new state, the Arizona credential remains valid and active until the expiration date or MVD receives a cancellation request,” ADOT explained.
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