Starting May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license or another acceptable form to fly within the United States.
If you like to use your driver’s license as your main identification to get through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoints at the airport, it’s crucial to make sure it’ll be REAL ID-compliant and ready to fly ahead of the May deadline.
The REAL ID Act is a federal law. While the REAL ID Act is mandated and enforced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and is not an Alaska Airlines program, it’s important to us that your travel is as smooth as possible, so we encourage you to obtain compliant identification as soon as possible.
To get flyers ready for this significant transition, we’re providing a resource for our guests, employees and the public to get the latest information about REAL ID and its fast-approaching changes.
Beginning May 7, 2025, your driver’s license will need to be REAL ID-compliant if you want to use it to fly within the U.S. It’s part of . If your license is not compliant, and you don’t have another acceptable form of ID, such as a U.S. passport, you may be delayed or possibly denied entry through the TSA security checkpoint.
State licensing agencies and motor vehicle departments are expecting long lines and wait times in the weeks leading up to May 2025. If you want your driver’s license to be REAL ID-compliant, now’s the right time to make the upgrade because the rush will intensify as the deadline approaches. Why not check this off your list now?
REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and the processes to get them are different state to state, which can be confusing. In most cases, you’ll need to bring additional documentation to get a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, and you might even need to make an appointment for links to each state’s licensing agency or motor vehicle department.
Many states identify their REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses with a gold star in the upper right corner\, which indicates they’ll be ready to use at airport security checkpoints starting May 7\, 2025\. But some states\, such as Washington\, use Enhanced Driver’s Licenses\, which do not use gold stars for REAL ID\- compliant licenses\. However\, EDLs are considered acceptable alternatives to REAL ID\-compliant cards and will also be accepted for official REAL ID purposes\.
You have a choice\. If you want to fly after May 7\, 2025\, with – for example\, your U\.S\. passport or a U\.S\. military ID – you can do that instead\. Just remember to bring that ID to the airport\.
Refresh my memory\. What exactly is the REAL ID Act\? Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 in an effortto strengthen identification rules at airports\. The act established minimum security standards for state\-issued driver licenses and identification cards\.
So\, what happens on May 7\, 2025\, if I show up at th eairport with my standard driver’s license as my onlyID\? You may be delayed or possibly denied entry througha TSA checkpoint ifyou don’thave anotherformof approvedidentification\. Andyou couldmissyour flight\.
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